CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Carolina Panther Steve Smith Sr is not keeping quiet about the team releasing him. After his new team torn through the Panthers, Smith, who scored two touchdowns, had some choice words for the Panthers organization.
Smith called out Panthers GM Dave Gettleman on a Charlotte radio show. Smitty called into the sports radio station, WFNZ, Wednesday and criticized the way the Panthers handled his release.
During the interview, Smith said the situation was personal with him and Gettleman. He said Gettleman told him he was a distraction to the team and jealous of Cam Newton.
Smith goes on to say Coach Ron Rivera never sat down with him or chatted to him during the talks that he was being released from the Panthers. He says Rivera texted him after he was released and said, “Sorry it happened this way.”
When asked if he had anything to say to Gettleman, Smith said, “he told me what he thought of me and my play told me what I thought of him.” Smith had 139 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns in the game against the Panthers.
Smith even took a shot at defensive end Greg Hardy during the interview. Smith said he might have been a distraction but, “I didn’t beat my wife. Yeah, I hit some teammates six or seven years ago, but I didn’t beat my wife. I didn’t get arrested for DUIs. I didn’t fall off no motorcycles.”
Rivera didn’t want to discuss Smiths comments Wednesday when asked by local media.
Click HERE to listen the entire interview on WFNZ.
