Steve Smith had a legendary 16-year NFL career before retiring after the 2016 season. Smith’s exploits will undoubtedly land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame soon. After his retirement, Smith joined the media, where he is one of the top analysts on the NFL Network.
In the first 13 years of his NFL career, Smith starred for the Carolina Panthers. In his final three seasons with the Panthers, Smith played for current Washington head coach, Ron Rivera.
Smith was a guest on 106.7 The Fan’s BMitch & Finlay on Thursday and offered plenty of analysis on the current version of the Washington Football Team — Carolina’s opponent on Sunday.
Since Rivera took over as coach, he’s discussed a 3-to-5 year plan to turn Washington into a legitimate contender. Rivera signed a five-year contract with Washington before the 2020 season.
Smith’s not a fan of that approach because of the nature of the NFL.
“I don’t know what planet y’all live on, but [three to five] years ain’t gonna get you nothing,” Smith said, via Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington. “You ain’t gonna make it to five.”
In saying that, Smith made it clear he believes in Rivera as a coach, but he thinks the problems run much deeper.
“Coach Rivera is a really good coach. That doesn’t always equal success,” Smith said. “I don’t know what’s going on. I know Coach Rivera to his core — great coach. But sometimes great coaches cannot resurrect you from the dead all the time. And I hate to say it this way, but the Washington Football Team, from the inside out, has a lot of turmoil, a lot of dysfunction and has made a lot of terrible picks.”
He’s 100% correct.
He offered a deeper analysis on what he believes the problems lie:
“The Washington Football team has a heart issue,” Smith said. “This team is not there because their coach is piss poor or not very good. Coach is good. It’s not because some of the players aren’t good. It’s a heart issue. And, you got to clean it up from the inside out. Ron Rivera is not the problem.”
Ouch.
Smith saved some of his sharpest critiques for wide receiver Curtis Samuel.
Steve Smith on Curtis Samuel – “You overpaid. Good luck.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 18, 2021
Again, ouch. Washington handed Samuel a three-year deal worth $34.5 million in the offseason, and he’s appeared in two games, making four receptions for 19 yards. He’s been sidelined since the spring with a groin injury and the team still hasn’t placed him on season-ending injured reserve, despite no evidence of a return. Smith even hinted at Samuel being injured when Washington signed him.
Smith mistakingly said Samuel received $75 million in the offseason, which could have played a part in him saying Washington overpaid.
I don’t agree with Smith’s take about Samuel. He signed a reasonable contract for a player with his skillset and age. Injuries happen. Has it been managed well? No. But there is still hope for Samuel in Washington, it just may not be in 2021.
It’s clear Smith isn’t a fan of Washington’s current team, although he does like Rivera and some of the team’s coaches, he didn’t appear to be high on offensive coordinator Scott Turner.
Washington plays the Panthers in Charlotte at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.