The Panthers receiver, who has been suspended the first two games of the season for punching out teammate Ken Lucas during a practice session, is now missing practice because of a concussion he suffered in the team's preseason opener.
Why, yes it was.
Smith apologized for slugging teammate Ken Lucas, a Panthers' cornerback, during a break in Friday's practice. Smith's assault resulted in a broken nose for Lucas, an injury that will require surgery and keep him out as long as three weeks.
Smith, who was suspended without pay for the first two regular-season games, spoke to reporters for about four minutes after his first practice with the team since the incident. He did not answer questions.
"I'm not going to get into who's right, who's wrong. I'm completely wrong," Smith said. "It was an asinine decision. And I'll move forward better than I probably have ever had to. It's the first time in my life that I really haven't forgiven myself."
The Pro Bowl receiver will miss the team's first two games after the Panthers issued a suspension in the wake of his fight with cornerback Ken Lucas.
The Panthers could have sat Smith up to four games, but two games - or one-eighth of the entire season - is a fair punishment for a stupid act by the belligerent receiver. Smith was previously suspended for hitting teammate Anthony Bright during a film session in 2002.
The suspension will cost Smith a little more than $200,000 in salary. He will be able to practice and play in the preseason, but will be prohibited from being around the team the first two weeks of the season.
(I'm pretty sure Panthers GM Marty Hurney and coach John Fox, who collaborated on the suspension, didn't read the Sunday column I filed a few hours ago. But they did exactly as I'd suggested when I wrote: In the wake of Panthers All Pro receiver Steve Smith slugging cornerback Ken Lucas in the face during practice Friday, the Panthers simply have to slap with a meaningful punishment. And that includes a suspension of at least two games.)
Ok, time to re-write the item.
The Panthers told receiver Steve Smith to hightail it out of training camp and go home after he punched cornerback Ken Lucas in the face during practice this morning.
As of now, the Panthers haven't made a determine about whether to suspend Smith.
The Panthers once suspended Smith for punching out teammate Anthony Bright, and chances are there will be some significant penalty forthcoming.
The obvious problem is that any decision to keep Smith out of games will be extremely costly for the team. He is their best player, and taking him out of the lineup will surely cause a competitive imbalance.
But at this point, how do you not sit Smith for what he's done?
The Panthers' receiver got into a slugfest with defensive back Ken Lucas at practice, leaving Lucas with lacerations and bruises on his face.
It's not all that unusual for training camp fights to occur, but in Smith's case, it's different. He was suspended for a game in 2002 after punching teammate Anthony Bright during a film session.
That is simply not the kind of behavior you tolerate from anyone on your team, especially one who just signed a contract extension that makes him one of the highest paid players in football.
Smith has taken anger management courses before, but the message has clearly worn off. He needs to get his act together once and for all, although who knows if that's even possible.
Just as importantly, head coach John Fox needs to discipline Smith in a meaningful way that will send the message to teammates and fans alike that this kind of behavior won't be tolerated.
The Panthers are experimenting with the idea of having defensive end Julius Peppers, who has played his entire career on the left side, switch to the right.
Peppers is coming off a dreadful year with just 2 1/2 sacks. And with the retirement of right defensive end Mike Rucker, the idea makes plenty of sense.
Peppers can be in more obvious pass-rushing situations on the right side (left ends, like Michael Strahan, generally are as good against the run as they are rushing the passer). If it works, then Peppers can expect to be with the Panthers for the foreseeable future. If it doesn't, then he's gone after this season. It's the final year of his contract.
As if the Panthers didn't have enough problems, now it's 44-year-old quarterback Vinny Testaverde's back that's acting up.
Testaverde didn't injure it during practice, and may have hurt himself in his sleep. He woke up this morning with a sore back, and is now questionable for tomorrow's home game against the Saints.
It was only a few days ago that Panthers coach John Fox anointed Testaverde as the starter until further notice over former No. 1 overall pick David Carr, who has been a complete washout with the Panthers. Now it looks as if Fox might have no alternative but to switch to Carr if Vinny T. can't go tomorrow.
Oh, boy.
Don't look now, but 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde might be forced into a starting role for the Panthers in Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Just one day after signing with the Panthers, Testaverde and rookie Matt Moore shared the snaps in practice today because David Carr is still bothered by back problems.
Coach John Fox won't say whether Carr will be available to practice tomorrow, but he hasn't taken one practice snap all week after getting dinged in Sunday's win over the Saints.
