Carolina Panthers All-Pro receiver Steve Smith is not happy about his team losing two straight. He seems even less pleased that he was asked to return punts Sunday night in an effort to spark his team's performance. It looked like he hadn't practiced punt returns in a while. It also looks like he won't do it again any time soon..."That'll be my last time back there," Smith said.
When asked whether he or his coaches had made that decision, he bristled.
"The last time I checked, I've only got one person to answer to. That's my maker," he said.
I suppose we can surmise that "my maker" is actually a reference to God and not, say, Smith's mother. Smith probably wouldn't be swayed on his new no-return stance if Mom called him up and said, "You know how much I love when my baby returns those punts." Theoretically, though, if God decided to start talking to Smith the way he used to talk to, say, Reggie White, maybe then Smith would consider taking on punt return duties again.
Personally, I think all the Panthers receivers would be better off if they just asked God to stop smiting their hands. These guys dropped more balls Sunday night than a room full of 12-year-olds all hitting puberty at once. That sounds like something to practice during the bye week this week, and hey, God helps those who help themselves...
