Report: Steve Smith Wants To Play For Chargers Or Raiders
CBSsports.com
Posted by Will Brinson (Eye on Football)
It's pretty common knowledge that Steve Smith wants out of Carolina. Or, at least, since he refuses to talk about his situation, so it's common knowledge that Smith is doing everything -- including cleaning out his locker and attempting to sell his Charlotte-area home -- to indicate that he wants out.
But where could he go? Well, Chuck Carroll of FootballNewsNow.com reports that Smith is interested in going to either the Raiders or the Chargers next season.
Smith is a native of Lynwood, California, so if the report is true, it makes sense from the perspective of Smith, 31, wanting to get closer to home as he wraps up his career.
The actual part of trading him is tricky, of course. First, there has to be a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and/or league rules in place. Right now, that seems kind of far off.
Secondly, um, Oakland? Because, they have, um, a quarterback? I kid ... kind of. Hue Jackson's an offensive guy, he'd know how to utilize Smith, and Jason Campbell's at least going to have more success than Jimmy Clausen in 2011. (Or, at the very least, you can definitely make that argument and not get anyone fighting you on it.)
And finally, could a deal between the two teams work? Oakland would probably make a play -- Smith is FAST and we know how much Al Davis likes SPEED. But would San Diego give up a talented youngster or an early-round pick for Smith when it's already clear that they can operate successfully with low-end wide receivers on the field? I'm not so sure about that.
That being said, Smith doesn't exactly control his destiny in terms of where he'll end up playing in 2011, and you can expect the Panthers to use his value in an effort to try and rebuild on the fly.
