QUOTED FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS:
ATLANTA (AP) — The Carolina Panthers lost their starting quarterback and had trouble slowing Joey Harrington.
Still, they managed to get out of Atlanta with a victory, largely because DeAngelo Hall lost his cool.
The Falcons’ Pro Bowl cornerback picked up three penalties for 67 yards on Carolina’s tying drive, and David Carr came on in relief of Jake Delhomme to lead the Panthers to their final 10 points in a 27-20 victory Sunday.
Atlanta went ahead 17-10 on Harrington’s second TD pass, a 13-yarder to Alge Crumpler early in the third quarter. On Carolina’s next possession, Hall let his temper and Steve Smith get the best of him.
The two stars had been jawing at each other the entire game, with Hall holding the upper hand in the first half. However, on the first play from scrimmage after the Falcons went ahead, Delhomme threw deep down the sideline for Smith. Clearly beaten, Hall had no choice except to drag down the receiver for a 37-yard interference penalty.
Apparently frustrated, Hall gave Smith a shove to the upper chest on the next play, drawing a 15-yard personal foul. Then, with Carolina apparently forced into a field-goal try after Delhomme was sacked, Hall drew an unsportsmanlike penalty for continuing to jabber at Smith.
That gave the Panthers an automatic first down, and they quickly punched it in for the tying TD, Delhomme’s 5-yard pass to Jeff King. Hall even got into it with his own coach, Bobby Petrino, before being dragged away by a couple of teammates.
So, given that description, it seems that in reality Steve Smith played an important role in sealing Carolina’s victory today. But in fantasy, it’s all about stats. There’s no way to measure intangible contributions on the field.
Steve Smith (WR):
- 1 Catch for 10 yards
- 1 Rush for 6 yards
- 34 fantasy points
Steve Smith contributed 52 yards of offense on Carolina’s key drive when you consider that he drew that many yards in penalties from DeAngelo Hall, but there’s no place for that to be recorded on a stat sheet.
As you might have guessed by now, Steve Smith is on my fantasy football team. He’s my best player. I got 602 fantasy points from him last week and 414 points the week before, so this week’s meager result hurts.
One Comment, Comment or Ping
Maxime
Great work.
Oct 27th, 2008
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