Local Sports

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- When Steve Smith punched teammate Ken Lucas during a break in practice last week, Jake Delhomme knew the incident could tear apart the Carolina Panthers.

Smith, the team's top offensive weapon, was suspended for the first two regular-season games. Lucas, Carolina's starting cornerback, suffered a broken nose and will be out a couple of weeks.

The potential was there to hold grudges, take sides and lose focus. Delhomme feels his teammates have avoided all those potential pitfalls.

"I don't know if you put a letter grade on it, or a number from 1 to 10, it's been fantastic," Delhomme said Thursday. "That was a rough deal, everybody knows that. I really truly believe we have the right guys in the right areas on this team to get everything out in the open.

"Guys talked, Steve knew he did wrong. But the biggest thing out of all of them was Ken Lucas. For Ken Lucas to get up here, guys could really release a lot of emotions about listening to Ken and feeling how he felt."

Smith has since apologized to the team and has been noticeably less feisty in practice. But there are questions of whether Smith, who has a history of playing his best when he's angry, will lose his edge.

"I know the question you're saying. But when Steve came out of his mom, he had that edge," Delhomme said. "I truly believe that. Guys feed off Steve when Steve plays -- offensively, defensively, everybody feeds off Steve. That is just my opinion. I know when the lights come on he will still be the same Steve."

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STEWART EXPLOSIVE?: Rookie running back Jonathan Stewart claimed he still hasn't shown everything he can do as he slowly recovers from offseason surgery on his right big toe.

"The whole explosiveness of a runner that I am, some of that stuff is kind of limited because of my toe," Stewart said. "Going to certain sides and everything, that's what we're working on right now."

Offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson disagreed.

"I would say that he's as explosive and as fast and as powerful as we thought he would be," Davidson said.

But Stewart, the 13th pick in the draft, has routinely been practicing only once a day and has been limited in some drills. He said he still has pain in the toe, but doesn't believe it will be a long-term problem.

Coach John Fox said he won't know until shortly before kickoff Saturday if Stewart will play in the preseason opener against Indianapolis.

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SPENCER WAIVED: Tackle Charles Spencer was waived Thursday for what Fox called "a conditioning issue."

The Panthers claimed Spencer off waivers from Houston two days before players reported to training camp. The former third-round pick hasn't played in the NFL since breaking his leg during his rookie season in 2006.

Spencer had missed several practices for what the team called a sore knee, but Fox said Thursday he was let go because of "conditioning and weight."

The Panthers did not immediately replace Spencer on the 80-man roster.

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FAVRE TALK: There was no escape from the Brett Favre talk at Panthers' training camp. Televisions in the lounge and cafeteria on campus were tuned into the latest news from Favre's trade from Green Bay to the New York Jets. Players and coaches discussed the deal and its implications.

Panthers linebacker Na'il Diggs, who was Favre's teammate for six seasons in Green Bay, wasn't surprised to see Favre sent to an AFC team.

"I knew they wouldn't be that crazy to trade him within the division," Diggs said. "I was almost sure that wouldn't happen. We'll see what he does in a Jets uniform. It's going to be different. I think he'll do well there."

The move also means Favre becomes teammates with ex-Carolina defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, who was traded in the offseason after clashing with the Panthers over his weight.

"Brett's more of a stay-out-of-the-way kind of guy. He wouldn't have any problem with Kris Jenkins unless Kris Jenkins initiates the problem," Diggs said. "Especially on different sides of the ball, they won't have any problems."

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EXTRA POINTS: Ten players missed practice because of injuries, including defensive starters Chris Gamble (hamstring), Chris Harris (groin), Lucas (nose) and Jon Beason (ankle). D.J. Hackett (toe) and Ryne Robinson (knee) headlined the sidelined offensive players. ... Smith jumped too soon for a pass in the back of the end zone, yet still made a one-handed catch while on the way down and with Ricardo Colclough closely covering him. ... The Panthers hold a brief walkthrough Friday at 10:45 a.m.