Notes from the Locker Room
November 20, 2008
by Greg Bailey
Great to see lineman Jeremy Bridges back with a big smile on his face. Bridges got a big scare last week with a wild heartbeat. It really scared his wife. Doctors looked and told him to cut out smokeless tobacco. Bridges did, cold turkey, with a little help from his wife. Jeremy talked about his four children today and he’s clearly a man who is thankful for what he has with a little extra dose of perspective on the side.
Guard Keydrick Vincent is a media sensation. That’s what I told him after we all roared last night at 6 and 11 when Vincent explained his decision not to dance for his pre-game introduction during home games. “That’s a long run for Big Daddy,” Keydrick explained. Priceless. Big Daddy is personality plus and great to talk with every week.
Backup quarterback Matt Moore is convinced his alma mater, Oregon State, is headed to the Rose Bowl. If the Beavers beat Arizona and Oregon they’re Pasadena bound for the first time in 44 years. Beating USC opens a lot of doors.
Relax, Panthers Fans, the team has
November 20, 2008
by Greg Bailey
Once Jake Delhomme joked with reporters about “being late” for his interview session today I knew the Panthers were in good shape. Despite what a good chunk of the Carolina faithful would have you believe Jake is fully aware that he hasn’t played his best the past two weeks. Delhomme has seen the tape and he’s worked with coaches to make it better. Denial is nowhere in sight.
I asked Carolina’s quarterback two pointed questions about the passing game today, and he brushed both of them off like a weak-kneed sack attempt. “Sure, we haven’t been as sharp as we would have liked” was Jake’s basic message, but he also reminded us that before the bye week we were all asking questions about the Panthers struggling ground game. We’re not asking those questions any more.
Carolina’s locker room is relaxed and professional today. Everyone we talked with relishes the challenge they’ll face in Atlanta. Big game with a division rival fighting to stay in the playoff race. No one backed away from the reality that the Panthers need to play better than they have the last two weeks. Na’il Diggs admitted that the Panthers have “played down” to the level of their competition against lowly Oakland and Detroit.
Tackle Jordan Gross talked about needing to get back to a balanced attack.
The players respect the Falcons, but they also talk like a team far more curious about what they can accomplish, not what some opponent might do to them. Through 11 weeks of the season Carolina has earned the right to be intrigued with what’s possible. It’s a great place to be. Not perfect like last year’s Patriots (up to the same point in the season) but awfully good. We’ll see just how good on Sunday afternoon. See you on Panthers Gameday live after Football Night in America on NBC.
