Scout.com: Smith gets two-game suspension

Smith gets two-game suspension

This story originally published on PantherInsider.com

Smith

By Brad Thomas

PantherInsider.com
Posted Aug 3, 2008

Panthers head coach John Fox levied a two-game suspension on starting WR and former team captain Steve Smith for the attack that occurred at training camp on Friday.

"He'll be suspended for the first two (regular season) games," coach Fox said after practice at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday. "What he did was wrong, we take it very serious, and he's being punished severely for it."

Smith was suspended for one game back in 2002 for a similar attack against then teammate Anthony Bright.

"You try to do what's fair," said Fox. "It's something that's inexcusable and that's the punishment. It's a pretty steep, severe punishment."

Fox stated that Smith will continue to practice with the team until the Sunday before the first regular season game, and would likely play in the four preseason games.

Fox also confirmed what we reported first on Friday, that Lucas did in fact sustain some facial fractures.

"Ken did have a broken nose," Fox said. "He's doing fine. He's in great mental spirits, which is critical. Physically, it could have been worse, not that a broken nose is not bad enough. We'll treat it as we go."

Smith's suspension means that the Panthers will likely keep an extra wide receiver at least for the first two games of the season.

Jason Carter may be the beneficiary. The third-year player out of Texas A&M has looked good during training camp and had a touchdown with the first team during the Fan Fest intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.