25 Seasons of Panthers Football: Peppers and Smitty shine in 2002

Sir Purr

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Mar 16, 2019
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While Peppers established himself early in the season and Smith was effective as a receiver early on as well, Smith's breakout game didn't come until later - when the Panthers hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the 13th game of the season.


The Panthers had just ended an eight-game losing streak a week earlier after beginning the season a promising 3-0. During the losing streak, the offense struggled and was shutout twice.


Then the Bengals came to town - and Smith went to town on their secondary.


On a day when the Panthers scored seven touchdowns to equal their total output from the previous eight games, Smith caught five passes for 144 yards and one touchdown on a 31-yard pass. And that wasn't all. As if to emphasize that he could still return kicks, Smith returned a punt 87 yards for yet another touchdown in a 52-31 victory.


This was Smith's coming-out party.


"Things like this come at times when you don't expect it," Smith said after his breakout performance.


Smith finished the year with a team-leading 872 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 54 catches. Suddenly, no one was saying he couldn't play receiver in the NFL any longer.


Peppers, meanwhile, ended his rookie season with a team-high 12 sacks and earned the Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. First-year head coach John Fox said Peppers was very deserving of the award. "I have been pretty blessed to be around some good players as an assistant coach, but Julius would have to rival some of the best I have seen."


The rest was about to become history. It was only the beginning for these two who went on to become the Panthers' all-time leaders in receiving and sacks.
 
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