SI's Postcards From Camp

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Link: http://sportsillustr...l?sct=nfl_wr_a1

Three Observations

1. I'm not sure Ryan Kalil taking out a full-page newspaper ad to promise a Super Bowl championship to Carolina fans would go over well in every NFL organization. (Can you imagine the fallout in New England, where they actually own a Lombardi or three? "You did what?,'' a certain hoodie-wearing coach might ask his veteran offensive center). But this isn't Foxboro, and Kalil's bold form of personal expression has been viewed as anything but a negative. His teammates embraced his message, as did his head coach, Ron Rivera, and even normally cautious Panthers general manager Marty Hurney told me he liked Kalil's tone and willingness to express confidence in his team.

The part I love is that Kalil didn't even bother to tell anyone or clear it with anyone in Carolina's front office or coaching staff. He just did it, and lived with the consequences. He said he didn't want to dilute or paraphrase his message in any way, so he figured a full-page ad was the best way to have complete control over his words. Of course, as an old print journalism guy, I'm for anything that helps the struggling newspaper industry stay afloat.

"I wanted to kind of give the fans a reason to get behind us,'' Kalil told me. "It was a letter intended for the fans, by a fan of the game. I think a lot of people forget that, as players we were and are fans of this game. I knew I'd get some heat for it and rightfully so. It's a bold prediction to make. But I wanted to let the fans know we were getting serious about being good again, and let them know their unwavering support will pay off because better years are to come.''

2. I heard something really smart from Panthers quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, who probably doesn't get enough credit for Cam Newton's rookie success in 2011. I asked Shula if the Panthers would prefer Newton didn't run the ball another 126 times this season (about eight times per game), in order to save his body, or if you can't limit that part of his game because it's so pivotal to how he challenges a defense? Shula said he talked with ex-Falcons head coach Dan Reeves about it, because Reeves faced the same issue once Atlanta drafted Michael Vick in 2001.

"With Vick, he said if teams were playing him in a lot of zone, with everybody facing (the quarterback), they didn't want him running much and exposing him to a lot of hits that way,'' Shula said. "I'm not saying that's what we're going to do with Cam, because he's a lot bigger than Michael. But it made a lot of sense to us, and it made a lot of sense to Cam, too. He understands, if he's scrambling, and he's got man coverage, he's not going to get three or four guys hitting him. In zone that can be the case, and he'll get down quicker. But when it's man, he knows if he can make that one guy miss, make a move, he'll get a lot more yards.''

3. We're not supposed to root for players in my line of work. But an exception is allowed from time to time, and I'm using one to pull a little for Carolina outside linebacker Thomas Davis this season. You know the gist of his story. He has fought his way back from a third torn ACL in the past three years, the first known NFL player to have come back three times from that demoralizing injury. I can't imagine what it feels like trying to push that same rock back up the hill over and over, but Davis, 29, is progressing well enough and figures to be the team's fourth linebacker, playing in combination on the strong side with starter James Anderson. Davis, the Panthers' first-round pick in 2005, deserves a season of health, good fortune and anything but more days spent rehabilitating his battle-scarred knees.

[pantherclaw]

nice read!

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

When Peter King writes, I listen

[Kyle82]

You mean the Panther's have King's attention? I may have to start reading SI again :)

[Guest Bwood]

Keep pounding Davis.

[JTL1230]

When Peter King writes, I listen

while I agree, and people call him an idiot around here way too much, that is actually Don Banks. King isn't making it to Panthers camp this year. He does 30 in 30 and can't hit all 32.

King is definitely one of the more friendly, smart writers in any sport.