“Frank [Reich] Gets Fired”: Endorsing Bryce Young, Ex-Panthers Receiver Calls Out Carolina Team for Being ‘Dumb’
Follow Us
Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Stevonne Latrall Smith Sr. is all praise for the young talent Bryce Young. In conversation with Robert Griffin III, the legend is seen rooting for Young and his potential but is uncertain when comparing him with one of the finest rookies, C.J. Stroud.
As former Panthers head coach Frank Reich’s tenure ended, everything did not seem promising for Young since the players around him left Smith Sr. doubtful about his potential being appreciated. From this interview, the struggles of the Panthers during Reich’s reign come to the forefront.
Rookie woes of Bryce Young
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the latest RG3 And The Ones episode, Robert Griffin III had Steve Smith Sr. as his guest. Seeking his opinion on having confidence in Young, Smith Sr. looked to be all positive. However, there lies a bit of suspicion when he sees Young through a comparison lens, “I liked Bryce Young initially. I picked Bryce and said we should go with Bryce. That doesn’t mean that I think C.J. can’t play.” The last season was tough for the No.1 overall pick, especially after “Frank [Reich] gets fired.”
Steve Smith Sr. on if he is all in on Bryce Young moving forward,
“A smart kid can look dumb if he’s around a lot of dumb people.”@SteveSmithSr89
Full convo 📺 https://t.co/TT0giFPpd2 pic.twitter.com/SyuNcJMalv
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 23, 2024
Reportedly, Young struggled in his first 10 charts and completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,877 yards. But the point of difference comes with his speed, as Smith Sr. acknowledges, “I said just like other people reported like Bryce’s, his processing was faster than C.J.’s.” However, his last prediction, “But at the end of the day, a smart kid can look dumb if he’s around a lot of dumb people,” left a note of how Young has found himself in an environment that does not support growth in any way. This opens up the discussion about what went wrong with the Panthers last season.
Trending
Hours After Travis Kelce’s Presence, Ex-GF Kayla Nicole Attends Beach Party That Included Patrick Mahomes
May 08, 2024 10:10 AM EDT
Ryan Garcia Shows off His $300K Winnings to Shut down Millionaire Shedeur Sanders After “Heated Altercation”
May 07, 2024 08:30 PM EDT
Heated Debate Erupts After NFL Scouts Ranks Shedeur Sanders as Undrafted While Coach Prime Backs Him to Be a 1st Round Pick
May 07, 2024 09:46 PM EDT
Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Ditches NFL & NBA Athletes to Glorify the Fastest Growing Sport in North America
May 08, 2024 02:38 AM EDT
“Can’t Have It Both Ways”: Amid Social Media Outcry, Coach Prime Warned of Potential Backlash if Colorado Football Fails to Meet Expectations
May 08, 2024 04:30 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NFL stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Panthers’ journey after Reich’s exit
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
As Carolina stepped into the 2023 season, they seemed to be poised under the mentorship of Reich. However, the franchise failed to hit the mark, resulting in a split between the coach and the Panthers. Even though the team seemed to have no expectations for Reich, they ran high in motivation as far as Young was concerned.
Carolina owner David Tepper spoke in favor of the rookie, “We are totally confident in that pick. We were going to go with the No. 2 pick, and we thought we’d get C.J. because we thought the Texans were going to pick Bryce. Listen, we preferred Bryce. He was our No. 1 pick.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
However, regarding Smith Sr.’s comment about “dumb” people is concerned, Young had been in a difficult situation with a sieve offensive line and receivers who don’t separate. Besides, Reich preferred an offense spread featuring four to five receivers, who failed to protect Young, leaving him vulnerable. Now, it is to be seen how the Panthers have dealt with the challenges and improvised themselves and how Young will channel this change for his growth.
Edited by:
Shubhankar Adhikari