Retired wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., now an NFL Network analyst, is coincidentally covering the preseason game between his old Carolina Panthers squad and the Houston Texans on Wednesday.
Breaking the ice in a potentially awkward environment for Smith, quarterback Cam Newton sneaked up from behind and gave No. 89 a gigantic bear hug. Newton followed the hug up with a nice tight handshake.
Here’s photo evidence.
Find you someone who loves you the way Cam loves Steve Smith pic.twitter.com/p3i19stJU8
— Sam Meads (@sammeads3) August 9, 2017
It took Anthony Siciliano completely off his conversation and Smith by big surprise. Smith departed with the Panthers on sour terms when the team released him after the 2013 NFL season.
He signed on the with Baltimore Ravens in 2014 and announced his retirement from the league following the close of the 2016 season.
As for Newton, he won’t be playing in the first preseason game of the year. The Panthers host the Houston on Wednesday to kick off their officially start their preseason slate.