CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a collective moan among many that follow the Carolina Panthers when all-time leading receiver Steve Smith was released after the 2013 season. The moan became louder when 32-year-old Jerricho Cotchery was signed to help rebuild a unit on which none of the top four receivers returned.

Critics said Cotchery was nothing more than a No. 3 receiver, perhaps No. 4. Some said he was over the hill, too slow and couldn’t be a difference maker.

Cotchery heard them.

He ignored them.

“I knew why they brought me here," Cotchery said. “They didn’t bring me here to replace anybody. They brought me here to help this team."

Cotchery has done that and more. While he doesn’t put up the huge numbers of a No. 1 target, the difference he’s made with a group of basically no-name receivers has made him No. 1 in terms of respect.

He still can make big plays, too. He showed that with the game-winning, 15-yard touchdown catch with 1:05 remaining in Sunday’s 41-38 victory at New Orleans that kept the Panthers (12-0) undefeated.

“What he brings just from a professionalism, his attitude, his presence in the locker room and meeting room has been huge," tight end Greg Olsen said. “When you need a big catch it always seems he’s there.

“He’s unselfish. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but his presence is felt."

Cam Newton to WR On Third Down Cotchery All Others Comp pct. 68.8 41.0 Yds per att. 12.3 6.4 --ESPN Stats & Info

Cotchery is tied for 11th in the league with seven catches for first downs on plays of third-and-seven or greater, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He is tied for fourth among wide receivers on first-down catches of third-and-10 or more with four.

Only Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins, Denver’s Emmanuel Sanders and Cleveland’s Brian Hartline have more.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has completed 68.8 percent of his passes to Cotchery on third down this season. The rest of the receivers are at 41.0 percent.

Newton nicknamed the 33-year-old receiver “Clutchery." He compared him to a "dad" in terms of a person you don’t want to say "bad words" around.

“It’s just his spirit," Newton said. “He brings that fun-loving approach to the game. He’s a guy that keeps everybody steered right. He rarely raises his voice ... He just does everything right.

“But he doesn’t have that holier-than-thou approach. ... Everybody likes Cotch."

Smith was fiery on and off the field. He would get in a teammate’s face if he saw something he didn’t like.

Earlier in his career, Smith punched fellow wide receiver Anthony Bright in the film room. In 2012, in his words, Smith "lit" into Newton for sulking on the sidelines.

Cotchery is quiet and soft-spoken. He seldom raises his voice. He’s a teacher in the truest form of the word.

“This is what this league is about," Cotchery said. “You have your time in this league and now you help other guys towards the end of it."

Cotchery isn’t easily offended, particularly when it comes to criticism about him. He definitely wasn’t offended by the critics that questioned Carolina signing him.

“Because it wasn’t reality," Cotchery said. “I wasn’t here to replace Steve."

Smith may have brought more production on the field had the Panthers kept him. He had 46 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns in seven games for the Baltimore Ravens this season before suffering a torn Achilles.

Cotchery has 27 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games, missing two games with a high ankle sprain.

But Cotchery’s value isn’t measured in turns of catches and touchdowns. Nobody mentioned him as a replacement for Kelvin Benjamin when Carolina’s No. 1 receiver suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp.

“He’s the perfect leader for us," second-year wide receiver Philly Brown said. “He’s teaching me patience and routes. He’s obviously the leader of the group, even when Kelvin is there. Everybody respects him."

That’s why the Panthers signed Cotchery. That’s why Cotchery ignored the critics questioning the move.

“They never mentioned anything about replacing anybody," Cotchery said of the Panthers. “I heard those things people were saying, but it didn’t affect me in any way."