Break It Up!

Two-a-days are over.  The heat of Spartanburg is behind them.  It’s all over.  Training camp has come to an end for the Carolina Panthers.

Here are some notes from the Charlotte Observer.

"Perhaps at no time during the entire training camp did Panthers players move more quickly than when the whistle sounded to end this morning’s 75-minute practice, which took place in a cool drizzle. That ended things for training camp at Wofford (the team will finish up preseason practice in Charlotte) and most players sprinted up a hill toward the locker room and then toward the parking lot. Within 10 minutes, cars were leaving (wonder if they even had time for showers?). A Spartanburg police car sat at the parking lot entrance, however, a not-too subtle reminder for players who wanted to get home as quickly as possible."

Can you imagine how ripe everybody would be by the time they got home if they didn’t have time for a shower before they left?  WHOA!  And do you think the po-po had to write any tickets for these guys?  There could have been a number of burn out marks in the parking lot.

"They won’t have much time at home today, however. Team buses are scheduled to leave Bank of America Stadium at 3:45 p.m. for the airport, where the team will fly to Philadelphia ahead of Thursday’s preseason exhibition against the Eagles."

No wonder they were in a hurry to get home!  Gotta get home, see the girlfriend and/or wife for at least long enough to say hello properly and then get back out the door to catch a bus for the roadtrip.

Expected to stay behind are the injured R Dwayne Jarrett (bruised leg), R Steve Smith (concussion), CB Ken Lucas (nose), R D.J. Hackett (toe), CB Chris Gamble (hamstring), TE Gary Barnidge (gluteal strain), TE Dante Rosario (hamstring) and DT Ian Scott (knee).

It’s always good to know that the MASH unit isn’t quite as busy as it had been but there are some big names on that list.  Miss a trip to Philly?  No big deal.  Miss more than that – no so good.

"Coach John Fox didn’t rule out the possibility of rookie RB Jonathan Stewart playing against the Eagles. The Panthers have brought Stewart along slowly because of offseason toe surgery."

It would be nice to see the rookie but if he plays you can bet that the debate will begin in earnest – DeAngelo versus Stewart.