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Panthers keep Smith off market with long-term deal
The Carolina Panthers have made their first significant post-Super Bowl move by re-signing their best up-and-coming offensive star.
SportsLine.com has learned that the Panthers have agreed to a long-term contract with wide receiver Steve Smith. Terms of the deal are not yet known but it is believed the deal was based upon the contract numbers that Bengals WR Chad Johnson received in Cincinnati.
Smith was scheduled to be a restricted free agent next week. The only other significant free agent the Panthers have to deal with is safety Deon Grant. They are also trying to work out a deal with defensive end Al Wallace.
Smith made the biggest play in perhaps Panthers history when he caught the first pass thrown in double overtime and brought it to the house for the game-winning score. The play pushed Carolina into the NFC title game, which they won en route to the Super Bowl.
Smith solidified his rising-star status this year with 88 catches for 1,110 yards and seven touchdowns. He also provides the team with several different options.
"I feel like I can do so many different things for us," he told SportsLine.com at this year's Super Bowl. "I can catch and run, I can return kicks, you can line me up in the backfield. There are so many different things that I can do if I just have patience."
SportsLine.com has learned that the Panthers have agreed to a long-term contract with wide receiver Steve Smith. Terms of the deal are not yet known but it is believed the deal was based upon the contract numbers that Bengals WR Chad Johnson received in Cincinnati.
Smith was scheduled to be a restricted free agent next week. The only other significant free agent the Panthers have to deal with is safety Deon Grant. They are also trying to work out a deal with defensive end Al Wallace.
Smith made the biggest play in perhaps Panthers history when he caught the first pass thrown in double overtime and brought it to the house for the game-winning score. The play pushed Carolina into the NFC title game, which they won en route to the Super Bowl.
Smith solidified his rising-star status this year with 88 catches for 1,110 yards and seven touchdowns. He also provides the team with several different options.
"I feel like I can do so many different things for us," he told SportsLine.com at this year's Super Bowl. "I can catch and run, I can return kicks, you can line me up in the backfield. There are so many different things that I can do if I just have patience."
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