Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. reveals he worked with Jonathan Mingo during offseason

A franchise legend seems to have taken a youngster under his wing cape.

Carolina Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. was a guest on Monday’s episode of The Clubhouse with Kyle Bailey. The team’s all-time leading receiver was asked about Jonathan Mingo and his hot start to this year’s training camp.

“I don’t need to watch film on Jonathan Mingo the way y’all watchin’ it,” Smith Sr. told host Kyle Bailey. “Me and Jonathan put some work in this offseason. So he was gettin’ some work in with me seven o’clock in the morning, outside at the end of the week after he was already workin’. We were doin’ a lot of work together.

“So this is not high on the guy. This is Steve Smith and Jonathan Mingo are adjoined to the hip. He calls me, I call him. When I see something or he has a question, there’s an open line of communications. This Batman and Robin talkin’, and tryin’ to figure out how can we corral Joker—which is the corners he’ll be goin’ against this year.”

While this reveal may have been somewhat surprising, Smith’s affinity for Mingo certainly isn’t. When Mingo was drafted by the Panthers last spring, owner David Tepper told the then 22-year-old that he was heavily endorsed by No. 89 . . .

Hopefully, the work pays off for Smith Sr. and Mingo—because sometimes, people deserve to have their faith rewarded.