What was announced last Friday could not become official until yesterday when the NFL’s league year officially began, with the Panthers cordially sending cornerback Daryl Worley to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Torrey Smith; Smith, who has won two Super Bowls in his career including last season with the Eagles, brings not only a veteran presence to the locker room, but the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee wants to make clear that he is not just in Charlotte to be a deep threat or a wizened old man handing out life lessons to the wide receiver group that is, aside from Russell Shepard, all 25 and under. Smith is here to contribute in this offense any way he knows how
Myth #1: He’s Only A Deep Threat
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports
While Smith may have been used in a certain role as a part of Philadelphia’s offense last season alongside Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agholor, he said he was asking to “do a job” the past few years, and that likely includes his time in San Francisco as well, when he averaged a career-high 20.4 yards per reception during the 2015 season; Smith says he can run all the routes, and he plans to do just that in Carolina. However, he is not without his faults as a receiver, and he knows that.
“I wasn’t as involved as much. I can only control one thing, that’s when the ball comes my way and there were plenty of times where I didn’t do my job. Literally like a wide-open concentration drop,” said Smith about last season with the Eagles, when he didn’t play up to preseason expectations and at one point said he was embarrassed about his performance. “Doing all my job getting open and not finishing with the ball. To me, you can’t complain [when] you’re not doing your job. For me, it’s all about the team. We were winning and I was doing my part to help that.”
“It didn’t matter because our ultimate goal was to win. If anything, I was more frustrated with myself, even if the ball only comes once or twice a game, if I don’t do my job, I’m letting everyone else down.”
Myth #2: His Two-Year/$10m Deal is Exorbitant
If anything has become clear over the past week, it is that the market for wide receivers has gone up. Way up. While the Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinsons of the world were always going to get money that was out of the Panthers’ price range, the recent signings of mid-level free agent wide receivers like Paul Richardson (5/$40m) and Ryan Grant ($4/29m) make Smith’s two years of non-guaranteed money at $5m per season look like a bargain for a productive wide receiver. Not that Smith minds the deals being doled out to his fellow wide receivers.
“I love it. I’m pro-player all day. Those guys work their tails off and that’s the way this business is supposed to work. Whether someone believes they deserve it or not, that’s no one’s opinion but the GM that gives it to them; that’s the way this business goes, you’re rewarded for your hard work or your potential. I’m excited for those guys, they’re honestly changing the landscape because they’re signing three-year deals. Four years ago, you get a five-year deal with the amount they’re getting, that was great deal. The markets changed over the years and these young guys are talented and they’re being rewarded for it.”
Smith is currently the highest paid player in the wide receiver room; the Panthers currently rank 22nd in terms of 2018 cap hit coming from wide receivers. The fact that he came to the Panthers came via trade is also favorable to the compensatory picks formula, which seems to be on the road to the Panthers receiving a third and fourth-round pick in the 2019 pick after losing both Andrew Norwell and Star Lotulelei in free agency; compensatory picks are awarded to teams that lose more free agents than they acquire. Players traded or cut by other teams do not qualify for the formula, so the Panthers are clearly due compensation as the roster currently stands.
Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Myth #3: He Was Surprised To Be Traded
“In terms of the trade, I knew it was a possibility earlier in the week,” said Smith. “The Eagles are very open about that. I wasn’t blindsided at all. I was happy when they told me who the team was because if I had to go anywhere, I wanted to go to a winner, a place that has a chance. This is that place for me. I was talking to my agent that if my option wasn’t picked up, this was one of the places I wanted to be. So I’m excited it played out that way and I didn’t have to go through all the drama. I knew exactly where I was going and I’m thankful that they wanted me.”
One of the reasons Smith is excited to be in Charlotte is his past relationship with quarterback Cam Newton, a player who he says adds a different dynamic to the offense with his ability to run the ball; Smith has been a part of Newton’s annual offseason “retreat” to Under Armour facilities where Newton works out and throws with receivers who are not only on the Panthers’ roster, but in the Baltimore area. Smith was one of those in the area, and while he was an unofficial member of the group in the past, he’s excited to be a piece of the puzzle in both the workouts and the Panthers’ offense.
He’s also very close with another Carolina Panthers legend, saying that former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, Sr. was “like a big brother;” he uses the now-retired Smith as a positive role model and a sounding board for issues both on and off the field. A testament to their relationship: Smith, Sr. was the media member to break the news when Torrey was released by the 49ers last offseason before he signed with the eventual 2017 Super Bowl Champions.
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated
Myth #4: He’s Old
When you constantly hear that Smith will be a “veteran presence” in the locker room, it can become part of the narrative that he’s too old to produce, especially since the 29-year old has been in the league since 2011 and his production has slid the past two years statistically; but Smith is ready to be a bigger cog in the Panthers offense.
“In football years, I may not be too young, but age-wise, I’m only 29. So I feel very good. I haven’t slowed down. I have the opportunity here to come in and compete, which I will do, and play to the best of my ability and be back to being a bigger piece of the puzzle. I’m excited about that challenge. They traded for me, but nothing’s going to be given to me. I don’t want it that way. I want to go out there and earn it.”
“I want to earn the respect of my teammates, of the folks in the organization, the fans, and everyone.”
