Newton is fourth in the league with 2,103 passing yards. Smith caught Newton's first touchdown pass - a 77-yarder - and rolled up 178 yards on eight catches. In an opening-day loss at Arizona, Newton's 422 passing yards marked the biggest debut by a quarterback in NFL history. New Panthers coach Ron Rivera met with Smith before the lockout, showed how offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski's scheme would benefit the veteran receiver and asked for him to take some time to think about it.īy the time the lockout ended, Smith and Newton had bonded. Smith didn't exactly hold back in his criticism of Clausen, ultimately floating the idea of asking for a trade. Smith is referring to last year's Clausen experiment, which didn't go well. This from a guy who, a year ago, said he felt the like the game was passing him by. "It's so different, it's making a 32-year-old guy feel like he can still play." "It's drastically different," Smith said. In return, Newton has helped Smith relearn his love for the game. Smith's big-play ability has made Newton's rookie year easier. And one of the biggest reasons for that success is the chemistry Newton has with Smith. But the success of Newton, who has started as a rookie from Day 1, has given Carolina fans faith in the future. They are 2-5 with a banged-up defense that has given up the second-most points in the NFL. Like the Vikings, who play at Carolina on Sunday, the Panthers are not a playoff team. In front of reporters, when asked where he had hoped to wind up after leaving Auburn, he smiled and said Carolina, adding, "I wanted to have someone great to throw to, and I knew Steve Smith was here."Ĭall it the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Smith had suggested he might want out of Carolina entirely. Smith, the veteran Panthers receiver, was coming off his worst year as a pro, a season spent stewing (at times quite publicly) over having to play with rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen. 1 overall pick in April's draft by the Carolina Panthers - showed up at Steve Smith's football camp for kids. Start with last June, during the NFL lockout, when the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback out of Auburn - the No.
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