CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There were rumblings when the Carolina Panthers released wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. in 2014 that his strained relationship with quarterback Cam Newton played a role in the decision.Smith and Newton, as well as the organization, have shied away from that topic.But in the NFL Networks Steve Smith: A Football Life that airs Friday at 9 p.m., Carolinas all-time leading receiver and others give credence to the rumblings.We bumped heads for the obvious reason, Smith said in a preview of the show provided to media outlets. Hes the first overall pick and he was a star where he was. I was 31 years old. I had three kids. So we were two people in two different phases of their life.Former Carolina offensive tackle Jordan Gross, who was Smiths teammate with the Panthers and at the University of Utah, said Smiths lack of patience with the first pick of the 2011 draft was a factor in the teams decision to let him go.Really, I think the organization felt like for Cam to flourish they needed Steve to step down, Gross told the NFL Network. It wasnt an easy decision.Emotionally, it was hard for everybody because of what hes done for this organization, the impact hes had in the community, wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl said. Hes the best Panther to step foot in Bank of America Stadium, but I think everybody understood that he probably needed a change.It was probably good for everybody.Smith, now 37, signed a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens 24 hours later.Every team that called, I looked at their schedule, Smith said. I dont know what week but I knew the Panthers were on that schedule [for the Ravens].Smith told a local radio station it would be blood and guts when he faced his former team. In September of 2014, he had 139 yards receiving and two touchdowns as the Ravens beat Carolina 38-10.Most of Smiths anger was directed at new general manager Dave Gettleman, who ultimately made the decision to let the receiver go. That Smith had no idea the move was coming bothered him the most.He heard the news on WFNZ Radio in Charlotte.If youre going to let me go, just let me know, said Smith, who had 836 catches, 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns with the Panthers. Dont announce it to someone else. http://www.authenticshopbroncos.com/broncos-john-elway-navy-blue-jersey/ . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. http://www.authenticshopbroncos.com/broncos-andy-janovich-navy-blue-jersey/ . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. http://www.authenticshopbroncos.com/broncos-trevor-siemian-navy-blue-jersey/ . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. http://www.authenticshopbroncos.com/broncos-shaquil-barrett-navy-blue-jersey/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.authenticshopbroncos.com/broncos-tony-carter-navy-blue-jersey/ .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. The new WNBA playoff format began with a protest and ended with Phoenix and Atlanta advancing.It also produced the final game of Tamika Catchings illustrious career when the Fever lost to the eighth-seeded Mercury 89-78 on Wednesday night.Even though she lost, Catchings was proud of her teammates and the stand they took before the game when the entire squad knelt during the national anthem, locking arms and lowering heads in a show of unity. Players in several sports are protesting social injustice, racial oppression and police brutality in the United States.This game of basketball is important for a lot of reasons, Catchings said. One of them is bringing people together. Even uniting people. Well, we thought it was important to have a voice about something greater than basketball. But the good thing is, we were together. (The gesture) was something that was very impromptu, but I am very proud of our team -- as people -- to be able to stand together for something we believed in.Two members of the Mercury joined the Fevers protest, as Mistie Bass and Kelsey Bone also took a knee. There wasnt much reaction from the crowd.The national anthem kneel-down started in San Francisco with 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and has spread to other teams and leagues. This was the first time an entire professional team took a knee.WNBA President Lisa Borders backed the players pregame demonstration.I support our players expressing their views on important social issues, she said in a statement provided to The Associated Press. Standing for an anthem is a sign of respect and a demonstration of unity across many cultures throughout the world. The call to action is for all of us to invest time and resources to help rebuild and strengthen our communities. And we have been actively working with the players on this next impactful effort.This wasnt the first time that Indiana had been involved in a protest this year. The Fever were one of a few WNBA teams to wear shirts in pregame warmups during July in support of the Black Lives Matters movement.dddddddddddd Indiana was initially fined by the league, along with New York and Phoenix, before that penalty was later rescinded.Something like this creates conversation, and thats how we create change, Fever coach Stephanie White said. We dont create change by seeing it on the news and waiting until next time. People who have the platforms have the ability to affect change, and Im proud of our group for using the platform in a respectful manner.The Mercury advanced to face New York on Saturday by winning the single-elimination game.In the other first-round contest, Angel McCoughtry scored 37 points to lift the Dream to a 94-85 win over the Seattle Storm.The Dream will head to Chicago to play the Sky on Sunday. They will have Tiffany Hayes back for that game. She was suspended for the Storm game after accruing a seventh technical foul in the regular-season finale.Here are a few other takeaways from Wednesday:POSITIVE METRICS: The league drew its highest attendance since 2011 with a 4.6 percent increase over last season. Fans also tuned in to watch games on ESPN, which saw an 11 percent increase in viewership, or on the league pass where subscriptions increased 24 percent from last year. Merchandise sales were up 30 percent over last year at the online WNBA store.DIANA FROM DEEP: Diana Taurasi set the postseason record for 3-pointers in a career. She made her 113th, pushing her past Becky Hammon for the most in WNBA playoff history. Taurasi finished the game with three 3-pointers.MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Elizabeth Williams won the leagues most improved player award, receiving the trophy before her teams game. Williams started all 34 games for the Dream, leading the team in rebounding and blocks and ranking third in scoring.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '