The Carolina Panthers are reportedly looking to trade all-time leading wide receiver Steve Smith, however if they can't, the franchise could release him, according to reports.
According to ESPN, the Panthers have called teams to field interest in the wide receiver, but if they can't land a deal for him, the team may just release him shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday which marks the start of a new year for the NFL.
Rumors began swirling that Smith's tenure with the team was coming to a close, especially when his jersey was removed from the team store, however according to ESPN, a source with the Panthers said that Smith's status with the team hasn't changed and that the jerseys were taken down because Smith plans on adding "Sr." to his uniform going forward.
Smith, 34, will count for $7 million against the cap for the Panthers in 2014, and many have speculated that he won't suit up for Carolina in 2014.
Smith, who met with general manager Dave Gettlemen on Wednesday, is the all-time receiving leader for the Panthers and wouldn't go into detail about his meeting with the GM.
"Here's all I have to say about it," Smith told ESPN. "I am working out and doing all the things as I am a Carolina Panther. That's where I am. And I'll continue to move forward until I am told otherwise."
Smith had his second worst season with the Panthers in the last nine years in 2013, hauling in 64 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns, as the team went 12-4 and finished first in the NFC South before falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Smith has appeared in 182 games with the Panthers in his career, netting 836 receptions for 12,197 yards with 67 scores.
With the Panthers looking to add more weapons to help out Cam Newton, it looks as though Steve Smith may don another team's uniform for the first time in his career next season.
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