By John Turney 
Simply put, Steve Smith Sr. was more than one of the most dynamic and productive wide receivers of his era; he was one of the two greatest players in Carolina Panthers' history, leaving behind a legacy that, after 16 NFL seasons, demands Pro Football Hall-of-Fame consideration.
Thankfully, he's finally getting it. But now the question: Will he also get a Hall-of-Fame bust?
He should.
From 2005-2008, Smith was perhaps the NFL's premier wide receiver, leading the league in receptions, yards and touchdowns to claim the 2005 single-season Triple Crown -- a feat matched only by Jerry Rice, Cooper Kupp and Sterling Sharpe in the modern era. Two of those three are in Canton, while the third (Kupp) is still active.
Furthermore, Smith ranks eighth in career receiving yards and is one of just 12 players with 18,000 combined yards despite losing a year to injury and playing with ... how do I put this? ... undistinguished quarterbacks for much of his career.
Look who quarterbacked the Panthers during Smith's first few years in Carolina, and tell me if you disagree: Chris Weinke, Rodney Peete, Jake Delhomme, a 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde, Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen. Granted, Delhomme was pretty good, but compare him to, say, the quarterbacks who threw to Hall-of-Fame finalists Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne.
I'd say Kurt Warner, Mac Bulger and Peyton Manning were slightly better.
OK, so there was Cam Newton, but Smith was 32 when the future league MVP arrived in Carolina. The two spent three seasons together before Smith signed with Baltimore to team with quarterback Joe Flacco in a run-heavy offense. Nevertheless, he remained a dangerous weapon -- finishing among the league leaders in receiving and, in 2014, recording one of the most prolific age-35 seasons ever with 75 receptions for 1,065 yards.
Where Holt and Wayne had better quarterbacks and played in sophisticated passing offenses, Smith embraced the disadvantages of his size (he was 5-9), schemes and quarterbacks and fought to excel -- quickly gaining a reputation as a fearless route runner who wouldn't give in to anyone or anything. You simply didn't mess with Steve Smith. Because he would mess with you, too.
"How many 5-foot-9 receivers," asked NFL Films' Greg Cosell, "have there been in the history of the NFL with Smith's combination of vertical speed, lateral explosion, physical strength, mental toughness and unrelenting competitiveness? You could argue there has not been another quite like him."
And you might be right.
But Smith wasn't just a marvelous receiver. He was a marvelous return man, too. In fact, he was so effective returning punts and kickoffs that he was an All-Pro there before he was an All-Pro receiver. And why not? In his first three seasons, he returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns and scored on a punt return in the 2005 playoffs.
And speaking of playoffs ... Smith was a matchup nightmare there, too. In 11 postseason games, he totaled 59 receptions for 1,001 yards and 9 TDs. Over a 17-game schedule, that works out to 91 catches for 1,547 yards and 14 scores ... and think about that: In what translates to a 17-game NFL season, he produced a first-team All-Pro year. Moreover, those numbers are close to those he produced in 2005 when he won the receiving version of a Triple Crown (1,563 yards, 103 catches and 12 touchdowns) and WAS a first-team All-Pro.
Hall-of-Fame cornerback Ronde Barber called Smith the toughest receiver he ever faced. So did former Steelers' cornerback Ike Taylor. Future Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald dubbed him the NFL's best man-to-man route runner. With a resume that includes a dominant peak, remarkable longevity and a litany of admirers, Steve Smith Sr. has a rock-solid case for Canton.
So let's see what happens. A first-time finalist this year, he didn't survive the first cut from 15 to 10. But he will. Maybe next year. Maybe 2027. And he should. His giant-sized production and personality left an indelible mark on the game, and it should ... no, it will ... be rewarded.
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