Panthers will be tested early

[pantherfan81]

The NFL schedule-makers did Ron Rivera no favors.

Rivera will open his first year as the Panthers' head coach by facing four playoff teams from a year ago in the first six weeks of the season. The stretch includes the Sept. 18 home opener vs. Green Bay, the defending Super Bowl champion, and an Oct. 2 trip to Chicago, where Rivera played and later coached.

The NFL released the schedule Tuesday, the day NFL owners and locked-out players resumed negotiations with a federal mediator in Minneapolis.

"I'm excited about our schedule. We play in one of the most difficult divisions in the league and we will try to meet the challenge," Rivera said in a release. "Four of the first six games are against teams that were in the playoffs last season, which sets a tone for the season."

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

[Jackofalltrades]

This lock out is going to kill us if it doesn't end soon.

[Mr. Scot]

Love Rivera's attitude (welcoming the challenge)

[pantherfan81]

Love Rivera's attitude (welcoming the challenge)

Yea he's badass. Judge needs to handle business tomorrow.

[Panthers128]

Lately we've been raped so hard in the preseason that I've lose all hope in the regular season.

Don't imagine they can let me down any earlier than week one of the preseason, but with the Panthers anything is possible.

[Fiz]

gonna lose early and often

[Zithers]

Lately we've been raped so hard in the preseason that I've lose all hope in the regular season.

Don't imagine they can let me down any earlier than week one of the preseason, but with the Panthers anything is possible.

Yeah it'd be a lot better if we went undefeated in the preseason, like that time we did it in 2001!!!

Really helped us do well in the regular season, don't ya think?

[Panthers128]

Yeah it'd be a lot better if we went undefeated in the preseason, like that time we did it in 2001!!!

Really helped us do well in the regular season, don't ya think?

At least we have wins to look back on if we win in the preseason. Also we rode that preseason hot streak to a win over Minnesota.

[Dpantherman]

NFLN only gave him a 28 second soundbite http://www.nfl.com/videos/carolina-panthers/09000d5d81f51403/Rivera-on-2011-schedule

[PackPanther]

Rivera got more time than Foxy did. Fox's quote was only 13 seconds haha lol. so basically the length of every press conference he held here.

[dimbee]

Love Rivera's attitude (welcoming the challenge)

Gotta love Chico's 'tude.