"Steve Smith worked on mastering in-routes for two days in training camp and was satisfied with his progress. Now, he wants to focus on the comeback route.

His goal: Be unstoppable no matter what plays he runs.

Another goal: Finish his career as one of the leading pass-catchers in NFL history.

Smith, the Panthers' star receiver, revealed Monday that he has a laminated piece of paper listing the league's all-time leaders in receiving yards.

Atop that category is former 49ers great Jerry Rice (22,458), followed by ex-Raider Tim Brown (14,934).

Smith said he typed a challenge for himself and affixed it to the paper: "Where will I be at the end?"

At age 29 and entering his eighth NFL season, Smith has 431 receptions for 5,927 yards and 37 touchdowns.

He'll need many more outstanding seasons to get near the top of the all-time list.

"Only time will tell where I will be," said Smith. "It doesn't matter where I would like to be. What matters is where I will be at the end."

Smith is a work in progress, but has matured greatly since he came to the NFL as a dynamically talented player with an explosive temper.

His streets-of-L.A. background continues to drive him to succeed, but he's learning how to channel his energies, even in practice.

Smith said kicker John Kasay has cautioned him that as he gets older, he must learn to practice smarter rather than going all-out all the time.

Smith admits that isn't easy.

"As you get older, you have to resist the temptation to overdo it, resist the temptation to go out there and show everybody you still have it," he said. "I think that's the biggest thing I have to fight."

Conversely, Smith said he's

calmest when things are the craziest - like when the Panthers are running a hurry-up drill to rehearse the offensive plays they'll run in the last two minutes of a half or a game.

"I am at ease and at peace in two minutes because it's so chaotic and I just kind of cruise through," he said. "A storm is going on. Guys are yelling, trying to get the play in, but I'm just kind of sitting there, checking at the line with the ref, making sure I get the play and looking at the defense.

"Because it's chaotic, I can work perfectly. I guess growing up, (it was) chaotic back home, so that's kind of my comfort zone."

Smith has befriended some legendary receivers of the past, such as Rice and former Dallas star Michael Irvin, who has also endured some chaos."