I guess there ARE no Guarantees
 

Steelers' outspoken safety loses job

December 19, 2007
PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Anthony Smith has learned one thing this season - there are no guarantees.

The outspoken free safety has lost his starting job to Tyrone Carter, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its web site Wednesday.

The move comes just two weeks after Smith's well-publicized guarantee that the Steelers would defeat the unbeaten New England Patriots on December 9. The Patriots (14-0) won the game 34-13 and Smith was burned on two long scoring throws during the game.

"When you are a free safety, you have to stay deep," Carter told the Post-Gazette. "Anthony is a great player. He has great instincts, but he's young. He's still learning."

A third-round pick of the Steelers in the 2006 draft, Smith's problems continued in Sunday's 29-22 loss to Jacksonville, prompting the change.

"When you're required to be deep, you have to be deep. Sometimes it gets habit-forming, to start biting on plays," Carter said. "I guess (the coaches) were fed up with it. But they're going to need him. It's just me, him and Troy (Polamalu). It's nothing about his play, it's just thinking about what you're doing."

The Steelers had allowed just one pass over 40 yards through 12 games, but have allowed three in the past two games and Smith has been involved in each play - all touchdowns.

Smith took over the starting job in late October after Ryan Clark developed inflammation of his spleen and was eventually placed on injured reserve.

The Steelers (9-5), who play at St. Louis (3-11) on Thursday, suddenly find themselves in battle for the AFC North Division with Cleveland (9-5). With losses in their final two games, Pittsburgh runs the risk of missing the playoffs after starting the season 7-2.