Feb. 17, 2012 8:18 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Panthers add DE Tucker Familiar with second-year coach Ron Rivera from their stint with the Chargers, DE Jyles Tucker on Friday signed a free-agent contract with the Panthers. In 29 career games (12 starts), the former Wake Forest standout recorded 10 sacks. Tucker did not play in 2011.
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Feb. 15, 2012 8:31 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Draft guru sees Panthers taking Brockers Altering his choice from Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick in January to LSU DT Michael Brockers in his Mock Draft 2.0, ESPN NFL guru Mel Kiper believes the rebuilding Panthers, in the first round, will continue to add depth and athleticism to the defensive interior. Last year, the Panthers dedicated two third-round picks on Terrell McClain and Sione Fua.
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Feb. 15, 2012 8:04 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Draft analyst likes LSU's Brockers for Panthers NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock on Wednesday predicted the Panthers would select LSU DT Michael Brockers with their first-round selection in the upcoming draft. The Panthers will pick either eighth or ninth, depending on a coin flip against the Dolphins. Brockers is considered athletic enough to start as a rookie. Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 09, 2012 6:43 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Panthers re-sign LB Phillips Adding LB and ST depth, the Panthers re-signed Jason Phillips to a one-year extension, a club official confirmed Thursday. Before injuring his calf and spending the majority of the season on IR, Phillips, who could have been a restricted free agent, was credited with 3 tackles in 4 games. Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 08, 2012 7:27 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Panthers sign LS Jansen Solidifying the long-snapper role for the next four seasons, the Panthers on Wednesday signed specialist J.J. Jansen to a multi-year contract. In his three seasons with the Panthers, Jansen executed over 400 snaps for punts, field goals and extra points. Jansen’s last bad snap came in the opener of the 2010 season. Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 05, 2012 2:29 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Rivera: There's something special about Cam Newton During the NFL’s top rookie season, Cam Newton established five franchise marks: completions (310), yards (4,501), TDs (21), completions percentage (60.0) and passer rating (84.5). On his “charisma,” coach Ron Rivera gave Newon lofty praise, comparing him to former teammate Walter Payton: “There's something about guys like that that's special.” Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 05, 2012 2:27 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Rivera compares Cam Newton to late, great Walter Payton Speaking of Cam Newton’s “charisma," coach Ron Rivera compared the 2011 NFL Rookie of the Year to Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears teammate Walter Payton: “They love practicing, love meeting, love just coming here (to work). Walter was the same way. They both had the same attitude about losing – everything they did was to win.” Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 05, 2012 2:24 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Cam Newton also wins AP Rookie of the Year award Capping one of the finest rookie seasons of in NFL history, Cam Newton on Saturday night became the first in franchise history to be named 2011 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. In a ballot of AP writers, Newton received 47 of 50 first-place votes. The presentation came during the NFL Honors Show in Indianapolis. Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 05, 2012 1:57 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Cam Newton named 2011 NFL Rookie of the Year Cam Newton on Saturday night was named 2011 NFL Rookie of the Year and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. The No. 1 overall draft choice established a rookie record with 4,051 passing yards and a league mark with 14 rushing TDs. Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 03, 2012 10:48 a.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Panthers nominee named year's top high school coach Nominated by the Panthers and honored Friday during Super Bowl festivities in Indianapolis, Summerville (S.C.) High coach John McKissick was named the NFL High School Coach of the Year. Chosen from 47 national candidates, “McKissick’s legacy of leadership during his 60-year career is marked by his lifelong passion,” a Panthers release stated. Panthers RapidReports
Feb. 01, 2012 8:43 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - QB Newton lands major endorsement Cam Newton is going national. A record-setting rookie QB, Newton on Wednesday signed a multi-year partnership with Gatorade. Joining the sport drink’s elite stable of personalities, Newton will work “to educate athletes on the importance of sports nutrition,” according to a press release. “Working with Gatorade fulfills a childhood dream,” Newton said. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 31, 2012 9:16 a.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Newton to be part of ESPN2 special Tuesday night Cam Newton on Tuesday will be among four NFL personalities featured onSportsCenter Special: NFL Face to Face with Hannah Storm. Colts owner Jim Irsay, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Lions DT Ndamukong Suh were also interviewed for the one-hour interview special on ESPN2, airing at 9 p.m. ET. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 29, 2012 11:02 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - How Newton fared compared to other Panthers Pro Bowl QBs Cam Newton went 9-of-27 for 186 yards, with two TDs and three INTs, in his first Pro Bowl Sunday. Here’s how other Panthers QBs fared: Kerry Collins (1996) went 4-of-8 for 30 yards and one INT; Steve Beuerlein (1999) was 4-of-7 for 85 yards and one TD and Jake Delhomme (2005) finished 7-of-10 for 53 yards. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 29, 2012 10:59 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Smith racks up stats in five Pro Bowls In five Pro Bowls, Steve Smith has amassed 23 catches and 478 all-purpose yards as a WR, KR and PR. In Sunday’s all-star showcase, Smith had five catches for 118 yards, including a 55-yard TD pass from Cam Newton. The TD was Smith’s first in a Pro Bowl. In 2006 he caught a 2-point conversion. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 29, 2012 10:05 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Newton-to-Smith connection works in Hawaii Taking their connection to the Pro Bowl, Cam Newton hit Steve Smith on a 55-yard TD pass at 11:12 of the third quarter Sunday. Newton became just the second Panthers QB to throw a TD pass in a Pro Bowl, joining Steve Beuerlein (1999). Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 29, 2012 9:36 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Newton enters Pro Bowl as fourth Panthers QB to appear When Cam Newton entered the Pro Bowl in the third quarter Sunday, the record-setting rookie became the fourth Panthers QB to appear in the showcase and first since Jake Delhomme in 2005. Steve Beuerlein (1999) and Kerry Collins (1996) also appeared in the Pro Bowl.
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Jan. 29, 2012 9:34 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Panthers alter logo for new look The Panthers will look different next season. For the first time in their 18-year history, the Panthers altered the team logo, designed “to provide a more aggressive, contemporary look,” a team statement read. Subtle changes will appear in the eyes and mouth. “We wanted to make it as modern as possible,” team president Danny Morrison said.
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Jan. 28, 2012 2:23 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Bucs' WR Winslow disappointed 'Chud' didn't get top job At least one key member of the Buccaneers organization was disappointed OC Rob Chudzinski was passed over in favor of new coach Greg Schiano. TE Kellen Winslow Jr., who was coached by “Chud” at the University of Miami and with the Browns, told Sirius XM NFL Radio: “I was really hoping for coach Chudzinski.” Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 28, 2012 2:16 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - NFL.com changes Panthers' projected No. 1 draft pick With “the Senior Bowl wrapping up and all the head coaching vacancies filled," NFL.com released its Mock draft 2.0. Shying away from their Panthers’ 1.0 pick, Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick, the league website now has Carolina selecting Iowa T Riley Reiff eighth overall, providing a “potential successor” to Jordan Gross and immediate insurance for oft-injured Jeff Otah. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 28, 2012 2:14 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Looks like Chudzinski will return as Panthers' OC in 2012 Engineer of an offense that rose from 32nd in 2010 to seventh in 2011, OC Rob Chudzinski was a candidate for the recent Buccaneers, Rams and Jaguars head coaching positions. With the three positions filled – the Bucs introduced Greg Schiano as their new skipper Friday -- it now appears “Chud” will return to the Panthers for an encore. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 26, 2012 12:34 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Panthers hire assistant specials teams coach The Panthers have hired Richard Rodgers as assistant ST coach, a team official confirmed Thursday. A coach at Holy Cross the past seven seasons, Rodgers will help ST coach Brian Murphy revive a unit that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in several categories, including last in net punting. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 26, 2012 12:20 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - Former Panthers star transitioning well into NFL afterlife Muhsin Muhammad, the franchise’s No. 2 all-time leading receiver, is catching on nicely in the business world. Co-owner of Axum Capital Partners, a Charlotte, N.C., equity firm, Muhammad’s company on Wednesday purchased a controlling interest in Wild Wing Café, a franchise of 32 sports bars/restaurants. A 14-year veteran, Muhammad retired in 2009 with 860 career receptions. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 25, 2012 6:58 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - 2011 Panthers rookie review: OL Williams Inc. A sixth-round draft choice out of Washington State, OL Zack Williams injured his knee during the preseason and spent all of 2011 on IR. He is expected to add OL depth in 2012. Panthers RapidReports
Jan. 25, 2012 6:56 p.m. - by Jeff Hawkins - 2011 Panthers rookie review: DT Fua The second of two third-round DTs, Sione Fua was forced into a starting assignment when injuries struck the defense. The Stanford product finished with nine tackles in 11 starts, before going on IR with a hamstring injury. Fua is expected to add depth to the DL in 2012, Panthers RapidReports