Is Steve Smith Gone? 5 Reasons Why Carolina Panthers Fans Should Hope So

This is a comfortable sight to see if you are a Panthers fan. Smitty prowling the sidelines in a never-ending blur of passion and emotion. 

No. 89 brings a competitive spirit to professional sports which is rare to find. He wears his passion on his sleeve which makes him a polarizing personality in the Bible Belt.  Those who love him do so because of his undying competitiveness and his ability to express every emotion he feels at every given moment.  That is an admirable trait for many who having grown up in a southern community may have been raised to keep feelings inside and to not show any brash emotion.  

There are still others who have grown exhausted with his juvenile behavior and his impulsive behavior.  There is no doubt however that Steve Smith is the cornerstone of everything Panthers over the better part of a decade.  

So why are there vibrations among some NFL folks that he may have played his last game at the BOA on Mint and Morehead?  Take a look at the reasons which are given from both sides of the Steve Smith band wagon...

Steve Smith Needs a Shot at a Title

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 16: Receiver Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers sits dejected on the sidelines in the final minutes of their 34-21 loss to the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on September 16, 2007 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (P

Steve Smith has made a positive impression throughout all of Panther Territory during his stay.  Drive through any community in the surrounding area you will see miniature 89 jerseys in all shades of blue and black worn by young and old alike.  While it would be wonderful to see Smith and the Panthers bring a championship to Charlotte in the near future many realists see that Smith may have a better shot at a Super Bowl with another franchise.

Um, Time.

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers calls a timeout during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Clausen and the other young Panthers need time that Steve Smith doesn't have.

Richardson's Pull

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Team owner Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Jerry Richardson has made some of the fan base upset by his strong stance in the current CBA negotiations.  And things promise to get much uglier over the next six months.  Richardson has stepped in to more of a personal role with Steve Smith over the past few years.  Mr. Richardson has taken a father figure role in Smith's life.  Richardson feels strongly about family and business being separate evident by his termination of his sons from the Panther organization.  Steve Smith may be too close to have Jerry Richardson be his boss too.  Richardson may pull some strings to get a deal done which would take care of 89 and the Panthers as well.

Positve Return

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GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 24: Donald Driver #80 of the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings talk after the Packers defeated the Vikings 28-24 at Lambeau Field on October 24, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim Prisching/Ge

From a purely business perspective Steve Smith has legitimate value to many NFL teams who would be willing to trade some value in return for a play maker like Steve Smith.  With Smith firmly grounded in Charlotte and having matured greatly as a father and person he understands the business side at this point in his career.