Revenge Of The Smith
Steve Smith Sr spent a lifetime listening to others tear him down. If his numbers get the last word though, this Utah Ute might have a gold jacket and bust in the Hall.
Steve Smith never stood a chance.
Neither did Eli, not with a smaller class size being his reality in this Pro Football Hall Of Fame class of 2025, but it still was fun to think it was a possibility.
“We’re getting to a point where we’re torturing those guys,” said one selector to
.The glut at the wide receiver position will continue for the Hall’s induction process as Smith now joins Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne in 2026. It will mark year five for the Utah Utes star and 5-time Pro Bowler in his quest to become a Hall of Famer.
» Others made it personal. On a Travis Hunter podcast, Cam Newton talked about how in 2011 the Carolina Panthers were “losers” before he arrived as the No. 1 draft pick.
Steve Smith was already there in Carolina.
“I've watched & listened from a far as U @CameronNewton talk about @Panthers! None of us are perfect. Yes We were 2-14 before you blessed us w ur presence. The way you have talked about @panthers lately I'm very disappointed. I wish u nothing but the very best. I'm done !!! ✌️” said Smith.
» Similar to Newton in that he too went the JUCO route some years ago, Stevonne Smith arrived at the University of Utah in 1999 having never stepped foot in the Beehive State.
Some time thereafter, the native out of South Central Los Angeles shortened his name to Steve and became the guy most knew and loved [OK, half hated the guy] for a relentless work ethic and kilowatt energy.
Having been inducted to the PAC-12 Hall of Honor in 2019 for his efforts on the Utes it is Smith who fans hope has played his way into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in five years or less.
Smiths 1,031 receptions and 14,731 yards receiving already ranks the Ute in the NFL’s all-time top 20 in those categories. That he wasn’t far from the output of guys such as Hall of Famers Terrell Owens [15,934] and Tim Brown [14,934] is a testament to the work put in by Smith to be at his very best when there were and are many who don’t believe he belongs in such a conversation. The same holds true with his touchdowns, however, Holt himself only had 74 and Reggie Wayne, 82.
If comparing apples to oranges, and we are when there is such a glut of wide receivers vying for that gold jacket and bronze bust in Canton, Ohio, then let’s at least talk about how Smith’s total yards receiving is more than Holt’s 13,382 and the 14,345 that Wayne amassed. And, the 8,134 yards and 65 TDs good enough for Sterling Sharpe’s induction.
» As for Smith’s induction, it’s not clear his may come sooner than Holt’s or Wayne’s. Smith is a popular media figure on NFL Network but as we saw this year with Eli Manning, being a hot topic on television doesn’t mean you’ll be inducted. Like Eli, Smith needed 81.6 percent or higher [40 of the 49 votes] and he didn’t get that deal of approval.
» Now for some good news. According to one Hall of Fame Monitor, Smith’s NFL career from 2001 to 2016 placed him above the Hall’s average of 100—at 100. 6. Smith had better numbers than 21 Hall of Fame wide receivers. In fact, his average score is better than the two wideouts that were inducted last year [Andre Johnson and Devin Hester].
With a 70.5 score for his efforts, it’s clear that Cam Newton might have more work to do on his own account and maybe less on others. «
The Key Of Life
RUMORS» The debut of Keyonte George on the international stage at the 2025 All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area of California was kind of muddled by local media. Largely these are the same Millenials that harbor the same resentments toward the events that most of their contemporaries do, it’s unfair to ask what their opinions were—we already knew. What they didn’t know, or feigned knowledge of, however, was that a group of deep-thinkers led by Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard were behind the scenes, suggesting that radical changes be made to the format.
» In one short weekend, Steph, Dame and others not named Draymond Green flipped the proverbial table over on the first-to-200 format and created a round-robin tournament that irked LeBron so much he “faked” an injury. [Giannis also claimed he was “hurt” though he actually dressed in All-Star attire and gave up his roster spot so that someone else might have it—unlike the King.]
» Irregardless of how anyone felt, George’s Rising Stars squad won two first-to-40 games on Friday, advancing to Sunday’s semifinal where they tasted defeat, 42-35 on a Dame dazzler from deep. Had George buried the triple when Shaq’s OG’s were only ahead 39-35, we might be standing here talking about an event of even greater importance to Utahns. As it stands, George acquitted himself well, scoring 12 points in three games while giving birth to a format that will likely stay put with a few modifications. «
Overthink This Photo 📸
📷 » Getty Images
No photo epitomizes Utah culture more than this one of Britain Covey [right] celebrating his Philadelphia Eagles victory in Super Bowl LIX with … a bottle of water in his hand. Though Covey barely saw the field this year and will either get traded or enter coaching, he still will get his Super Bowl Ring to add to the PAC-12 Championship Ring he won at Utah and the state championship he won at Timpview High School. «
BoOk Em, BrIaN! »
» I’d already heard about this place from someone who is FROM the Quad Cities, a fertile stretch of Rust Belt towns and cities in Iowa and Illinois that sit precariously along the Mississippi River. I just had no idea about the rituals that were taking place inside one gym, or why Pat Miletich was and is to this day such a cult hero in the sport of mixed martial arts.
The way this place is depicted in the book reminded me of how people of all walks of life visit that pawn shop in Vegas, not to pawn their stuff but to say they’ve been there and done that … which they’ve seen on TV. I’m guilty of this myself, having strolled in with my young family a decade ago just to see their impressive guitar collection. Honestly, I think it gives us a shot of adrenaline to do things that others tell us not to do, or tell us we can’t do. That’s why Miletich’s gym and this book serve a vital purpose; as a waystation for folks who have UFC dreams. «
#WhatAreWeDOING Playoffs [Most-voted candidate advances to next round; two candidates per week]
» #1 Candidate: I thought I’d never, ever, ever, ever—ever, ever, EVER hear another song as bad as that one Darren Waller sang about WNBA hottie Kelsey Plum after she dumped him. Um, I was wrong! Shedeur Sanders wants us to feel bad for his situation—namely, that he has more money than God:
» #2 Candidate: Alabama grand poobah/AD Greg Byrne has a bright idea…let’s go ahead and punish fans for wanting to fan AND force their favorite college team to lose...
Advancing to the #whatarewedoing playoff second round thus far:
Frat pledge set on fire
Player pushes his coach
Ohio State female coach
Dad uses baby to clean off car
Rob Ryan rant
Thanks for reading; be safe and be well. I’ll see ya next time. «