Byrd Watching is Back!

Byrd Watching is Back!

Every year, fans fall in and out of love with certain players. We always have favorites who didn’t make the team or who we believe, given a real opportunity, could contribute positively to the team. Coincidentally, we nourish these affections as we fall out of love with guys who are approaching the twilight of their career or who we believe never fully capitalizes on their potential. I’m one of these fans.

 

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A Panther Prospect: Javon Hargrave

A Panther Prospect: Javon Hargrave

Over the past few years most Panther fans have already found themselves in Draft/Free Agency mode at this point in the NFL Season. Fortunately the script has been rewritten for 2016 as Carolina finds themselves playing in the NFC Championship game. However, there is no time too early to start looking at college prospects that may fit Gettleman’s mold. Someone that may strike the Panthers’ eye is South Carolina State defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Hargrave is a late riser in the scouting process, but has been rising up draft boards after a strong showing at the Shrine Game.

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Brandon Wegher's Making the Panthers' Final Roster Is More Than Surviving the Chopping Block

Brandon Wegher's Making the Panthers' Final Roster Is More Than Surviving the Chopping Block

Brandon Wegher has officially made the Panthers 53-man roster.  That’s right, confirmed per source just before noon today, the fan favorite survived the chopping block. It looks though the Wegher story is more than just a story of surviving being cut.  Wegher's story is in it's beginning, not it's end. 

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Byrd Watching: Preseason Part 1

Byrd Watching: Preseason Part 1

After the first two preseason games, Damiere Byrd has firmly planted himself in the fight for a roster spot. Our man has tallied 5 receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown thus far, good for the top three in each category among our receivers throughout the first two games. Though the brutal loss of Kelvin Benjamin brings little good, a silver lining may be the possibility of a young receiver stepping up in his absence. Byrd finds himself with a far greater chance of making the final roster than when the preseason first began, but he is still a “long shot” for right now.

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Byrd Watching 3: Minicamp Wrap Up

Byrd Watching 3: Minicamp Wrap Up

Byrd Watching is back once again, and will cover everything you may have missed regarding backyard baller Damiere Byrd at this past minicamp. Minicamp is the preamble to training camp, and like OTA practices, no pads are worn and player on player contact is kept to a minimum. Due to injuries and experimentation, Byrd got several chances to earn more snaps at several different positions and looked good while playing them.

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Byrd Watching 2: OTA Wrap Up

Byrd Watching 2: OTA Wrap Up

The second installment of Byrd Watching picks up where we left off after the first week of organized team activities. Since then, there has been several intriguing story lines and promising sample sizes from young players. For the most part, OTAs are closed to the media, and most of what takes place is never heard of. When reporters are allowed on the practice field, their write ups are usually short, and only contain the most noteworthy plays.

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Byrd Watching: OTAs Round One

Byrd Watching: OTAs Round One

The new series covering backyard baller Damiere Byrd kicks off here with some observations from the first round of Organized Team Activities. The first two days of OTAs were closed to the media, so the happenings are somewhat unknown. However, the third and final day was open to reporters, and several of the lineups and performances were interesting to say the least. There are many unknown players that peak my interest during these practices, but probably none more so than the aforementioned UDFA pickup Damiere Byrd.

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A Few Things I'd Like to See this Preseason

A Few Things I'd Like to See this Preseason

The conclusion of the rookie minicamp signals a period of frustration and excitement for many football fans. Excitement over the fact football is back, and frustration because it still seems so far away. There are several things I will keep an eye on for the next few months, and several things I want to happen. I’ll list a few things that I hope/expect will come to fruition, and will be either frustrated or excited at the eventual outcome.

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A Look at Carolina's Undrafted Free Agents

A Look at Carolina's Undrafted Free Agents

The past two draft classes have been loaded with depth and talent, this is why scouting undrafted free agents is so important. Last year Gettleman was able to bring in big contributors to our team, and starters in Philly Brown and Andrew Norwell. At this time, we have signed 10 undrafted free agents and invited one to our rookie minicamp. Even though we didn't bring in a couple of the names I really wanted, I am more than excited for this crop of players. I’ll try my best to rank these players off their potential to make the team, and give my prediction for their future.

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The Panthers Point the Passer and Visit Rod Hall

The Panthers Point the Passer and Visit Rod Hall

Many years ago the late great Dean Smith was coaching basketball at North Carolina, and doling out life lessons to his players. One of his on the court lessons was that after a made basket, the player who put the ball in the hoop was to give a point of recognition to the player who threw him the pass. Even today, you can see this tradition continue to take place on basketball courts across the country. A brief 270 miles from UNC, a group of orange and purple clad men have been pointing a particular passer for the last four years.

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