Panthers News

"Since May, Joe Cooper has been a fan on a mission. Although he lives in Eagle River, Alaska, working for the Air National Guard, the Carolina Panthers are never far from his mind. It%u2019s not unusual for the Winston-Salem native and his wife Jessica to catch a cross-country flight covering more than 4,600 miles to see their beloved Panthers a few times a year, even it means spending more time traveling than in North Carolina. When he talks of the Panthers he does so with a great deal of pride. That%u2019s why he took on the bold mission of convincing Carolina owner/founder Jerry Richardson to replace the NFL %u201Cshield%u201D at midfield of Bank of America Stadium with the Panther logo. ..."

"As the Carolina Panthers prepare to descend on Wofford College Friday, they do so with a very real sense of urgency. An urgency that can be summed up best in four words: Win now%u2026 or else. After failing to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, the general perception is this might be the last dance for general manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox if the Panthers don%u2019t qualify for the postseason, although, to be fair, owner Jerry Richardson hasn%u2019t come out and said that. But there is that feeling. That may be why the Panthers mortgaged a piece of their future back in April when they traded away three draft picks, including their first-round choice in 2009, for a chance ..."

"The Carolina Panthers signed third-round draft pick Charles Godfrey on Monday. Now general manager Marty Hurney's focus is on the team's two first-round draft choices and getting them on board by the start of training camp Saturday. Iowa's Charles Godfrey, whom the team hopes will start immediately at free safety, signed a four-year deal with the Panthers. Seventh-rounder Geoff Schwartz, an offensive tackle from Oregon, also signed Monday."

"The Carolina Panthers signed third-round draft pick Charles Godfrey and seventh-round pick Geoff Schwartz on Monday, leaving them with only two unsigned draft choices. Carolina has now signed seven of its nine draft choices... Godfrey will receive an $854,000 signing bonus along with minimum base salaries of $295,000 this year, $385,000 in 2009, $470,000 in 2010 and $555,000 in 2011, according to league sources. The terms of Schwartz’s contract were not available."

"The Carolina Panthers open training camp Saturday. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is backup quarterback Matt Moore: Q. Who was a key mentor or motivator in your life? Dad, coach Mike Riley, wife Tara. Q. What's your favorite hobby away from football? Ping-pong, fishing and boating (it's relaxing). Q. What are you afraid of? Spiders. Q. What television show won't you miss or always record? “American Idol.”"

"The opening of Carolina Panthers training camp Saturday in Spartanburg will bring – as always – a sense of anticipation, a sense of eagerness, a sense of excitement. But for this franchise, which hasn't been to the playoffs since 2006 and has never had back-to-back winning seasons, there needs to be something else: A sense of urgency. Last season's Panthers were models of underachievement and disappointment. Never recovering from a season-ending elbow injury to quarterback Jake Delhomme, they limped to a 7-9 record."

"The Carolina Panthers will open training camp Saturday. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is linebacker Jon Beason: Q. Who was a key mentor or motivator in your life? My mother for strength and motivation. Jerry Rice for his desire to be the best and his work ethic. Q. What's your favorite hobby away from football? Just relaxing to a suspense or drama on Blu-ray. Q. What are you afraid of? Failure. Q. What television show won't you miss or always record? “America's Best Dance Crew.”"

"Everybody has questions. How soon can quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco start in Atlanta and Baltimore? Where does Brett Favre play in 2008, if he plays at all? Is there another team such as the New York Giants that will come out of the shadows at playoff time to seize the Super Bowl? There are no ready answers in July and August. Training camp is a time to grind, but it's also a time for optimism. Let's set the stage for the NFL's 89th season."

"Yes, the Bears have some issues as they head into training camp this week. But they are not alone. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL will be trying to answer deep questions, tie together loose ends and bury ghosts of the past. Here is a look at the other 31:"

"I think the Panthers have a chance to be one of the NFL's best. And I almost never write or say that or even think that. They have markedly improved their offensive line, receivers and running backs. Remember how coach John Fox used Stephen Davis? Davis hammered and hammered and defenders had to stop him, which set up the passing game and opportunities for change-up back DeShaun Foster, who Panthers fans then liked. Davis was 6-foot, 230 pounds. First-round pick Jonathan Stewart is 5-10, 235. Every coach improves when he has a runner who can pick up 3 or 4 yards and, with a juke or hard shoulder, 15 or 20 more. Fox improves more than most."

"I love to watch Favre. But he told his team, repeatedly, that he was finished. He told the world. As good as he is, the sport goes on without him. The Packers took two quarterbacks in the draft. Can you imagine the outcry if an athlete such as Kobe Bryant did what Favre has? There would be a national outcry. One more example of NBA stars and their sense of entitlement, we'd say."

"The Carolina Panthers will open training camp July25. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is linebacker Thomas Davis: Q. Who was a key mentor or motivator in your life? My high school coach, Walter Knighton. Q. What's your favorite hobby away from football? Spending time with my wife and kids. Q. What are you afraid of? Failure. Q. What television show won't you miss, or always record? It's not really a show, but I hate it when I miss a Georgia football game. Q. What's your guilty pleasure? Junk food."

"The Carolina Panthers will open training camp July25. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is safety Terrence Holt: Q. Who was a key mentor or motivator in your life? Mom and brother (St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt). Q. What's your favorite hobby away from football? Bowling. It's you versus the pins. Opponent doesn't matter. Q. What are you afraid of? God. Q. What television show won't you miss or always record? “Hell's Kitchen.” “Wife Swap.” HGTV's “House Hunters.”"

"The Carolina Panthers will open training camp July25. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is center Ryan Kalil: Q. Who was a key mentor or motivator in your life? Frank Kalil Sr. and Jr. Q. What's your favorite hobby away from football? Hang out at the amazing Epicentre in uptown Charlotte. Q. What are you afraid of? Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Q. What television show won't you miss or always record? ???The Office.??? Q. What's your guilty pleasure? Lemons."

"The Carolina Panthers open training camp July 25. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is tackle Travelle Wharton: Q. Who was a key mentor or motivator in your life? My parents. Q. What's your favorite hobby away from football? I like to fish. Q. What are you afraid of? Losing my family. Q. What television show won't you miss or always record? "Deal or No Deal." Q. What's your guilty pleasure? Hot wings."

"For the first time as professional athletes, the Carolina Panthers 2008 rookie class boarded a plane together last month and headed North. Not for a game, but for a history lesson. The destination? Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As part of a new initiative by the NFL to give incoming players a better appreciation and respect for the history of the league, and ultimately to make them more accountable for their actions on and off the field, all rookies were required to attend the Hall of Fame. The idea, which came from former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, a recent Hall of Fame inductee, has been a big hit among players."

"The Carolina Panthers released two players who were with the team during this spring's minicamp and last month's organized training activities. Quarterback Taylor Tharp and punter Dan Zeidman were let go Thursday. The Panthers have 79 players under contract now (they'll have to cut it to 53 by the time the season begins)."

"The Carolina Panthers will open training camp on July 25. To get you ready, Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is starting quarterback Jake Delhomme: Q. Who was your key mentor/motivator? It had to have been Billy Joe Tolliver, a quarterback I played with in New Orleans. I was at that age - a young age - and I was able to follow him a lot. He showed me the right things. How to prepare for a game, how to study, how to swallow the sword, so to speak, when things go wrong."

"It’s not that I don’t think Brett Favre was/is a great NFL quarterback. I think he’s a fantastic player, not to mention an exciting one to watch. I just don’t think he’d be a great fit with the Carolina Panthers. Five years ago? Yes. But not right now. In the next 10 days, Favre will reportedly send a letter to the Green Bay Packers informing them of his intentions to return from retirement. That’s when things will get interesting."

"If Brett Favre wants to un-retire from football and play for the Carolina Panthers, that's news to Panthers general manager Marty Hurney. "I don't know where these things come from," Hurney said of an Internet report earlier this week about agent Bus Cook saying Favre, who retired from the Green Bay Packers three months ago, has decided he already wants to return to the game, specifically with Carolina."

"According to Pro Football Talk, Bus Cook, who is Brett Favre's agent, says Favre wants to play for the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately, the Web site doesn't tell us to whom Cook said this. PFT doesn't quote a reliable source, let alone an unreliable one. This is one more reason to hate the Internet. Let's say, because this is the slowest month of the sports year and we need stuff to put into the newspaper, PFT is correct and Favre wants to end his three-month retirement and play for the Panthers. First, he has to compete for the job. That's not a joke."

"We don't know if Tyler Brayton will take over at left defensive end for the Carolina Panthers. We don't know whether he can become a solid complement to Julius Peppers. There in Spartanburg, someone – whether it's Brayton or one of the youngsters, Stanley McClover or Charles Johnson – must assert himself and take control of the position if the Panthers' defense is to be of playoff quality. For now, at least, Brayton feels reborn in the sport."

"I get the impression that fans are ready to give up on Dwayne Jarrett. He flopped as a rookie, pleaded guilty Monday to driving while impaired and will begin the season no better than fourth on the Carolina Panthers' receiver depth chart. Jarrett strikes me as a nice guy, a quiet guy, a guy who still gets yelled at by his mom. With the addition of receivers D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad, fans will forget about him. But watch. Despite the competition, he will have an impact."

"Now maybe Dwayne Jarrett can get on with his life. Jarrett, the Panthers' second-year wide receiver, took responsibility for his March 11 driving while impaired arrest at his Mecklenburg County District Court appearance Monday, pleading guilty to the charge and surrendered his driver's license. He was ordered to pay $420 in court costs and perform 24 hours of community service. He will also enter the first stage of the NFL's substance abuse program. That means he will be subject to more frequent tests for drugs and alcohol."

"Chris Canty came to Charlotte Latin in 1999, barely 180 pounds and a high school junior. Nearly a decade later, he returned to his alma mater as a 6-foot-7, 300-pound starting defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. He recently hosted his first "Chris Canty, Camp of Champions" at Latin. The camp, run by his brother Joe, boasted 148 kids, who took instruction from Canty and his Cowboy teammates, including Dallas starters Patrick Crayton, Terence Newman and Jay Ratliff. While the kids loved the instruction from all the NFL and college players at the camp, Canty was the center of attention."

"The Carolina Panthers ended three weeks of "summer school" practices Thursday. After coach John Fox called off a fourth week of "organized team activities," the team won't convene again until July25 in Spartanburg for training camp. While Fox had his eyes on everything, there were a few spots he paid particular attention to during the OTAs. Here are a few of them and how the Panthers are set up heading into camp:"

"Carolina invited him to training camp as a free agent, one of those guys the veterans beat up on for a few weeks and then are cut so they can get on with their lives. Except with Hoover, there was a difference. ?When we brought him in, nobody could push him out,? Bushofsky said. Now Hoover, fresh from signing a new three-year deal with Carolina, is looking forward to a ninth season with the team. He has become one of the faces of the franchise, with Bank of America Stadium crowds screaming ?Hooooov? whenever he touches the ball."

"In trying to become the type of road-grading, helmet-busting, power-running offensive line that Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson desires, the front office and coaching staff focused on getting bigger -- much bigger, in fact -- up front this off-season. They brought in a number of larger offensive linemen via free agency and the NFL draft and asked those returning from last season to start packing on some weight. Almost everyone hit the buffet table. But at least one lineman is bucking the trend. Jordan Gross, widely recognized as the leader of the Panthers offensive line, says he won?t be adding any additional weight."

"The Carolina Panthers might be better off with two kickers next season. But with spots on an NFL team's 53-player roster at a premium, can the team afford the luxury of one player kicking off and another handling extra points and field goals? That's one question coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney are contemplating as a third week of ?summer school? workouts continues. And it's why dependable veteran John Kasay ? one of the league's best-ever field-goal kickers ? has been joined on the team's practice fields this spring by Rhys (pronounced Reese) Lloyd, an Englishman with a cannon-like right leg."

"It's hardly surprising Carolina Panthers rookie defensive end Hilee Taylor thinks too much emphasis is put on a player's height and weight coming out of college. Most undersized players -- you know, the ones that don't fit that so-called ideal NFL profile -- will tell you the same thing. At 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, Taylor is considered too small by most NFL standards to be an every down defensive end in this league. That's a major reason why he wasn't selected until the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft despite registering double digit sacks totals his senior season at the University of North Carolina."

"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South last season, which means they probably won't this year. That's the way it goes in the NFL's most unpredictable division, where teams seemingly go from worst to first every year. The Buccaneers had a busy offseason in an effort to put together consecutive winning seasons for the first time since coach Jon Gruden replaced Tony Dungy in 2002. But repeating as division champs won't be easy as the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints also loaded up with free agents and potential impact rookies. The Atlanta Falcons made some improvements, but they might not be enough to duplicate Tampa Bay's surprising climb out of cellar. Here's a review ..."

"To Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner, it must have seemed like his team spent much of the offseason signing veteran guards. Big guards. First, there was Keydrick Vincent, listed at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds. Then came Milford Brown (6-5, 330) and Toniu Fonoti (6-4, 340). All have been starters in the NFL. All fit the mold of the huge, powerful linemen with which Carolina is trying to build an offense that can play power football. But there's more. With the drafting of massive tackle Jeff Otah (6-6, 330), former tackle Travelle Wharton (6-4, 312 last year but possibly heavier now) is also expected to move into the guard mix. And then there's Jeremy Bridges (6-4, ..."

"The second week of the Carolina Panthers' "summer school" workouts had ended moments before, and receiver Steve Smith was delighted by what he had seen. "With those two (receiver) acquisitions and with some of the big guys on the offensive line -- the rookie (tackle Jeff Otah) -- offensively I think we finally made an upgrade," he said, pausing as he left the Bank of America Stadium practice fields Thursday. "Compared to the years prior when we had some guys come in, and as those guys have left we really hadn't replenished. And we have finally, and I can honestly see a big difference." It starts with quarterback Jake Delhomme, whose surgically repaired right elbow has recovered ..."

"Steve Smith was a 13-year old growing up in inner city Los Angeles with a mother who loved him but worked a lot. He rode buses alone. It was only natural that he was introverted. He needed to improve his reading, so his mom enrolled him in an Urban League enrichment program. He progressed so much that he was rewarded with a trip to Super Bowl XXVII, where he watched the Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in January 1993. He even got to join other children in the halftime show with Michael Jackson. As exciting as that was, it wasn't as significant as his chance to play catch with Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw that same week at a local park."

"Carolina Panthers receiver Dwayne Jarrett can only hope his second season in the NFL goes better than his rookie year. Jarrett, the team's second-round draft choice in 2007, never quite figured things out as a rookie, catching six passes for 73 yards and no touchdowns in seven games. He thinks he's got a better handle on what it takes to succeed in the NFL now."

"The remark was launched with a smile, but it rattled through the NFL. St. Louis receiver Torry Holt, speaking at a charity golf tournament this spring in Raleigh, told TV station WRAL: "I wanted to just send in my resignation to the Rams and see if I could join (Terrence) down here." Safety Terrence Holt, Torry's brother, joined the Carolina Panthers during the offseason. Both men grew up in North Carolina and played at N.C. State, and both love the area."

"The big man finally practiced Monday for the Carolina Panthers. Jeff Otah, whom the Panthers paid a huge ransom to move up and19th overall in April's NFL draft, went through his first practice as a professional as the Panthers opened their second week of summer school sessions. Prior to Monday the 6-foot-6, 340-pound Otah had been working on the side with trainers rehabbing a high ankle sprain that he injured last August while at the University of Pittsburgh. As expected, Otah stepped right in Monday and began working with the first team at right tackle ahead of Jeremy Bridges."

"Jeff Otah finally participated in a Carolina Panthers practice Monday as a second week of summer school sessions began. Otah, an offensive tackle who was one of the team's two first-round picks in April's draft, had been recovering from a high-ankle sprain. He didn't participate in the minicamp in May or in last week's first three days of offseason training activities (OTAs)."

"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has worked hard to bring his players' behavior under control. Or at least as much under control as possible. Now, he is turning his attention to fan behavior, saying last week he is working with teams on ways to bring out-of-line fans in line and make games more enjoyable for all fans. Details of how the commish plans to do this are forthcoming, but we thought we'd offer our help in the form of these 10 recommendations:"

"The Carolina Panthers took a big step toward mattering again in the NFC South last week. "It's nice to have your starting quarterback out there," Coach John Fox said. Fox and his players rejoiced at the sight of Jake Delhomme taking snaps, dropping and firing balls to receivers for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right, throwing shoulder last fall...With Delhomme in mind, here's a look at 10 players on the mend but on schedule to take the field in time for camp."

"Carolina Panthers rookie offensive tackle Jeff Otah hasn't practiced with the team yet because of a high-ankle sprain which he's continuing to recover from. Otah, the 19th player chosen in last month's NFL draft, hurt the ankle in preseason camp before his final season at the University of Pittsburgh and played hurt the entire 2007 season. Otah spoke with reporters after Thursday's summer-school practice, when he worked out on his own on the sideline with a Panthers trainer."

"Dan Connor walked off the Carolina Panthers' practice fields Thursday morning lugging the helmets of five of his veteran teammates. Welcome to the NFL, rookie. Not that Connor minds. He'll do whatever it takes to make the team. And NFL teams' ways of making rookies feel "needed" are legend."

"The Carolina Panthers are the only NFL team without a quarterback who was picked in the league draft. The Panthers have five undrafted quarterbacks on their roster, led by starter Jake Delhomme. "I think it's just by chance that's how it ended up," coach John Fox said. "It wasn't by design." After Delhomme, there's Matt Moore, Brett Basanez, Taylor Tharp and Lester Ricard. Delhomme, smiling big, said he likes the Panthers' quarterback distinction."

"Carolina tight end Jeff King has a small red cut above his eye, which is to say that he looks like a football player. I ask him why his sport is so popular, and he stands in the late morning rain after practice Wednesday and talks about branding and name recognition and role models and the fine job the NFL does promoting its product. What are you, a kicker? He smiles and says, "It's football. It's just a great game." Good answer. The NFL is the No. 1 sport in the U.S., and the distance between it and whatever is No. 2 is vast. The margin between the NFL and, say, Major League Baseball, is bigger than Panthers rookie Jeff Otah. And Otah weighs 330 pounds. And he's not fat."

"Steve Smith glanced down the line of scrimmage and saw a familiar face Wednesday. There, crouched behind center and shouting signals, was quarterback Jake Delhomme. A sense of normalcy was suddenly in the air on the first day of the Carolina Panthers' "summer school." Delhomme and Smith, one of the NFL's most prolific pass-and-catch combinations in recent seasons, were back on the field again -- together. It had been awhile."

"The Carolina Panthers' summer school -- voluntary practices lasting through mid-June -- will begin today on their practice fields next to Bank of America Stadium. It's the final time the team will be together until training camp opens in late July in Spartanburg. Here's a crash course on summer school:"

"It sounds like Taylor is finished in Miami. I really think the Panthers should make a strong play for him. Apparently, the asking price is around a second-round pick for 2009. Panthers already have traded away No.1 pick that season; if they're really serious about this season, trading away No.2 for Taylor is a good move in my opinion. "Dancing with the Stars" aside, it was only two years ago that this was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Throughout his career, he's been a more consistent sacker than Peppers, and that's saying something. Now it would cost a lot of money (Taylor slated to earn $15.5 million over next two years) and he'd be a short-term fix, for sure, but if ..."

"Linebacker Dan Morgan announced his retirement Monday, according to the New Orleans Saints, who had signed him March 11 as a free agent. Morgan, 29, played his entire seven-year career with the Carolina Panthers. He missed the final 13 games of 2007 with a partial tear of an Achilles tendon, and had battled through other injuries -- including five concussions -- during recent seasons."

"Panthers receiver Steve Smith picked up the cell phone and sounded really, really happy. He turned 29 last week. He threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field in Chicago for the Cubs-Padres game Thursday. But he really wanted to talk about his offseason job as a financial planning intern at Morgan Stanley, a global investment firm."

"Betty Whitley wore a black dress and carried a broken heart to her baby boy's funeral. She gathered with about 20 family members at a private, graveside service late Friday afternoon near Smithfield to say goodbye to the youngest of her two sons. Curtis Whitley, 39, a former Carolina Panthers center, was found dead last Sunday -- Mother's Day -- in his rented trailer in the West Texas desert. It was a tragic end to a life of extremes. He brought family and friends joy and fun. He also brought heartache. He was gentle and caring with animals, once sleeping beside a horse to nurse it back to health after a vet suggested euthanasia. He carried a scar on his right hand from age 11, ..."