Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith's New Deal Proves His Love for Cam Newton

After the Carolina Panthers went 2-14 during the 2010 season, wide receiver Steve Smith was frustrated. Enough so that he asked for a trade from the team that drafted him in 2001, and where he had spent the entirety of his 10 NFL seasons.

The trade never happened.

Instead, Smith went out in 2011 and caught 79 passes for 1,394 yards, scored seven touchdowns and became a very happy player.

What changed?

Smith caught just 46 passes for 554 yards in 2010, and the Panthers had no continuity whatsoever at quarterback. Six different players—four of them quarterbacks—threw passes for Carolina that year, and none of them eclipsed the 56 percent completion mark. All together, the revolving-door quarterbacks produced just nine touchdown passes, but they did throw 21 interceptions.

Smith's frustrations were merited. So is his new three-year deal from the Panthers, one Smith signed happily on Tuesday.

Enter Cam Newton.

Newton tossed for 4,051 yards during his rookie season, setting a rookie record for passing yards. He also connected with Smith frequently enough to produce Pro-Bowl numbers and invitations, for the pair.

Financial terms for Smith's new deal were not announced, but he'll be in Carolina through the 2015 season, likely for the rest of his career. There's even a team option for 2016.

Players don't sign contract extensions like this one at the end of their careers unless they are extremely happy with their current situation. Smith seems extremely happy now.

Carolina fans can thank Smith for signing on to help right the ship, but they also need to thank Newton. It was his arm and passing skills, that turned a disgruntled Smith into a career Panther.