Panthers' Weinke wants to discuss his future with coach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Chris Weinke wants to talk with coach John Fox after the season about his future with the Carolina Panthers.

Weinke started 15 games at quarterback last season as a rookie last season, but has started only one this year in place of the injured Rodney Peete and last week was demoted to third string behind Peete and Randy Fasani.

"I think both sides would want to talk after the season," Weinke, a former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State and a fourth-draft pick by the Panthers in 2001, said Wednesday.

"After a long season like this it's only fair to both sides. I'm sure that they're wondering where I'm standing as far as my confidence. And I think it would be fair to say that they would want to sit down and talk to me and explain to me where I stand with them."

Weinke said he has not approached Fox or offensive coordinator Dan Henning during the season to discuss his personal concerns because he doesn't want to distract the team.

When asked recently, Fox said he considers Weinke and Fasani their quarterbacks of the future. Yet, with the Panthers 4-8 and out of the playoff picture, Fox continues to stick with the 36-year old Peete as the team's starter, saying he gives the team the best chance to win.

Weinke said he would prefer to continue playing for the Panthers, an organization he still holds in very high regard even though they're 5-23 since he arrived.

However, he said wouldn't mind going elsewhere if the Panthers have already decided he has no chance of regaining the starting job he lost a week before the start of the regular season.

"I think there will be decisions made down the road on if I can get it done or not," Weinke said. "If I can't then I will pack my bags and go get it done somewhere else."

At this point that's largely up to the Panthers since his heavily incentive-based five-year, $20 million contract runs through the 2005 season.

Weinke went out his way to dispel talk that he's had trouble grasping the new offensive scheme Henning brought to the team.

"I pride myself on studying the game," he said. "That is the toughest part to handle is that people think I'm not in there because I can't grasp this offense.

"I'm not in there playing because I need to get better. And those are things I'm working on throughout the course of practice. Hopefully at some point I will get an opportunity here in Carolina."

The Panthers took running back Joe Montgomery off the practice squad on Wednesday and signed defensive tackle Terrance Simmons to it.

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