Panthers in a good place

by Ira Cronin of WCNC

I’m just back from the Panthers locker room media session as they get ready to face Tampa Bay this Sunday in a key game for them, and I have to say I like what I see from them.  Everyone we talked to Wednesday was in good spirits and optimistic with out seeming overconfident about the game.

Talking with some of the veterans, like Jake Delhomme and Muhsin Muhammad, you can tell that there is something special in their eyes when you ask them about a game against Tampa.  This series may be a better rivalry than what they have going with Atlanta in my opinion, but the players will tell you every division opponent is a rival.  But when I think of the Bucs I remember the blocked extra point, overtime win at Tampa in ‘03.  I remember the Panthers rupturing Chris Simms spleen two years ago.  These are the kinds of elements that make for a real rivalry.  No love lost between these two teams.  Moose said this was the kind of game you get nervous for in a good way.  For a guy like him to say that, that lets you know for sure it’s game time and it will be on big time on Sunday.

I was sad to see the team put Ryne Robinson on the injured reserve ending his season.  I’m sure he’s disappointed but it will give him time to heal up fully.  I played golf with Ryne last summer and he’s a great guy and will be a very successful player in the league.  Injuries are just part of the deal as this is evidence to.  One silver lining is that the Panthers pulled the trigger on a Charlotte kid in Kenneth Moore to fill his spot on the roster.  Moore played at Wake Forest and Butler high school and told me today that signing in Carolina is like a dream come true.  Now he say’s he is going to work as hard as he can to make sure he try and stick the team long term.

It’s going to be a great game on Sunday.  Coach Fox and the players are fond of telling us in the media that every game is important, and they certainly are but some games are bigger than others, and this is one of them!

Ira