Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith looked like the Steve Smith of old on Sunday in a win over the St. Louis Rams. He caught five passes for 69 yards and broke more than one tackle en route to a 19-yard touchdown reception. The attitude associated with his game was also vintage 89.
For most of the afternoon, Smith was matched up against Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins. After the game, Smith told reporters that Jenkins “used the internet and Google for the first time ever” to research for trash talking, claiming Jenkins said derogatory things about his wife. Following his touchdown in the third quarter, which happened to be the 800th reception of Smith’s career, No. 89 pointed at Jenkins and broke into Deion Sanders’ trademark celebration.
“Well he thinks he’s Deion (Sanders),” Smith said, via Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “He’s not. He’s just another notch on the bedpost. That’s 800. He ain’t no different.
“When you embarrass people you rub it in their face.”
Smith also added that he would punch Jenkins in the face if he ever saw him outside the football stadium. Whatever the second-year corner said, it clearly got under Smith’s skin. This is the same Smith who complained about getting leg-humped during a game a couple weeks ago and once came out and said Mark Sanchez sucks, so you know he doesn’t need an excuse to flap his gums. Jenkins may talk a little less if the two ever meet again.
