Steve Smith lashes out on critical fans

[rmcjacket23]

I didn't realize fans can get paid millions for being fans! Where do I sign-up to be a professional fan?

Ahh, and there's the trap you fell into... professionalism has literally nothing to do with payscale, salary, etc.

 

The reason fans think its unprofessional is because they are celebrities and you are not. When you suck at your job, maybe a dozen people care, if that. Therefore, you face criticism from maybe a dozen people, if that. People still pay you, and whether or not you act "professionally" has nothing to do with how much or how little you are paid.

 

That's a false perception of what being a "professional" is.

[Militant X 1]

He's right the play on the field will dictate what happens not criticism off it. But that said, NOBODY on the team is above criticism especially after today's performance. 

 

Absolutely NOBODY!!

[fistfullwales]

Take your frustrations out on your opponents. Calling out fans or the media accomplishes nothing accept drawing attention to something that doesn't matter. We've had enough of that this year.

I'm not saying I disagree with what he said, every professional team has plenty of idiotic reporters and fans. I'm just saying players should not expend energy responding to idiot fans or media. Focus on Cleveland and how you can improve your game. Players shouldn't care about fan and media criticisms - it's a distraction that needs to be ignored.

[fistfullwales]

Ahh, and there's the trap you fell into... professionalism has literally nothing to do with payscale, salary, etc.

 

The reason fans think its unprofessional is because they are celebrities and you are not. When you suck at your job, maybe a dozen people care, if that. Therefore, you face criticism from maybe a dozen people, if that. People still pay you, and whether or not you act "professionally" has nothing to do with how much or how little you are paid.

 

That's a false perception of what being a "professional" is.

 

You got me...

[rmcjacket23]

Taking time to criticize fans instead of being introspective about the team shows me a lack of focus.

Isn't this a guy who shut down his Twitter. Fan criticism should not be affecting him that much.

1. Doesn't that tell you a potential reason why he shut down his Twitter... think maybe fan reaction might have something to do with that?

 

2. I'm not concerned about the focus aspect, because there's nothing else he should be focusing on. He spoke after a game. This isn't Wednesday or Thursday in preparation for the next week.

 

3. As far as I can tell by reading his actual words, he's being about as introspective as you can be. I didn't see a quote indictating that he was blaming the fans for this loss. I think his direct quotes are a pretty good indication of who he thinks is to blame for this loss.

[ratedr]

Like I said.... it's Steve Smith... for us to expect anything different is foolish.

Carolina expected it too, which is why they got rid of him.

[rmcjacket23]

I'm not saying I disagree with what he said, every professional team has plenty of idiotic reporters and fans. I'm just saying players should not expend energy responding to idiot fans or media. Focus on Cleveland and how you can improve your game. Players shouldn't care about fan and media criticisms - it's a distraction that needs to be ignored.

But its ultimately naive, because as we know, players and coaches CAN'T ignore the media. Well, I suppose they can, but then they'll end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars like Marshawn Lynch to ignore them, because its a violation of their contractual obligations.

 

They're required to talk to the media, and as such, are required to at least partially respond to the questions the media asks. After a game like yesterday, I doubt the media is going to be asking him anything positive, and in many cases, media members (particularly local media members) are asking questions that reflect fans opinions.

 

At the end of the day, its one simple question for the fanbase... do fans believe that they are above being criticized for what they do as fans?

[balfan23]

I'm not nearly as concerned about his words post-game, as I am about his play in game. 

[rmcjacket23]

Carolina expected it too, which is why they got rid of him.

I'm sure that's part of it. An aging WR with an obvious declining skill set, a high annual salary, and a team with tightening salary cap restrictions is probably the biggest reason why he was released.

[The Mom Gene]

Carolina expected it too, which is why they got rid of him.

THAT...  is not why they got rid of him.....  after 16 yrs..... they got rid of him because "he was old and slow" and they wanted Cam to be the leader in the locker room...

[rmcjacket23]

I'm not nearly as concerned about his words post-game, as I am about his play in game. 

Bingo... and that's what the fans should think.

 

Fans should do what the players do... ignore the criticism, act like professionals, and get ready for the next game.

[fistfullwales]

But its ultimately naive, because as we know, players and coaches CAN'T ignore the media. Well, I suppose they can, but then they'll end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars like Marshawn Lynch to ignore them, because its a violation of their contractual obligations.

 

They're required to talk to the media, and as such, are required to at least partially respond to the questions the media asks. After a game like yesterday, I doubt the media is going to be asking him anything positive, and in many cases, media members (particularly local media members) are asking questions that reflect fans opinions.

 

At the end of the day, its one simple question for the fanbase... do fans believe that they are above being criticized for what they do as fans?

You can answer the questions without calling out the media or fans...players and coaches do it all the time.

[SomeCreepinaVan]

SSS is dead to me. Go back to Carolina you sap. 

[thisme007]

Steve Smith, lost his Mojo..

[The Mom Gene]

So we all are allowed to call out players, call them names, criticize them and their play, but they aren't permitted to do the same...Yes, I am sure ALL of those guys were frustrated...  Pissed off...  and embarrassed...  Again, just expecting Steve Smith to be any different than he's always been is, yes, naïve.....  Let someone stick a mic in your face after a bad day....

I don't take it personally....  I actually got a laugh out of it, and just said...  "yup, there he is".... 

[rmcjacket23]

You can answer the questions without calling out the media or fans...players and coaches do it all the time.

Sure, you can. But then who would call out the fans for not being, well, fans? Who calls out the fans for ignorant criticisms? Who calls out the fans for demanding job losses and terminations for players who probably don't deserve it?

 

Do you think a fan telling another fan that he's not being a good "fan" will change anything?

 

It still comes down to fan accountability. If you don't have it yourself, then somebody should hold you to it. After all, that's part of being a fan.

[fistfullwales]

Sure, you can. But then who would call out the fans for not being, well, fans? Who calls out the fans for ignorant criticisms? Who calls out the fans for demanding job losses and terminations for players who probably don't deserve it?

 

Do you think a fan telling another fan that he's not being a good "fan" will change anything?

 

It still comes down to fan accountability. If you don't have it yourself, then somebody should hold you to it. After all, that's part of being a fan.

Do you think idiot fans will no longer make idiot comments because Steve Smith called them out? No.

[rmcjacket23]

Do you think idiot fans will no longer make idiot comments because Steve Smith called them out? No.

Nope, but if one idiot fan perhaps has an awakening and realizes that Steve Smith is actually correct, then wouldn't you say he has accomplished something?

 

If you've been doing something wrong your entire life, and nobody ever tells you that you've been doing it wrong, would you ever do it right?

 

Doesn't this really all just come back to a bit of jealousy on the fan's part? Big time athlete, getting paid more than most people will ever see to "play a game", while the average Joe Schmo packs his lunch pale everyday and goes and works hard labor in a dusty old factory for what they perceive as a ridiculously low salary?

 

And because of that, the Joe Schmo can't believe that somebody would dare critcize him for anything? Isn't that really what this has always been about when it comes to athletes criticizing fans? I pay $100 every 10 years for your jersey and you make money off of me, therefore I the fan amabove any remote criticism and am free to say anything positive or negative I want about another person anytime I want?

 

Isn't that really what this is about?

[redrum52]

In general, I agree.

BUT... I find it amusing and frankly quite hypocritical for fans to be outraged when the fans themselves are being criticized. At the end of the day... fans aren't above criticism either. They may think they are, which probably stems from them thinking that because they pay money to watch this team and support them that they are above reproach. They, myself included, are not.

People come on these boards and claim that people who post on these boards don't reflect the majority of the fanbase and what have you, which is true, but after all, the people posting on these boards (myself included) are a reflection of the team and franchise as a whole.

So go review the gameday threads during a bad game. Read what fans are saying. Read the words they use, the demands they make, and the tone they use.

Then go read what Steve Smith is saying and explain to me 1. what is inaccurate about what he said and 2. why the fans don't deserve a large amount of criticism as well.

And I caution people from using the "well they are professionals excuse", because it doesn't hold up. If the implication is that Steve Smith shouldn't criticize fans because he's a professional, then you're implying that fans aren't professional (which is probably true), and thus its OK for fan criticism because the players are above them on a professional level. That basically implies a parent/child relationship, with the player being the parent and fans being the children.

I'm OK if that's the implied relationship, as long as fans understand their role in that hierarchy...

Agree. I don't get why people are mad. If they had cameras follow them as they did their job, year round, with committees and analyst breaking down their performance and ranking them weekly, with others throwing salt in the wound after bad perfomances, they might lash out too. Don't forget the dumb questions asked after said bad performance as well.

[Bryden88]

The fact is.... the kind of people he called out are not people who said "oh the Ravens sucked in that game."

 

The kind of people he's calling out (I believe anyway) are the kinds of people who - even on this very forum have said:

- Fire Flacco

- Fire Harbaugh

- Fire the offense

- We shouldn't win games anymore

- We don't deserve the playoffs

 

The people who hate on their team. If you hate on your team, if you bash your team, you're not a fan. There's a difference between being critical and legitimately turning your back on the team.

 

The fat lazy armchair quartersbacks are why Ravens fans are pretty much hated by other fanbases - we brag when we're winning and  then show the fair weather side when we're losing.

[fistfullwales]

The fact is.... the kind of people he called out are not people who said "oh the Ravens sucked in that game."

 

The kind of people he's calling out (I believe anyway) are the kinds of people who - even on this very forum have said:

- Fire Flacco

- Fire Harbaugh

- Fire the offense

- We shouldn't win games anymore

- We don't deserve the playoffs

 

The people who hate on their team. If you hate on your team, if you bash your team, you're not a fan. There's a difference between being critical and legitimately turning your back on the team.

 

The fat lazy armchair quartersbacks are why Ravens fans are pretty much hated by other fanbases - we brag when we're winning and  then show the fair weather side when we're losing.

These kinds of fans should be ignored, bottom-line. I'm done arguing with you guys.

[rmcjacket23]

These kinds of fans should be ignored, bottom-line. I'm done arguing with you guys.

What happens when those kinds of fans become the majority?

 

That's when ignorance isn't bliss...

[The Raven]

I would agree....  but, come on, it's Steve Smith....  after an UGLY loss.....  What do you expect???

 

I'd expect him to act like a grown man and not a middle school prep girl crying because someone said her dress is ugly. 

[The Raven]

Yeah, his mouth is cute and funny when it fits what you (fanbase) wants to hear...  when it's criticism, they just can't handle that.

 

I don't care about what he said, personally. I'm not hurt at all. Just think he sounds like a childish diva with some insecurity problems. 

[rmw10]

If he's gonna dish it, he's gotta be able to take it too.

[rmcjacket23]

I'd expect him to act like a grown man and not a middle school prep girl crying because someone said her dress is ugly. 

I would love to frame this quote and mail it to every single Ravens fan on this planet... and make sure they understand it applies to them as well.

[rmcjacket23]

If he's gonna dish it, he's gotta be able to take it too.

Same thing for fans... fans are exceptional at dishing out criticism, but from what I'm reading here today, they are TERRIBLE when it comes to taking it... especially when they've probably earned it.

[rmw10]

Same thing for fans... fans are exceptional at dishing out criticism, but from what I'm reading here today, they are TERRIBLE when it comes to taking it... especially when they've probably earned it.

 

I took no offense to it, and actually think he's slightly right.  The reason I don't like this quote is because of his recent performances.  Even the most casual fan can tell that SSS is dropping the ball literally and figuratively.  I don't think he's in the best position to be dishing out criticism to fans without expecting it back.

[fistfullwales]

Same thing for fans... fans are exceptional at dishing out criticism, but from what I'm reading here today, they are TERRIBLE when it comes to taking it... especially when they've probably earned it.

SSS? Is that you?

[BirdWatcher]

After reading more of the post-game quote (not just this little snippet), I think he was addressing the media, not the fans.