ORLANDO, Fla. Nike Air Max Nederland . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. Speaking publicly for the first time since cutting Smith two weeks ago, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday they had to "move on eventually." "He didnt lose his speed," Rivera said at the NFLs annual meetings. "He lost his top end. Steve still fought and would still find ways to make plays. But as far as the football decision goes, we have to move on eventually. This was an opportunity to do it." Smith wasnt unemployed for very long. He signed a three-year contract with Baltimore about 24 hours after the Panthers released him. Rivera said the desire to give young receivers Marvin McNutt, Tavarres King, Brenton Bersin, Kealoha Pilares and Toney Clemons opportunities factored into the decision. "With Steve around, they may never get that chance to develop," Rivera said. Rivera also made it clear the Panthers intend to select a receiver in the NFL draft in May — and hopefully replace Smith. "The thing we have to all understand is that eventually its going to happen; its inevitable," Rivera said. "In this game, its inevitable. A lot of great ones have moved on and gone on and played a couple of more years somewhere else. For us (Rivera and GM Dave Gettleman), this is a very hard decision. I know Dave anguished over it for several days before the decision was made, and we had a lot of discussions about it. Its one of those things that you have to, at some point, make the move to go forward." The decision was not popular among Carolina fans. A third-round draft pick out of Utah in 2001, Smith made an immediate impact as a rookie, returning the opening kickoff of the season for a touchdown against Minnesota. He became the first Panthers rookie selected to the Pro Bowl, earning that honour as a return specialist. Known for his feisty behaviour on the field, Smith became a dominant receiver over the next 12 seasons. He ranks 19th in the NFL in career receptions. He caught 64 passes for 746 yards and four touchdowns in 2013. Smith is Carolinas leader in receptions (836), yards receiving (12,197) and touchdowns (67). As productive as Smith was, his fiery personality often rubbed people the wrong way, and some viewed him as a distraction in the locker room. Smith had run-ins with teammates on at least two occasions. He punched out fellow wide receiver Anthony Bright in a film room fight and later socked cornerback Ken Lucas on the field during a practice at training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. On both occasions, Smith was suspended by the team. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said they had few reservations about bringing in the 34-year-old Smith, even with his history and his age. "Chemistry is really important, and its something that I think every team should be working really hard to try it build," Harbaugh said in Orlando. "It starts with the type of person that you bring in as a coach and then as a player. But through our investigations, I guess you can call it, we came away feeling really good about the impact Steve is going to have on our team that way. "Hes a tough competitor. Hes a mature, grown man. Hes a family man. Hes a man of faith. I think the world of him." The Panthers signed veteran Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year contract, giving them some experience at the position after releasing Smith and seeing Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon leave in free agency. Rivera insisted the team will miss Smith, even though hes not the player he was in his prime. "Hes got a lot of football left," Rivera said. "Hes still explosive. ... He practices so hard. He competes so hard. I think hes at the point now where he has to manage himself and know that, Hey, I cant practice every day like that. "Steve has a lot to prove. Hes got that chip on his shoulder going forward. I know hes going to be 35, but I still know hes going to be a very competitive guy. Hes going to will himself to do some things. But I think as the season wears on, if he hasnt taken the time that hes needed off between the games, he might slow down. But he still has some gas in the tank." ___ Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Nike Air Max Goedkoop Bestellen . Before that, Rousey needed a total 23 minutes and 26 seconds to take care of her last eight opponents - and one of those fights lasted 10 minutes and 58 seconds. Air Max Goedkoop Nederland . He managed to save par, and went on to put together his best opening round of the year. Calcavecchia and Wes Short Jr. http://www.airmaxoutlet.nl/ . Stiverne stopped Chris Arreola in the sixth round Saturday night, claiming the WBC heavyweight title belt vacated by Vitali Klitschko.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Cincinnati Reds had a five-game winning streak snapped and that was just the start of the bad news Thursday. Luis Valbuena hit a tiebreaking, two-run triple in the 12th inning and the Chicago Cubs avoided a rare five-game sweep in Cincinnati with a 6-4 win in 12 innings. The Reds found out during the game that second baseman Brandon Phillips would be out six weeks after he has surgery on Friday to repair torn ligaments in his left thumb. He was injured diving for a ground ball Wednesday night and an MRI on Thursday revealed torn ligaments. Starter Homer Bailey left the game with a 1-2 count on Starlin Castro leading off the third. It appeared his spike caught on the mound and he was removed from the game with a strained right patellar tendon. Then tempers flared on the field with both benches and bullpens emptying in the ninth but no punches were thrown and there were no ejections. In the 12th, highly regarded prospect Arismendy Alcantara singled with one out and went to second on Castros two-out infield single. Valbuena, 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, sent a ball to deep right field off J.J. Hoover (1-6) that Skip Schumaker couldnt catch up to and. Valbuena was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park home run. The out call stood after an umpire crew chief request for a replay review to make sure the new rule regarding home plate collisions wasnt violated. Blake Parker (1-0) pitched the last two innings and the Cubs snapped their losing streak at a season-high six games. The Reds scored three runs in the first inning off Kyle Hendricks, who was making his major league debut. Ryan Ludwick hit his sixth home run of the season in the third inning to give the Reds a 4-1 lead. Baileys wildness provided the Cubs with enough baserunners to creep back into the game. "Its baseball so you have these situations over the course of the year. Castro did a nice job getting the hit in the eighth. You have to acknowledge the fact that they played a nice ballgame," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He (Hendricks) worked around a three-run first inning and really heeld us down. Nike Air Max Korting. It wasnt so much that it got away from us as they went out and outplayed us." Bailey, who hit Anthony Rizzo in the first inning, grazed Baker with a pitch with one out in the fifth. One out later, he walked Coghlan. Alcantara doubled, the first of his four hits, to score both runners. The Reds held the lead until Castro singled home Alcantara with two outs in the eighth off Jonathan Broxton, who came into the game with seven straight scoreless appearances. It was just the third run Broxton has allowed in 31 innings. Aroldis Chapman struck out Ryan Sweeney and Nate Schierholtz in the ninth to tie Bruce Sutter as the only relief pitcher since 1900 to strike out at least one batter in 39 straight appearances. Two pitches to Schierholtz were up and in and Rizzo approached the Reds bench with angry words for Chapman before the Reds batted in the bottom of the inning. "There were two pitches that got away from me," Chapman said through interpreter Tomas Vera. "Their bench started to say something to me and their first baseman came over to our bench." Alfredo Simon met Rizzo on the field. "There was a lot of testosterone on the field," Price said. "That is the way baseball is. We hit Rizzo, certainly unintentional. Cozart got hit in the hand certainly that was unintentional. Chapman had the ball get away from him up and in and things got a little testy. Its baseball Were trying to win every game we can as are the Cubs. I just think it was an overflow of testosterone." Cozart had ice on his left hand as he spoke to the media. "I knew they would be frustrated. Were frustrated," Cozart said. "Whether its on purpose or not, no one likes balls coming at them. My hand is just a little swollen." NOTES: The Reds promoted INF Kristopher Negron from Triple-A Louisville and optioned RHP Carlos Contreras to Louisville before the game. RHP Brett Marshall was designated for assignment to make room for Negron on the 40-man roster. ... Chicago optioned RHP Dallas Beeler to Triple-A Iowa to make room on the 25-man roster for Hendricks. 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