National Football League

Panthers receiver Steve Smith happy he returned

Published Oct. 26, 2011 10:52 p.m. ET

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When Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera met with Steve Smith back in April all he asked of the star receiver was a chance.

A chance to prove that Smith would love playing for the Panthers once he got to see the team's new offensive scheme. A chance to prove the team would find ways to use his tremendous athletic skills. A chance to prove the organization was committed to finding a franchise quarterback to get him the ball.

Smith took that chance and both sides are thrilled he did.

Rivera has a star receiver who has been a huge help to rookie Cam Newton while Smith is enjoying a renaissance of sorts at 32, leading the NFL with 818 yards receiving.

''I've been sitting on the shelf for about two years, just collecting that dust,'' Smith said. ''Get the cobwebs off, throw on a little WD-40 and let me go to work.''

The excitement is back in Smith's voice, and for good reason.

He's on pace to shatter Jerry Rice's single-season record of 1,848 yards set in 1995. Smith has four games with at least 140 yards receiving and is averaging 21 yards per catch. He's averaging 116.8 yards receiving per game, second only to New England's Wes Welker.

That's fairly remarkable considering as recently as July, Smith still wasn't sure he wanted to come back to Carolina.

Smith, who has two years left on his current contract, didn't publicly demand a trade in the offseason, but it was pretty clear he was open to such a move.

''We talked about (his future) and it was a great conversation,'' said Rivera, hired in January to replace Fox after a 2-14 season. ''He really voiced his opinion and concerns about us and about what he had gone through the last couple of years. I just told him to give us a chance and let things unfold.''

Smith was frustrated over the way he was used the past two seasons and it's hard to blame him.

After posting a 1,421-yard season in 2008, Smith's numbers dropped dramatically the last two seasons as he became more of a decoy in Fox's run-first offense. After four straight 1,000-yard seasons, Smith had 982 yards receiving in 2009 and only 554 in 2010.

Rivera assured him things would be different this season, advising Smith to think about it during the NFL lockout. Smith spent the offseason contemplating what to do, even saying he considered retirement at one point after his wife had a health scare.

Smith had plenty of folks trying to keep him around, including Newton. The rookie quarterback said he went to Smith's home in South Charlotte hoping to convince him to return.

''I told him straight up, I'm not going to lie to you and fill your head up with things you already know,'' Newton said. ''But one thing I am going to do is throw my submission letter into the suggestion box just like everybody else and try (to get you to stay).''

Newton said Smith talked about his career aspirations during that visit. Newton promised to help him reach them.

''I told him, `Whatever you want me to do, I will do it,'' Newton said.

Newton and Smith worked out together in Charlotte after that and got to know each other on a personal level, forming a bond both have said has been crucial to their early-season success.

After much contemplation with his family, Smith met with Rivera again two days before the start of training camp after the lockout ended.

''Coach Rivera asked me, `Are you all in?''' Smith said. ''I told him that I only know how to do things one way -- and that's all in. I said, `I'm here. I'm all in.''

Nobody was happier to hear that than Rivera.

Rivera has studied Smith on film at length, but one play stuck in his head more than any other - a reception that didn't even count. It was against Arizona, where Smith leaped into the air to make a sensational catch on a ball that was thrown slightly out of bounds.

''He went up and made this catch and I thought, `God, he has the got the kind of ability where if we can just keep him around and get him to look at our offense, that he can really be something,' " Rivera said.

There's no telling where the Panthers, or Newton for that matter, would be without Smith.

He not only gives Newton a big-play threat, he also has the speed and athletic ability to open up things for the team's other receivers, including tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen.

Olsen watched Smith from a distance before coming to Carolina this year and had always been a fan. He said his appreciation for Smith grew tenfold after watching him practice in training camp.

''He's been unbelievable,'' Olsen said. ''And it's more than just the stats. His demeanor, his attitude and just the way he comes to work every day. I think that's outstanding. For the young guys to be able to see a guy continue to work hard after 10-plus years in the league, that sets a great example.''

Olsen, like so many others, is happy Smith decided to return.

''There aren't many of those top elite receivers in the league - and he's been one for a long time,'' Olsen said.

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