Vikings Pay For Trash Talking
Fred Smoot of the Minnesota Vikings opened the pregame pleasantries by spitting out a steady stream of trash talk straight at receiver Steve Smith. There was always a chance that Smith would make him pay and his team pay. He did.
Smith humiliated Smoot and the Minnesota defense for a franchise-record of 201 yards and a touchdown in Carolina's 38-13 demolition of the Vikings - who are still winless on the road.
"Fred does talk a little bit, it's just his nature," Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme said. "And it doesn't take much for (Fred Smith) to get fired up.."
Smith, who has a reputation for letting opposing players take him out of his game, beat Smoot all over the field.
"Whatchamacallit (Smoot) was talking to me in the pregame....When somebody is banging on your door, I am not going to hide in the corner ...I am going to open it." Smith said.
In the victory, Stephen Davis ran for two touchdowns and Delhomme threw for 340 yards and three scores - stretching the Panthers' winning streak to four games.
Daunte Culpepper left the field with a sprained right knee on the final play of the first quarter. Minnesota coach Mike Tice said he feared Culpepper will miss the rest of the season.
