Carolina Panthers Legend Ripped Into 22-year-old WR on His Podcast
Steve Smith’s NFL resume speaks for itself.
A five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Smith finished his 16-year career with 1,031 catches, 14,731 yards, and 81 touchdowns. He also won Comeback Player of the Year in 2005 — the same year he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,563) and co-led in receptions (103) and touchdowns (12) — one season after missing all but one game with a broken leg suffered in Week 1.
Considered one of the top WRs of all-time, when Smith talks about fellow pass-catchers, people usually listen.
So when he seemingly singled out Buffalo Bills receiver Keon Coleman on Thursday, it noticeably turned lots of heads.
“He just doesn’t get open fast enough,” Smith said about Coleman on his “89” podcast on Wednesday. “…That means the quarterback doesn’t have confidence in your ability to [get open quickly]. … He doesn’t have the ability to be a true No. 1, and he’s not.
“What we’re seeing him do with the Buffalo Bills, he ain’t the guy. Can't get separation. Can't get off the jam. Doesn't have it. You reached [for him in the draft] and got burned.”
Smith’s comments made their way to most of the Bills reporters at practice on Thursday, and the second-year wideout was asked what his reaction was to the harsh criticism thrown his way.
“I don’t even really know what he said, so that’s why I said ‘no comment,’” Coleman stated. “I feel like I’ve handled things pretty good. The ups and downs of it, and just focus on being a professional. I feel pretty confident about how I’ve handled that.”
It’s clear Coleman is in a slump.
In Week 1, Coleman had a monster game, logging eight catches on 11 targets for 112 yards and a touchdown. In the six games since, he’s totaled just 19 catches on 28 targets for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Coleman has 13 more catches than Joshua Palmer, yet he only has 33 more receiving yards. Palmer is also averaging more yards per game, and has a better contested-catch rate (80% to 40%), while Coleman has just two more yards after the catch than Palmer.