Steve Smith wants to see the Panthers bring in a new top receiver. (Rick Havner / Associated Press)

It’s not a new school of thought that the Panthers could use a receiver opposite Steve Smith.

The topic popped up twice last week, when Smith suggested the Panthers don’t have a known replacement for Muhsin Muhammad, and coach John Fox acknowledged the team is still searching — after eight seasons — to fill that role.

Smith approached the topic in a new way Monday, telling WFNZ in Charlotte he doesn’t want the Panthers to add just a complimentary receiver. He wants an addition who is talented enough to push him into a role in the slot.

“Well the thing is, everybody keeps saying a compliment receiver to compliment me … I don’t want anyone to compliment me,” Smith said, as transcribed by sportsradiointerviews.com. “I’m turning 31 years old, people can say I’m losing speed, yada, yada, yada. Whatever. I would like a younger guy to come in and eventually take my spot. I don’t want to be a No. 1 anymore. I don’t want to be a guy who can’t let go of something he’s got to let go.”

Smith continued, taking a look down the road while putting his own career in perspective.

“To be honest, the next five years, I want to enjoy playing,” Smith said. “And I really haven’t enjoyed playing because I had goals where I was like I want this, I want that. And in the process, I kind of forgot that I’m playing my dream. So I just want to settle down and fade away in a good way, not in a bad way. I really want to feel like I was part of something special to help Carolina be one of those dynasty teams. And that’s what I mean by I don’t want to compliment somebody, I want to add to what they already have.”

You can listen to the WFNZ podcast here.

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