Steve Smith plans to take vacation with Panthers $5M parting gift

The Carolina Panthers essentially paid Steve Smith $5 million to go away.

They parted with their longtime receiver in the offseason and made it clear that he was a distraction. Asked Tuesday night by Jim Rome for Showtime (via ESPN.com) what his response was what the Panthers said about him, Smith said: “A $5 million cash check.’’ 

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Nice little severance package, eh?

Smith signed quickly thereafter with the Baltimore Ravens and is on pace for one of his better seasons in recent years. He roasted the Panthers in Week 4 with seven catches for a season-high 139 yards and two touchdowns. Smith is treating his money as a pretty nice proverbial gold watch — and is not afraid to wave it back in the Panthers’ faces a bit.

Smith’s plans for the cash?

“Whether I got pushed out the door or shoved out the door, they owed me $5 million,’’ he said. “So, that’s what I received and I’m here in Baltimore playing well. So I plan on taking one of those vacations from that money this weekend on our bye.” 

Oh, Steve, never change.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm