Wesley Walls Appreciation Thread

[RenoCarolina]

Kevin Gross has already deferred to classmate Agent 89 as the headliner Sunday.  And Jake still has plenty of "Frenemies" here that will cheer him on Sunday and forget the daggers thrown at him after every pick his last season (different topic).  

But the wild card and odd man out is Wesley Walls (even though he was on the team when SS made his rookie debut KO TD return)!  Wesley Walls was a big reason I was glued to the Direct TV in the late 90's on the west coast following my Panthers.  What Greg Olsen is now, WW was to the Panthers then. 

I hope everyone that grew up a Panther fan anytime after '96 does a little research on the career and impact Wesley had on this franchise.  Sweeping the niners in '96 (I was at Candlestick) was such a league-wide statement and would not have happened without him.  On a team loaded with defensive veterans he was the anchor of the offense and one of our biggest weapons for years.

  Here's an SI article from '97 and a favorite quote.  https://www.si.com/vault/1997/07/16/8115781/wesley-walls   

Quote

after catching a touchdown pass
against the Falcons in a Sunday-afternoon game, he dropped to
his knees in the end zone and shot off a few rounds from an
imaginary rifle. "Dove season started the next day in North
Carolina, and I knew I wouldn't be able to go," he explained
later. "I figured I'd better go ahead and get me a few birds
while I had a chance."

 

Would have loved it if his NFL window included playing with the other three guys getting inducted Sunday.  Patriots in '03 SB season would not have had a chance.

 

[therealmjl]

6 minutes ago, RenoCarolina said:

Kevin Gross

[rippadonn]

I've watched every game Wesley played for the Panthers. Never thought we'd ever have another TE like him and yeah, then came Greg.

[Mayor Qumiby]

12 minutes ago, mjligon said:

19 minutes ago, RenoCarolina said:

Kevin Gross

Not to be confused with Jordan Greene.

[Khyber53]

Once upon a time, Wesley Walls  was really the only weapon the Panthers had or could rely upon. The guy was one of the early prototypes of today's TE game. Just a great guy all around.

[top dawg]

Now here's a guy that simply did his damned job! Every time you heard his name, it was for doing something positive. This past summer when the Huddle was discussing which players should make the Hall of Honor, I had to go through several pages before he was even mentioned (and I believe that I was the second IIRC), and I was purposefully looking for someone to give Walls his props. He is the perfect guy for the Hall of Honor: not appreciated by even the Lion's share of the fan base, so the HOF is really not even in the discussion, but good enough to be remembered by the old heads who know that Walls was an exceptional Panther after all is said and done.

[kungfoodude]

45 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Now here's a guy that simply did his damned job! Every time you heard his name, it was for doing something positive. This past summer when the Huddle was discussing which players should make the Hall of Honor, I had to go through several pages before he was even mentioned (and I believe that I was the second IIRC), and I was purposefully looking for someone to give Walls his props. He is the perfect guy for the Hall of Honor: not appreciated by even the Lion's share of the fan base, so the HOF is really not even in the discussion, but good enough to be remembered by the old heads who know that Walls was an exceptional Panther after all is said and done.

If you don't remember Wesley Walls, it probably dates your Panthers fanhood, IMO. He was awesome.

[Zithers2]

was my favorite player as a kid since he was a major focal point of the offense and consistent pro bowler. met him (and his mom!) after a game. signed my 85 jersey and took a pic with me. i was probably 7 or 8 years old. was after an atlanta game where we lost like 56-24 which cemented my lifelong hatred of the falcons lmao. got one of his gloves at another game as he headed for the tunnel, too. glad to see him getting some recognition.

[w280sax]

Met him at the super bowl and spoke to him for a few minutes.  Told him that his was the first NFL Jersey I ever had as he was my favorite those days.  He was super nice that day.  Said he still lives in Charlotte.

[cookinbrak]

He was my favorite player, until he got caught cheating.

[TheSpecialJuan]

[TheSpecialJuan]

[TheSpecialJuan]

[electro's horse]

i will never forget i saw him in like 1997 at lexington bbq. 

just totally random

i was probably 10 or 11, and he was there with i want to say Kris Mangum. Wesley was one of the biggest people I'd ever seen in my life. He had to turn sideways to get out of the bathroom.