NBC’s Tony Dungy/Rodney Harrison: Panthers are the team to beat in the NFC; no Super Bowl hangover

[ladypanther]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/panther-tracks/article99123582.html

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Newly elected NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy thinks the Carolina Panthers are the team to beat in the NFC, and he doesn’t believe they will fall prey to the type of Super Bowl hangover that has hurt some of the past teams to lose in the Big Game.

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Carolina is “getting everybody’s best shot,” Dungy said. “I think the conference is going to come after them and I don’t think they’ll go 15-1 again, but I don’t think it will be from a lack of effort, lack of intensity or lack of focus on their part. They’ve got too much leadership there.”

Tirico, moving to NBC after a long stint with ABC and ESPN, said he spoke with Carolina coach Ron Rivera earlier this week and the two talked about just this topic.

“Of the coaches I’ve seen have to deal with ‘we lost the Super Bowl and how do we come back next year,’ he’s been proactive reaching out, canvassing other people, not just limited to the football world,” Tirico said. “I applaud him for that cerebral and in-depth approach to get over that quote Super Bowl hangover.”

 

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

good stuff

[panthertime]

I'm a little surprised that Harrison appears to be on the Panthers' bandwagon, but, hey, Rodney, jump on. Adding to the Observer story, Harrison said he believes, the "hunger, the thirst, the enthusiasm, everything is there."

Rodney, one of the Panthers' naysayers from last season, does not see any Super Bowl hangover.

Let's hope Dungy and Harrison are right.

[outlaw4]

When Rodney Harrison is giving us compliments before the season even starts, you know we've raised expectations.

The hard part is coming, however. It seems familiar to what it was like ten years ago. We had brought in Keyshawn and Hartwig and we were on the SI cover as the trendy SB pick. Then it unraveled with an ugly loss to Atlanta and several key injuries. Now we're back to the same juncture where another playoff run makes us that team that is penciled in every season as a favorite rather than being mocked as a one year aberration.

[wud35]

Awesome read but does it make me a bitter old man to say that Harrison can still kiss my arse? 

[raleigh-panther]

Other than injuries, no reason they can't

[SOJA]

The Panthers, Cardinals, Seahawks, and Packers are clearly the top four teams in the NFC and I'd put them all in the top 6 in the NFL. 

Barring injuries, I truly do think we are better than those other three teams. Think we would end up seeing the Pats, Steelers, or unfortunately, the Broncos from the AFC again. 

[pantherj]

Rodney Harrison is a totally worthless taking head.

We have the best team in the NFC. The problem is that certain teams could exploit Remmers, or Cam could have an off night, or the receivers could have the dropsies, but overall we're #1 with a bullet.

Our biggest threat in the NFC is Seattle. In the AFC we could be facing NE in the SB. 

[Kevin Greene]

With Cam on one side and Luke on the other this team is impervious to a hangover.

[CarolinaNCSU]

Rodney can still get fuged 

[panthers55]

We will be in every game as long as we don't get complacent. Which shouldn't happen if we remember that many teams are going to circle our game as the team to beat and the measuring stick for them to compare themselves. We will get every teams best shot. If we aren't on our A game in all three phases we can lose any given Sunday. If we embrace the challenge we should be fine.

[jfo89]

3 hours ago, wud35 said:

Awesome read but does it make me a bitter old man to say that Harrison can still kiss my arse? 

Fug Rodney Harrison. Didn't he advocate trying to intentionally injure Cam last year? That fool can jump off the D.

[gorillamilitia13]

3 hours ago, SOJA said:

The Panthers, Cardinals, Seahawks, and Packers are clearly the top four teams in the NFC and I'd put them all in the top 6 in the NFL. 

Barring injuries, I truly do think we are better than those other three teams. Think we would end up seeing the Pats, Steelers, or unfortunately, the Broncos from the AFC again. 

I have a strong feeling its going to be us and the Pats in the supebowl this year. 

[L-TownCat]