Four days before coming to Charlotte for a Monday night mega-game, Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden used some choice words to describe a certain Carolina receiver.
“That guy Steve Smith, he's a nightmare, man,” Gruden said on a conference call with reporters Thursday. “He's like Freddy Krueger to me. He scares the (heck) out of me.”
“Every film I pick up, he's brilliant,” said Gruden. “He makes some of the darndest catches.
“I don't like to see Steve.”
Even before speaking with reporters who cover the Panthers, Gruden used the “Freddy” moniker to describe Smith when addressing his Tampa players during a Bucs' team meeting Thursday morning.
Considering the source, it's a particularly impressive comparison. For years, Gruden has been dubbed “Chucky” after another horror film character because of his intense facial expressions on the sidelines during games.
Smith was flattered.
“I think that's a good compliment,” Smith said when told about Gruden's comments. “A lot of coaches don't always compliment the opposing team in the media. I don't think he said it to throw me off or to get me to relax.
“I appreciate it. I'll just kind of go home and smile and check that off and say, ‘Hey, that's pretty cool.'”
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It will be a 'Nightmare On Graham Street' for Tampa Bay, Monday night
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