Peterson wants to be a Panther

[Mr. Scot]

...and not just because of the chance to be the #1 overall pick.

There were several former LSU players on hand, though, both to support their former teammates and because they're back in Baton Rouge working out during the offseason.

Among them was receiver Brandon LaFell, who happens to play for the Panthers.

"I wanna come join him," Peterson announced as he walked over to shake hands with LaFell.

Funny enough, though, Peterson has always been dreaming of playing for the Panthers, it seems.

He remembered back to when he played running back in pee-wee football and wore 48 because his favorite player was Carolina tailback Stephen Davis.

"Man, when I first started playing little league football, I always wanted to play in the NFL," Peterson said. "But I never thought I could be in this position right now, coming from a little 6-year-old playing pee wee ball now to a 20-year-old young man."

His dream is close - but not close enough, with another five weeks until the draft.

"Man, they need to hurry up. It's just nerve-wracking right now," Peterson said. "I'm not nervous. I'm just waiting to see where I'm going to land. That's the nerve-racking part about it."

(link)

From the same article, Ron Rivera's take...

Rivera said that he "absolutely" would not rule out a cornerback with the first pick in the draft, though he did say that the Panthers have identified five or six positions that could help them with that first pick, with "at least 10 guys" who could fit their needs.

"So we'll go through the process," said Rivera, who has been to Alabama, Auburn and Nebraska so far, with other stops to come.

"It's something I want to do, obviously, but it's also something I have to do because of our situation," Rivera said of his hands-on approach to the draft search.

The only other head coaches in attendance at LSU's pro day Monday were Saints Coach Sean Payton and Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin.

[teeray]

Hey PP7!!!

[Cat'sGrowl]

But But But Florio said people don't wanna come here because of evil Richardsuhnz!

[TheRealDeal]

Hey PP7!!!

I don't know what that means?

But But But Florio said people don't wanna come here because of evil Richardsuhnz!

Free agents are obviously different than draft picks. Not saying he's right or wrong but you can't compare the two.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I don't know what that means?

Free agents are obviously different than draft picks. Not saying he's right or wrong but you can't compare the two.

If this were a matter of a draft pick "not-leaving" then you could say that, but this is a case of a player saying he'd prefer to be here over anywhere else.

[The Saltman]

because we have the first pick maybe? Just maybe? and just maybe because the first pick pays more than the others?

[Kettle]

i definitely like this guy more than the others in the speculated top 10. i'm on the trade down wagon though.

[Mvp2014]

I'm sold.. If Jimmy or whoever sucks this year we get Luck or another qb next year

[PanthaSan]

Getting Peterson would be really great and awesome as he is a very talented player.

But

I am cool with whatever Rivera will do. What are the odds of getting PP in a later round?

[TheRealDeal]

because we have the first pick maybe? Just maybe? and just maybe because the first pick pays more than the others?

Nah, he is probably just a fan of Richardson and doesn't even know the #1 pick pays more.

[Kettle]

i don't think he slips out of the first

[The Saltman]

What are the odds of getting PP in a later round?

same odds of meat telling a funny joke

[TheRealDeal]

I am cool with whatever Rivera will do. What are the odds of getting PP in a later round?

Zero

[Mr. Scot]

i definitely like this guy more than the others in the speculated top 10. i'm on the trade down wagon though.

Me too.

But if we do stay at #1, I'm becoming more intrigued with the possibility of Peterson over someone like Dareus.

The question for me is, between the two, who would folks say has a better chance to be a special player?