The Carolina Panthers shocked the football world Monday, firing general manager Dave Gettleman just eight days before the start of training camp.
But while Gettleman’s departure from a team just 18 months removed from a Super Bowl appearance came as a surprise to many fans and members of the media, some former Panthers players seemed to relish in the dismissal.
Josh Norman was the first to weigh in.
— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) July 17, 2017
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the problems between Gettleman and owner Jerry Richardson may have started when the Panthers allowed the star cornerback to hit free agency last summer. The 29-year-old eventually signed a five-year, $75-million deal with Washington.
Now-retired receiver Steve Smith Sr. also had his say in the most Steve Smith way possible.
Its Okay! Dave I know how you feel….. #agent89 #stevesmithsr pic.twitter.com/czlwuG92Ck
— Steve Smith Sr (@89SteveSmith) July 17, 2017
The Panthers all-time leading receiver was released by Gettleman following the 2013 season, a move of which the GM said: “Decisions, either popular or unpopular, have to be made for the greater good and it is imperative to take an unemotional global view.”
Smith, who eventually signed with the Baltimore Ravens and played three more seasons, said at the time he was cut that if he returned to Carolina to face his former team that “there’s going to be blood and guts everywhere.”
He wasn’t entirely wrong: Smith racked up 139 receiving yards and two TDs against the Panthers in his fourth game with the Ravens, a 38-10 victory.
Finally, DeAngelo Williams held absolutely nothing back in his criticism of Gettleman while also opening up the possibility of a return to the team with which he spent the first nine years of his NFL career.
I want to publicly say @Panthers is off my list of teams I won't play for due to the firing of that snake Dave gettleman!
— DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) July 17, 2017
Carolina’s all-time leading rusher, Williams was cut by Gettleman following an injury-shortened 2014 season. At the time of his release, Williams told WBTV Charlotte that he was OK with the team’s decision because of the way he and his family were treated when Williams’ mother died of breast cancer.
“There was a couple of things that upset me about the Panthers when my mom died,” Williams told WBTV via ESPN. “Nobody came to the funeral. The owner didn’t reach out. He didn’t say anything.”
Williams signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2015 season, racking up a combined 1,250 yards and 15 TDs before being released this past off-season.
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