NFL football: Panthers WR Steve Smith aims to finish what he started in Carolina

After signing his rookie deal on June 19, 2001, Smith signed his first extension on March 1, 2007 just days before he was to hit the free agent market. However, he was so productive the Panthers gave him a new six-year, $45 million extension on May 4, 2007.

Smith's current contract was set to expire after the 2012 season, so three years were tacked on the end in what is a complicated deal.

Smith acknowledged that he's thrilled about finishing his career playing with Newton, a budding star in the league.

"When I look at Cam I don't believe anybody can do what Cam did," Smith said. "There are a lot of first-round picks who haven't been able to sustain the pressure and do what Cam did, which is take a company and say, hey, I'll be the face (of the franchise). I'll handle all of the things that didn't go right and I'll fix them. And he did that week in and week out. You have to be a special guy to endure that kind of pressure.

"That type of person doesn't come around a lot. Everybody wants to win the Lotto, but not everybody wants to buy a ticket. We won the Lotto with Cam."