Amid rumors and rumblings that veteran receiver Steve Smith may want out of Carolina at a time when the team may be mired in an extended rebuilding process, a reader has passed along proof that Smith’s house is on the market.

(We’ve decided not to post a link to the listing or to provide other specific proof that would show where Smith lives, out of deference to his family’s privacy interests. That said, we’re convinced that his house is indeed for sale.)

The 10,000-square foot mansion, built and bought by Smith in 2007, has an asking price of $2.9 million.

For a guy who, like Smith, is frustrated in his current situation, putting his house on the market is one of the few things he can do to express himself, especially since he has learned the hard way that punching someone isn’t the best way to make his point.

Signed for two more years, Smith is due to earn a base salary of $7 million in 2011 and $7.75 million in 2012. Given those amounts, his recent production, his history of injuries, and the Patriots’ ability to cobble together a corps of selfless pass-catchers who don’t complain or demand the ball or criticize the quarterback publicly or otherwise, you know, punch someone, we think that no one will want to pay Smith $7 million next season.

Including the Panthers.