Time to Fill in the Blank!

By now, you’ve probably already heard that Dan Morgan retired.  We covered it yesterday.  Shoot, it’s the story just below this one.  Just scroll down a little bit.

The Gaston Gazette says that Tyler “The Nutcracker” Brayton is hoping for a fresh start in Charlotte.

Just about the only thing the Carolina Panthers are up to is signing a quarterback who probably won’t make the team.  His name is Lester Ricard.

The Rock Hill Herald tells us about the Panthers’ cornerbacks.

The Charlotte Observer ran an intersting piece on the life and times of Curtis Whitley.

Did somebody say that the Panthers have beefed up for a Super Bowl run?

Fox Sports’ own John Czarnecki has listed his five teams that may have made super improvements.

Continue reading for other ineteresting tidbits from around the league. (more…)

Linebacker Dan Morgan has decided to retire, according to a press release from the Saints on Monday afternoon. Morgan, who signed with the Saints March 11 as a free agent, played in the NFL for seven seasons, all with the Carolina Panthers.

Morgan missed the final 13 games of 2007 with a partial tear of an Achilles tendon, and had battled through other injuries in recent seasons.

“When we signed Dan, he was committed to making a fresh start, and he was making every effort to rehabilitate the leg injury that he suffered last year,” Coach Sean Payton said in the team’s statement. “But it wasn’t responding as well as he had hoped it would. We wish him well in his continued recovery, and he will be remembered for the excellent player he was during his career.”

My thanks to Markbm62 from the Fan Sided Forums for the scoop.

It was also a tough day to be Mike Rucker.

During his retirement press conference he briefly explained why he had to hang up the pads saying, “The tank is empty … it’s empty.”

“There’s nothing like going to battle with your comrades,” Rucker told at least 25 current and former players gathered in the team meeting room, including quarterback Jake Delhomme. “That’s one of the biggest things I’ll miss. I love you dudes. I’d do it all over again. I want you to know I gave it all I had. I laid it on the line for you.”

Rucker said it was difficult to bid farewell to football after nine NFL seasons, but he said he’s also joyful. In remembering a telephone conversation earlier today with his brother Martin, a Missouri tight end expected to be a mid-round pick in this weekend’s draft, he talked of how exciting it is when you’re reading a good book to turn the page to the next chapter.

What is the next chapter in Mike Rucker’s life?  What will we see or hear from him next?  Consider that one of his friends, Mike Minter, is a quality person.  Rucker was eloquent and gracious.  He thanked everybody in the organization and made personal statements to each of them.

Rucker was a great player for the Panthers, playing his entire career in Carolina.  It would appear to me that he is a great person who deserves our respect as well.