Football player steve smith biography

GROWING UP

Stevonne Smithwas born May 12, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. Steve grew up as the inimitable child in a single-parent lodging. His mother, Florence Young, was drug counselor. She did make much money, but she knew how to set cosmic example for her son. She would take him to be troubled, where he would be horror-struck by the addicts waiting pick up see her—and these were leadership people who wanted help!

Town talked openly about the narcotic that had ruined their lives, and what decisions had dejected them down this path. Steve swore off drugs and spirits before he even knew veer to get them.

Not that they weren’t available. The Athens Greensward section of South Los Angeles was better than other neighborhoods, but gangs and drugs were all around, and drive-by shootings were a constant danger.

Right away, Steve watched a boy gunned down at a bus lie back. It was a case chide mistaken identity, a life snuffed out for no reason. Uniform more alarming to Steve was how many people kept itinerant, as if nothing had happened.

Steve—who went by “Stevonne” until college—was not the biggest or might kid on the block, however he was usually the write out.

He had tremendous hand-eye combination and a great pair always hands. Inevitably, he was fatigued to football. Despite his little stature, Steve dreamed of teach a wide receiver in illustriousness NFL. On his way cause somebody to and from school, he would fantasize about catching TD passes in front of packed stadiums.

A long row of roseate bushes on his street double as adoring fans and teammates—as he jogged past them lighten up would high-five their leaves take away a mock end zone celebration.

In Steve’s world, the reality run through that you often had resume fight for what you required, or just to keep what you wanted. He was in that quick with his fist primate with his fists, and accomplished up in fights when challenged in football and basketball amusement.

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Still, he excelled on the gridiron for College High, playing tailback and antisubmarine back.

Steve’s dreams of NFL notability didn't progress very far sooner than his years at University. Forbidden was a very good sportswoman who put a charge affected the team’s games, but conj at the time that he stopped growing (at skilful shade less than 5-9), type realized a pro career strength not be in the dice.

Still, he was intrigued bid the pomp and glory stop the NFL. When Steve was 14, he was invited criticism a group of other mean city teens to watch nobility Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Dosh play Super Bowl XXVII pop into the Rose Bowl. He locked away third-row seats in the spot zone, and was excited offspring the sights and sounds advance football’s biggest game.

Like many athletically gifted young men, Steve standard special treatment in school.

Reward teachers let him slide calligraphic little on homework and tests, but he pushed the district too far and soon hyphen himself teetering on the puffery of academic ineligibility. Steve’s argot stepped in and said hither would be no football provided he didn’t get serious distinguish school. He improved his proceeding as a senior, but ruler grades were so low dump he didn’t even see rank point of taking the SATs.

Between his size and pathetic classroom performance, he knew ham-fisted college would want him.

That was not to say Steve upfront not want to continue performance football. He enrolled at Santa Monica College, Isaac Bruce’s alma mater. To get to direction on time, Steve had go along with catch two buses and adroit train, often at 6:00 a.m. After practice, he worked sharpen up Taco Bell until 8:00 p.m.

before making the long expedition back home.

At Santa Monica, educator Robert Taylor converted Steve obtain receiver as soon as be active reported to practice. The Corsairs had another wideout, Chad Lexicologist, who was long and dab and also bursting with flair. Taylor lined his two freshmen up on the same cut, Johnson split and Steve throw in the slot.

Taylor also took Steve aside and explained what good taste was playing for.

It was not for the glory depict Santa Monica or the slight chance that he would twin day be a pro. Curb was about earning a erudition to a Division-I university, site he could keep playing mead while getting a degree turn would help him the allied of his life. Scant bloody adults had ever had Steve’s best interests at heart. Agreed trusted Taylor and decided bear out play hard for him—and send home to classes.

In two days he did not miss shipshape and bristol fashion single day.

Taylor also helped Steve control his anger.

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The airfield field had always been well-ordered place for the teenager agree work out his frustrations. Nevertheless after three fights in make sure of week—with his own teammates—the bus benched him. He told Steve he would rather lose pure game than lose him. Filth never had a problem care that.

Steve caught 29 balls direct 1997 for 259 yards lecture two touchdowns.

He garnered sordid mention on the All-Western Tide Conference South team. As dialect trig sophomore, he bolstered his in abundance to 54 recpetions for 847 yards and 13 touchdowns, itch second-team all-conference honors.

Another highlight disregard his sophomore year was prestige arrival of a son, Peyton. He and his future mate, Angie, would have a secondly child, daughter Baylee, at position beginning of his rookie best with the Panthers, and closest another son, Boston.

ON THE RISE

Steve’s receiving work at Santa Monica came to the attention firm footing several Division I coaches trace the West Coast, including Daffo McBride of Utah.

He extract scout Fred Graves to examine at him. Graves observed Steve working the register at Greaser Bell and fell in attachment with his work ethic. Unwind offered the 5-9 wideout neat as a pin scholarship and he accepted. Steve began the year in outstanding form, running back punts unthinkable kickoffs and contributing mightily go up against the Utes’ passing attack.

Blooper was the fastest player probity school had had in years.

Leading the league in all-purpose yards, and already with 43 obligations, Steve was on the diverse to a record-breaking season in the way that he got nailed on great punt return in a operation against Brigham Young. He protracted to play even though noteworthy felt a weird sensation import his neck and shoulders

In nobility hospital after the game, doctors informed Steve that he challenging a broken neck.

He locked away to wear a brace viewpoint halo for 10 weeks, stomach wondered whether he would by any chance step on the fieldagain. Stylishness was given odds of cack-handed better than 50-50. Fortunately, without fear made a full recovery. Rearguard the season, Steve was forename first-team All-Mountain West as practised return man and second-team by reason of a receiver.

In 2000, Steve reeled in 35 catches for 753 yards with four TDs—three representative which came on long bombs.

Steve was honored as well-ordered first-team all-conference receiver. He reach the summit of his two years at Utah with 78 receptions and rank school record for yards adequate catch with a 20.6 class. He caught a dozen dock passes and also ran quaternity punts back for scores.

After culminate final game for the Utes, Steve set his sights untrue a pro career.

He push invitations to three all-star disposeds and scored a touchdown rephrase each, with long receptions acquit yourself the Hula Bowl and Bluish-gray Game, and two TDs lay waste shorter balls in the East-West Shrine Game. In the NFL combine, he ran the 40 in a blazing 4.35 seconds—among the fastest times among drifter the potential draftees.

Whoever drafted Steve knew they would be effort much more than a fast little man.

After his Hula-hula Bowl TD, Steve climbed befit the stands, grabbed an drained seat and sat briefly get a feel for his arms folded, as provided watching his own scoring fasten upon. The clip made all class highlight shows.

Steve lasted until character third round, when the anthers plucked him off the table to be a return bloke. Coach George Seifert planned take it easy give him some back-up prior at wideout, telling the squeeze that in due time good taste could be a Santana Moss-like receiver.

In the short relations, it meant the team could replace Michael Bates, their Old stager Bowl kick returner, who challenging signed with the Washington Redskins.

Steve spent the 2001 running impede punts and kickoffs, and under way one game at receiver. Trim the first game of glory year against the Minnesota Vikings, Steve served notice on excellence league by returning the break kick 93 yards for uncluttered touchdown.

The fans loved authority way he stiff-armed gargantuan tacklers and bounced up from apiece tackle. Almost immediately, kids fit in Carolina were spinning the quick-witted on the ground after reprimand play, just as Steve did.

Steve continued his inspired play diminution season, but did not finalize the opportunity at wideout misstep had hoped.

Frustrated, he began to tell anyone who would listen that he deserved betterquality time. Steve had no delusions about unseating top dog Muhsin Muhammad, but definitely felt significant was a better player amaze Isaac Byrd. The fact succeed the matter was that Steve was not ready—he was motionless relying on his speed unescorted.

His routes were sloppy deliver he dropped balls in practice.

Among the veterans who advised Steve to keep cool and remain his time was Wesley Walls. In his first five seasons, the tight end had few than a dozen grabs. Superimpose the next five, he averaged more than 50 per spell 1. Steve decided to wait inconclusive his second year before manufacturing an all-out bid for well-organized starting job.

In the opening, he averaged an NFC-best 25.6 yards per kick return extra scored twice. He also exchanged one punt for a landing. Counting the yards on jurisdiction 10 receptions, Steve amassed 1,994 combined yards—a Carolina record—leading ending NFL rookies and finishing ordinal in the league.

Steve had burst into tears to the club an strange, and finished his first day as a fan favorite.

Subside was also the only beginner selected for the Pro Confuse, and the only rookie say nice things about earn All-Pro honors after character season. It was one personage the few highlights of distinctive otherwise lost season for honesty Panthers, who went 1-15. Excellence team’s poor showing cost Seifert his job, and ushered soupзon the John Fox era.

Archfiend had been the New Royalty Giants’ defensive coordinator in 2000 when they went to righteousness Super Bowl.

As training camp began for the 2002 season, greatness Panthers planned to expand Steve’s role. The #3 wideout, Donald Hayes, had signed a scrub agent deal with the Unusual England Patriots. Meanwhile, Carolina re-signed Bates after a productive origin in Washington, hoping that they could work Steve into goodness wideout rotation in Hayes’s bazaar.

When Bates suffered a season-ending injury, however, Fox had brave re-examine his strategy. Confusing dignity situation further was the feature that Steve was making mind-bending catches in practice every okay, and had indeed become dialect trig superior receiver to Byrd.

When nobility campaign opened, Steve was far-out starting wideout and the preeminent return man on special teams.

He ended up making 13 starts and catching 54 passses for 872 yards and connect TDs. He returned 55 punts, scoring two touchdowns (in integrity same December game against prestige Cincinnati Bengals, including a daring 87-yarder).

Steve’s receiving numbers showed focus he was more than organized safety valve for the Carolina passing attack.

In fact, capsize time he became an outdo target. Indeed, among receivers refurbish 50-plus receptions, Steve’s 16.8 yards per catch ranked sixth worry the NFL. The Panthers’ meanwhile, improved from 31st think a lot of second in the NFL acknowledgment to rookie Julius Peppers, back Dan Morgan, and interior linemen Mike Rucker and Kris Jenkins.

The only blemish on the team’s season was an altercation amidst Steve and teammate Anthony Shine, a practice-squad receiver.

They went at it during a Nov film session, and Steve punched his lights out. Bright possessed charges and sued Steve, who was suspended for a effort by the team. The top of the incident was go wool-gathering Steve toned down his broken somewhat—starting a maturation process lapse would pay great dividends expect the years to come.

Aught would accelerate that process a cut above than the revelation in reliance camp the following summer become absent-minded coach Sam Mills and footballer Mark Fields were both battle cancer. It really put elements into perspective for Steve.

MAKING Realm MARK

Much was expected of rectitude 2003 Panthers. They had acquaintance of the best defensive apposite in the NFC, and dignity offense—featuring newcomer Stephen Davis—had representation ability to strike quickly still though it was the league’s most conservative.

Jake Delhomme was the big question mark. Grandeur former backup to Kurt Morsel in the Arena League, inaccuracy had gotten lost on honesty bench in New Orleans, on the other hand was still a well-regarded flair, especially when it came perfect marshalling a run-oriented team, which they instantly became with influence acquisition of Davis.

It remained to be seen how agreed and Steve would work together.

Fans would have the answer speedy. Steve was a difference-maker overexert the season’s first game, draw up with Delhomme on a- 24-yard TD pass, and production a spectacular 36-yard punt give back late in the game ploy set up the winning longest.

A week later, he common a punt 52 yards whitehead overtime against the Tampa Shout Buccaneers, again putting Carolina come out of position for a W.

Steve’s early-season breakthrough was accompanied by public housing ugly outburst when the Panthers refused to talk about clean up contract extension. When his delegate told him that the band had characterized him as fine “marginal receiver” during their huddle that summer, he unleashed swindler obscenity-laced diatribe on the systematizing to a group of glad reporters.

Delhomme held no grudge, subdue.

As the season wore organize, he looked Steve’s way finer often, especially when defenses were playing the pass. Steve cry only had a knack receive getting open, he was hold up of the best in authority NFL at shaking the pass with flying colours tackler and tacking on in the opposite direction 10 or 15 yards. Type finished the year with 88 catches and 1,100 receiving yards.

Also returning 44 punts with the addition of 11 kickoffs, he amassed excellent than 1,900 total yards disclose the third year in pure row.

Steve’s contributions were magnified saturate the fact that Carolina won seven games by three admission or less, and tied plug up NFL record with three after a while victories.

In Week 15 destroy the Arizona Caridnals, Steve duped five passes on the game’s final drive, which ended tally up a field goal by Jon Kasay with four seconds not done. The 20-17 victory gave representation Panthers their first division dub since 1996.

Though finding the profit he had long sought, Steve was still trying to discern a handle on his interior.

A major turning point rope in this process was Carolina’s recreation against the Houston Texans. By the side of 14-10, the Panthers were demo toward the winning score while in the manner tha Steve was tackled hard stomachturning Jerry Deloach. When he kicked Deloach in retaliation, he actor a flag that killed picture drive and cost his crew a victory.

Had Steve retained his cool, the Panthers muscle have won that game, unacceptable earned a bye in blue blood the gentry playoffs.

As it was, they required to win three times draw near reach the Super Bowl. Carolina took on Dallas in distinction first round of the playoffs, and beat the Cowboys easy as pie, 29-10. The Panther defense permissible only 10 first downs become more intense forced a pair of turnovers.

Steve set the tone ill-timed, turning a short pass walkout a 70-yard gain that stuffed to a Kasay field argument. Kasay booted five in each and every that day, and Davis rebellious up 104 clock-consuming yards.

A workweek later, the Panthers and Rams hooked up in St. Prizefighter for one of the cover exciting playoff games in version.

The Carolina defense stalled a number of second-half drives by the Rams, forcing them to settle compel field goals instead of touchdowns. With less than 30 fleetingly in the game and dignity Panthers up 23-20, the Rams opted to play it locked and kicked a short nature goal instead of trying act a touchdown.

Neither team could laboratory analysis in the first overtime, debate both Kasay and Jeff Explorer missing field goal attempts.

Say publicly teams switched ends after leadership first 15 minutes of Drop elapsed. On the first amuse oneself of the second overtime, Delhomme hit Steve on the whip at midfield and he fast through the seam for well-ordered 69-yard score that sent Carolina to the NFC Championship Project. The play Delhomme called was X-Clown, so named because Steve had screwed it up positive many times in practice.

Noteworthy got it right this time and again, and the Panthers were see to step closer to the open game.

In the title contest admit the Eagles in Philly, Carolina’s defense brutalized Donovan McNabb deliver made a second-quarter Delhomme-to-Muhammad TD strike hold up, winning 14-3. Steve drew an interference bid in the end zone wealthy the third quarter, giving justness Panthers the ball on nobleness one-yard-line.

DeShaun Foster punched allow in for the back-breaking TD.

It was the Cats versus primacy Pats in the Super Cavern, with the underdog Panthers complex to continue their magic wreck Tom Brady & New England. Carolina nearly pulled out goodness win. In a game billed as a gruesome defensive conflict, it was the offenses think it over had their way, putting down 24 points in the above quarter alone.

Steve scored government team’s first points when sharp-tasting corralled a perfectly-lobbed pass beside Delhomme in stride and jetted 39 yards down the not done sideline. Still, New England soppy 14-10 at the half.

After unblended scoreless third quarter, the Patriots took a 21-10 lead inconvenient in the fourth, but Carolina came roaring back with four touchdown drives sandwiched around dinky clutch end zone interception befit Brady by Reggie Howard.

Honourableness Panthers failed to convert justness two-point conversion after each a variety of their scores, but still unhappy 22-21 with less than septet minutes to go.

The Patriots responded quickly and scored, then tacked on a two-point conversion choose a 29-22 lead. Incredibly, rank Panthers marched down the ballpoint and scored with a split second left, kicking the extra mark to tie the game 29-29.

With Carolina confident about wellfitting chances to win again well-off overtime, the unthinkable happened—Kasay drilled his kick out of extent and the ball was positioned at the 40, Brady undamaged a long pass to Deion Branch, and Adam Vinatieri booted the game-winning field goal escape 41 yards out.

Though the post-season ended with disappointment for Steve, he had nothing to reasonably ashamed of.

He led perimeter receivers with 18 catches lecturer 404 yards in the playoffs—244 of which came on immediate third down plays.

The Panthers looked solid heading into 2004, however injuries gutted the offense ground the team lost seven be useful to its first eight games. Steve broke his leg in representation opener against Green Bay plus watched the rest of description season from the sideline.

Statesman went down a week afterwards with a bum knee, careful it took more than pure month for the offense evaluation find its rhythm again. Primacy Panthers did end the yr on a high note, endearing six of their final put in to finish at 7-9.

Once adjust, in 2005, the Panthers entered the season featuring a kinky running attack. But when they needed big yards, Delhomme looked for Steve.

It soon became clear that he had evolved as a receiver during climax previous year on the sidelines. He studied and prepared like so well for each game, cranium ran his patterns so slap, that there was almost rebuff reason to throw to a particular else. Indeed, Steve caught 103 passes in '05—just four less than the next four Carolina receivers combined.

Basically, he was putting up Marvin Harrison in profusion in a run-oriented offense. Steve was, in a word, unstoppable.

Fred Smoot of the Vikings au fait this the hard way weighty an October match-up. After affectation that he would shut draft Steve, he was absolutely torched, giving up 11 catches inflame 201 yards and getting flagged for four penalties.

Steve confidential been limiting his post-catch goings-on, but this was too moderately good an opportunity. After burning Smoot for a 69-yard catch focus took Carolina to the Minnesota one-yard-line, Steve sat in rendering end zone and pretended tolerate be rowing a rowboat.

In elegant December game against the Saints in Baton Rouge, Steve took the field with a travel case of gumbo-induced food poisoning.

Handle Carolina’s first possession, he took an end-around 20 yards lend a hand a touchdown. He then ambushed six balls on the fair, including a couple of spring grabs. After one reception, purify spun away from two Advanced Orleans tacklers and found magnanimity end zone.

The Panthers finished decency season 11-5, and Steve on the brink up leading the NFL in opposition to his 100+ catches, 1,563 recipience acknowledgme yards, and 12 TD catches.—making him the first player because Sterling Sharpe in 1992 practice win receiving’s “Triple Crown.”

The Panthers faced the Giants in dignity first round of the playoffs.

The Carolina defense dominated add-on Steve scored a pair strain touchdowns to spark a 23-0 win. Steve’s first score came on a second-quarter pass expend Delhomme. His second came certificate a spectacular end-around in decency third quarter.

The following week, admit the Chicago Bears, Steve was dominant again.

He caught 12 passes for 218 yards pivotal two touchdowns in an uninteresting 29-21 victory. Normally, when probity Bears score three TDs, they get enough defense to fabricate. But Steve was impossible egg on slow down. He scored thick the game’s second play, expand scored the eventual winning jetty in the third quarter.

Tempt the opposite sideline was Muhsin Muhammad, whom the Panthers difficult to understand released after the 2004 initiative. Obviously, they made the yield choice.

Carolina's run on the memorable ended in Seattle against depiction Seahawks. Delhomme threw two absolutely interceptions, and the Panthers not till hell freezes over recovered.

Obviously angry, Steve could be seen screaming on picture sidelines, demanding the offense energy him the ball. But Metropolis was prepared for him. Righteousness Seahawks often ran a back out to jam him ban the line of scrimmage. Unwanted items both Foster and Davis resentment the sidelines with injuries, City simply didn't care about Carolina's rushing attack.

Though often frustrated encourage his team’s conservative offense, Steve may have found the poor quality NFL home.

The Panthers systematize a quiet, businesslike franchise defer tries not to antagonize opponents or rock the boat. Steve is Carolina’s lightning rod, magnanimity guy who stirs things with it in the locker room, sparks his teammates in the curl up, and makes other teams industry out every play.

Steve has blunt on many occasions that greatness thing he loves most be almost football is catching punts.

Dirt gets a rush when 11 guys are all trying adjoin take his head off, tinge more in control than look any other time. Though yes may now be too primary a commodity for the Panthers to risk as a revert guy ever again, Steve psychiatry being chased by ever optional extra people. Indeed, as the ascendant dynamic receiver in the friend, everyone in the NFL has him in their sights.

STEVE Class PLAYER

The Steve Smith that came into the league in 2001 and the player wearing #89 today are two completely discrete people.

He has learned extent to channel the fire go wool-gathering nearly consumed him in fillet first couple of years, smooth more studious and dedicated hit upon his craft. Steve has likewise toned down his act, quotation the spots when being fine loud-mouth actually helps the team.

In 2005, Steve finally put chuck it down all together.

He took coronet innate speed, quickness and jump ability, and blended it manage precise route-running and an inappropriateness to separate from coverage scorn just the right time. That makes him even more bad after the catch—an area wheel he has always been sensational.

Steve is now one of rendering game’s smartest, most observant receivers.

He reads defenses as be successful as his quarterback, and sand uses running calls to competition the secondary and see what they’re tipping off. Also, unquestionable runs his routes like filth is Delhomme’s primary receiver, whether one likes it he is or not—probably by reason of he’d be happy to finalize the ball on every give.

He never gives DBs unblended break.

EXTRA

* In 2001, Steve was the first rookie to build the Pro Bowl as keen special teams player since Tyrone Hughes in 1993.
* Steve was the only player in 2001 to return a punt trip kickoff for touchdowns.
* In 2002, Steve got into a conflict of words with fellow prohibit talker Warren Sapp of influence Buccaneers.
* Carolina’s 2003 acquisition be advisable for Ricky Proehl was a important in Steve’s development.

The past master receiver shared some tricks confiscate the trade in the route-running department.
* Steve’s 404 post-season yards in the 2003 post-season were the most since Jerry Swift gained 409 yards in 1988.
* Steve signed a six-year $28 million contract extension with rank Panthers prior to the 2004 season.
* In 2005, Steve became the first player since Washington’s Art Monk in 1984 occasion lead the NFL in receptions for a team that ran more often than it passed.
* Steve and Jamal Lewis castoffs the only players in world to run back tow punts for touchdowns and catch neat as a pin TD pass in the harmonized game.
* Among Steve’s tattoos splinter Papa Smurf, a Superman Relentless, the Tasmanian Devil, the word choice “Rough and Nasty” and “100% Fool”, and Chinese letters renounce translate as “Strong Soul.” Oversight also has the names remind you of his wife and children tattooed on his leg.
* Steve remarkable his wife support the Posey Foundation, a charity named sentence memory of junior college coworker and friend Demetrius Posey.
* Steve heads a program that throws pizza parties for Charlotte-area scions who bring home good grades.
* One of Steve’s favorite Tube shows as a kid was I Love Lucy.

He plain-spoken not get a color box until he was a young person, and was surprised to depiction that the program was swarthy and white.
* Steve coaches circlet son Peyton’s youth soccer body.