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Very good article on Kelvin

ladypanther

By ladypanther,
in Carolina Panthers

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ladypanther Grand Master

ladypanther

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Sorry if this has already been posted..i could not find it.

This is some great stuff.  Makes me feel better about Benjamin....I am really pulling for him to be the receiver we all hoped.  Sounds like there is good reason for hope.

http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/26593/panthers-receivers-coach-kelvin-benjamin-has-created-a-mindset-to-dominate

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"He did all of the things in the offseason we asked him to do ... losing weight, coming in in shape and in the weight we asked him to come in," Taylor said. "And really creating a mindset for him to dominate this year, to be the No. 1 guy that we need him to be."

 

Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin has created a mindset to 'dominate this year'

 

Kelvin Benjamin is focused on regaining the form he showed as a rookie in 2014. Jeremy Brevard/USA TODAY Sports

7:00 AM ET

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kelvin Benjamin had just finished another hard day of practice on a hot, muggy Tuesday that was highlighted by another spectacular catch that he made look spectacularly easy.

But the fourth-year Carolina Panthers wide receiver didn't want to talk about the catch. He didn't want to about his offseason battle with his weight or about the loss of his mother the week before training camp. He was nice about not wanting to talk, mind you.

That just wasn't where Benjamin wanted to go at the moment.

"I just want to focus on getting better," he said.

Benjamin is getting better in more ways than most of us will fully know or understand until he shares all he's been through the past five months.

He's grown as a player.

He's also grown as a person.

He's done it with an intense public spotlight at every move he makes, every pound he sheds. New wide receivers coach Lance Taylor couldn't be prouder of how Benjamin has handled everything.

"He showed a great amount of mental toughness and fortitude on his part to be able to overcome a lot of those adversities in the offseason," Taylor told ESPN.com.

That growth began with frank conversations between Benjamin, Taylor and head coach Ron Rivera on the weight of the 6-foot-5, and now 243-pound, receiver.

Benjamin reported for offseason workouts between 265 and 270 pounds. That was 10 to 15 pounds heavier than Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen, listed at 6-5, 255. When his weight became public, criticism followed.

"A lot of people were down on him about his weight," Taylor said. "He never got down about it. He was positive the whole time. He said, 'Coach, I'm going to come into training camp and I'm going to be under weight.'"

Benjamin did.

"I don't know how he did it, but whatever he did he should bottle it and we could make a lot of money," Taylor said.

Benjamin met with the team nutritionist and strength and conditioning staff to map out a plan. He worked out every day and every off day. He took hot yoga classes.

"As much as anything it's a mindset," Taylor said. "... When we had that conversation with him, you could see there was a commitment to the process because he wanted to do those things."

Benjamin looks like he's in the best shape of his life. And he's still doing those little things to get better.

During down times in practice at Wofford College, Benjamin did conditioning runs with quarterback Cam Newton (6-5, 245), who is himself down at least 15 pounds from last season.

On Tuesday, while the second- and third-string units were in team drills, Benjamin was on the side working with the trainer. He's still strengthening the left knee that blew out and ended his 2015 season during a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins two years ago.

"There was a look in his eyes when I talked to him, and I was pretty confident this guy is going to get it done and do what he says he's going to do," Taylor said.

The passing of Benjamin's mother the week before camp added another level of concern for the receiver's well-being. Benjamin admitted in an Instagram post a week into camp that he was in a "dark place" after his mother died. He also wrote how feeding off the energy of his teammates helped him get back to a good place.

Kelvin Benjamin's touchdown grab against the Texans showed signs of the playmaker he was during his first year in the NFL. Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports

"He really came out of the gate strong at the beginning of training camp, really working hard at trying to come off the ball and play fast," Taylor said. "Dealing with personal loss and tragedy from a personal standpoint just a week earlier ... that's a tough thing to do.

"So you could really see his maturation as a person, as a human being as a man."

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top dawg Grand Master

top dawg

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I think that both Benjamin and Funchess (and everyone else) can succeed. With our offensive philosophy, I believe that fans need to reset their definition of what success is as it pertains to our wideouts. By the same token, receivers here shouldn't expect to be paid like Antonio or Julio. If we begin to win, I think a lot of things will be viewed differently.

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*FreeFua* Grand Master

*FreeFua*

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11 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

I'll believe it when I see it. Go ahead ahead, poo on me but y'all know I'm right. If Funchess has a lot to prove this year, then Benjamin will be fighting for his starting position because he was lackluster last season. No more excuses.

I don't think he deserves a contract extension worth more than 35-40M. 

Everybody is on his nuts for losing weight. Great! Now if only he could keep it off and remain in good shape year round like Cam, Stewart, McCaffrey, Funchess, Olsen, etc.

When you see it? F*ck, the guy has already had two 1k receiving yard seasons. Where the hell has Funchess been huh? 

Benjamin forces QB's to throw his way because QB's trust him. Benjamin doesn't need to be the best route runner he's 6'5 250 and knows how to use his size. Know who doesn't know how to use their size? Funchess. 

Funchess couldn't even grab the number 1 WR spot in 15 when Benji went down. That went to the Huddle's whipping boy Ted Ginn. When Benji came back ONE YEAR REMOVED FROM KNEE SURGERY he took back his job without a fight from anyone on the roster. Do you understand all of this? Do you understand why Funchess isn't getting his "looks" you people who have no clue keep saying? Maybe if you had played sports you'd understand why people like Benji succeed vs guys like Funchess who are slower to develop despite being just as raw entering the league. Guys like Benji WANT IT, Funchess doesn't have that extra fight in him. 

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XClown1986 Proficient

XClown1986

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I'll be more concerned about Kelvin if this happens again next offseason. Letting your weight get out of hand once, ok. But he is essentially battling for a long term, life changing deal this year. Of course he was going to bust his ass to make weight. I'm afraid of what could happen once he sees that guaranteed money in a long term deal. 

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*FreeFua* Grand Master

*FreeFua*

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4 minutes ago, XClown1986 said:

I'll be more concerned about Kelvin if this happens again next offseason. Letting your weight get out of hand once, ok. But he is essentially battling for a long term, life changing deal this year. Of course he was going to bust his ass to make weight. I'm afraid of what could happen once he sees that guaranteed money in a long term deal. 

If Benjamin was out of shape during the season then sure be worried. It's the damn off-season he's allowed to relax as long as he's willing to put in the work to get back down once it's time to which he was. 

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