Don't Count on Me Being Right

So, how'd that Steve Smith prediction work out for you, Moss?

Hours after I predicted Smith wouldn't miss any meaningful time after his scrap with teammate Ken Lucas, much of the world began reporting that the Panthers have suspended Smith for two regular season games.

I'm extremely surprised, to say the least, based on how similar incidents in the past have been handled by teams (see previous post).

But I have a feeling I know why this one is being viewed differently. The Bill Romanowski and Michael Westbrook incidents occurred during the reign of commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who looked the other way on many matters of law and order around his domain. Roger Goodell has taken a tougher stance, and the Panthers may have feared the league's involvement if the team didn't take a pre-emptive measure such as this one. It's possible that the NFL would have come up with a penalty greater than two games.

There is also the matter of Ken Lucas being a respected veteran player, not a nobody like Marcus Williams. The Panthers organization might have feared a divided locker room if Smith was allowed to walk away from this incident unscathed.

Saturday's move will be billed as sending a message to Smith and the rest of the team about bad behavior, but I believe it had much more to do with pacifying the league and the locker room than anything else.