TheState.com: Panthers

Former Panther, Tiger Whitley dies

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:09 EDT

FORMER PANTHER WHITLEY DIES

Former Clemson standout and Carolina Panthers center Curtis Whitley has died.

Family members said Monday night that they learned earlier in the day that Whitley, who turned 39 on Saturday, had been found dead in Texas, where he was living. They were awaiting details about the cause of his death.

Whitley started every game in the Panthers’ inaugural 1995 season, then made eight starts in ’96 before getting suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

He resurfaced with the Oakland Raiders in 1997, but was suspended again before the 1998 season and did not play in the league again.

Brinkley receives an intro to pro lessons

Mon, 05 May 2008 01:48 EDT

CHARLOTTE — Casper Brinkley, you aren’t in college anymore.

On any other day, the former USC defensive end’s 6-foot-2, 259-pound frame would have cut an impressive figure on the football field.

On Friday — standing between Carolina Panthers defensive linemen Maake Kemoeatu (6-5, 345) and Julius Peppers (6-7, 283) — not so much.

Welcome to NFL minicamp, rookie.

“On that first day, it was sad. I couldn’t beat anybody. I couldn’t get to the quarterback,” Brinkley said Sunday shortly after the Panthers concluded their three-day minicamp. “The terminology and the speed of the game are so much faster and the offensive linemen, man, they’re all like All-Americans.”

Carolina is the ticket for Walker

Sat, 03 May 2008 22:21 EDT

CHARLOTTE — Darwin Walker could be found at his home on NFL draft night last month. As he watched the first round unfold, it increasingly became clear whom the free agent defensive tackle would sign with.

When the Carolina Panthers took offensive tackle Jeff Otah with the No. 19 selection, Walker waited for his phone to ring.

“They called right toward the end of the first round, after that pick,” Walker said of how he wound up with the Panthers. “I always knew I was coming here. It was just a matter of getting the contract.”

Walker was drafted out of Tennessee by the Arizona Cardinals in 2000 but is best known for his six seasons in Philadelphia, where he piled up 27.5 of his 28.5 career sacks. After a one-year deal in Chicago, Walker entered free agency this season looking for any opportunity that would get him closer to his Walterboro roots.

Once the Panthers got the money right, Walker signed on.

Laughter eases rehab for Delhomme

Fri, 02 May 2008 21:43 EDT

CHARLOTTE — Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme knew he was on the road to recovery in February when he found himself surrounded by surgically repaired baseball players at a pre-Super Bowl soiree.

Delhomme had spotted Cincinnati slugger Ken Griffey Jr. on his way out of the party and introduced himself. When Griffey asked about Delhomme’s recovery from this past fall’s Tommy John surgery, others in the gathering leaned in to hear his response.

“I said, ‘Man, I couldn’t be happier’ and they all bust out laughing,” Delhomme said Friday after Carolina’s first mini camp practice. “They all laughed and said, ‘Tommy John, what a great surgery.’ They’ve seen so many guys have so much relief afterward. Hopefully I can fall in that same category.”

So far, so good. Delhomme threw 34 passes during Friday morning’s workout. He appeared to suffer no ill effects from the elbow ligament-replacement procedure.

“It feels great,” he said. “The rehab has gone great. We have been cautious and haven’t had any setbacks. I was very satisfied today.”

Brinkley hooks up with the Panthers

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:45 EDT

Former South Carolina defensive end Casper Brinkley was not looking forward to moving away from his twin brother, Gamecocks linebacker Jasper Brinkley.

But if Casper Brinkley plays well in the coming weeks, he will be just up the road from his identical twin.

Brinkley was one of 10 undrafted free agents who reached agreements with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Monday. Brinkley, whose 13 tackles for loss last year were second behind Eric Norwood among USC defenders, has to pass a physical and sign a contract before the Panthers begin their minicamp Friday, according to a release.

The 6-foot-2, 257-pound Brinkley started all 25 games during his two years at USC after transferring from Georgia Military. He started the first three games of the 2007 season at linebacker before returning to end.

Panthers reach terms with Darwin Walker. The Carolina Panthers addressed their lack of depth on the defensive line by agreeing with veteran free-agent Darwin Walker on a one-year deal.

Panthers turn to defense on Day 2 of the draft

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:47 EDT

CHARLOTTE — After spending the first day of the NFL draft declaring a new, rough-and-tumble offensive personality, the Carolina Panthers spent the remainder of the weekend creating an identity crisis on the other side of the ball.

Already top-heavy at linebacker, the Panthers added Penn State’s Dan Connor to the mix with their second pick in the third round. Connor was considered one of the top remaining linebacker prospects, but he faces an uphill battle for playing time with last year’s top pick, Jon Beason, in front of him.

“I was a little shocked,” Connor said of hearing his name called by Carolina.

“There’s a ton of talent there and it’s going to be great to be able to learn under a bunch of great linebackers,” Connor added. “There are some guys with a lot of experience.”

Message boards lit up instantly after the selection. Many of the questions centered around whether the Panthers were considering a switch to the 3-4 defense.

For Carolina, draft planning is group effort

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:06 EDT

CHARLOTTE — There will be no lists in the Carolina Panthers’ war room this weekend: The board runs horizontally.

As the Panthers’ 13th pick in the first round of the NFL draft approaches Saturday afternoon, general manager Marty Hurney, director of college scouting Don Gregory and coach John Fox will be eyeing more than just the next player on the list.

“Lots of times, I think people have a notion that one player’s an 11, one player’s a 12 and one player’s a 13,” Hurney said. “We have a horizontal board where there are players close together in a group.”

When it finally is time to make a decision, “we’ll talk about two, three, four, you know, maybe sometimes as many as five players in that group and decide which fits us best for that selection,” Hurney said.

Prior to the draft weekend, Hurney, Gregory and Fox slot each pick in the first round, attaching a group of as many as five potentially draftable players to each. On draft day, they cross off the drafted players and another group emerges — players the Panthers value highly whom they thought would not be available by the time they chose.

S.C. State's 'Marching 101' to perform at Falcons-Panthers

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:59 EDT

The halftime entertainment at Sunday's Falcons-Panthers NFL game will include S.C. State students.

The university's Marching "101" Band will be part of the halftime show. The game begins at 4:15 p.m. and airs on Fox.

-- From staff reports