|
HOT TOPIC
Panthers coach John Fox spoke to his team last week after practice about the dangers of riding motorcycles and about making good career decisions.
That talk came in light of the recent motorcycle accident involving Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"It's something you always worry about," Fox said. "All you can do is continue to tell guys to be careful. You worry about them in cars, too. You are always concerned about that. That's life. You just stress to be careful and there are consequences in everything you do... But it's a democratic society and you can't tell them they can't do it."
However, the Panthers, like most NFL teams, do what they can to deter players from riding motorcycles.
The Panthers often write stipulations into their contracts so they won't have to pay a player's salary if he sustains a "personal injury" away from the football field. The hope is that those potential financial losses, which can cost a player millions of dollars in some cases, prevent the temptation of players to purchase high-speed motorcycles like Roethlisberger's Suzuki Hayabusa.
Ironically, that policy came into play just last month.
Cornerback Garnell Wilds, who played two games last season for the Panthers and was on this year's roster, was released after he tore an ACL in his knee after a scooter accident. Since Wilds' name doesn't carry the same name notoriety as a Roethlisberger or a Kellen Winslow, who tore up his knee two years ago in a motorcycle accident prior to signing with the Cleveland Browns, the news went fairly unnoticed.
Knowing Wilds would be of no use to them in 2006, the Panthers immediately cut him citing that he'd failed a physical.
"Really there's no league mandate on whether you can ride motorcycles or not," Fox said. "You are dealing with a democratic society, so it's hard to (tell people they can't ride them). But guys have to understand that with these non-football injuries there are ramifications as far as contractually how much money they are able to receive."
In Wilds' case, he got nothing because he was riding a two-wheel vehicle, thus breaking the terms of his contract with the Panthers.
Fox said the accident involving Roethlisberger on Monday has been topic of discussion among his own players this week during summer school sessions and he hopes it will remind players to use more caution when making their decisions.
"You know what? You lay your head on the pillow at night and you never know what's going to happen," Fox said. "Obviously these guys are all a tight fraternity and they are concerned about him and his family. But is sounded like it we're probably fortunate something worse didn't happen."
PLAYER NOTES
--Running back Nick Goings almost saw the collision once on a sports highlight show, but turned away at the last second.
After getting the start in last year's NFC Championship game, Goings lasted just five carries before suffering a concussion following a devastating hit by Seattle's Lofa Tatupu. It was one of those rare hits where as you watch it live, you couldn't help but say, "Ooooh!"
Goings was helped off the field, but the collision was so severe he spent the night in a Seattle hospital with a severe concussion and did not return home on the team charter.
"I don't want to see it on tape," Goings said. "But I've heard how bad it was."
To this day, he doesn't remember anything after the hit.
"I remember jumping over Hoov and colliding (with Tatupu) and that's about it," Goings said. "It was crazy. I remember being in the hospital later that night, thinking 'Where am I? What happened?' But that's about it."
He finished the game with 2 yards on five carries.
With DeShaun Foster, Stephen Davis and Goings all injured, the Panthers went with fourth-string running back Jamal Robertson the remainder of the game and that didn't bode well for the visitors.
The Panthers couldn't move the ball on the ground and their passing game suffered too as they lost the game 34-14, ending a chance at a second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.
"It was definitely disappointing after getting a chance to start in the NFC Championship game and then having it end like that," Goings said.
Goings, now 28, knows it's an opportunity he may never have again.
Although he's currently working with the second team in the team's summer school practices, more than likely Goings will end up third on the depth chart behind Foster and first-round draft pick DeAngelo Williams from Memphis.
Goings is eager to get back in the ring after getting knocked out. He's bulked up to 220 pounds -- up six pounds from last season -- and said he feels in the best shape he has ever been.
And he's using last year's disappointing conclusion as motivation for this year.
"Honestly, I can't wait until the season is here," Goings said. "I can't wait to get to that first play again, get it behind me and move on and have a great season."
--The next time the Panthers gather as a team will be in Spartanburg, S.C., in late July for the start of training camp.
The Panthers wrapped up three weeks of summer school practice sessions on Thursday at Bank of America Stadium.
"It was outstanding," coach John Fox said. "We had great participation and guys were focused."
Fox made a deal with his players before camp began that he would call off the final week of coaching sessions as long as the players worked hard the first three weeks.
He lived up to his word.
"I think he wanted to get out of here as much as we did," joked cornerback Ken Lucas.
Said Fox: "Our goals were to let them know how we do things around here -- our meeting schedule, our practice schedule, the way we do drills, the way we practice and the tempo of practice. We had a great, great three weeks."
Players report to training camp on July 28 and the first practice is the following morning.
--Fox knows there will be plenty of big expectations surrounding this year's team, but believes the Panthers have the maturity and veteran leadership to handle it.
"There is confidence here, but our guys understand it's not what you do on paper, but what you do on tape that matters," Fox said. "We know how hard we need to work and that's why we've worked so hard. There is a sense of confidence that you expect when the expectations are high. I don't have a problem with that."
--Quarterback Jake Delhomme said he likes what he sees from rookie running back DeAngelo Williams so far, but said it's still too early to know just how much he'll contribute this season.
"He makes good cuts like he wants to set up his blocks," Delhomme said. "But until you put on the pads nobody knows.
"Nobody knows if he's going to break that tackle or if he's going to see the backside cut. Nobody is going to know those things. We'll know that pretty soon. But he did it year after year in college, so I expect him to do pretty well."
--Delhomme was jokingly asked if he'll wear a helmet now when he's riding horses in light of the head injury to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"I can't tell you the last time I've been on a horse," Delhomme said. "We have our racehorses, but I don't ride them. And I understand. If we have one that is acting up, I won't get around him. I like to shoot basketballs too, but I can't tell you the last time I've shot a basketball. It's not worth it."
--WR Steve Smith missed the final week of summer school sessions with a tight hamstring. He should be fine for training camp.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
First-round draft pick DeAngelo Williams is working on kickoff returns for the Panthers and the team hopes he can win that job, as well as be a key backup to starting running back DeShaun Foster.
Williams only returned 13 kickoffs during his college career at Memphis, but they believe he has the potential to be a homerun threat on kickoffs, much like Steve Smith is on punts.
"As long as DeAngelo's role puts him in a position where he can (return kickoffs) and he's not overwhelmed with the offense it will be a good thing for us on special teams," said special teams coach Danny Crossman.
In his first season as special teams coach, Crossman did an outstanding job for the Panthers, who ranked among the league leaders in most categories and did not allow a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown in 2005. However, the Panthers struggled on kickoff returns, finishing 30th in the 32-team league.
Rod Smart, who has since been released, averaged just 21.2 yards per return while Jamal Robertson didn't do much better, averaging 21.4 yards per return.
"At times we blocked things well in the front and blocked things well in the wedge and didn't get things from our returner," Crossman said. "I thought for the most part we blocked things pretty well, but we have to get more out of the things we have. We have guys now who don't have a lot of experience doing it, but they've done it. There's a difference between being a returner and having returned. I mean I can throw a football, but I'm not a quarterback."
Robertson and second-round pick Richard Marshall are also working on kickoff returns.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--S Scott Farley (not tendered as ERFA).
--C Jeff Mitchell (not tendered June 1).
--WR Ricky Proehl (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--P Jason Baker: UFA; $1.8M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB; 2006 cap: $800,000.
--S Colin Branch: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--DT Jordan Carstens: ERFA; had been tendered at $425,000.
--LB Vinny Ciurciu: RFA; $721,600/1 yr).
--FB Casey Cramer: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--DT Atiyyah Ellison: ERFA; terms unknown.
--T Todd Fordham: UFA; terms unknown.
--RB DeShaun Foster: Transition FA; $14.5M/3 yrs, $4.5M SB.
--S Jermaine Hardy: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Efrem Hill: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr).
--DT Kindal Moorehead: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--TE Mike Seidman: UFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--LB Sean Tufts: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--QB Chris Weinke: UFA; $4.5M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--LB Keith Adams: UFA Eagles; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Na'il Diggs: FA Packers; terms unknown.
--C Justin Hartwig: UFA Titans; $17M/5 yrs, $7M SB.
--CB Reggie Howard: FA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Keyshawn Johnson: FA Cowboys; $14.5M/4 yrs, $5M SB.
--DT Maake Kemoeatu: UFA Ravens; $27.5M/5 yrs, $6M SB/$2M OB '07; 2006 cap: $2.2M.
--DT Damione Lewis: UFA Rams; $3.9M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2006 cap: $1.35M.
--S Kevin McCadam: UFA Falcons; $1.53M/2 yrs, $250,000 SB; 2006 cap: $720,000.
--S Shaun Williams: UFA Giants; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Idrees Bashir: UFA Lions; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DT Brentson Buckner (released).
--RB Stephen Davis (released; failed physical/knee).
--CB Ricky Manning: RFA Bears (Panthers did not match offer and receive 3rd-round pick in 2006 draft as compensation).
--S Marlon McCree: UFA Chargers; $16M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
--DE Kemp Rasmussen: UFA Seahawks; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000.
--G Tutan Reyes: UFA Bills; terms unknown.
--LB Brandon Short (released).
--RB Rod Smart (released).
--CB Dante Wesley: UFA Bears; $2M/2 yrs, $475,000 SB.
--LB Will Witherspoon: UFA Rams; $33M/6 yrs, $9M SB/$2M, $4M base guarantee 2006-07.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
|
