Carolina Panthers: 10 Days to Training Camp

So far, we’ve looked at 12 and 11 facts about the Carolina Panthers, before training camp begins. That’s 23 total facts thus far. Today — er, tonight — we’ll add 10 more, and later during the course of the day I’ll add nine as well, since technically, I’m getting Day 10 out later than I really wanted to.

Keep in mind (if you’re new to the segment/series), this is an everyday series until training camp begins, where I will give you facts about the number of the corresponding day, to go along with the number of days until training camp begins.

For instance, it might commemorate something historical during Carolina’s 16-year history. It might make mention of a player selected at a particular number in a draft, or the jersey number they were issued.

Today marks 10.

Once again, the franchise has been good to me, allowing me to start this segment with an athlete selected by the Panthers who was issued the number 10 for his jersey. Perhaps it’s a bit hokey that so far; I’ve started every — all three — segments with a player who has been issued the number relating to the day of countdown’s number, but it does help to break the ice — at least for me. Plus, I’m not sitting in my usual spot while typing this segment either, for what it’s worth.

1. Drafted as an experiment of sorts, but still having an upside for any foray into a more serious ‘Wildcat’ play, number 10 was issued to quarterback-turned-wide receiver, Armanti Edwards.
2. On September 10, 1993, team owner Richardson Sports delivered term sheets to the NFL, for loans to construct a state-of-the-art stadium and purchase the franchise.
3. During the playoffs on January 10, 2004 — the fifth-longest game in NFL history, Carolina scored on the first play of the second overtime, when wide receiver Steve Smith secured the pass lobbed to him by Jake Delhomme, beating the St. Louis Rams and moving on to the NFC Championship game at the Philadelphia Eagles.
4. In John Fox’s first season as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, the team opened up the regular season with a 10-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Less than a year before, the Panthers were coming off a league-lowest (at the time), 1-15 regular season record.
5. Under Fox, the Panthers have ranked in the top-five of 10 different defensive categories, leading the NFL in rushing yards per attempt and sacks per pass play, while ranking second in third-down efficiency and third in first-downs allowed per game.
6. In it’s first playoff appearance since 1996 — the NFC Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina won by a convincing 19 points. Carolina 29, Dallas 10.
7. The Panthers have never had a 10-win or 10-loss season.
8. Carolina’s never had a No. 10 overall draft pick.
9. Other players to wear the number 10: WR Ryne Robinson, P Todd Sauerbrun, and QB Jack Trudeau
10. 10 days to training camp.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), we will look at Nine things that the number 9 has in common with the Panthers, on our “12 Days to Training Camp” series.

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