Latest news with #SteveSmithSr.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers take steps forward with a solid 2025 NFL Draft
Carolina is looking like a problem. Nearly a week has passed since the draft and the grades are flying in. Many analysts have given the Panthers 'A's' across the board, as they addressed nearly every need in this defensive-heavy draft class. There's something to be said about a team who looks for quality over quantity. Head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan are making it their mission to change the culture of this Carolina team. In Canales' first year, the team was a very bumpy road with no end in sight. Quarterback Bryce Young was waiting in the wings after an abysmal rookie year and was hoping Canales could change things for the better. Unfortunately, things were very bleak for Young halfway into the season. Advertisement The former top overall pick was eventually benched for Andy Dalton. However, the veteran also made his way to the sidelines due to an injury, forcing Young back into the starting lineup. That two week hiatus did wonders for the one-time Heisman winner, as he came back with a vengeance that led to a more competitive team. Fast forward to the final game of the season where they are involved in a shootout with the NFL South rival Atlanta Falcons. That game saw Young finish with five total touchdowns, three of which were through the air. While this was the end of a season, it was the start of a new chapter going into another year. Every year a team is looking for a new piece to add to the roster that can change the course of a franchise. The Panthers snagged numerous players that can make an impact on day one. Tetairoa McMillan will be one to watch this year. A big body target who can jump out of the gym as a first-rounder. The Panthers finally went out and got a guy who can just go up and get 50/50 balls. At 6-foot-5, he has a similar build of rival Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans. Now with McMillan and Xavier Leggette on the outside, Young has key weapons to help him when he has time to get the ball out of his hands. Related: Steve Smith Sr. shades Panthers draft pick again Carolina then turned to their defense, which was ranked dead last in total defense for the 2024-25 season. They ranked 23rd in pass defense, along with 32nd in run defense, redzone defense and scoring defense. Needless to say defense was a high priority in this year's draft. The next two rounds addressed just that with a couple steals. Advertisement Taking edge rushers Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M and Prince Umanmielen from Ole Miss will bring a huge boost. These two will be a key cog in the machine that is dying for new parts. Brian Burns being gone was rough, but these two can help balance out the defensive front. Scourton was noted as the fifth-best edge rusher and the 29th-best player overall, according to Pro Football Focus. Umanmielen was graded as the tenth-best and 50th overall on the big board. Related: Steve Smith Sr. alleged cheating scandal takes a shocking turn over "Homewrecker" law In the fourth round, Carolina had two picks and added something on both sides of the ball. They started with Florida running back Trevor Etienne, who'll look to add value to the backfield. The younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, could be the new RB to cover for Jonathan Brooks as he recovers from an ACL injury. Carolina then looked to improve their secondary when they drafted Ohio State's Lathan Ransom. The secondary was battered and bruised all last year, especially once they lost their star corner Jaycee Horn to injury. After releasing Xavier Woods in the offseason, bringing in depth at safety was a glaring need. Ransom's ability to cover as well as defend the run allows for some flexibility along the backend of that defense. Advertisement By the fifth round it was all about depth. Carolina got some great depth pieces over the final three picks. They added Florida defensive tackle Cam Jackson, Notre Dame tight end Mitchelle Evans, and rounding out the draft class is Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. Every player has a good chance to make the 53 man roster, if things pan out and go according to plan. One thing is certain, this Panthers team will be a strong opponent for whoever they face. The tides are shifting and the sun is rising on the new era for the Panthers.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Time of India
Inside the Steve Smith $100K affair lawsuit: NFL legend accused of wrecking a marriage
Image source - X Just when you thought NFL offseason drama couldn't get any wilder, former wide receiver and TV analyst Steve Smith Sr. is being sued not over football, but over an alleged affair. A man named Antonio Martinez claims Smith seduced his wife, and now, he's slapping the NFL star with a "homewrecker" lawsuit that's blowing up online. Steve Smith is being sued for allegedly breaking up a marriage: Here's what went down Steve Smith Sr., the former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens star turned NFL Network analyst, is now making headlines for a whole different reason. According to a lawsuit filed this week in North Carolina, Smith is being accused of destroying Antonio Martinez's marriage by allegedly having an affair with Martinez's wife, Nicole. Martinez claims the affair took place during a work trip in Baltimore in September 2024, when Smith was in town for a filming gig. He's suing for 'alienation of affection'—a rare type of civil lawsuit that only a handful of states, including North Carolina, still allow. And it's not a small ask, Martinez is seeking over $100,000 in damages, saying Smith 'willfully, maliciously and intentionally' seduced Nicole and ruined what was once a 'loving relationship.' Screenshots, deleted posts, and a voice saying 'I'm sorry': How it all went public The lawsuit didn't come out of nowhere. Back in February 2025, Antonio Martinez had already gone public on social media with some damning receipts. He posted screenshots of private messages allegedly exchanged between Steve Smith and his wife, along with a phone call recording where a man's voice, claimed to be Smith's, can be heard saying, 'I'm sorry.' The posts were deleted soon after, but not before NFL Twitter went wild. Reddit threads, gossip blogs, and fan pages were buzzing about the situation. At that time, many assumed it was an internet drama or baseless rumor but now that a lawsuit has officially dropped, it's being taken a lot more seriously. So far, Smith hasn't commented publicly. No statements, no tweets, nothing from his legal team either. Silence is the only thing coming from his camp right now. Here's the thing: Steve Smith Sr. isn't just an ex-football player. He's a public figure with a clean-cut image, a regular on sports broadcasts, and a father of four. If any of this lawsuit holds up in court or even just in public perception it could dent more than just his bank account. The 'alienation of affection' law isn't common, but it's been used before to win big settlements. In some cases, people have walked away with hundreds of thousands, even millions. If this goes to trial, it could become one of the more bizarre NFL-adjacent legal cases in years. And for Smith, whose brand is built on authenticity, family, and grit, this could get messy fast. Also read - Could Shannon Sharpe go broke? What happens if he loses the sexual assault case? Breaking down the fallout of a $50M lawsuit
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL legend claims Patriots 'got a real one' with rookie wide receiver
NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. believes the New England Patriots "got a real one" in rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams. The Patriots certainly hope so considering the many misses they've had at the wide receiver position in previous drafts. Williams, the 69th overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, was known as one of the best pure separators in the class. Advertisement He is coming off a 2024 season that saw him record 70 catches for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith is a former elite NFL receiver and current analyst/commentator. If anyone has an eye for talent at wide receiver, it would be the former five-time Pro Bowler. One of the biggest goals heading into the draft was upgrading on the offensive side of the ball by finding help for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Williams offers the Patriots an explosive option with the ability to play both inside and outside at receiver. He should have a major role on the offense moving forward. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: NFL legend claims Patriots 'got a real one' with rookie wide receiver
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL legend claims Patriots 'got a real one' with rookie wide receiver
NFL legend claims Patriots 'got a real one' with rookie wide receiver NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. believes the New England Patriots "got a real one" in rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams. The Patriots certainly hope so considering the many misses they've had at the wide receiver position in previous drafts. Williams, the 69th overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, was known as one of the best pure separators in the class. He is coming off a 2024 season that saw him record 70 catches for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith is a former elite NFL receiver and current analyst/commentator. If anyone has an eye for talent at wide receiver, it would be the former five-time Pro Bowler. One of the biggest goals heading into the draft was upgrading on the offensive side of the ball by finding help for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Williams offers the Patriots an explosive option with the ability to play both inside and outside at receiver. He should have a major role on the offense moving forward. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- USA Today
Steve Smith Sr.'s son responds to 'hate' after allegations about his dad
It's been a rough few days for the family of former NFL wideout Steve Smith Sr., to say the least. There are allegations about infidelity, with someone on X (formerly Twitter) accusing the former Carolina Panther and Baltimore Raven of having an affair with his wife. Smith Sr. hasn't responded directly since the accusations, but his son, Peyton Smith, wrote an Instagram post with this message: 'Your kind words and prayers are felt and appreciated. God's got us. I won't take much time feeding into the negativity, but to those sending hateful messages to my family, I hope you take time to reflect that you have nothing better to do with your day than to message hate to a stranger.'
