The Carolina Panthers surprised us on Monday when they fired general manager Dave Gettleman, and former players could not have been more excited to hear the news.
Steve Smith took pleasure in Dave Gettleman’s firing, and he wasn’t the only one
Steve Smith was the happiest, of course.
Former Panther Steve Smith, one of the greatest trash talkers in NFL history, took a swing at Gettleman on Twitter soon after Gettleman was fired:
Smith’s tenure in Carolina didn’t end well, when Gettleman cut him after the 2013 season. In 2014, Gettleman suggested that Smith wouldn’t be in the NFL much longer. Then later in that season, Smith said Gettleman didn’t have the “cojones” (testicles, for those unfamiliar) to tell him about his release in person.
But it wasn’t just Smith — Gettleman also cut DeAngelo Williams in February of 2015. Recently, Williams had a list of four teams that he wouldn’t sign with that included the Panthers, and has now taken them off his list with the Gettleman firing.
Josh Norman — also known to do a little trash talking himself — tweeted out some more subtle recognition. Gettleman and the Panthers failed to get a deal done with Norman last season and rescinded his tag, which led to him joining Washington even after being one of the best cornerbacks in the game.
Mike Tolbert, who spent five years with the Panthers that included three Pro Bowl’s and two All-Pro nods before being released this offseason, also chimed in on Gettleman’s firing.
The reactions above make it clear that Gettleman was not a popular guy among former players. But of course, you’re never going to be a popular guy when you break up the band.
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