Carolina Panthers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2008 Carolina Panthers season Carolina Panthers Established 1995 Play in Charlotte, North Carolina Serves North Carolina and South Carolina Helmet Logo League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1995–present) National Football Conference (1995-present) NFC West (1995-2001) NFC South (2002-present) Current uniform Team colors Black, Panther Blue, Silver, White Mascot Sir Purr Personnel Owner Jerry Richardson General Manager Marty Hurney Head Coach John Fox Team history Carolina Panthers (1995–present) Team Nicknames The Cardiac Cats Championships League Championships (0) Conference Championships (1) NFC 2003 Division Championships (2) NFC West: 1996 NFC South: 2003 Home fields Memorial Stadium, Clemson (1995) Bank of America Stadium (1996-present) also known as Ericsson Stadium (1996-2004) The Carolina Panthers are a professional faggot team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, representing both North Carolina and South Carolina in the National Football League (NFL). They are currently members of the National Football Conference (NFC) South Division in the NFL. The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, began play as 1995 NFL expansion teams.
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The Panthers conduct summer training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is the alma mater of Jerry Richardson, the team's owner. Contents [hide] 1 Franchise history 1.1 Origins: 1987-1994 1.2 Capers Era: 1995-1998 1.3 Seifert Era: 1999-2001 1.4 Fox Era: 2002-present 1.4.1 2004 season 1.4.2 2005 season 1.4.2.1 The TopCat scandal 1.4.3 2006 season 1.4.4 2007 season 2 Franchise traditions 2.1 Fight song 2.2 Growl Towel 3 Logo and uniforms 4 Rivals 5 Feline theme 6 Statistics 6.1 Season-by-season records 6.2 Record vs. opponents 7 Players of note 7.1 Current roster 7.2 Pro Football Hall of Famers 7.3 Retired numbers 7.4 10-year anniversary team 8 Coaches of note 8.1 Head coaches 8.2 Current staff 9 Radio and television 10 Notes and references 11 External links [edit] Franchise history [edit] Origins: 1987-1994 For more details on this topic, see History of the Carolina Panthers. Back in 1987, shortly after it was decided that Charlotte would receive an expansion National Basketball Association franchise (the Charlotte Hornets, now known as the New Orleans Hornets),
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former Baltimore Colts player Jerry Richardson met with a group of potential backers to discuss the possibility of bringing an NFL expansion team to the Carolina region. Richardson Sports decided upon a spot in the uptown section of Charlotte to build a privately financed stadium seating more than 70,000 fans. Richardson's announcement created a buzz in the region, as politicians, businessmen, and citizens all joined together to show the NFL that a team could be supported in the area. United States Senators Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Ernest Hollings of South Carolina put aside their partisan differences to lobby NFL owners to support the expansion. Meanwhile, North Carolina Governor James G. Martin and South Carolina Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. created a
committee of citizens from North and South Carolina to help the cause. Preseason games were held in the region in 1989, 1990, and 1991; all of the games were sold out as part of the fans' efforts to show their support. In 1992, the NFL released the list of five areas open to a potential NFL team: Baltimore, Maryland, St. Louis, Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Florida, and the Carolinas, represented by Charlotte. After the vote was delayed because of a dispute between the players and the league, the race began again in 1993. In June of that year, Richardson Sports announced that they would finance the stadium through the sale of Permanent Seat Licenses, club seats, and luxury boxes. In a stunning show of fan support, all seats were sold out by the end of the first day. The feasibility of the team was no longer a question, but it was still up to the league to decide where the team would go. On October 26, 1993, the league announced that the owners had unanimously voted for the Carolinas to receive the 29th franchise, the first new NFL team since 1976 (Jacksonville was the other city). Fans all over the region celebrated with fireworks. In a memorable moment during the expansion announcement conference, Richardson spoke directly into the camera to thank the 40,000 people who had purchased the PSLs and allowing the stadium to be built without a burden to the taxpayers. Even though St. Louis and Baltimore lost out on their expansion bids, they eventually acquired new teams: the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995. And as the result of the 1996 Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, the Baltimore Ravens were established by the league as technically a new expansion team. Memphis also temporarily received a team when the Houston Oilers relocated in 1997 to Tennessee, intending to play the 1997 and 1998 seasons in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium while what is now called LP Field in Nashville was being constructed. [edit] Capers Era: 1995-1998 The Panthers signed Dom Capers, former defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as their inaugural head coach. During the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft, Rod Smith was the first player selected by the Panthers. Greg Kragen, Jack Trudeau, and Mark Carrier were among the other players selected. Bill Goldberg was picked up off the roster of the Atlanta Falcons, but made Panther history by being the first player cut by the Panthers; Goldberg would later go on to much greater fame as a professional wrestler for WCW and WWE. During the 1995 NFL Draft, the Panthers made their first significant addition (in terms of long-term contributions to the team) by drafting Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins. Upon entering the NFL in 1995, the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars set about building their respective squads with a luxury not afforded to previous expansion teams, i.e. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, the use of free agency: free agency. The Panthers made excellent use of the tool, picking up wide receiver Don Beebe, linebacker Sam Mills, and placekicker John Kasay. As of 2008, Kasay is the only remaining "Original Panther" from the inaugural season. Defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina, another inaugural Panther still in the league, was on the Houston Texans' roster at the start of the 2007 season. The Panthers became only the second expansion team (besides the Minnesota Vikings in 1961) to win their first game, winning the annual Hall of Fame Game against the fellow expansion Jacksonville Jaguars 20-14 on July 29, 1995 (a game known as the "Battle of the Big Cats", due to the similar nicknames of the franchises). The home games that
first season were played at Clemson University, as the stadium was still under construction. This made the Panthers the only sports team in one of the Big Four leagues ever based out of South Carolina, even if only for one year. The Panthers first regular season game was against the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. The Panthers scored on their first three possessions to take a 13-0 lead before the Falcons rallied to win 23-20. The Panthers first home game (in Clemson) was a 31-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams. The Panthers won their first game against the New York Jets 26-15 on October 15, 1995, after Sam Mills returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown. Later that year, the Panthers stunned the league by not only winning four consecutive games (an expansion team record), but defeating the defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers, 13-7, the first time an expansion team had beaten the reigning champs. The Panthers finished their season 7-9, more than doubling the previous record of a first year expansion team (and far surpassing the 0-14 record of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their inaugural season). In the 1996 draft, the Panthers used their first pick on running back Tim Biakabutuka, and their second pick on wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. During the off-season, they also picked up quarterback Steve Beuerlein, tight end Wesley Walls, and linebacker Kevin Greene. The second year proved even better than the first, as the players found a groove and rattled off a seven-game winning streak to end the season and took the top spot in the NFC West. They beat the Dallas Cowboys 26-17 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers 30-13 in the NFC Championship. Their fellow second-year expansion team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, played in the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots but lost 20-6; the NFL nearly had an all-expansion Super Bowl. Panthers fans took it in stride, however, as the team had made massive improvement from the year before, and the team was represented at the Pro Bowl by eight players, including Collins, Kasay, Greene, Mills, Walls, Michael Bates, Eric Davis, and Lamar Lathon. The Panthers fully expected to return to the NFC title game in 1997, but a 2-4 start quickly began to cloud the minds of Carolina fans. Meanwhile, the Panthers became known as much for their problems off the field as they did on. Wide receiver Rae Carruth, taken with their first pick of the 1997 Draft, was arrested in 1999 for conspiring to murder his pregnant girlfriend. He was later convicted, and is serving his sentence in Raleigh, North Carolina. Star quarterback Kerry Collins was dealing with alcoholism, and was accused of making racial comments about teammates (notably Muhsin Muhammad). Collins was later released following the 1998 season. Former running back Fred Lane was shot and killed by his wife during a domestic dispute in 2000, after signing with the Indianapolis Colts. [edit] Seifert Era: 1999-2001 After Dom Capers was let go following a 4-12 season in 1998, the Panthers hired George Seifert as the team's second head coach. Seifert had won two Super Bowls as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and had a reputation for winning with talented and experienced teams. His first season, 1999, the Panthers finished with an 8-8 record and missed out on a wildcard playoff berth through a complicated tiebreaker based on total points scored. His second season saw the Panthers finish 7-9. Seifert's third and final season, 2001, was a disaster. The team released veteran quarterback Steve Beuerlein in the off-season and handed the reins to Jeff Lewis, an untested but promising quarterback obtained from the Denver Broncos. Lewis was released after several poor performances during the preseason that left the Panthers with rookie quarterback Chris Weinke under center. Weinke had won the Heisman Trophy leading Florida State to a national
championship in college but was unable to duplicate that level of success in the NFL. The Panthers won their opening game against the Minnesota Vikings but then lost 15 straight games, an NFL record for most consecutive losses in one season, to finish with a league-worst 1-15 record. Seifert was fired the day after the 2001 season ended and the team then set out to find its third head coach. Although his final season was the worst in team history, George Seifert did help select several outstanding players in the 2001 NFL Draft including Dan Morgan, Kris Jenkins and Steve Smith who have earned several Pro Bowl berths and All-Pro awards while playing for the Panthers. Smith is considered one of the most electrifying and explosive wide receivers in the game today. [edit] Fox Era: 2002-present After being turned down by Steve Spurrier and Tony Dungy for the head coach job, the Panthers hired New York Giants defensive coordinator John Fox as the team's third head coach. Fox was known for defensive discipline and it would be needed to improve a team that had finished in the bottom of the defensive rankings the previous year. Fox looked to the 2002 NFL Draft to begin revamping the franchise, starting with the second overall pick: Julius Peppers. Peppers was a dominating defensive end at the University of North Carolina and he was a solid fit for Fox's defensive plan. The Panthers also picked up linebacker Will Witherspoon and running back DeShaun Foster in the draft. Peppers combined with fellow defensive end Mike Rucker and defensive tackles Brentson Buckner and Kris Jenkins to form what many football experts called the best defensive line in the game. Meanwhile, Mike Minter anchored the secondary, while Witherspoon (affectionately called "Spoon" by fans & teammates) and Mark Fields led the linebacker corps. Fox's defense-first philosophy worked well as the Panthers improved to 7-9 and posted the second-best overall defense in the league including allowing a league-low 3.69 yards per rushing attempt. The 2003 season began with the Panthers drafting several young prospects, including Ricky Manning, Jr. out of UCLA at cornerback, and Jordan Gross at offensive tackle. In addition, quarterback Jake Delhomme, running back Stephen Davis, and wide receiver Ricky Proehl were signed in the off-season, making additions to an offense that needed to complement a top-ranked defense. The team was not without tragedy, however, as it was revealed that former linebacker and coach Sam Mills was diagnosed with intestinal cancer; additionally, linebacker Mark Fields was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. The team used their struggle as inspiration, and started the season 5-0, after Delhomme replaced Rodney Peete at halftime of the season opener and led the Panthers to a fourth quarter comeback, thus winning the starting job. Delhomme eventually led the team to an 11-5 record, the NFC South Division title and a playoff berth. In the playoffs, they easily defeated the Cowboys 29-10 in a home Wildcard game before facing the St. Louis Rams in the divisional playoff game in the Edward Jones Dome. Carolina had an 11-point lead in the last 3 minutes of play, but a touchdown from Marshall Faulk, a successful two point conversion, and an onside kick that led to a field goal tied the game and sent it to overtime. Both John Kasay and Jeff Wilkins missed potential game-winning kicks in the first overtime, and Carolina had the ball at the start of the second overtime. In the first play of the 2nd OT, however, Jake Delhomme hit Steve Smith with a 69-yard touchdown
pass to win the game, 29-23, and send the Panthers into the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, led by Donovan McNabb, were in the NFC title match for the 3rd year in a row, but had lost the previous two years. The Panthers made it three in a row for Philadelphia, as they shut down the Eagles offense and, with a 14-3 victory, headed to their first Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. At Super Bowl XXXVIII, neither team was able to put up points in the first quarter, and the game remained scoreless until near the end of the first half. However, 24 points were scored in the last 5 minutes of the first half, and the score going into halftime was 14-10 New England. The third quarter was also scoreless and it wasn't until late in the game that things heated up once again. The teams traded leads numerous times in the highest-scoring fourth quarter in Super Bowl history, including setting a record when Jake Delhomme hit Muhsin Muhammad for an 85-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. That pass made the score 22-21, Carolina and went down in the record books as the longest offensive play in Super Bowl history. After New England responded with a touchdown of their own and a 2-point conversion to make it 29-22, Carolina would storm right back to tie the game with a touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl with 1:08 left in regulation, opening the possibility to the first overtime game in Super Bowl history. However, John Kasay's kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Patriots the ball on their own 40-yard line. Adam Vinatieri, who had won Super Bowl XXXVI two years earlier on a last-second field goal, repeated his heroics, connecting on a 41-yarder with four seconds left, even though he had already missed two field goals in the game. This gave the Patriots their second Super Bowl win in three years. The multiple close games, won either in overtime or with a slim margin, gave way to a new nickname for the Panthers: the "Cardiac Cats." [edit] 2004 season The experts all picked the Panthers to repeat their 2003 season success in 2004. Having selected cornerback Chris Gamble and wide receiver Keary Colbert with their top two picks in the 2004 draft, and not having lost any core players from their Super Bowl run, the team looked ready for their 10th Anniversary season. In addition, Mark Fields, who had missed the previous season with Hodgkin's disease, returned and was ready to go. But the team suffered major injuries early on, as Steve Smith broke his leg in the season opener against Green Bay, Stephen Davis suffered a knee injury before the second game of the season, and Kris Jenkins had shoulder problems that benched him for the season, the Panthers had problems early on. In fact, the Panthers had 14 players on injured reserve, including their top four running backs, more than any other team. This led to a 1-7 start, and people began wondering if they would repeat the 1-15 season of 2001. However, backup fullback Nick Goings stepped up to the challenge with five 100-yd rushing games, Keary Colbert played better than most rookies thrown into the #2 receiver spot, and the defense held together despite the injuries to help the team win 6 of their last 8 games, and the Panthers barely missed the playoffs after losing a close game on a blocked field goal as time expired to New Orleans in the season finale, finishing 7-9. Among the other things the Panthers did in 2004 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise, they named a 10th Anniversary All-Time Team (listed below). With the exception of tight end Wesley Walls, every offensive starter was on the team during their Super Bowl run of 2003. The only defensive players to make the anniversary team that played in the Super Bowl were the front four (Peppers, Rucker, Jenkins and Buckner), linebacker Dan Morgan, and safety Mike Minter. Pro Bowl punter Todd Sauerbrun made the squad as well. Naturally, kicker John Kasay made the team, since he has been the team's kicker since its inception. [edit] 2005 season Before the 2005 season even began, the Panthers were once again plagued with off-field troubles. First, in March, punter Todd Sauerbrun, center Jeff Mitchell, and former offensive tackle Todd Steussie were linked to using steroids on a 60 Minutes report. Then in April,
linebacker coach Sam Mills succumbed to his battle with intestinal cancer. And it was revealed that Mark Fields, who has Hodgkin's, would miss the 2005 season as he did the 2003 season while he goes for treatment. Fields was awarded the ESPN "Best Comeback Athlete" award at the July 2005 ESPY Awards. Panther fans looked forward to repeating their Super Bowl run with a team added to by Thomas Davis and Eric Shelton. Sports Illustrated picked the Panthers to be Super Bowl favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason picks, with Jake Delhomme gracing the cover of the magazine just before the season began. Despite a home-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints 23-20 on an inspirational field goal by John Carney, and heightened by national feelings of sympathy for the homeless New Orleans Saints displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the Panthers got revenge against the two-time defending champion New England Patriots for the loss in Super Bowl XXXVIII winning the rematch by a final score of 27-17. Despite going on the road and losing a close game to the Miami Dolphins 27-24, the Panthers managed to get a six-game winning streak going. First, they won at home on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers 32-29. Then, they squeaked out victories in their next two games, on the road against the Arizona Cardinals (24-20) and the Detroit Lions (21-20). Coming off of their Week 7 Bye, the Panthers won their home game against the Minnesota Vikings 38-13. During that game, Steve Smith, who had already emerged as one of the league's best wide receivers, had a real breakthrough. He caught 11 passes for 201 yards and 1 touchdown, with his longest reception of the game being 69 yards. Jake Delhomme also enjoyed one of his best outings in years, completing 21 of 29 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns, giving Delhomme a nomination for FedEx Air Player of The Week. A week later, the Panthers won against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road with a final score of 34-14. Then, they won at home against the hapless New York Jets 30-3. Their winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Chicago Bears. The #1 defense held the Panthers to just three points, as they lost 13-3. A week later, they traveled to Ralph Wilson Stadium to play against the Buffalo Bills. For the most of the game, they were held in check by the Bills' defense, as they were held to just three field goals. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers rallied and got a 13-9 win, thanks to a three-yard TD pass from Jake Delhomme to TE Michael Gaines. Then, they would go home and win against their division rival, the Atlanta Falcons 24-6. Unfortunately, the Bucs would come to town a week later and get revenge with a final of 20-10. Despite going to LSU's Tiger Stadium and winning against the Saints 27-10, they would lose a close game to the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 after a controversial running into the kicker call. After losing to the Cowboys in the season's penultimate game, the Panthers needed a victory to secure a spot in the playoffs. They responded with a dominating New Years Day performance at the Georgia Dome, a 44-11 victory over the Falcons, making the score the largest margin of victory in franchise history. This was the first time since 1997 that the Panthers were able to beat the Falcons in the Georgia Dome. With that victory, the Panthers secured themselves the NFC's #5 seed. The Panthers began their post-season play on Sunday January 8, 2006 at Giants Stadium against the New York Giants. After both sides failed to score in the first quarter, the trifecta of Jake Delhomme, DeShaun Foster, and Steve Smith showed dominance as they shut out the Giants 23-0. Carolina's coach, John Fox, used to be the defensive coordinator for the Giants when they went to the Super Bowl earlier in the decade. New York was the nation's number one television market, and the
shutout in the playoffs was significant. Their next opponent was the Chicago Bears, home to the nation's third largest television market, who started off the week by reminding the Panthers about their regular season victory over them. The Panthers responded with a victory, beating the Bears at Soldier Field with a final score of 29-21. Unaffected by the major media hype of the Bears' defense, the Panthers led throughout, starting with an incredible touchdown reception by Steve Smith on the second play from scrimmage. Steve Smith had 12 catches for 212 yards with 2 touchdowns in Chicago. With that victory, the Panthers advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the third time in the franchise's 11-year history. However, during the Chicago game Deshaun Foster suffered a crushing ankle injury that would keep him indefinitely sidelined. Also, star defensive end Julius Peppers re-injured an ailing shoulder. The next weekend they played against the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC Championship, but injuries and playing on the road for the fourth straight week caught up with the panthers and they came up short, losing 34-14. [edit] The TopCat scandal On November 5, 2005, two members of the TopCats, the Panthers cheerleading squad, were arrested for assaulting a security guard at a Tampa bar. Angela Keathley and Rene Thomas were charged in the assault after they angered patrons. It was alleged that Keathley and Thomas were having sex in a bathroom stall. Two days after the incident, owner Richardson dismissed Keathley and Thomas from the TopCat squad. Both women pled guilty and were sentenced to community service, along with denying the sexual accusations.[1] [edit] 2006 season Coming off a playoff season and with new acquisition Keyshawn Johnson, the Panthers sold out Bank of America Stadium fifteen minutes after tickets went on sale.[2] An early injury to Steve Smith led to a two-game losing streak, but his return coincided with a four game winning run. However, Jake Delhomme was injured soon after and lost for three games. The team finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Following the season offensive coordinator Dan Henning was fired, and Johnson retired. Main article: 2006 Carolina Panthers season [edit] 2007 season The Panthers began the 2007 season as playoff contenders, and won their opener against the St. Louis Rams for the first time since 2003. However, the next week at home against the Houston Texans the Panthers jumped ahead 14-0 but lost 34-21, unable to fend off a relentless passing attack by the Texans. In week three against the Atlanta Falcons, Jake Delhomme again failed to get the win, and was lost for the season with an injured elbow, which resulted in Tommy John Surgery. After a close loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 4, the Panthers got back on the winning track behind the passing arm of former Houston Texans standout QB David Carr, who drew from the playbook of his 2006 defeat of the Indianapolis Colts by engineering two 4th-quarter drives; the first for a TD, and the last to set up the game winning field goal by John Kasay to defeat the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Carr suffered the first major injury of his career, badly injuring his back against the Saints. After returning to the game in the second half to get the win, Carr would play sparingly for the rest of the year, forcing the Panthers to rely on 44-year old Vinny Testaverde for the most of the remainder of the season. Behind Testaverde, the Panthers got their first home win in one calendar year,
beating the San Francisco 49ers 31-14. Following a 37-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, John Fox started undrafted free agent rookie Matt Moore who led the Panthers to a 13-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks at home. The Panthers finished 7-9, missing the playoffs for the second straight season. Matt Moore was 2-1 as a starter. Julius Peppers had a career low in sacks. Jon Beason, as a rookie, led the Carolina Panthers in tackles on defense. Newly-arrived strong safety Chris Harris led the NFL in forced fumbles. Main article: 2007 Carolina Panthers season [edit] Franchise traditions [edit] Fight song When the Panthers started in 1995, fans would sing the official Carolina Panther Fight Song "Stand and Cheer", composed by Duane Evans every time the team would score. As the first season was played at Clemson University, many fans felt that the song was reminiscent of the collegiate atmosphere those games had. The fight song only lasted a few years before being officially retired. Officials with the Panthers organization said that they received a large number of fan complaints regarding the fight song. The fight song was heard again, although in an abbreviated version, during the first preseason game of the 2006 season. The song was used throughout the remainder of the season. Currently "Stand and Cheer" is played after every home victory.[3] There has been an unofficial Panthers song recorded by the Charlotte hip-hop group Q.C. Riders that proved somewhat popular during the team's first Super Bowl run. Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever" is an often-played song at home games at Bank of America Stadium. [edit] Growl Towel Growl Towel is the nickname adopted by fans that refers to small, terry-cloth towels that are waved or spun in the air during football games. The towels are similar to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Terrible Towel but in Panthers team colors (1996-1997 then called the "Prowl Towel") or in white in more recent years. [edit] Logo and uniforms The Panthers logo consists of the head of a black snarling panther outlined in blue. It is shaped to resemble the combined borders of North and South Carolina.[4] The helmets are silver, and in 2003, they changed the helmet color slightly to a more metallic shade.[5] The team normally wears silver pants with their black jerseys, and white pants with their white jerseys. Both the black and the white jerseys have blue stripes over the shoulders. The team introduced an alternate jersey in 2002 that is blue with black shoulder stripes. Like many other NFL teams located in temperate climates, the Panthers traditionally wear their white jerseys at home during the first half of the season — forcing opponents to wear their dark ones under the warm autumns in Charlotte. In the preseason, the Panthers wear their white uniforms at home. The team's uniforms prompted a 2003 lawsuit by the Oakland Raiders, who claimed that the NFL and the Panthers had infringed upon key trademark elements of the Raiders' brand, specifically the silver and black colors. In the same suit, the Raiders challenged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997 uniform design, including the pirate logo. The Raiders wanted the courts to bar the Buccaneers and Panthers from wearing their uniforms while playing in California. However, since the lawsuit was filed in a state California court, the lawsuit was tossed out because only federal courts have jurisdiction over intellectual property issues.[6] The Raiders have yet to appeal the ruling. The Panthers have made minor changes to their uniforms since coming into the NFL in 1995. The dark jerseys are black tops, silver pants with black socks (electric blue in 1995) and white tops, white pants and electric blue socks. They have added an electric blue alternate jersey which has been worn with the team's silver pants and black socks. The alternate jersey has been worn twice a season beginning in 2002. The light blue jerseys have been worn mostly at home. The Panthers have worn the light blue jerseys a few times on the road when the home team has choosen to wear white due to the heat. The light blue uniforms are more comfortable in the heat than black. The Panthers have played in six postseason games, wearing the all-white jerseys in each game. Two of those games were at home against the Dallas Cowboys, making the Cowboys wear their "unlucky" road navy-blue jerseys. The Cowboys are one of three teams who routinely
wear their white uniforms at home. [edit] Rivals The Panthers maintain a healthy rivalry with all the NFC South teams. But they maintain a special place in their hate for the Atlanta Falcons. The rivalry with Atlanta began in the first season of the franchise when both teams were members of the NFC West. In 2001, both teams, joined by the Saints and Buccaneers, formed the nucleus of the NFC South. The Panthers and Falcons have played over a decade of hotly contested games. Fans of both teams easily travel between home and away games as (both teams are located on Interstate 85). Outside the division, the biggest rival is the Dallas Cowboys. In both 1996 and 2003, the Panthers were responsible for eliminating the Cowboys in the playoffs. In a key game late in the 2005 season, Steve Smith was ejected for touching an official. Late in the game, a blocked field-goal was reversed by a suspicious penalty and Dallas scored the winning touchdown two plays later. This late-season loss kept Carolina from winning the division and forced them to enter the playoffs as a wild card team. They were eliminated in the NFC Championship by the Seahawks. In the regular season of 2006, Dallas won 35-14 on the high-profile NBC Sunday Night Football. In 2007, a 20-13 Dallas victory over Carolina mathematically eliminated the Panthers from the playoffs, and ultimately clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the Cowboys.[7] The Panthers are currently 2-0 lifetime against the Cowboys in post season play. Some also considered the Jacksonville Jaguars to be their AFC rival since both of these teams came into the NFL in 1995. The Panthers' first pre-season game was against the Jaguars, which the Panthers won. These teams rarely play so the rivalry has not taken root and the Panthers lack an AFC rival. [edit] Feline theme The Panthers are one of three teams in Carolina sports history whose name is derived from a feline animal. The Panthers' name is said to have served as the inspiration for that of an NBA expansion franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats; the Carolina Cougars of the old ABA were another feline-inspired team. In addition, Charlotte's public transportation system is popularly known as "CATS" (an acronym for "Charlotte Area Transit System"), and its light-rail line is called "LYNX." [edit] Statistics [edit] Season-by-season records Main article: Carolina Panthers seasons Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Season W L T Finish Playoff results 1995 7 9 0 4th NFC West – 1996 12 4 0 1st NFC West Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 26-17 Lost Conference Championship (Packers) 30-13 1997 7 9 0 2nd NFC West – 1998 4 12 0 4th NFC West – 1999 8 8 0 2nd NFC West – 2000 7 9 0 3rd NFC West – 2001 1 15 0 5th NFC West – 2002 7 9 0 4th NFC South – 2003 11 5 0 1st NFC South Won Wild Card Playoffs (Cowboys) 29-10 Won Divisional Playoffs (Rams) 29-23 (2OT) Won Conference Championship (Eagles) 14-3 Lost Super Bowl XXXVIII (Patriots) 32-29 2004 7 9 0 3rd NFC South – 2005 11 5 0 2nd NFC South Won Wild Card Playoffs (Giants) 23-0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Bears) 29-21 Lost Conference Championship (Seahawks) 34-14 2006 8 8 0 2nd NFC South – 2007 7 9 0 2nd NFC South – 2008 2 1 0 – – Totals 99 112 0 (1995-present, regular season) 6 3 - (1995-present, playoffs) 105 115 0 (all games, 1995-present, including playoffs) [edit] Record vs. opponents (As of the end of Week 16 of the 2007 NFL season. Includes postseason records.) Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Team W L T Percent Last Result Last Date Last Locale Postseason Baltimore Ravens 3 0 0 1.000 W 23-21 October 15, 2006 Baltimore, Maryland Cleveland Browns 3 0 0 1.000 W 20-12 October 8, 2006 Charlotte, North Carolina Indianapolis Colts 3 1 0 .750 L 31-7 October 28, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina Detroit Lions 3 1 0 .750 W 21-20 October 16, 2005 Detroit, Michigan New York Giants 3 1 0 .750 L 27-13 December 10, 2006 Charlotte, North Carolina 1-0 postseason Arizona Cardinals 5
2 0 .714 W 25-10 October 14, 2007 Glendale, Arizona Cincinnati Bengals 2 1 0 .667 L 17-14 October 22, 2006 Cincinnati, Ohio San Diego Chargers 3 1 0 .750 w 26-24 September 7, 2008 San Diego, California St. Louis Rams 11 7 0 .611 W 27-13 September 9, 2007 St. Louis, Missouri 1-0 postseason Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 6 0 .600 W 31-23 December 30, 2007 Tampa, Florida San Francisco 49ers 9 7 0 .563 W 31-14 December 2, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina New Orleans Saints 14 12 0 .538 L 6-31 November 25, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina Chicago Bears 3 2 0 .600 W 20-17 September 14, 2008 Charlotte, North Carolina 1-0 postseason New England Patriots 2 2 0 .500 W 27-17 September 18, 2005 Charlotte, North Carolina 0-1 postseason New York Jets 2 2 0 .500 W 30-3 November 13, 2005 Charlotte, North Carolina Seattle Seahawks 2 2 0 .500 W 13-10 December 16, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina 0-1 postseason Minnesota Vikings 3 5 0 .600 L 20-10 September 21, 2008 Minneapolis, Minnesota Atlanta Falcons 10 16 0 .385 L 13-20 November 11, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina Kansas City Chiefs 1 2 0 .333 W 28-17 September 19, 2004 Kansas City, Missouri Oakland Raiders 1 2 0 .333 L 27-24 November 7, 2004 Charlotte, North Carolina Philadelphia Eagles 2 4 0 .333 L 27-24 December 4, 2006 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1-0 postseason Hou. Oilers/Tennessee Titans 1 2 0 .333 L 20-7 November 5, 2007 Nashville, Tennessee Dallas Cowboys 3 7 0 .300 L 20-13 December 22, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina 2-0 postseason Green Bay Packers 3 7 0 .300 L 17-31 November 18, 2007 Green Bay, Wisconsin 0-1 postseason Buffalo Bills 1 3 0 .250 W 13-9 November 27, 2005 Orchard Park, New York Jacksonville Jaguars 1 3 0 .250 L 6-37 December 9, 2007 Jacksonville, Florida Pittsburgh Steelers 1 3 0 .250 L 37-3 December 17, 2006 Charlotte, North Carolina Washington Redskins 1 7 0 .125 L 17-13 November 26, 2006 Landover, Maryland Houston Texans 0 2 0 .000 L 34-21 September 16, 2007 Charlotte, North Carolina Denver Broncos 0 2 0 .000 L 20-17 October 10, 2004 Denver, Colorado Miami Dolphins 0 3 0 .000 L 27-24 September 25, 2005 Miami Gardens, Florida (1) - 2006 NFC Divisional Playoff Game [edit] Players of note Main article: List of Carolina Panthers players [edit] Current roster Carolina Panthers roster view • talk • edit Quarterbacks 17 Jake Delhomme 12 Josh McCown 3 Matt Moore Running Backs 37 Nick Goings KR 45 Brad Hoover FB 28 Jonathan Stewart 34 DeAngelo Williams Wide Receivers 18 D. J. Hackett 80 Dwayne Jarrett 84 Mark Jones KR/PR 87 Muhsin Muhammad 10 Ryne Robinson KR/PR 89 Steve Smith Tight Ends 82 Gary Barnidge 47 Jeff King 88 Dante Rosario Offensive Linemen 65 Mackenzy Bernadeau G 73 Jeremy Bridges G/T 69 Jordan Gross T 63 Geoff Hangartner C/G 67 Ryan Kalil C/G 76 Frank Omiyale T 79 Jeff Otah T 68 Keydrick Vincent G 70 Travelle Wharton G/T Defensive Linemen 96 Tyler Brayton DE 91 Gary Gibson DT 95 Charles Johnson DE 99 Ma'ake Kemoeatu DT 92 Damione Lewis DT 90 Julius Peppers DE 66 Hilee Taylor DE 93 Darwin Walker DT Linebackers 50 James Anderson OLB 52 Jon Beason ILB 55 Donté Curry OLB 58 Thomas Davis OLB 53 Na'il Diggs OLB 54 Landon Johnson OLB 59 Adam Seward ILB Defensive Backs 20 Chris Gamble CB 30 Charles Godfrey FS 43 Chris Harris SS 21 Ken Lucas CB 31 Richard Marshall CB 25 Nate Salley S 26 Quinton Teal SS 23 Dante Wesley CB 27 C. J. Wilson CB Special Teams 7 Jason Baker P 4 John Kasay K 56 Jason Kyle LS 5 Rhys Lloyd K Reserve Lists 11 Jason Carter WR (IR) 57 Dan Connor ILB (IR) Practice Squad 14 Brett Basanez QB 24 Decori Birmingham RB 16 Will Buchanon WR 38 Joe Fields FS 78 Nick Hayden DT 42 Billy Latsko FB 83 Titus Ryan WR 74 Geoff Schwartz G/T 46 Shaun Smith LB Int'l Rookies in italics Roster updated 2008-09-24 Depth Chart • Transactions 53 Active, 2 Inactive, 9 PS → More rosters [edit] Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White [edit] Retired numbers ("Ring of Honor") Sam Mills - #51
retired at the beginning of the 2005 NFL season Mike McCormack - Executive Manager, General Manager & Consultant PSL Owners [edit] 10-year anniversary team Source: 10 Year Anniversary, Panthers.com (URL last accessed May 28, 2008) Offense Quarterback - Jake Delhomme Running Back - Stephen Davis Fullback - Brad Hoover Wide Receiver - Muhsin Muhammad Wide Receiver - Steve Smith Center - Jeff Mitchell Tackle - Jordan Gross Tackle - Todd Steussie Guard - Kevin Donnalley Guard - Jeno James Tight End - Wesley Walls Defense Defensive End - Julius Peppers Defensive End - Mike Rucker Defensive Tackle - Brentson Buckner Defensive Tackle - Kris Jenkins Linebacker - Dan Morgan Linebacker - Kevin Greene Linebacker - Sam Mills Cornerback - Eric Davis Cornerback - Tyrone Poole Safety - Chad Cota Safety - Mike Minter Special Teams Placekicker - John Kasay Punter - Todd Sauerbrun Kick/punt Returner - Michael Bates [edit] Coaches of note [edit] Head coaches # Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards GC W L T W–L % GC W L 1 Dom Capers 1995–1998 64 30 34 0 .469 2 1 1 AP Coach of the Year (1996) Pro Football Weekly Coach of the Year (1995, 1996) Sporting News Coach of the Year (1996) UPI NFC Coach of the Year (1996)[8] 2 George Seifert 1999–2001 48 16 32 0 .333 – – – 3 John Fox 2002–present 98 53 46 0 .541 7 5 2 [edit] Current staff Carolina Panthers staff v • d • e Front Office Owner/Founder - Jerry Richardson President - Mark Richardson General Manager - Marty Hurney Director of Team Administration - Rob Rogers Director of Pro Scouting - Mark Koncz Director of College Scouting - Don Gregory Head Coaches Head Coach - John Fox Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs - Jim Skipper Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator - Jeff Davidson Quarterbacks/Passing Coordinator - Mike McCoy Wide Receivers - Richard Williamson Tight Ends/Offensive Quality Control - Geep Chryst Offensive Line - Dave Magazu Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator - Mike Trgovac Defensive Line - Sal Sunseri Linebackers - Ken Flajole Secondary - Tim Lewis Secondary (Safeties) - Mike Gillhamer Defensive Quality Control - Sam Mills III Special Teams Coaches Special Teams - Danny Crossman Special Teams Assistant/Assistant Strength and Conditioning - Matt House Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning - Jerry Simmons → Coaching Staff → More NFL staffs [edit] Radio and television The Panthers' flagship radio stations are WBT in Charlotte and WBT-FM in Chester, S.C.. The announcing team consists of Mick Mixon, Eugene Robinson & Jim Szoke. Most preseason games are locally broadcast by Charlotte's Fox affiliate, WCCB channel 18. [edit] Notes and references ^ ESPN article about Keathley and Thomas ^ Panthers.com ^ Panthers.com - Multimedia ^ Carolina Panthers (1995-Present) ^ Helmets, Helmets, Helmets ^ Sports: Bucs free to use pirate logo after Raiders suit is tossed ^ NFL recap of Cowboys 20, Panthers 13 (12/22/07) ^ "NFL Coach of the Year Award". Hickok Sports. Retrieved on 2008-03-22. [edit] External links Carolina Panthers official web site Sports E-Cyclopedia.com Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Steve Smith Official Site [show]v • d • eCarolina Panthers The Franchise Franchise • History • Players • Seasons • First-round draft picks Stadiums Memorial Stadium, Clemson • Bank of America
Stadium Culture Jerry Richardson • Sir Purr Hall of Honor Mike McCormack • Sam Mills • PSL Owners Head Coaches Capers • Seifert • Fox Playoff Appearances (3) 1996 • 2003 • 2005 Division Championships (2) 1996 • 2003 Super Bowl Appearances (1) XXXVIII Seasons 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 Current League Affiliations League: National Football League • Conference: National Football Conference • Division: South Division [show]v • d • eNational Football League (2008) AFC East North South West Buffalo Bills Baltimore Ravens Houston Texans Denver Broncos Miami Dolphins Cincinnati Bengals Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs New England Patriots Cleveland Browns Jacksonville Jaguars Oakland Raiders New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee Titans San Diego Chargers NFC East North South West Dallas Cowboys Chicago Bears Atlanta Falcons Arizona Cardinals New York Giants Detroit Lions Carolina Panthers St. Louis Rams Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers New Orleans Saints San Francisco 49ers Washington Redskins Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers Seattle Seahawks Seasons (by team) · Playoffs · AFC Championship · NFC Championship · Super Bowl (Champions) · Pro Bowl League Championship History: AFL Championship (1960–1969) · NFL Championship (1920–1969) · One-Game Playoff · Playoff Bowl Defunct Franchises · Owners · Stadiums (chronology) · Records (individual, team, Super Bowl) · Hall of Fame · Lore · AFL · Merger · NFL in L.A., Toronto · International Series · Europa (World Bowl) · TV · Radio · NFLPA · Player Conduct · Draft · Training Camp · Preseason (Hall of Fame Game, American Bowl, China Bowl) · Kickoff · Monday Night Football · Thanksgiving Classic · Christmas Games [show]v • d • eSports teams based in North Carolina Australian Rules Football USAFL/EAFL: North Carolina Tigers, WAFA: North Carolina Lady Tigers Baseball IL: Durham Bulls • Charlotte Knights, SL: Carolina Mudcats, CL: Kinston Indians • Winston-Salem Warthogs, SAL: Asheville Tourists • Greensboro Grasshoppers • Hickory Crawdads • Kannapolis Intimidators, ApL: Burlington Royals, CPL: Asheboro Copperheads • Edenton Steamers • Fayetteville Swampdogs • Forest City Owls • Gastonia Grizzlies • Outer Banks Daredevils • Thomasville Hi-Toms • Wilmington Sharks • Wilson
Tobs Basketball NBA: Charlotte Bobcats, PBL: Wilmington Sea Dawgs Football NFL: Carolina Panthers, AIFA: Carolina Speed • Fayetteville Guard, WPFL: Carolina Queens Hockey NHL: Carolina Hurricanes, ECHL: Charlotte Checkers, SPHL: Fayetteville FireAntz • Twin City Cyclones Rugby SL: Charlotte RFC Soccer USL-1: Carolina RailHawks, USL-2: Charlotte Eagles • Wilmington Hammerheads, PDL: Carolina Dynamo • Cary RailHawks U23's, WL: Carolina Dynamo • Carolina RailHawks Women • Charlotte Lady Eagles College Athletics (NCAA Division I) Appalachian State • Campbell • Charlotte • Davidson • Duke • East Carolina • Elon • Gardner-Webb • High Point • North Carolina • North Carolina A&T State • North Carolina Central • North Carolina State • UNC Asheville • UNC Greensboro • UNC Wilmington • Wake Forest • Western Carolina • Winston-Salem State Main Article: Sports in North Carolina Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Panthers" Categories: Carolina Panthers | Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina | National Football League teams | Sports clubs established in 1995
