Carolina Panther Steve Smith Breaks Arm in Flag Football Game

Some guys get all the breaks. Unfortunately, for Carolinas Panther Steve Smith, they're the kind no one wants.

Smith broke a bone in his left arm while playing flag football over the weekend, and was in surgery Sunday night. Smith broke the radius bone in the same arm during the Dec. 27 game with the New York Giants. As he was crossing the goal line with a 27-yard touchdown pass, he was hit by Giants safety Michael Johnson, which resulted in the break. The Panthers won 41-9.

Carolina Panthers Training Camp

Smith will miss the start of training camp, which begins July 28 at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, but may be ready to play in the Sept. 12 regular season NFL opener.

According to The Charlotte Observer, Smith was playing flag football in an adult league at the Siskey YMCA when he was injured, even though NFL players have clauses in their contracts prohibiting them from engaging in dangerous activities.

Flag Football Regrets

Although Smith could be terminated for violating his contract, Coach John Fox didn't expect it to happen, and Panther's General Manager Marty Hurney released a statement indicating he'd talked to Smith, who expressed regret for playing football outside of the team setting.

The 31-year-old Smith stands to lose $338,235 for each week missed during the regular season.

Carolina Panthers Schedule 2010-2011

Wk Date Matchup Time (ET)
1 Sun. Sep. 12 at Giants 1:00 PM
2 Sun. Sep. 19 vs. Buccaneers 1:00 PM
3 Sun. Sep. 26 vs. Bengals 1:00 PM
4 Sun. Oct. 03 at Saints 1:00 PM
5 Sun. Oct. 10 vs. Bears 1:00 PM
6 BYE
7 Sun. Oct. 24 vs. 49ers 1:00 PM
8 Sun. Oct. 31 at Rams 1:00 PM
9 Sun. Nov. 07 vs. Saints 1:00 PM
10 Sun. Nov. 14 at Buccaneers 1:00 PM
11 Sun. Nov. 21 vs. Ravens 1:00 PM
12 Sun. Nov. 28 at Browns 1:00 PM
13 Sun. Dec. 05 at Seahawks 4:15 PM
14 Sun. Dec. 12 vs. Falcons 1:00 PM
15 Sun. Dec. 19 vs. Cardinals 1:00 PM
16 Thu. Dec. 23 at Steelers 8:20 PM
17 Sun. Jan. 02 at Falcons 1:00 PM

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