Notebook: Tracy Smith, special teams coach by day, spy by night

CHARLOTTE— His name is Smith, Tracy Smith.

His job? International spy.

Well, his mission is to win a football game, but anything beyond that is classified and he’s already shared too much. But the mustache said it all.

“Now this is just in case I get into an international spy situation where they need some help,” Smith surreptitiously explained Thursday. “I’m getting ready to enforce whatever America needs me for out there on the road.”

Presumably all America will need from Smith on the road is an entertaining football game as the Carolina Panthers take on the New York Giants this weekend in Munich. And he’ll have a whole team of people alongside him to make that happen.

One of those assets is Lonnie Johnson. The veteran gunner has developed a reputation for being an enforcer and antagonizer, something the Panthers are happy to use to their advantage.

“He is an exceptional physical fast player who is into every play when he’s out there. He’s playing at max effort at all times. So, that kind of guy, if you’re not ready for that matchup as an opponent, you can get rankled by it from time to time,” Smith said.

“He’s playing on the edge of physicality and speed for everyone. So, I love, love the way he plays. The effort he brings, the attitude he brings.”