Sweet Carolina | Panther's Franchise

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Carolina Panthers
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2007 Season Recap
The Panthers had a tough time in the 07-08 season, ending in a disappointing 7-9 and tie for 2nd in their division. They started strong, going 4-2, but quickly regressed to a five game losing streak, winding up 4-7 before they knew it. They finally snapped the streak against the 49ers only to get routed with a score of 37-6 by the Jaguars the next week. They won 2 out of their next three games, sweeping division rivals Tampa Bay and finishing with a looming 7-9.

The turning point in this season was Delhomme going down with an elbow injury in week three and not returning for the rest of the season. The Panthers tried Moore, Carr, and even graybeard Testaverde, but none proved they could carry the load. The running game was also inconsistent, while rushing for 1824 yards, they only scored 7 times. Young sensation Steve Smith lead the lackluster offense, accumulating 87 grabs for 1002 yards and 7 scores. The defense wasn't much better, giving up 21 points and 100 rushing yards a game. Another key stat in the Panther's failure was their inability to convert on third down, going 85/235 (36%). Defensive anchor Peppers also had a career worst 2.5 sacks, and the Panthers finished with 13 as a team, the lowest in the team’s history and 2nd worst in the NFL.

Over the offseason, Delhomme is expected to return as the starting quarterback, and John Stewart has been drafted to replace Foster helping the running game. Rookie tackle Otah was also picked up to help anchor the offensive line. Panther veteran Muhsin Muhammad was also picked up from the bears as well as D.J. Hackett to bring experience and hands to the receiving core.

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Carolina Panthers
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2008 NFC South Preview

The NFC South is the only division in which no team has repeated as champion and all four teams have finished in first place at least once. This division also has another trend; whoever finishes in last place one year places first the next. In any case, the division appears to be wide-open again this year: Tampa Bay finished first last year; New Orleans reached the NFC championship game two years ago, and Carolina, provided Delhomme returns healthy.

The only team with an outside chance here are the Falcons, and while it's not impossible, with a rookie coach and rookie quarterback, they are at the bottom of the preseason barrel, trying to fix the damage Vick and Petrino caused last year.

All three favored teams have interesting stories. New Orleans rose quickly under coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, from last place to first in 2006, but a poor defense caused them to fade in 2007. In Tampa Bay, coach Jon Gruden never seems satisfied with his quarterbacks, although Garcia was rated NFC's No. 3 passer last year. And at Carolina, coach John Fox has remade his offensive line to stress a power game.

Team on the rise
New Orleans: Brees is the most consistent quarterback in this division and has plenty of offensive weapons; McAllister, Bush, Colston, and the newly added Shockey looks to make a big debut. The only thing holding this team back is it's defense, which should show an improvement since last year.

Team in transition
Atlanta: Rookie coach Mike Smith is trying to rebuild the team, which has been stricken with negatives the last few years. From the disenchantment with former coach Jim Mora two years ago to the Vick problems and Petrino's hasty exit last year, the Falcons look to start over from the beginning, and will start No. 3 overall pick Matt Ryan at quarterback.

Coach in the spotlight
Mike Smith was a surprise choice by Falcons' owner Arthur Blank, who tends to lean heavily to bright lights and big names. Smith has a plan and knows what he's doing, but the issue is whether Blank has learned from the past and will allow Smith the time and space to rebuild the Falcons for the long haul, rather than seeking a quick fix to attract attention.

Star on the rise
Jon Beason made his impact on the Panthers defense his rookie season, accumulating a franchise-record 140 tackles last year, and needs to be a leader for the Panthers defense to succeed.

Impact rookie
Jonathan Stewart of Carolina is one of the elite rookie runningbacks drafted. He brins a combination of speed and power, and with Fox looking to become a run-first smash mouth team, Stewart can have a big year if Williams doesn't prove himself worthy of a starting spot

Count on it
Drew Brees will be even better this year than he was during his first two seasons in New Orleans. The addition of a tight end like Jeremy Shockey will not only give him another big target in the middle of the field, but will also go a long way to making the blocking even better. Brees was the best-protected passer in the league, sacked just once for every 40 passes he threw.

Don't be surprised if
Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers makes a big-time comeback from his poor season in 2007.

[Lonewolf32]

Love the Panthers , looking forward to more Scoop!

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Carolina Panthers
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2008 Panthers Preview

The Panthers have had just one winning season in four years since their 2003 run to the Super Bowl, and they're undergoing an extreme makeover this year as coach John Fox tries to recreate past success.

Fox has remade the entire offensive line -- three new starters, two starters in new positions. He has gone from a unit that was based on quickness to one based on size and power. The Panthers want a physical team built around defense and the running game.

There's a common thread that pointed Fox to the change.

In 2003, Carolina quarterbacks attempted 459 passes; in 2005, the Panthers' QBs threw 448. Both of those seasons ended with 11-5 records, the first ended in the Super Bowl, the second in the NFC title game.

In 2004, 2006 and 2007, the Panthers finished with records of 7-9, 8-8 and 7-9, respectively, and their quarterbacks attempted more than 500 passes in each season.

That's a lot of throws for a team trying to find reliable receivers, and more than Fox wants. Besides Smith, the Panthers have offseason acquisitions D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad, neither of whom is considered an elite wideout.

Last year was particularly trying for the Panthers. Quarterback Jake Delhomme was off to a good start before suffering a season-ending injury after just three games and the Panthers wound up starting four quarterbacks. They think Delhomme is healthy enough now that they didn't even try to solidify the position in the offseason.

To power the running game, Carolina replaced last year's leading rusher, DeShaun Foster, who was prone to fumbling, with first-round draft choice Jonathan Stewart. Stewart is a powerful 235-pounder who will split carries with DeAngelo Williams and has a good chance to supplant him as the feature back.

Defensively, the big issue is the health of Julius Peppers, who lost two weeks of training camp a year ago with an illness and never seemed to regain his strength. Peppers, who had 53½ sacks in five previous seasons, had only 2½ in 2007. In fact, the Panthers totaled just 23 sacks as a team, the lowest in their 13-year history and the second lowest in the NFL last year. Peppers has looked outstanding this summer.

On the hot seat
Coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney, who hired him, are both in trouble if the Panthers do not have a good season.

Difference-maker
Peppers needs to get his act together and have a strong season; he's the defensive anchor.

Hard road to hoe
The back-end of the Panthers schedule includes the Packers, Giants, Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

Panthers will be better than you think if ...
Delhomme bounces back from his injury on full-stride. He was looking good, throwing 8 touchdowns and only 1 interception when he went down in game three last year.

Panthers will be worse than you think if ...
Peppers has a second consecutive down year. But that's not likely as long as Peppers stays healthy. He's just 28 years old and in his contract year.

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Love the Panthers , looking forward to more Scoop!

Thanks, they are my favorite team, I know i dont have the best track record finishing dynasties, but i would really like to keep this one going

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Carolina Panthers
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IMPACT PLAYERS

Jake Delhomme: After going down early last year with an elbow injury, Delhomme has been in full rehab and is ready to suit up this season. How he comes back from recovery will directly affect the Panthers record this season. If he bounces back and has a great season, expect to see playoffs. If he comes back worse than ever, expect a losing season.

Steve Smith: No doubt, this is the Panthers' biggest threat. Smith is a tremendous receiver and devising coverages to contain him is a nightmare for defensive coordinators and he still often beats them. Don't let his height fool you; he jumps and attacks the ball like he was 6' 6" 220 pounds. He can also get in and out of his cuts like lightening, and breaks off of the line with tremendous speed so you don't want to play him too close. But if you play him too far away and you leave him in open space, he will breeze by you. Look for him to have a spectacular season if Delhomme returns healthy.

Two-Headed Runningback: Fox is also trying to become a dominant running team, strengthening his line and drafting Stewart, because this is what won the Panthers games. The Stewart-Williams duo will play a huge part in the season. Delhomme isn't a Brady-caliber quarterback where the Panthers can go 16-0 on his arm. He will need running support. The Panthers drafted Stewart and got rid of old, fumble-prone Foster to share carries with Williams, and he has a significant chance of becoming the premier back. Stewart brings power to the table, where Williams brings his speed and elusiveness, and often teams with two good change-of-pace runningbacks to great if they have a supportive passing game.

Julius Peppers: Peppers is the defensive anchor, but after having his worst season ever, with two and a half sacks, he could make the biggest bounce-back we have seen in a while. He is an athlete playing defensive end. He can blow by most offensive tackles with ease, so he often draws double-teams. Defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac will need to become creative with line stunts for Peppers to play at his peak.

Jon Beason: Beason had a stellar rookie season last year, setting a franchise record in tackles with 140. He was second in line for defensive rookie of the year behind 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis. With Morgan gone, Beason will have to lead this linebacking core and he has the potential to do it.

[Mitch8766]

CP Master :ninja:

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for the nfc south and panthers previews, u becha

[bloobloo13]

nice previews so far

[Matt1]

looks nice, ill be following

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Carolina Panthers
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Schedule Released
The Carolina Panthers 2008-2009 Schedule Has Been Released:

Day Date Opponent Time Network
Sunday September 7 at San Diego 4:15 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday September 14 CHICAGO 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday September 21 at Minnesota 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday September 28 ATLANTA 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday October 5 KANSAS CITY 1:00 p.m. ET CBS
Sunday October 12 at Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday October 19 NEW ORLEANS 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday October 26 ARIZONA 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday November 2 BYE
Sunday November 9 at Oakland 4:05 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday November 16 DETROIT 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday November 23 at Atlanta 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday November 30 at Green Bay 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Monday December 8 TAMPA BAY 8:30 p.m. ET ESPN
Sunday December 14 DENVER 1:00 p.m. ET CBS
Sunday December 21 at New York Giants 1:00 p.m. ET FOX
Sunday December 28 at New Orleans 1:00 p.m. ET FOX

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Carolina Panthers
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Preseason Mish-Mash

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- It was just another sunny Friday practice for the Carolina Panthers until fists began flying on the sidelines.

Star receiver Steve Smith's temper erupted, sending cornerback Ken Lucas to the locker room with an ice pack on his left eye and disrupting what had been a mostly blissful training camp.

For Smith, it was a sudden, unexpected return -- even if for a moment -- to the explosive behavior that marred the early days of his NFL career.

Back in 2002, he punched teammate Anthony Bright in the face in a team meeting room, earning him a one-game suspension and a civil lawsuit that was eventually settled out of court.

After Friday's incident, the Panthers sent Smith home to Charlotte and weighed disciplinary actions, which include suspending him for the Sept. 7 season opener at San Diego -- and perhaps longer.

Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, teams can suspend players for up to four games for conduct detrimental to the team.

"Obviously, everybody is going to be waiting to see what are the repercussions for this event," wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "I'm just praying that we rally together as a team because, obviously, there's going to be some adversity here."

General manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox said the matter was being handled internally. An announcement is expected from the team once a decision is made.

Smith apparently won't face disciplinary action by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell even though he may have violated the league's personal conduct policy.

Among actions punishable under the policy are "violent or threatening behavior among employees, whether inside or outside the workplace" and "conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety and well-being of another person."

However, league spokesman Greg Aiello said altercations that occur in practice are routinely handled by the clubs, not by the league.

The extent of Lucas' injury wasn't immediately known.

Neither Smith nor Lucas was available for comment.

Smith and Lucas were on the sidelines without their helmets on during a special-teams drill when the fight broke out. Muhammad and quarterback Jake Delhomme said they were unsure what prompted the altercation.

"I would assume it got started from a week in Spartanburg in heat and going against each other every day," Delhomme said.

Smith and Lucas have had heated confrontations in practice before, but none was known to have come to serious blows.

Once the fight began, players and coaches, including Fox, hurried to the scene and tried to break it up. Based on photos taken by the Charlotte Observer, director of pro scouting Mark Koncz tried to pull Lucas away but was unable to stop the fight.

Eventually, linebacker Jon Beason grabbed Smith from behind and pulled him backward while quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy stood in front of Smith trying to calm him down.

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Beason Restraining Smith

Lucas was taken to the tent where players get medical treatment. He sat down, and an ice pack was applied to his left eye.

Smith eventually walked over to the tent with Muhammad and leaned down to speak to Lucas.

"Steve was probably a little remorseful for what happened and was trying to apologize," Muhammad said. "I was walking with him, just to be there."

Smith later stood outside the tent with a towel draped over his head, talking to kicker John Kasay.

Lucas was carted into the locker room, and Smith later left the field escorted by Hurney.

Fox spent more time than usual talking to the players after practice. He had little to say to the media about the fight.

"Anytime something like that happens, you're obviously disappointed," Fox said. "It's part of football, and you deal with it."



*FROM THE NEWS AND OBSERVER*

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Carolina Panthers
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All-Star Suspended For First Two Games

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Receiver Steve Smith was suspended two games by the Carolina Panthers after a training camp fight with cornerback Ken Lucas.

Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, will continue to practice when training camp resumes Monday and will be allowed to participate in preseason games, coach John Fox said Saturday.

Lucas, who left the practice field at Wofford College on Friday with ice over his left eye, has a broken nose, Fox said. Smith was kicked out of practice and sent back to Charlotte.

"What (Smith) did was wrong and we take very serious and he is being punished severely for it," Fox said.

The melee came after both players had taken off their helmets in a break for starters during a special teams drill. It was unclear what provoked the fight. While the two have routinely jawed at each other in practice since Lucas signed with Carolina in 2005, they've never come to blows in view of reporters.

The suspension will cost Smith more than $205,000, a fraction of his base salary. Fox also seemed to issue a stern warning toward Smith and his future actions.

"He is still ours and he will have conditions," Fox said. "He knows what those are and we will move forward."

Lucas, who was not suspended, did not practice Saturday at Fan Fest and is listed as day-to-day. He showed up in the locker room Saturday morning unexpectedly and was mobbed by teammates, according to quarterback Jake Delhomme.

Delhomme said he was proud of Lucas for coming.

"Ken got overwhelmed with every single player coming up to him and telling him hello," Delhomme said. "I think it was great that he came out today. A lesser person would not have come out. But he did. And we can't wait to get him back."

Delhomme said he hasn't spoken with Smith, but has exchanged text messages.

"Steve will be back with us," Delhomme said. "I know he's extremely remorseful and he understands. But if we want to be a good football team we have to win without him."

Smith will miss the season opener at San Diego on Sept. 7 and the home opener the following Sunday against Chicago. He will not face any additional punishment from the league.


*FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE*

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yay snow day.. expect updates

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[QUOTE=Scoop;26270]Carolina Panthers
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John Fox Press Conference

Adviser: Mr. Fox will begin taking questions.

Reporter One: Mr. Fox, how does Steve Smith punching Ken Lucas affect your team's morale?

John Fox: Well, obviously it brought us down as a whole, but it does have the potential to bring us back up. What Smith did was detrimental to the team, but him and Lucas have already talked it over and Smith was nothing short of polite and sympathetic. Smith will begin practicing with us soon, and how he comes back will determine our teams stature.

Reporter One: Is it true that he is suspended for the first two regular season games?

John Fox: Yes it is.

Reporter One: How will that affect the outcome of those games?

John Fox: Well obviously Smith is a huge talent and great to have around, he adds a whole other dimension to our offense. We will need to run the ball more and play more conservative. We have plenty of time to prepare for it so I would say we will be in good shape.

Reporter Two: How do you look to bounce back from last year's 7-9 season.

John Fox: It's no secret that I want to run the ball more; I've picked up a rookie runningback to add diversity to our running game and I've beefed up our line. Statistically, running the ball and good defense is what gave us a SuperBowl and NFC Championship berth, so I would like to repeat history, but this time win.

Reporter Two: What happens if another losing season occurs?

John Fox: Right now I am on the hot seat, so my job isn't guaranteed if we finished below .500.

Reporter Three: How tough will your division be this year?

John Fox: I believe this is one of the toughest divisions in football, along with the NFC East. The Saints are always worthy contenders, Drew Brees is a very consistent quarterback that can easily throw for 400 yards if you don't cover his receivers. The Buccaneers have a stingy defense and four good runningbacks. The Falcons are on the fence right now, they could be good if Turner, Ryan and coach smith execute' Smith and Ryan are rookies, and Turner spent his career as a back-up for Tomlinson so far.

Reporter Three: Who will win the division?

John Fox: It is wide open.

Reporter Three: Do you think any particular team has a better chance than the other?

John Fox: No, and that is all the questions I will be taking.