Cam Newton Wants Steve Smith To Stay With Carolina

Added on Jun 19, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

The Carolina Panthers’ future franchise quarterback Cam Newton has yet to officially begin his NFL career–he’s not even had his first training camp due to the league’s ongoing labor situation–but he’s already trying to have an impact on his team’s personnel decisions. More specifically, he’s hoping to convince Steve Smith to stay in Charlotte and at the same time lobbying the Panthers to keep him on board.

Smith briefly considered retirement while he dealt with his wife’s poor health, but he’s back to focusing on football. So far, however, he hasn’t said if he wants to stay with the rebuilding Panthers or end his career with a contender:

“I’ve grown maybe a little bit of maturity. So what I’m going to do is keep saying it: It’s between me and my family. And when we decide what we’re going to do, whether people like it or not, as long as my family is happy, I hope they would understand.”

Smith has two years left on his contract but has publicly stated he wants to go out playing for a winning team. Still, he remains confident in his abilities:

“Obviously, skills are diminishing, losing a step. So we’ll see. We’ll see how many 24-year-olds can cover a 32-year-old, 4.3 runner, wide receiver who wasn’t supposed to be here anyway.”

So far, Smith is impressed with the Panthers’ first round draft pick Newton:

“His athleticism speaks for itself. You can see an athlete walk in the door. He doesn’t have to wear a sign or a jersey. You can tell if a guy can play or if he can’t.”

Carolina is hoping that Newton will finally provide an answer for the team’s quarterback woes. After longtime starter Jake Delhomme started to struggle and the teams parted ways with him, the Panthers relied on unproven Matt Moore and rookie Jimmy Clausen. Another little used veteran, Brian St. Pierre, also started a game. Newton, of course, won the 2010 Heisman Trophy as he led Auburn to the BCS Championship. Newton’s selection wasn’t the only major change in Charlotte–the team also dismissed nine year coach John Fox, replacing him with Ron Rivera.