4 critical observations from disastrous Carolina Panthers loss in Week 4

Carolina Panthers embarrassed Sam Mills’ legacy

This was meant to be a night in which the Carolina Panthers honored one of their greatest-ever players. Instead, we saw an offensive performance that couldn’t be further from what Sam Mills stood for.

"“When I found out I had cancer there were two things I could do, quit or Keep Pounding. I’m a fighter I Kept Pounding, you’re fighters too, Keep Pounding”"

Those were the infamous words of then linebackers coach Mills. The former Pro Bowler who was battling aggressive intestinal cancer gave the famous speech ahead of the Panthers’ playoff clash with the Dallas Cowboys, which they won 29-10.

Mills’ whole career was based on him being a fighter. In college, he played Division III football at Montclair State because no one wanted to take a chance on the 5-foot-9 defender, which was followed by stints in CFL and USFL before finally making it in the NFL.

What followed was 12 seasons in the NFL with three All-Pro selections.

In Week 4 – Mills’ legacy celebration – the current Panthers players didn’t Keep Pounding. They weren’t fighters and the offense was laid down, beaten into the dirt by one of the worst defenses in the league so far.

Keep Pounding has been the motto of this team since Mills’s famous speech back in 2004. Unfortunately for Panthers fans under Matt Rhule, we’ve not seen a lot of that fighting spirit.