Steelers safety Anthony Smith guarantees victory...again

by Marima on Nov 25, 2008 11:20 AM EST Comment 10 comments

I heard it this morning first on WEEI with Dennis & Callahan who relayed it to Adam Schefter during their weekly phone conversation. Here's the story on Schefter's blog:

No one knows whether the New York Giants will repeat, but Steelers safety Anthony Smith already has.

One year after guaranteeing that Pittsburgh would beat New England – only to see his team and himself embarrassed – Smith is offering up the same sentiments prior to this week’s game against the Patriots.

“If they ask me again, I’ll say the same thing,” Smith told the Indiana Gazette. “We’re the No. 1 defense. If we play like we’ve been playing, and our offense comes around and has a good game, and we’re clicking on all cylinders, we’re going to win the game.”

When Smith uttered the comments last year — “Yeah, I can guarantee a win,” he said, “as long as we come out and do what we got to do” – the comment was a magnet for attention within the Patriots organization.

Even after New England dismantled Pittsburgh, 34-13, Patriots coach Bill Belichick took his own little jab, saying: “We’ve played against a lot better safeties than him, I’ll tell you. The safety play at that position was pretty inviting.”

Now Smith is inviting more attention with more of the same.

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.

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sorry...

he won’t be starting the game. tyrone carter will be playing, who, and most pittsburgh fans would agree, is a smarter if not more physical safety. i’ll take the brains over the brawn.

by SE7ENS on Nov 25, 2008 1:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I did feel bad for him last year because, even though I loved how we used it for motivation, it did seem like the quote is being taken out of context and then he got blamed for being young and rash. When I first saw last year’s headlines it got me fired up, but lots of outlets didn’t report or downplayed the “as long as we come out and do what we gotta do” part of the quote. Once I saw that part of it, it put it into a lot more perspective for me.

“Guarantee” is always a strong word, and if he erred it was in using that word in particular, but really the quote wasn’t that far from the more traditional, “If we come prepared and execute, we like our chances.”

This year though, I figured he’d have learned to just avoid saying stuff since it seems like anything could be turned around against you. I still don’t find his quotes disrespectful or particularly brash, but I suspect that he’s put himself out there again for local and national media to make a story.

by jctsai12 on Nov 25, 2008 1:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

he was definitely a victim of press-baiting

he was talking at his locker (and this is why Belichick doesn’t usually let the rookies talk) and some reporter asked him point blank, “so you’re guaranteeing a win?” He said yes, and the rest was a bit of misery for Smith and some fun for the Pats. Classic rookie mistake.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Nov 25, 2008 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just another loudmouth like Joey Porter.

"Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory...lasts forever."-Shane Falco, "The Replacements"

by Ironman63 on Nov 25, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As a loyal Steeler fan...

I feel confident in saying this does not resonate well with the majority of the fan base! The guy isn’t even playing and should learn to keep his mouth shut!!!

by Cdsumm on Nov 25, 2008 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ah, we know it doesn't matter, and will have nothing to do with the game.

and he’s nothing like what we put up with listening to Joey Porter for a whole week, lol.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Nov 25, 2008 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What...

That’s a guarantee, really, sounds like somebody that is being reasonable to me. Sounds like somebody is trying to find something to motivate the Pats. It seems to me that they (the Pats) have been playing pretty well this year and don’t need the grade school chatter to motivate them. Nothing to see with that statement by Smith other than stating the facts.

by Blueisgood on Nov 25, 2008 5:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This guy cracks me up.

He had to know the media was going to jump all over this again.

by NESilver on Nov 26, 2008 12:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

seriously

Context be damned. What an idiot. And to think this guys trying to prove hes got the mental part of the game down enough to be put back out there. [shaking head. sighing]

by Blitzburgh on Nov 26, 2008 8:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with him

No reason to back down. People should read into what he is saying. Anybody who is playing the game or is in the game should feel like they are going to win, if you don’t then you already lost. He didn’t gurantee a win under all circumstances. He is right this year and was right last year, IF they come out and do what they are suppose to do then the Steelers will win, last year we didn’t do what we were suppose to do. Now personnel have changed and records and ability, etc. But that doesn’t change the fact that both sides have to go into the game thinking they are going to win. The patriots did not need that comment last year or this year to fire them up. Last year was for perfection and this year is for playoffs, still hungry for a win. I agree with him on the comment, not stupid at all. I just hope he backs it up this year on the field and doesn’t do anything stupid.

by Bleed-Black&Gold on Nov 28, 2008 1:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs