Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing,” was one of Vince Lombardi’s most famous quotes. Players and coaches and many others put in timeless hours every day, week, month, year for the opportunity to win games in the NFL. Normally when teams win games, the locker room is a place of celebration and jubilation after games. Obviously, that was not the case for at least one Panther this past weekend in Tampa after a 28-21 victory.   

Steve Smith is one of the Carolina Panthers top players on either side of the ball. He is arguably a Top Ten receiver in this league. Steve Smith called the win Sunday in Tampa, “bittersweet,” and was not done speaking. ”We get the win, but I have a limited role," Smith said.  "So, obviously, I see this game as showing I'm no longer an asset to this team." The 2009 stats for Steve Smith look like this: 21 receptions, 259 yards, 0 Touchdowns. Steve’s line for Sunday was one reception for 4 yards. Moose, DeAngelo Williams, Jeff King and Rosario all had more receiving yards than Steve Smith this weekend. There s no secret that the offense has had some issues this season. Averaging 17 points a game (24^th in league), 290 total yards a game (26^th), 158.8 yards passing         (29^th), 131.2 yards rushing (8^th), it is very easy to see why he is frustrated. Add in Jake’s 56.8 quarterback rating for the season (4 Touchdowns, 10 Interceptions), and the picture becomes even more clear.  

We all know there is an issue, the question is now, how does it get resolved? The first answer is with the quarterback position. Jake is not playing well now and we all know it. Jake threw in Steve’s direction five times Sunday resulting in one completion, three incompletions, and one interception. Overall, Jake was 9-17 for 65 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions Sunday. Those numbers got the Panthers a win, but against better competition, those numbers won’t produce the same results. Is Jake the best quarterback on the roster? One has to assume so, as Coach Fox understands the pressure is on him to win. Coach Fox certainly wouldn’t risk his job for the sake of going down with his guy, would he? One has to assume that the other quarterbacks on the roster have not shown enough in practice to threaten Jake. As much as we all want to see a change, change for the sake of change is not going to help anyone.

The next issue is the # 2 and # 3 receivers. Keyshawn was brought in to help take some of the pressure of Steve, and subsequently released for not being a good team player, according to sources. The Panthers then cut Johnson and spent a second round pick on Dwayne Jarrett. In his two plus seasons with the Panthers, Jarrett’s stat line is: 18 receptions 211 yards, 0 touchdowns (2009 Steve Smith numbers, 21 receptions, 259 yards). Moose had to be brought back in to work with Jarrett and prepare him for the day Moose retires, but something is obviously not clicking with Jarrett. If a team knows, and they all do currently, that Smith is the only guy to worry with, the coverage with follow Smith and it has all season. The Arizona Cardinals put out the blue print in how to beat the Panthers, and until something changes on the field opposite of Smith, the coverages are not going to change.

The last issue to address is coaching. The public perception is that this coaching staff is very hard-headed and does not adjust well on the fly. Several friends have asked why the team doesn’t move Steve around some, put him in motion, and just try some different things. Again, Coach Fox has to be looking at opportunities to get his top playmaker the ball in better situations and more often.

Hearing this from Smith on the heels of Beason’s comments regarding Julius Peppers, is both refreshing and raises a red flag. Hearing players speak openly and candidly as both players have is very refreshing and provides a glimpse into a situation many will never be allowed access. The red flag is raised in that these comments usually do not come out in public from this organization, and with a two week period, two have come out. An organization that likes to keep their matters in-house, as the Panthers do, many things have been released this season. Who knows where things will go from here, but you have to think winning will calm things down, at some point.