--There are some Internet rumors floating about that the New York Giants might go after John Fox if they were to fire Tom Coughlin. But while it's clear Fox is a favorite of the Mara family, it's highly unlikely Panthers owner Jerry Richardson would allow Fox to get away after he helped turn the franchise around with his arrival in 2002.
Fox is under contract through 2010 and has no escape clause.
Even if the Giants wanted to pursue Fox, the cost to get him (in terms of draft picks) would be very steep. Despite going 8-8 this season, the Panthers still like what Fox, the winningest coach in franchise history, has done over the course of his tenure. Although the Panthers have only made the playoffs twice in five seasons under Fox, they have gone to two NFC title games and a Super Bowl.
Since Fox took over as head coach in 2002, the Panthers have not finished worse than 7-9. Only five other teams in the NFL can say that: New England, Indianapolis, Denver, Kansas City and Seattle. Fox is the only active head coach who has not finished worse than 7-9 and coached at least five years.
The rumors became moot when Coughlin was given a one-year contract extension through 2008.
--The Panthers are 22-18 on the road under Fox (not including postseason). They were 19-37 away from home before Fox's arrival. Carolina is tied for fifth with Denver for the NFL's best regular season road record over the last five years.
--This season, the Panthers became the first team to go 5-1 in the NFC South a second time (also doing it in 2003) while the Buccaneers became the first team to go 0-6 in the division's five-year history. Carolina went 1-5 in the division's first season, but has gone 17-7 since.
--Jake Delhomme became the Panthers all-time leader in several categories this season.
Delhomme surpassed Steve Beuerlein in attempts (1,848), completions (1,101), yards (13,331), touchdowns (89) and interceptions (58). In the season finale versus New Orleans, he established a team single-game record with an 85.2 completion percentage by completing 23-of-27 passes.
--DeShaun Foster posted the third-best rushing total in Panthers history, rushing for a career best 897 yards. He now sits just 70 yards behind Tshimanga Biakabutuka for the franchise's all-time lead with 2,460 rushing yards in his career.
--Wide receiver Steve Smith finished the 2006 season with 83 receptions for 1,166 yards and eight touchdowns over 14 games. He now has 30 receiving touchdowns in his career and needs 15 to break the team record held by both Muhsin Muhammad and Wesley Walls.
--Kicker John Kasay scored 100 points in 2006, giving him a career total of 1,405, ranking him 17th in NFL history.
--Punter Jason Baker set a team single-season record with a 39-yard net punting average.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I don't think (there will be a lot of changes). When you finish seventh in the league (in total defense), it's not like you finished 31st. When you finish in the top 10, that's nothing to shake your head about. Now granted, it's not what we want to be. We always want to be number one. But to be seventh in the league, I don't think you'll see that many changes, because we're a good defense." -- Panthers safety Mike Minter.
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