December 30, 2024 • 42 mins
This week on Panther Talk, Jim and Sharon speaks with Dave Canales, Leonard Wheeler, and Muhsin Muhammad about Bryce Young, the Panthers week 17 loss to the Bucs, 30 Seasons of Panther Football and so much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
in the National.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Football League Panther Talk and They'tell and They're toll. This
is Panther Talk presented by Bosh Power Tools on the
Carolina Panthers Radio network.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
We got one more opt to finish our way, to
finish our style of football. So let's get back to that.
Let's attack it this week. Everybody for each other. And
you know, the guys had a great look in their eyes,
and I know that they want to have this opportunity
to be able to finish our on our terms.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
And now, along with Sharon Thuysland, here's Jim Zilky with
Panther Talk live from the Panthers broadcast facility at Bank
of America Studio, and welcome on board.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
We've got the head coach, Dave Canal is going to
join us here in just a few seconds, but just
to fill you in a niche actually has. I was
talking to him this morning, four games before he does
his next Panther game. So he's all over the place
with games and college basketball, so he is. He's on
a working trip right now and then Eugene with some
family stuff that he's dealing with with the folks. So
(01:10):
glad to be here with you, Sharon, looking forward to
this and we've got one more game to go. As
you heard in the open there as coach Dave Canalis
joined us here off the top, and to coach it,
it's funny before we get into the game and looking
forward to next week. How it's it's like the school year, right,
It's like it feels like it's like this long thing
in front of you and next thing you look up
and it's senior day and it's it's the end of
the season all the way here right now?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Has it?
Speaker 4 (01:31):
I know it's been a lot of work and a
lot of long hours, but in general, is it is
it flown by in terms of just the football part
of it?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean, you know, the season in so many ways,
it's felt both ways. You know, it's felt like it's
flown by, and it's also felt very long. My first year,
lots of new, lots of brand new experiences, you know,
for all of us, and I'm so grateful to have,
you know, great guys around me that have been doing
this for a while, so you know, and then this
(01:59):
time year always kind of hits me you know, as
as we start to wind the season down, whether you're
in the playoffs, not in the playoffs this year, like
we not having a chance, you know, to win the
division or make a wild card. But it just kind
of hits me how much time we spend together, the staff,
the players, and just knowing that you know, with every
(02:19):
you know, changing year, the roster changes, you know, people
that you know, we come to see what we get
used to seeing every day and doing work with, you know,
and I just kind of it hits me emotionally, and
so I want to, like, you know, cherish every day,
cherish every moment, all the things in between that happen.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Now it's a great outlook that you have on that.
And now that you've done it for a full season
with one more game to go, I would expect that
for you next year, like a lot of these things,
having done it once, like okay, and you will probably
free up your mind. I would think in a lot
of areas where things are a little bit more second nature,
that you can maybe focused a little more hyper focused
on some other things now that you've done the routine
(02:55):
and some of the day to day stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Now, yeah, absolutely, you know, there's still this is like,
you know, having the focus and discipline as a group,
you know, to see the thing through and to finish,
to finish all the way to the to the final
second on the scoreboard of this next game against the Falcons,
and to be able to do that and and so
that we can all be present here and really just
(03:18):
take advantage. These games are so important for all of us,
for the coaching staff, for the players, all the guys
that get an opportunity to go out there one more
time to improve their game, to chase becoming as good
as they can become, you know, for this season. And
so that's still out there for us.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
Coach, you were talking about that with the starter is
now going to play on Sunday, everybody who who is available,
Why is that so important for you to keep those
guys out there for another game? And some people don't
do that, but it sounds like it's very important for
you to get them out there to have, like you said,
that one last opportunity to finish and to do it
the right way.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
It's the competitive culture that we want to have around
here that every single one of these games we take
with the utmost respect. They're all championship opportunities in my mind,
because they prepare you for something. They prepare you to
be a professional about how you go about your process
through the week, regardless of the situation, whether it's preseason one,
or it's the last game of the season, or you're
(04:14):
playing in the championship game.
Speaker 7 (04:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And I've been a part of all these and it
takes a discipline to condition your mind to go there
every single time. And I want to really respect that
for this staff that's working tiresly, tirelessly, for everyone in
this building that's pouring into these men that get to
go out there and play this game, and for those
guys that are going out to have the opportunity to
put their best foot forward. You know, it's like these
(04:38):
games are so critical, you know, this is like the
last thing. This is the first thing that we evaluate
as we go into the offseason. It's this last game.
Who was out there, how did they do? And so
I just I want to honor that opportunity, you know,
to take advantage and to grow processes.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Yeah, the similar environment coming up at Atlanta to what
you had in Tampa with them now flip flopping in
the division and they'll both be fighting for that last
playoff opportunity that they have there for you and as
you guys try to make these building blocks to be
that team next year. Just passing on with people ask
us about it. They're just about certain players as always,
Bryce Young and some others. A lot of talk about
(05:13):
xavierly Get and what he's seeing about him being the
first round pick and as he wraps up his first
season in the NFL, what you've seen with his year
with having to deal with some injuries, some great moments,
some workable moments as well, But it's kind of an
overall evaluation to this point of what you've seen from x.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, it's so important, right all these opportunities he's had
to go out there and play football in different situations,
and you know, in games where it's gotten out of
hand for us, you know, but to be able to
be out there, to hear the call, to see the
different coverages, to see how, you know, different defenders play him,
to see what parts of his game that he can
continue to pour in upon. But I'm really proud of
(05:54):
the guy battling through things, maintaining that focus. It's so
challenging for rookie, you know, you talk about like almost
doubling their season, you know, in terms of the amount
of games from preseason to now, all those things, you know,
and I'm just so proud of the way that he's
been steadfast, the way that he's found a way to
get himself out there except for this past you know,
the two games ago, to be able to work on
(06:16):
his craft.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
When you look at some of the other rookies, you've
had some I would think, some some pretty pleasant surprises.
The guys have played so on, have had so many
opportunities to get in there early on in this season,
and guys like Jalen Cocher, Trevin Wallace, even though he's
on IR right now. When you look back at your
rookie class as a whole, including the undrafted guys, how
pleased are you with with the way that they've been
(06:39):
able to progress so far this season.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I'm very pleased. And I first and foremost have to
give a shout out to the coaches that spend so
much time with these guys, you know, Rob Moore with
with Jalen, with Xavier Loguette, you talk about Pete Hansen,
you know, with Trevin Wallace, Bert Watts, you know, spending
all the time with Demani Richardson to keep him involved
and focused on what he's doing. You know, Todd Wash
getting Jaden Crummedy out there, you know, to play for
(07:04):
us and to start contributing later on in the season,
you know. And so you know, uh, Pat McPherson with
Datavian Sanders in the way that these guys were able
to contribute in different ways and you know, and try
to find some level of consistency and the performance. But
it's just the time and effort that goes into it,
and for these guys to be willing to take the
coaching to grow every week. You know, it's it's been
(07:26):
really fun to watch.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
You've coached some really terrific receivers through the years, and
of course last year Mike Evans in Tampa. But Adam Thielen,
I mean, here's a guy that had a significant injury
for a big chunk of the season. Five catches, one
hundred and ten yards, two touchdowns yesterday, and he's beating
the defense.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
I mean, he's getting downfield. He's not just running short routes.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
As you watch, what are those traits and the work
habits and the things that go into somebody like Adam
feeling to be so accomplished at this late stage of
his NFL career.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, people try to put him in a box. You know,
he just he made us. He made sure that we
all knew. He came off the sideline. He was like,
I could take it deep, dude.
Speaker 8 (08:01):
You know, he was all fired up about it, and
we were.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
It really was a great moment. But I think it
just speaks to the competitiveness of Adam. I think it
speaks to his just his preparation and professionalism, the way
that he goes about his week, the way that every
play is important. Like he there is not a single
play where he's like, ah, you know what, I'm just
gonna save myself and take this one off. He attacks
(08:25):
every single one, especially when there's a pass called. He's like,
this could be the big one, this could be a
special play. And he really respects every moment that way.
That's the focus that it takes to be great, you know,
and that's what's hopefully can be. You know, A contagious
part of the culture we're building here is that every play,
(08:45):
every drive, every quarter, half in game is so important
and you never get him back. They don't you don't
get to there's no doovers. You get new opportunities, but
you never get those back. And I love the way
he lives that way. I love the way he hesit
and he goes for it.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
You know.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And I mentioned, you know, Mike Evans, and he's on
the cusp of maybe an eleventh consecutive thousand yard season,
just needs to have one more solid game for them
to get that. But when you were down there, and
of course you had the game with Tampa Bay here
going down there, as you had just the moments you
had to being in the building again, you probably remembered
more people than you thought you would remember as far
as just being the staff and just people that work
(09:24):
down there. Being so fresh, being just a year off
of that. But what was that like being back in
that environment again and just having those couple of moments
to see people that you worked side by side by?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
It was great gratitude, you know, is the word that
I could kind of sum it up. And in our profession,
we spend so much time together. We spend seven days
a week for six months together, outside of a few
days in a bye week or something like that, we
are together and you're working towards a common goal, you know,
and that's the thing that really creates the culture and
(09:56):
that family like environment wherever you're at. And so to
be able to see the a lot of the people
around even on the you know, game day cruises, I
would go and work out before the games and say
a lot of security guards and different people, and you know,
it was it was really special, really grateful for for
Jason Light, you know, for Todd Wash and for the
Glazers to give you that opportunity, and then to go
(10:17):
down there as a panther to go down there with
our group, you know. And I know the game didn't
come out the way that that we wanted it to,
but I was excited about going down there to play
against the teams playing for everything, you know, and to
to really face that challenge, you know. And we got
another opportunity this week against the Falcons, to face another
(10:37):
team who's playing for everything for their season, you know,
and and it's going to call upon our best. They're
going to give us their absolute best shot. And those
are the moments that we learned the most about who
we are, the things we need to improve upon, and
the things we can count on, you know. So I'm
looking forward to that again this week.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
When you look at this Falcons team made the quarterbacks,
which just a couple of weeks to go. Here, we
got the rookie Michael Pennis Junior in there, just the
two games to go on. But I assume that you
probably did a lot of homework with him when it
was back draft time of hero go. So what do
you see out of him and does he change their
offense at all or is it pretty much the same
things that they've been doing.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
The system is the same. Zach Robinson has done a
great job in his first year as a coordinator of
creating a balanced attack, you know, utilizing their two really
good running backs, you know and b John Robinson and
Tyler Algier. You know, they're they're able to you know,
keep balance. Their offensive line plays really well. You know,
(11:36):
they got a couple of other weapons outside as well.
But so Michael Pennix comes into a really great situation
where it's.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
Not all on him.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
He just has to do his one part. And the
thing that I saw from him and the evaluation process
was his ability to distribute the ball, play point guard
and just do your part and deliver it to you know,
he had Roma Doonzy, and he had Jama McMillan and
and Jim Polk last year, you know, as some of
the guys in Dylan Johnson who we had here as
(12:06):
one of his running backs. So he was able to
distribute the ball really well, and he's off to a
good start in terms of finding completions, you know, and
delivering some pretty you know, solid accurate throws, especially out
in the way to the sidelines, because he's he's got
to get strong on all right.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Well, coach, we always appreciate your time. Panther Nation always
enjoys the bragging rights that come with beating the Falcon.
So best of luck in Atlanta coming up this Sunday
and looking to end the season on a high note.
But we appreciate your time, all right, thank you, all right,
Coach Dave Canalis. There Panther Talks brought to you by
Bosh Power Tools and Sharing. When we come back, we'll
talk a little bit more about what happened down in
(12:43):
Tampa's You were out there in the rain, got it.
You got that unique advantage point that the guys in
the booth. Then get the hef and we'll look ahead
to what's coming up with the Atlanta game coming up
a little bit later on former Panther Leonard Wheeler, my
conversation with him as part of our thirty year celebration
of the team, thirtieth season celebration of this team, and
Sin Mohammad as well as he talks about his favorite
game as a Carolina Panther.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
Jordan Gross, the all time great.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Left tackle and our broadcast partner, will be joining us
here him every week on the podcast with Jake. We'll
be talking live with a Jordan Gross a litt bit
later in the program here on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
This is Panther Talk. Please end him by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
All right, Jim Zochi along with Sharon thor Island Tonight,
Niche and Eugene. We'll be back coming up next week
for what will be the final edition of Panther Talk
after the final game coming up on Sunday, which is
at Atlanta Tampa Bay. Yesterday, we kind of want to,
you know, spent a ton of time talking about it.
But forty eight to fourteen, Sharon and you were there
on the sidelines. You battled weather, there was humidity, there
(13:47):
was rain at times and a duck. So it sounds
like you had a day at the zoo. You had
quite the day out there.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
It was.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
That was the craziest thing I've ever said, I must admit,
you know, you don't often see wildlife on the football field,
but out of the blue came this really pretty brown
duck just literally sailing in over the side of the stadium,
just flew in and just landed and just settled in
right there on about the twenty one yard line and
just sat there. And that thing was not budging for
(14:13):
lover money. And the Panthers were getting ready to punt.
The Tampa Bay I was like sitting right next to
the duck and was going to I don't know if
what the duck was going to do. Maybe he was
going to try to return the punt ended up being
the blocked punt, of course, and then they ran it
in for touchdown. Tampa Bay has that obnoxiously annoying loud
pirate ship, and they set off the cannon, as you know,
without any fear warning whatsoever, except you do know when
(14:35):
they scored they're going to set it off, and so
that thing's like pow pow, pow pow, so loud that
duck did not Budge couldn't believe it, so it was
it was crazy. They finally had to usher the duck off.
Took a few tries, but they they rescued the duck
and got it out of there before it got run
over on the field. But that was a lot of
fun to have the duck, and the wet weather sort
of made it proper to have a duck out there
on the field.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I feel like that should have been like twelve men
on the field though in that block punt. In fact,
why did they not move until after the block point?
I feel like that was a distraction.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
It was a distraction. I wonder sometimes if that was
the distraction there. But yeah, the rain, thankfully was not
too bad. It was, as you know, in Tampa, it's
humid as all get out, and we had very ominous
storm clouds for most of the game. But then it
didn't actually dumb brain too bad. It wasn't near as
bad as last year when we had the monsoon down there.
So it rained a little bit, but the field was
(15:24):
slick though. Guys were slipping right and left even before
the rain came. So but yeah, it was not the
prettiest of games most unfortunately, And there were some highlights.
There were some great things to talk about, like especially
the Adam Feelen and Brace Young connection. They've just got
something going so great, and those two touchdowns were just
awesome that he had. So there were some highlights like that,
But you know they had they were down so many guys,
(15:46):
so many key guys, particularly on defense. It was just
like playing with one hand tie behind your back.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Well, you get into games like this and you looked
out at the stat sheet at the end and the
guy that was the leading tackler was on the Niners
practice squad about five days earlier.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
No Panther brought back, so it wasn't like he was
brand new year.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
But Chandler Wooton had fourteen tackles, wow, seven solo tackles yesterday.
And some of it is somebody's got to make the
tackles and you don't want your you actually don't want
your defense to be on the field so long that
you would have that many tackles. But they had a
lot more plays than we had during the course of
the game. I know at halftime is like forty four
to twenty two, so ends up seventy four eighty looks
like seventy four forty six, and so you don't want
(16:25):
to have your defense out there for seventy four plays.
So some of that leads to inflated defensive stats, like
way too many tackles of what you want. I still
find that fascinating though, But didn't he wear the green communication.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Dot on top of that two?
Speaker 4 (16:35):
So it just gets here, and that's how depleted at
that position group that the Panthers were for that game.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
You say, just to give an example.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Yeah, because when you look at it, you know, you
lose Shaq Thompson, and then you lose Jersey Jewel, and
then you lose Trevin Wallace when he comes in for
Josey Jewel and Clauden Cherry List and then both of
them go out, and Jersey Jewel then is back, but
then he goes out again, and so it's like, oh
my gosh, who are we down to? Like you said,
you get Chandler Wooden, who thankfully has been here for
several years, so he knew the defense and Pete Hands
and the linebackers coach. I was talking to him before
(17:01):
the game and he said that they did have a
lot of confidence him to wear the green dot because
he had been here, because he was really intelligent and
I'm really smart and knew how to see things on
the field and get guys lined up and stuff like that.
So they were lucky that they were able to get
him back because it was Jacobe Winman, you know, great guy,
great player, He's got some definitely has some ability and
some you know, you think he's gonna be a good
(17:23):
player in this lay, but he's a rookie, you know,
hasn't been here very long, has not had a lot
of reps. So they you know, that was a tough
position to throw anybody out to be the communicator out
there of the defense, much less a guy who just
picked up. But so thankfully it worked out well with
Chandler being available. But yeah, to your point, it's like
you're down to the fifth and sixth string guys at
one of the most key positions on the football field,
(17:45):
and then you're without your number one cornerback in JC
Horn going against Mike Evans, who we all know the
damage that he can do and does on a regular basis.
So it was tough. And then Shaw Smith Wade also
out yesterday on the defensive side, so it was it
was tough, slenting defensively.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
And Baker Mayfield no slouch.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
This guy now has thirty nine touchdown passes this season
with a game to go, so he's going to be
in the forties. And it's just I know Sam Darnold
as well, but it's like you saw in particular, obviously
Baker in this game yesterday. And he's had some good
seasons in this league, had some good seasons with Cleveland.
He had that great game we went to the Rams
after he left the Panthers. But I mean he has
really found his his stride right now.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Yeah, absolutely, And I think he has a little bit
of a revenge factor every time he plays the Panthers.
He wants to prove everybody wrong.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Oh he wakes up with a chip on his shoulder,
it doesn't matter.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
That makes it even more so than he Yeah, I
mean he's when you have receivers like that too.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Though.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
My gosh, when you got to Mike Evans and you
got i mean, look at Bucky iermyan, who's that rookie
running back the head It's just amazing. He's also great
in the passing game. And they've got so many players
and Kayden wasn't even playing yesterday. Chris Godwin's on IR
so he's just surrounded with a ton of weapons that
are certainly helping his cause. But yeah, he's a good player,
and like I said, he's found a stride even with
a new offensive coordinator from last year of course, with
(19:00):
Dave Canals who was there with him last year. So
he's just been able to carry all that over and
he is playing really, really good right now.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Yeah, it's been kay Dot and I've been playing right
now with the better pass catching tight ends in the league.
All right. Old friend Leonard Wheeler, former Panther defensive back
who lives here and has made this his home for
a long time in the Charlotte area. A conversation with
him coming up, and then we'll check in with Jordan
Gross get him live coming up at about twelve minutes
from now or so. As we continue in this edition
of Panthers Talk. On Panther Talk, I should say on
(19:28):
the Carolina Panthers Radio Network, This.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Safety Leonard Wheeler played eight years in the nfl IS
Final two with the Panthers in the late nineties, but.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
He has continued to make this his home.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Leonard Wheeler is an entrepreneur and author, a corporate consultant,
a public speaker, a fitness trainer.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
Cover a lot of ground with Leonard Wheeler, former Panthers.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Safety Thirty Seasons of Panther Football, a celebration of the players, coaches,
and other key figure who've contributed to the organizational success.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Leonard Wheeler.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I mean, you talk about a guy who has figured
out life in and out of football. You've done it all.
I mentioned it in the Open a moment ago, Leonard.
But from the business world, you're still involved with the
NFL world with what you're doing. We'll talk about that
a little bit as well. You've got a book, you've
been an author. I know you're traveling the globe speaking
and not just about football, but just about helping people
(20:27):
in so many different ways. Where to start with you, Leonard,
what's taking up most of your time these days?
Speaker 9 (20:32):
Well, first of all, I got to start off by
saying thank you to Jim's Oki because you've always been
my hero over the past twenty years, and you.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Do that's a big word hero.
Speaker 9 (20:42):
No, I'm telling you do such a great job of
making sure that the guys get to share the story.
Speaker 8 (20:48):
So, man, I just appreciate you, and I appreciate your friendship.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Well you're too kind. I appreciate you being one of
the ones in this Thirty Seasons podcast. It's been fun
to visit with recently retired players, players that go back decade.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
And I mentioned you were late nineties.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
You finished your career here and like a number of players,
you decided you liked to hear so much you made
it your permanent home. As here we are twenty five
years later, here you still are. What about Charlotte beyond
finishing your playing career here made you want to stay
and raise a family at all?
Speaker 9 (21:17):
You know what, Charlotte was one of those cities that
you always thought about maybe one day settling in. It
was a great opportunity for me playing with the Panthers here,
creating a community, creating a family here, you know, raising
your kids here, and then all of a sudden understanding
(21:38):
that there's some business relationships.
Speaker 8 (21:40):
That are more sustainable.
Speaker 9 (21:42):
And so that's one thing that really kept me tied
to the community was that we were able to build
real community because even though it's a decent sized city,
it's small enough the where you can build relationships that
are sustainable moving forward.
Speaker 5 (21:59):
Oh yeah, great play.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Like I said, we've so many former players, coaches, whoever
have stayed here and it made this.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Home a long term and you're one.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Of those obviously well, and you do so many different
things that you travel about and do. But one of
the interesting things too, is that you're really helpful with
players as they come in and out of the NFL.
Tell us about that, about being the executive director for
something that really helps players transition in and out of
the NFL.
Speaker 9 (22:23):
Understanding that place of transition, Jim, has been something that
has been purposeful for me. You know, Chad Pennington and
I we're co executive directors within the Legends Community NFL
legenis community in NFL office and we started that over
eleven years ago, and it really started with the premise
(22:44):
of the commissioner saying, you know, you are all legends,
and even though you might not be a legend in
the NFL, you're a legend in your hometown.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
You're a legend in the place where you play college.
Speaker 9 (22:56):
Ball, and you are always be a legend because when
you think about less than one percent playing in the NFL.
And this is an interesting stat GYM. And I don't
know if a lot of people know this, but in
one hundred and three years, only a little bit over
twenty seven thousand players have ever played this game, and
(23:16):
only fourteen thousand have played two plus years.
Speaker 8 (23:19):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (23:20):
So when you think about the legends and you think
about being involved, it only feeds into itself to say, man,
I want to stay connected to this community because it
means so much to me.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
Quick side note, I talking about your players and how
few have played in the history of the league. And
this is not a knock as just to added layer
about Bill Belichick going to UNC and wanting to run
a pro style program, which fits today's model a little
bit in college football to a large degree there, but now,
not every kid is coming out of high school's going
to end up in the NFL. The percentage, as well know,
is so little. So I'll be interested to see how
(23:55):
that works up in Chapel Hill with him creating essentially
with a GM and a professional NFL type program model,
how that will work at the college level because ninety
whatever percent will play their final football in college and
never get to the pros.
Speaker 9 (24:10):
And you know what, and that's that's that's a great point,
and I think Bill will be able to really share
those sentiments with some of those younger guys him, you know,
coming from where he came from with the Patriots, having
the success, but also having the tie in with the
people that can continue to help share his story. I
(24:32):
think he's going there as a dad, as a grandfather
kind of figure to where you know, he's probably saying
to himself, what can I continue to give back to
some of these younger players so that I can help
share with them how this journey really works, right, Because
I mean, what better voice is there to.
Speaker 8 (24:52):
Have than a Bill Belichick in your child's ear.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
He's seen it all, no doubt, decades of experience. I
love the stories he tells about it, his.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Dad being at the Navy, and of course for a
period of time at North Carolina, growing up in the
college football world, so.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
He gets it all.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
I just, you know, I just don't want everyone, you know,
coming every seventeen year old thing and they're gonna play
for the Patriots one day, because we know it's a
small number there.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
That's exactly because you know, we're gonna come in with
some high expectations, and so will the parents who are
sending their kids to play for him.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
As you said, every kid was a hometown hero and
hopefully for many it'll continue on the broader scale too,
fur of them if that's what they want. And I
knew you were drafted out of Troy third round pick
by the Bengals, but I didn't know all the chains
that you went through together. You were at Old Miss,
which I didn't know, But the one that stuck out
to me is you started at Lee's McCrae up in
(25:42):
Banner Elk, North Carolina. And then I asked you about
before we came on the air, and you said, you're
still involved with Lees McCray, so tell me about that relationship.
Speaker 8 (25:50):
So I'm on a boat of trustee.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
But you know, this is a funny story because I
was not highly recruited out.
Speaker 8 (25:56):
Of high school.
Speaker 9 (25:57):
My high school coach came to my school when I
was a senior and he asked me what do I
want to do and I said, I want to play
in the NFL.
Speaker 8 (26:05):
He said, well, in order to do that, you have
to go to college. You have to play football. And
you know, me not being highly recruited.
Speaker 9 (26:12):
The first visit that I've ever taken and The only
visit was to Leise McCray College, and he said, I
know this college is Leise McCrae. He rented a van,
he picked up my cousin and I Sebastian who was
about three hundred pounds offensive lineman, and he took us.
Speaker 8 (26:30):
To Lose McCrae.
Speaker 9 (26:32):
We had a great visit, met some of the friends
who I'm great friends with even to this day. My roommates,
I'm amazing friends with them to this day.
Speaker 8 (26:40):
Went up there and played two years.
Speaker 9 (26:43):
Was blessed to be in the Hall of Fame there
and here I am. I mean, and that was the
best decision, one of the best decisions I've ever made
in my life.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Subscribed to thirty seasons of pan Through Football on the
iHeartRadio app, through dot com and team Apples, Apple Podcast
or Spotify.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
This is Panther Talk. She's send him by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
All right, Niche and Eugene not here tonight, Jim Zochie
along with Sharon Thorsland and the schedule down to the
final game coming up this weekend in Atlanta. And so Sharon,
we were thinking the team's four and twelve. Who's a
really good player that would come on and talk with us.
That's a good sport, and that would be Jordan Gross
(27:36):
volunteering tonight and we always love to talk with Jordan's
so much fun. Jordan, thanks for joining us and hope
things are well where you are.
Speaker 10 (27:45):
Yeah, I'm glad to talk to you guys anytime. I
don't mind being the four and twelve guys.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
We want to call you like we want to call them.
We're twelve and four though one time.
Speaker 8 (27:55):
Now there's better people to call me in now.
Speaker 11 (27:57):
I had to be efficient because I'm with my family
snowskiing and I literally pulled up to my truck here
at the ski hill at four twenty five and I'm like, all.
Speaker 10 (28:08):
Right, I got everybody gets serious. I gotta get on
the air.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I don't know how we got you then, and I
can't believe you're doing this.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
We'll keep you out because DL best in the business,
you know, the producer.
Speaker 10 (28:17):
He scheduled me out last week. I said that will
work out good.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
All right, all right, we'll get you back on the
slope store just a minute. But we appreciate you doing that.
Speaker 5 (28:24):
Year it's closed don't worry. They're closed for the day. Okay, Okay,
you're done. Okay, so you're into hot chocolate now, all right? Cool?
Speaker 8 (28:30):
Hey, exactly, we're.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Talking about number of things.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
We'll talk about the current edition of this Panthers team,
but in the news and in the headlines, three former
Panthers among the fifteen finalists for the Pro Football Hall
of Fame.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Of course, it's Luke Keigley, Steve Smith.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
I think most people know the career of Jared Allen,
but he spent his last year as a Carolina Panther.
And you know all three of them, But what are
your thoughts on the opportunity of those three players have
and hopefully at some juncture in time, all three but
to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Speaker 10 (28:57):
For them, Jared Allen, he'll be the greatest sixty nine
in Panthers history.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
He gets in. Right there we go? Now, how cool?
Speaker 7 (29:07):
You know?
Speaker 10 (29:07):
I didn't get to make it out last year for
pep just didn't work out with my high school training
camp season, and I sure miss being there for that.
But I mean, I gotta think that I need to
book a room for this ceremony. One of those guys
has got to go in. Obviously, Steve and Luke are
remembered as Panthers. I talked to Luke yesterday and by chance,
(29:32):
and we were talking about, Hey, congrats, you know, and thanks.
It's really cool and he's a humble guy, but he knows,
I mean, he's gonna get in, if not this year,
next maybe three two years from now at the most.
But he said it best, he said, I just really
hope Steve gets in, Like this is this has got
to be Steve's year. Steve's deserved it for the past
(29:53):
number of years. But next year you got Larry Fitzgerald
coming out, who would I would think would have to
be a first ballot guy. And Luke's perfectly happy to
step aside and have this be Steve's year. Very unlikely
I would think it would be both of them. But
just excited for him, Excited for Steve.
Speaker 8 (30:10):
And his family.
Speaker 10 (30:11):
I think we all knew it was come with Luke,
but it's a big deal. It's neat for the Panthers.
I'm excited, man, I feel I feel pretty excited that
I got two buddies, three three buddies, but two of
them that I played with that are that are going
to get in there soon, So I'm loving it.
Speaker 6 (30:26):
How cool is it too? I mean, you played with
Smitty back in college. I mean, did you ever think
when you were playing with him in college that he
would one.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
Day be in the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 2 (30:35):
No?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
I not in college.
Speaker 10 (30:37):
And I don't mean that I didn't think he was good,
but I didn't even know what of Hall of Fame
player looked like. And it's funny when you're playing with
these guys. You know Steve and I, like you said, Sharon,
we played thirteen seasons together, including college and pros combined,
And when you're in it with somebody, you don't they
haven't reached those milestones yet, or they haven't they haven't
(30:58):
accumulated the career or yet, because maybe when I got
to Carolina, Steve was only in his third year. Is
just kind of coming on and in the moment you
don't maybe realize that it's a Hall of Fame player
until you step back and realize, Holy cow man, that
guy just was different.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
And he.
Speaker 10 (31:14):
Gave Speaking about Steve, he gave defense his fits, he
gave corners fits, he took over games, and he did
it has been well noted with a large variety of quarterbacks.
Speaker 5 (31:25):
Thrown in the ball, so Steve's one of those guys.
Speaker 10 (31:28):
But the best thing I say about Steve people usually
asked me about playing with Julius Peppers and Steve Smith,
those two guys, and out of all the guys I
played with, that's who they want to know about.
Speaker 8 (31:37):
And so very happy for Steve.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
That's a great company. What are your what's your optimism
level about what we're seeing? You know, yesterday was what
it was, was depleted roster, but in general, the kind
of the direction of Bryce and the team overall heading
into this offseat, and because they've definitely played their best
football in the second half.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Of the season.
Speaker 10 (31:57):
They sure have Jim and I'm really happy for the
guys that the season is coming to a close. And
I say that because I know from players just how
long the season is, and it's a dang long season.
When you're winning, we talk about the good times when
we get together as players are talking about our careers.
But you know, I was on the two and fourteen
(32:18):
team and I could not wait for that dang season
to get over. Man, it was just painful to have
put that much effort into something and not get the
results that you're looking for. So that being said, huge
difference from that team, the two and fourteen team to
what I'm seeing now, And you said it. Since Bryce
has come back from getting the time to kind of
(32:39):
sit and watch Andy and take catch his breath, He's
just done a great job.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Man.
Speaker 10 (32:46):
He looks composed, he's throwing great, great balls. Steelen's back
on the field and from him being heard and those
guys have got a great relationship going.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
The O line I think is a really.
Speaker 10 (32:58):
Bright spot moving in the off and that I haven't
had any chance to really get to know coach Allice,
but what I can tell you from watching the team
all season long is that the guys believe in him
and the locker room is drinking drinking the potion because
the messaging coming out of that locker room after games
and during the week. I don't hear finger pointing, man,
(33:21):
I don't hear woe with me. I hear Hey, we
believe in this team, we believe in the coach, We
like the group that we have, and I really do
think that it's an exciting off season. Yesterday wasn't a
great result, but there's so many injuries. I mean, you
you two talked about it at length. It's just there's good,
(33:42):
good things that I'm seeing that's making me believe we're
on the right track.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
When you look at specifically the play of the line,
obviously that's your your expertise. So they brought in a
couple of pieces this off season, and it seems like
they've really solidified that group in spite of having some
injuries and some guys in and out and there, the
play is just free. It's so much better than it
has been in years past.
Speaker 10 (34:05):
Yeah, yesterday seeing Taylor not out there is just so weird.
He's been a fixture on that right side. Yeah, A
ton of respect for that guy. A non starter that
I just am very impressed with Brady Christiansen, who's you know,
had had kind of an up and down career to
you know, was a tackle, then was a guard and
(34:26):
I'm the center and whatever and not this week but
last with k may is getting getting sick before right
before the game, so then go in and play center
and do an excellent job. There's just great versatility with him.
Speaker 8 (34:39):
I'm a fan of Achy.
Speaker 10 (34:40):
I think that I I know that playing left tackle
is the hardest position and that they pay those guys
a lot of money for a reason, and he, to
me just continues to work and do a nice job.
And I've celebrated Robert Hunt numerous times, uh in my
on the podcast with Jake, just how impressed I am
with him and what a great acquisition he.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Was and all of that.
Speaker 10 (35:03):
So if you got a good old line that you
can count on, you've got Cuba. You know who's on
ir now. But he's gonna just be a heck of
a back for us next year. And Bryce finishing this
season on a high note. They're gonna have an off
seat now to work together. Look at film with the coach,
Canalis and Brad and everybody. I think, I like what
(35:23):
I'm seeing, and just getting Derek Brown back is gonna
just do wonders for the team. Who's obviously somebody that
we were counting on this year. We didn't get to
see it all.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yeah, your old teammate Dan Morgan doing a good job
with that staff up. They're putting some talent on the
field here. But Jordan, great to talk with you. We'll
let you get back to whatever happens after skiing, get
out of the ski boots.
Speaker 10 (35:41):
Or whatever ski after Okay, right now. It's me and
my kids and my niece, and it's probably involves a snack.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
That's a good plan. Good to hear your voice. Have
a happy new Year. We'll catch up next year. That gay,
We'll see us soon, all right, Jordan Gross.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Right there, We've got to hear from another great Panther
from that era, Mussin Mohammed on Panther Tails. Some of
that coming up next on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yes is Panther Talk. She's hiding by bush power to us.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
It was cold and it was close to midnight and
somebody set off the fire line. We all had to
run out in our pajamas and go stand outside until
the fire department came. And we knew like some Eagle
fan was trying to play a joke on us, so
we were pretty upset about it by the time we
got to the field the next day.
Speaker 5 (36:34):
He's a Mohammed, a man up.
Speaker 4 (36:36):
They got it stuck down, Get down.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
What a great detain Mohamed.
Speaker 7 (36:46):
It's an amazing feeling, you know, It's an amazing feeling
when the whole world knows you're gonna lose. Except for
the fifty three guys that walk out on that field
and actually have to play the game.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
You know everybody's Philly's supposed to win. Third times a charm.
Speaker 7 (37:04):
You know this team coming from the South don't play
good in the cold weather.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
All that moves killed there he stum all on three three.
Speaker 7 (37:15):
I remember our defense playing lights out.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
And just does he let go of but he was hitting.
Speaker 7 (37:23):
I remember Ricky Manning Junior having an amazing game, three
interceptions mcnabn.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Here comes a flex.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
My cousin floats it down the.
Speaker 8 (37:30):
Field Manning, then he pick it off. Me Dad, not
what looks it's a slam.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Manic picks that off and the Panther defense.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
With another that cold now when he had.
Speaker 8 (37:44):
Time down the middle of the field goals.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
It's better than the ms picked up by Ricky Mannick
Ricky Manning with three interceptions today.
Speaker 7 (37:52):
I remember running back to Sean Foss still getting a
touch by almost every single player on the defense before
he scored a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Fitch the foster trying to turn the fireside, gets over Hoover,
bounce us off a tackle, still keeps the legs.
Speaker 8 (38:05):
Turning and tis towards the endo touchdown.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
Oh my goodness to shine Foster on a play that
took a minute and a half.
Speaker 8 (38:14):
I was able to get into the end.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Zone as he kept stretching it outside, bouncing off tacklers.
Speaker 7 (38:20):
And I remember catching a big play and you know,
taking the knee and listening to that crowd just come
to a complete silence.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Back to throw looks, looks, nobody opened.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
He's a tap field for Muhammad and the ends up.
He got touchdown, bought a great catch by my sin
Muhammad and talone got parted us.
Speaker 7 (38:41):
To let him go.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
He caught the tick down.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
He did his little moves.
Speaker 7 (38:45):
Dan he gallon kne and he had dished to the
lead and it was quiet the rift of the game.
You can hear it a needle drop on the ground,
and I gave him, Yes, Charlotte, there is a Super
Bowl and we're in it.
Speaker 8 (39:00):
Everybody in organization.
Speaker 7 (39:08):
I just remember going into a hostile territory team led
by Andy Reid and Donoin McNabb that were destined to
go to the Super Bowl, and we upset them in
a big way. It's a great game.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
The improbable season for the Carolina Panthers continues. We're going
to Houston for the Championship of the National Football League.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
This is panthera talk presented by Bosh Power Tools.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
This is Panther talk presented by Bosh Power Tools.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
All I wanted to go in this regular season for
the Panthers and interesting turn of events. Oh, how the
turntables in the NFC South yesterday with tap Bay winning them.
Last night Washington in overtime beating Atlanta. So now the
Falcons in chase mode. They had it to themselves because
they had the eyebreaker and couldn't hold on to it.
And so now if if Tampa Bay wins, I mean
(40:05):
they're the team, right So it's like it's gonna how
many years as Tampa Bay won this division? Now three
years in four years? Used to be a different one
every year, And doesn't matter what variety of Tampa Bay
coaches and players are out there, that they've been on
a roll right now. But I don't like either of them,
so I don't really care which one wins. But Atlanta's
as a coach, Canal said earlier in the show's share
(40:26):
and two great running backs. Obviously, the young quarterback is
interesting but seems to give him a little bit of
a spark.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
But we'll see one more time. I'm sure the Panthers
would love to get that win.
Speaker 8 (40:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (40:35):
Another potent offense too, just like Tampa Bay. I mean
they're they've they're throwing the football, they're running and they
actually throw more than they than they run. And they've got,
of course Drake London, a couple of really good receivers.
Kyle Pitts to it that that that I thought was
gonna be the game when he touched, so it did
not work out. But you know, they they've got a
lot of talent. And Michael Pennix is he's not been
doing bad. I mean he's only been in there for
two games, but he's thrown for a lot of yards,
(40:57):
two interceptions, the one touchdown. But it's going to be
a challenge for this Panthers defense to try to keep
up with them. And then on the other side of
the ball game, I mean the Falcons defenses it's pretty
good too. They don't get after the quarterback very much though,
so somehow for Brice yep, yep, yep, that would be good.
Speaker 5 (41:15):
So we will see.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
Hey, we got the tackling machine Chandler Wooten, so fourteen
tackles yesterday, so it's funny I was. We saw the
same thing with women. We talked about him. These guys
sometimes they just need an opportunity and you'll have your
star players out there. But it's fun to see guys succeed,
especially him coming in last minute like that and being
able to play so well.
Speaker 5 (41:33):
But it's fun doing the show with you tonight. See
you in the new year, because after Wednesday it's a
new year. It's a new year. Happy new year.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Earlier the Panthers do coming up this weekend. Thanks for
joining us here on Panther Talk.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
This talk presented by Bosh power Tools on the Carolina
Panthers Radio Network, Brought to you by Atrium Health because
you deserve to live your best life and we're here
to help. Bank of America Official Bank of the Carolina
Panthers Coke tackled game day with a great taste of
(42:04):
Coke zero Sugar. Is it the best coke ever? Try?
And this Pantherton Panther Tall, Panther Tall. This is the
Carolina Panthers Radio Network
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
in the National.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Football League Panther Talk and They'tell and They're toll. This
is Panther Talk presented by Bosh Power Tools on the
Carolina Panthers Radio network.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
We got one more opt to finish our way, to
finish our style of football. So let's get back to that.
Let's attack it this week. Everybody for each other. And
you know, the guys had a great look in their eyes,
and I know that they want to have this opportunity
to be able to finish our on our terms.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
And now, along with Sharon Thuysland, here's Jim Zilky with
Panther Talk live from the Panthers broadcast facility at Bank
of America Studio, and welcome on board.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
We've got the head coach, Dave Canal is going to
join us here in just a few seconds, but just
to fill you in a niche actually has. I was
talking to him this morning, four games before he does
his next Panther game. So he's all over the place
with games and college basketball, so he is. He's on
a working trip right now and then Eugene with some
family stuff that he's dealing with with the folks. So
(01:10):
glad to be here with you, Sharon, looking forward to
this and we've got one more game to go. As
you heard in the open there as coach Dave Canalis
joined us here off the top, and to coach it,
it's funny before we get into the game and looking
forward to next week. How it's it's like the school year, right,
It's like it feels like it's like this long thing
in front of you and next thing you look up
and it's senior day and it's it's the end of
the season all the way here right now?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Has it?
Speaker 4 (01:31):
I know it's been a lot of work and a
lot of long hours, but in general, is it is
it flown by in terms of just the football part
of it?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean, you know, the season in so many ways,
it's felt both ways. You know, it's felt like it's
flown by, and it's also felt very long. My first year,
lots of new, lots of brand new experiences, you know,
for all of us, and I'm so grateful to have,
you know, great guys around me that have been doing
this for a while, so you know, and then this
(01:59):
time year always kind of hits me you know, as
as we start to wind the season down, whether you're
in the playoffs, not in the playoffs this year, like
we not having a chance, you know, to win the
division or make a wild card. But it just kind
of hits me how much time we spend together, the staff,
the players, and just knowing that you know, with every
(02:19):
you know, changing year, the roster changes, you know, people
that you know, we come to see what we get
used to seeing every day and doing work with, you know,
and I just kind of it hits me emotionally, and
so I want to, like, you know, cherish every day,
cherish every moment, all the things in between that happen.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Now it's a great outlook that you have on that.
And now that you've done it for a full season
with one more game to go, I would expect that
for you next year, like a lot of these things,
having done it once, like okay, and you will probably
free up your mind. I would think in a lot
of areas where things are a little bit more second nature,
that you can maybe focused a little more hyper focused
on some other things now that you've done the routine
(02:55):
and some of the day to day stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Now, yeah, absolutely, you know, there's still this is like,
you know, having the focus and discipline as a group,
you know, to see the thing through and to finish,
to finish all the way to the to the final
second on the scoreboard of this next game against the Falcons,
and to be able to do that and and so
that we can all be present here and really just
(03:18):
take advantage. These games are so important for all of us,
for the coaching staff, for the players, all the guys
that get an opportunity to go out there one more
time to improve their game, to chase becoming as good
as they can become, you know, for this season. And
so that's still out there for us.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
Coach, you were talking about that with the starter is
now going to play on Sunday, everybody who who is available,
Why is that so important for you to keep those
guys out there for another game? And some people don't
do that, but it sounds like it's very important for
you to get them out there to have, like you said,
that one last opportunity to finish and to do it
the right way.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
It's the competitive culture that we want to have around
here that every single one of these games we take
with the utmost respect. They're all championship opportunities in my mind,
because they prepare you for something. They prepare you to
be a professional about how you go about your process
through the week, regardless of the situation, whether it's preseason one,
or it's the last game of the season, or you're
(04:14):
playing in the championship game.
Speaker 7 (04:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And I've been a part of all these and it
takes a discipline to condition your mind to go there
every single time. And I want to really respect that
for this staff that's working tiresly, tirelessly, for everyone in
this building that's pouring into these men that get to
go out there and play this game, and for those
guys that are going out to have the opportunity to
put their best foot forward. You know, it's like these
(04:38):
games are so critical, you know, this is like the
last thing. This is the first thing that we evaluate
as we go into the offseason. It's this last game.
Who was out there, how did they do? And so
I just I want to honor that opportunity, you know,
to take advantage and to grow processes.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Yeah, the similar environment coming up at Atlanta to what
you had in Tampa with them now flip flopping in
the division and they'll both be fighting for that last
playoff opportunity that they have there for you and as
you guys try to make these building blocks to be
that team next year. Just passing on with people ask
us about it. They're just about certain players as always,
Bryce Young and some others. A lot of talk about
(05:13):
xavierly Get and what he's seeing about him being the
first round pick and as he wraps up his first
season in the NFL, what you've seen with his year
with having to deal with some injuries, some great moments,
some workable moments as well, But it's kind of an
overall evaluation to this point of what you've seen from x.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, it's so important, right all these opportunities he's had
to go out there and play football in different situations,
and you know, in games where it's gotten out of
hand for us, you know, but to be able to
be out there, to hear the call, to see the
different coverages, to see how, you know, different defenders play him,
to see what parts of his game that he can
continue to pour in upon. But I'm really proud of
(05:54):
the guy battling through things, maintaining that focus. It's so
challenging for rookie, you know, you talk about like almost
doubling their season, you know, in terms of the amount
of games from preseason to now, all those things, you know,
and I'm just so proud of the way that he's
been steadfast, the way that he's found a way to
get himself out there except for this past you know,
the two games ago, to be able to work on
(06:16):
his craft.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
When you look at some of the other rookies, you've
had some I would think, some some pretty pleasant surprises.
The guys have played so on, have had so many
opportunities to get in there early on in this season,
and guys like Jalen Cocher, Trevin Wallace, even though he's
on IR right now. When you look back at your
rookie class as a whole, including the undrafted guys, how
pleased are you with with the way that they've been
(06:39):
able to progress so far this season.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I'm very pleased. And I first and foremost have to
give a shout out to the coaches that spend so
much time with these guys, you know, Rob Moore with
with Jalen, with Xavier Loguette, you talk about Pete Hansen,
you know, with Trevin Wallace, Bert Watts, you know, spending
all the time with Demani Richardson to keep him involved
and focused on what he's doing. You know, Todd Wash
getting Jaden Crummedy out there, you know, to play for
(07:04):
us and to start contributing later on in the season,
you know. And so you know, uh, Pat McPherson with
Datavian Sanders in the way that these guys were able
to contribute in different ways and you know, and try
to find some level of consistency and the performance. But
it's just the time and effort that goes into it,
and for these guys to be willing to take the
coaching to grow every week. You know, it's it's been
(07:26):
really fun to watch.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
You've coached some really terrific receivers through the years, and
of course last year Mike Evans in Tampa. But Adam Thielen,
I mean, here's a guy that had a significant injury
for a big chunk of the season. Five catches, one
hundred and ten yards, two touchdowns yesterday, and he's beating
the defense.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
I mean, he's getting downfield. He's not just running short routes.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
As you watch, what are those traits and the work
habits and the things that go into somebody like Adam
feeling to be so accomplished at this late stage of
his NFL career.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, people try to put him in a box. You know,
he just he made us. He made sure that we
all knew. He came off the sideline. He was like,
I could take it deep, dude.
Speaker 8 (08:01):
You know, he was all fired up about it, and
we were.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
It really was a great moment. But I think it
just speaks to the competitiveness of Adam. I think it
speaks to his just his preparation and professionalism, the way
that he goes about his week, the way that every
play is important. Like he there is not a single
play where he's like, ah, you know what, I'm just
gonna save myself and take this one off. He attacks
(08:25):
every single one, especially when there's a pass called. He's like,
this could be the big one, this could be a
special play. And he really respects every moment that way.
That's the focus that it takes to be great, you know,
and that's what's hopefully can be. You know, A contagious
part of the culture we're building here is that every play,
(08:45):
every drive, every quarter, half in game is so important
and you never get him back. They don't you don't
get to there's no doovers. You get new opportunities, but
you never get those back. And I love the way
he lives that way. I love the way he hesit
and he goes for it.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
You know.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And I mentioned, you know, Mike Evans, and he's on
the cusp of maybe an eleventh consecutive thousand yard season,
just needs to have one more solid game for them
to get that. But when you were down there, and
of course you had the game with Tampa Bay here
going down there, as you had just the moments you
had to being in the building again, you probably remembered
more people than you thought you would remember as far
as just being the staff and just people that work
(09:24):
down there. Being so fresh, being just a year off
of that. But what was that like being back in
that environment again and just having those couple of moments
to see people that you worked side by side by?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
It was great gratitude, you know, is the word that
I could kind of sum it up. And in our profession,
we spend so much time together. We spend seven days
a week for six months together, outside of a few
days in a bye week or something like that, we
are together and you're working towards a common goal, you know,
and that's the thing that really creates the culture and
(09:56):
that family like environment wherever you're at. And so to
be able to see the a lot of the people
around even on the you know, game day cruises, I
would go and work out before the games and say
a lot of security guards and different people, and you know,
it was it was really special, really grateful for for
Jason Light, you know, for Todd Wash and for the
Glazers to give you that opportunity, and then to go
(10:17):
down there as a panther to go down there with
our group, you know. And I know the game didn't
come out the way that that we wanted it to,
but I was excited about going down there to play
against the teams playing for everything, you know, and to
to really face that challenge, you know. And we got
another opportunity this week against the Falcons, to face another
(10:37):
team who's playing for everything for their season, you know,
and and it's going to call upon our best. They're
going to give us their absolute best shot. And those
are the moments that we learned the most about who
we are, the things we need to improve upon, and
the things we can count on, you know. So I'm
looking forward to that again this week.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
When you look at this Falcons team made the quarterbacks,
which just a couple of weeks to go. Here, we
got the rookie Michael Pennis Junior in there, just the
two games to go on. But I assume that you
probably did a lot of homework with him when it
was back draft time of hero go. So what do
you see out of him and does he change their
offense at all or is it pretty much the same
things that they've been doing.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
The system is the same. Zach Robinson has done a
great job in his first year as a coordinator of
creating a balanced attack, you know, utilizing their two really
good running backs, you know and b John Robinson and
Tyler Algier. You know, they're they're able to you know,
keep balance. Their offensive line plays really well. You know,
(11:36):
they got a couple of other weapons outside as well.
But so Michael Pennix comes into a really great situation
where it's.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
Not all on him.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
He just has to do his one part. And the
thing that I saw from him and the evaluation process
was his ability to distribute the ball, play point guard
and just do your part and deliver it to you know,
he had Roma Doonzy, and he had Jama McMillan and
and Jim Polk last year, you know, as some of
the guys in Dylan Johnson who we had here as
(12:06):
one of his running backs. So he was able to
distribute the ball really well, and he's off to a
good start in terms of finding completions, you know, and
delivering some pretty you know, solid accurate throws, especially out
in the way to the sidelines, because he's he's got
to get strong on all right.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Well, coach, we always appreciate your time. Panther Nation always
enjoys the bragging rights that come with beating the Falcon.
So best of luck in Atlanta coming up this Sunday
and looking to end the season on a high note.
But we appreciate your time, all right, thank you, all right,
Coach Dave Canalis. There Panther Talks brought to you by
Bosh Power Tools and Sharing. When we come back, we'll
talk a little bit more about what happened down in
(12:43):
Tampa's You were out there in the rain, got it.
You got that unique advantage point that the guys in
the booth. Then get the hef and we'll look ahead
to what's coming up with the Atlanta game coming up
a little bit later on former Panther Leonard Wheeler, my
conversation with him as part of our thirty year celebration
of the team, thirtieth season celebration of this team, and
Sin Mohammad as well as he talks about his favorite
game as a Carolina Panther.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
Jordan Gross, the all time great.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Left tackle and our broadcast partner, will be joining us
here him every week on the podcast with Jake. We'll
be talking live with a Jordan Gross a litt bit
later in the program here on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
This is Panther Talk. Please end him by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
All right, Jim Zochi along with Sharon thor Island Tonight,
Niche and Eugene. We'll be back coming up next week
for what will be the final edition of Panther Talk
after the final game coming up on Sunday, which is
at Atlanta Tampa Bay. Yesterday, we kind of want to,
you know, spent a ton of time talking about it.
But forty eight to fourteen, Sharon and you were there
on the sidelines. You battled weather, there was humidity, there
(13:47):
was rain at times and a duck. So it sounds
like you had a day at the zoo. You had
quite the day out there.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
It was.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
That was the craziest thing I've ever said, I must admit,
you know, you don't often see wildlife on the football field,
but out of the blue came this really pretty brown
duck just literally sailing in over the side of the stadium,
just flew in and just landed and just settled in
right there on about the twenty one yard line and
just sat there. And that thing was not budging for
(14:13):
lover money. And the Panthers were getting ready to punt.
The Tampa Bay I was like sitting right next to
the duck and was going to I don't know if
what the duck was going to do. Maybe he was
going to try to return the punt ended up being
the blocked punt, of course, and then they ran it
in for touchdown. Tampa Bay has that obnoxiously annoying loud
pirate ship, and they set off the cannon, as you know,
without any fear warning whatsoever, except you do know when
(14:35):
they scored they're going to set it off, and so
that thing's like pow pow, pow pow, so loud that
duck did not Budge couldn't believe it, so it was
it was crazy. They finally had to usher the duck off.
Took a few tries, but they they rescued the duck
and got it out of there before it got run
over on the field. But that was a lot of
fun to have the duck, and the wet weather sort
of made it proper to have a duck out there
on the field.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
I feel like that should have been like twelve men
on the field though in that block punt. In fact,
why did they not move until after the block point?
I feel like that was a distraction.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
It was a distraction. I wonder sometimes if that was
the distraction there. But yeah, the rain, thankfully was not
too bad. It was, as you know, in Tampa, it's
humid as all get out, and we had very ominous
storm clouds for most of the game. But then it
didn't actually dumb brain too bad. It wasn't near as
bad as last year when we had the monsoon down there.
So it rained a little bit, but the field was
(15:24):
slick though. Guys were slipping right and left even before
the rain came. So but yeah, it was not the
prettiest of games most unfortunately, And there were some highlights.
There were some great things to talk about, like especially
the Adam Feelen and Brace Young connection. They've just got
something going so great, and those two touchdowns were just
awesome that he had. So there were some highlights like that,
But you know they had they were down so many guys,
(15:46):
so many key guys, particularly on defense. It was just
like playing with one hand tie behind your back.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Well, you get into games like this and you looked
out at the stat sheet at the end and the
guy that was the leading tackler was on the Niners
practice squad about five days earlier.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
No Panther brought back, so it wasn't like he was
brand new year.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
But Chandler Wooton had fourteen tackles, wow, seven solo tackles yesterday.
And some of it is somebody's got to make the
tackles and you don't want your you actually don't want
your defense to be on the field so long that
you would have that many tackles. But they had a
lot more plays than we had during the course of
the game. I know at halftime is like forty four
to twenty two, so ends up seventy four eighty looks
like seventy four forty six, and so you don't want
(16:25):
to have your defense out there for seventy four plays.
So some of that leads to inflated defensive stats, like
way too many tackles of what you want. I still
find that fascinating though, But didn't he wear the green communication.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Dot on top of that two?
Speaker 4 (16:35):
So it just gets here, and that's how depleted at
that position group that the Panthers were for that game.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
You say, just to give an example.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Yeah, because when you look at it, you know, you
lose Shaq Thompson, and then you lose Jersey Jewel, and
then you lose Trevin Wallace when he comes in for
Josey Jewel and Clauden Cherry List and then both of
them go out, and Jersey Jewel then is back, but
then he goes out again, and so it's like, oh
my gosh, who are we down to? Like you said,
you get Chandler Wooden, who thankfully has been here for
several years, so he knew the defense and Pete Hands
and the linebackers coach. I was talking to him before
(17:01):
the game and he said that they did have a
lot of confidence him to wear the green dot because
he had been here, because he was really intelligent and
I'm really smart and knew how to see things on
the field and get guys lined up and stuff like that.
So they were lucky that they were able to get
him back because it was Jacobe Winman, you know, great guy,
great player, He's got some definitely has some ability and
some you know, you think he's gonna be a good
(17:23):
player in this lay, but he's a rookie, you know,
hasn't been here very long, has not had a lot
of reps. So they you know, that was a tough
position to throw anybody out to be the communicator out
there of the defense, much less a guy who just
picked up. But so thankfully it worked out well with
Chandler being available. But yeah, to your point, it's like
you're down to the fifth and sixth string guys at
one of the most key positions on the football field,
(17:45):
and then you're without your number one cornerback in JC
Horn going against Mike Evans, who we all know the
damage that he can do and does on a regular basis.
So it was tough. And then Shaw Smith Wade also
out yesterday on the defensive side, so it was it
was tough, slenting defensively.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
And Baker Mayfield no slouch.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
This guy now has thirty nine touchdown passes this season
with a game to go, so he's going to be
in the forties. And it's just I know Sam Darnold
as well, but it's like you saw in particular, obviously
Baker in this game yesterday. And he's had some good
seasons in this league, had some good seasons with Cleveland.
He had that great game we went to the Rams
after he left the Panthers. But I mean he has
really found his his stride right now.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Yeah, absolutely, And I think he has a little bit
of a revenge factor every time he plays the Panthers.
He wants to prove everybody wrong.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
Oh he wakes up with a chip on his shoulder,
it doesn't matter.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
That makes it even more so than he Yeah, I
mean he's when you have receivers like that too.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Though.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
My gosh, when you got to Mike Evans and you
got i mean, look at Bucky iermyan, who's that rookie
running back the head It's just amazing. He's also great
in the passing game. And they've got so many players
and Kayden wasn't even playing yesterday. Chris Godwin's on IR
so he's just surrounded with a ton of weapons that
are certainly helping his cause. But yeah, he's a good player,
and like I said, he's found a stride even with
a new offensive coordinator from last year of course, with
(19:00):
Dave Canals who was there with him last year. So
he's just been able to carry all that over and
he is playing really, really good right now.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Yeah, it's been kay Dot and I've been playing right
now with the better pass catching tight ends in the league.
All right. Old friend Leonard Wheeler, former Panther defensive back
who lives here and has made this his home for
a long time in the Charlotte area. A conversation with
him coming up, and then we'll check in with Jordan
Gross get him live coming up at about twelve minutes
from now or so. As we continue in this edition
of Panthers Talk. On Panther Talk, I should say on
(19:28):
the Carolina Panthers Radio Network, This.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Safety Leonard Wheeler played eight years in the nfl IS
Final two with the Panthers in the late nineties, but.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
He has continued to make this his home.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Leonard Wheeler is an entrepreneur and author, a corporate consultant,
a public speaker, a fitness trainer.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
Cover a lot of ground with Leonard Wheeler, former Panthers.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Safety Thirty Seasons of Panther Football, a celebration of the players, coaches,
and other key figure who've contributed to the organizational success.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Leonard Wheeler.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I mean, you talk about a guy who has figured
out life in and out of football. You've done it all.
I mentioned it in the Open a moment ago, Leonard.
But from the business world, you're still involved with the
NFL world with what you're doing. We'll talk about that
a little bit as well. You've got a book, you've
been an author. I know you're traveling the globe speaking
and not just about football, but just about helping people
(20:27):
in so many different ways. Where to start with you, Leonard,
what's taking up most of your time these days?
Speaker 9 (20:32):
Well, first of all, I got to start off by
saying thank you to Jim's Oki because you've always been
my hero over the past twenty years, and you.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Do that's a big word hero.
Speaker 9 (20:42):
No, I'm telling you do such a great job of
making sure that the guys get to share the story.
Speaker 8 (20:48):
So, man, I just appreciate you, and I appreciate your friendship.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Well you're too kind. I appreciate you being one of
the ones in this Thirty Seasons podcast. It's been fun
to visit with recently retired players, players that go back decade.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
And I mentioned you were late nineties.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
You finished your career here and like a number of players,
you decided you liked to hear so much you made
it your permanent home. As here we are twenty five
years later, here you still are. What about Charlotte beyond
finishing your playing career here made you want to stay
and raise a family at all?
Speaker 9 (21:17):
You know what, Charlotte was one of those cities that
you always thought about maybe one day settling in. It
was a great opportunity for me playing with the Panthers here,
creating a community, creating a family here, you know, raising
your kids here, and then all of a sudden understanding
(21:38):
that there's some business relationships.
Speaker 8 (21:40):
That are more sustainable.
Speaker 9 (21:42):
And so that's one thing that really kept me tied
to the community was that we were able to build
real community because even though it's a decent sized city,
it's small enough the where you can build relationships that
are sustainable moving forward.
Speaker 5 (21:59):
Oh yeah, great play.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Like I said, we've so many former players, coaches, whoever
have stayed here and it made this.
Speaker 5 (22:04):
Home a long term and you're one.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Of those obviously well, and you do so many different
things that you travel about and do. But one of
the interesting things too, is that you're really helpful with
players as they come in and out of the NFL.
Tell us about that, about being the executive director for
something that really helps players transition in and out of
the NFL.
Speaker 9 (22:23):
Understanding that place of transition, Jim, has been something that
has been purposeful for me. You know, Chad Pennington and
I we're co executive directors within the Legends Community NFL
legenis community in NFL office and we started that over
eleven years ago, and it really started with the premise
(22:44):
of the commissioner saying, you know, you are all legends,
and even though you might not be a legend in
the NFL, you're a legend in your hometown.
Speaker 8 (22:54):
You're a legend in the place where you play college.
Speaker 9 (22:56):
Ball, and you are always be a legend because when
you think about less than one percent playing in the NFL.
And this is an interesting stat GYM. And I don't
know if a lot of people know this, but in
one hundred and three years, only a little bit over
twenty seven thousand players have ever played this game, and
(23:16):
only fourteen thousand have played two plus years.
Speaker 8 (23:19):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (23:20):
So when you think about the legends and you think
about being involved, it only feeds into itself to say, man,
I want to stay connected to this community because it
means so much to me.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
Quick side note, I talking about your players and how
few have played in the history of the league. And
this is not a knock as just to added layer
about Bill Belichick going to UNC and wanting to run
a pro style program, which fits today's model a little
bit in college football to a large degree there, but now,
not every kid is coming out of high school's going
to end up in the NFL. The percentage, as well know,
is so little. So I'll be interested to see how
(23:55):
that works up in Chapel Hill with him creating essentially
with a GM and a professional NFL type program model,
how that will work at the college level because ninety
whatever percent will play their final football in college and
never get to the pros.
Speaker 9 (24:10):
And you know what, and that's that's that's a great point,
and I think Bill will be able to really share
those sentiments with some of those younger guys him, you know,
coming from where he came from with the Patriots, having
the success, but also having the tie in with the
people that can continue to help share his story. I
(24:32):
think he's going there as a dad, as a grandfather
kind of figure to where you know, he's probably saying
to himself, what can I continue to give back to
some of these younger players so that I can help
share with them how this journey really works, right, Because
I mean, what better voice is there to.
Speaker 8 (24:52):
Have than a Bill Belichick in your child's ear.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
He's seen it all, no doubt, decades of experience. I
love the stories he tells about it, his.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Dad being at the Navy, and of course for a
period of time at North Carolina, growing up in the
college football world, so.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
He gets it all.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
I just, you know, I just don't want everyone, you know,
coming every seventeen year old thing and they're gonna play
for the Patriots one day, because we know it's a
small number there.
Speaker 9 (25:14):
That's exactly because you know, we're gonna come in with
some high expectations, and so will the parents who are
sending their kids to play for him.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
As you said, every kid was a hometown hero and
hopefully for many it'll continue on the broader scale too,
fur of them if that's what they want. And I
knew you were drafted out of Troy third round pick
by the Bengals, but I didn't know all the chains
that you went through together. You were at Old Miss,
which I didn't know, But the one that stuck out
to me is you started at Lee's McCrae up in
(25:42):
Banner Elk, North Carolina. And then I asked you about
before we came on the air, and you said, you're
still involved with Lees McCray, so tell me about that relationship.
Speaker 8 (25:50):
So I'm on a boat of trustee.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
But you know, this is a funny story because I
was not highly recruited out.
Speaker 8 (25:56):
Of high school.
Speaker 9 (25:57):
My high school coach came to my school when I
was a senior and he asked me what do I
want to do and I said, I want to play
in the NFL.
Speaker 8 (26:05):
He said, well, in order to do that, you have
to go to college. You have to play football. And
you know, me not being highly recruited.
Speaker 9 (26:12):
The first visit that I've ever taken and The only
visit was to Leise McCray College, and he said, I
know this college is Leise McCrae. He rented a van,
he picked up my cousin and I Sebastian who was
about three hundred pounds offensive lineman, and he took us.
Speaker 8 (26:30):
To Lose McCrae.
Speaker 9 (26:32):
We had a great visit, met some of the friends
who I'm great friends with even to this day. My roommates,
I'm amazing friends with them to this day.
Speaker 8 (26:40):
Went up there and played two years.
Speaker 9 (26:43):
Was blessed to be in the Hall of Fame there
and here I am. I mean, and that was the
best decision, one of the best decisions I've ever made
in my life.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Subscribed to thirty seasons of pan Through Football on the
iHeartRadio app, through dot com and team Apples, Apple Podcast
or Spotify.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
This is Panther Talk. She's send him by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
All right, Niche and Eugene not here tonight, Jim Zochie
along with Sharon Thorsland and the schedule down to the
final game coming up this weekend in Atlanta. And so Sharon,
we were thinking the team's four and twelve. Who's a
really good player that would come on and talk with us.
That's a good sport, and that would be Jordan Gross
(27:36):
volunteering tonight and we always love to talk with Jordan's
so much fun. Jordan, thanks for joining us and hope
things are well where you are.
Speaker 10 (27:45):
Yeah, I'm glad to talk to you guys anytime. I
don't mind being the four and twelve guys.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
We want to call you like we want to call them.
We're twelve and four though one time.
Speaker 8 (27:55):
Now there's better people to call me in now.
Speaker 11 (27:57):
I had to be efficient because I'm with my family
snowskiing and I literally pulled up to my truck here
at the ski hill at four twenty five and I'm like, all.
Speaker 10 (28:08):
Right, I got everybody gets serious. I gotta get on
the air.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I don't know how we got you then, and I
can't believe you're doing this.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
We'll keep you out because DL best in the business,
you know, the producer.
Speaker 10 (28:17):
He scheduled me out last week. I said that will
work out good.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
All right, all right, we'll get you back on the
slope store just a minute. But we appreciate you doing that.
Speaker 5 (28:24):
Year it's closed don't worry. They're closed for the day. Okay, Okay,
you're done. Okay, so you're into hot chocolate now, all right? Cool?
Speaker 8 (28:30):
Hey, exactly, we're.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Talking about number of things.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
We'll talk about the current edition of this Panthers team,
but in the news and in the headlines, three former
Panthers among the fifteen finalists for the Pro Football Hall
of Fame.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Of course, it's Luke Keigley, Steve Smith.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
I think most people know the career of Jared Allen,
but he spent his last year as a Carolina Panther.
And you know all three of them, But what are
your thoughts on the opportunity of those three players have
and hopefully at some juncture in time, all three but
to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Speaker 10 (28:57):
For them, Jared Allen, he'll be the greatest sixty nine
in Panthers history.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
He gets in. Right there we go? Now, how cool?
Speaker 7 (29:07):
You know?
Speaker 10 (29:07):
I didn't get to make it out last year for
pep just didn't work out with my high school training
camp season, and I sure miss being there for that.
But I mean, I gotta think that I need to
book a room for this ceremony. One of those guys
has got to go in. Obviously, Steve and Luke are
remembered as Panthers. I talked to Luke yesterday and by chance,
(29:32):
and we were talking about, Hey, congrats, you know, and thanks.
It's really cool and he's a humble guy, but he knows,
I mean, he's gonna get in, if not this year,
next maybe three two years from now at the most.
But he said it best, he said, I just really
hope Steve gets in, Like this is this has got
to be Steve's year. Steve's deserved it for the past
(29:53):
number of years. But next year you got Larry Fitzgerald
coming out, who would I would think would have to
be a first ballot guy. And Luke's perfectly happy to
step aside and have this be Steve's year. Very unlikely
I would think it would be both of them. But
just excited for him, Excited for Steve.
Speaker 8 (30:10):
And his family.
Speaker 10 (30:11):
I think we all knew it was come with Luke,
but it's a big deal. It's neat for the Panthers.
I'm excited, man, I feel I feel pretty excited that
I got two buddies, three three buddies, but two of
them that I played with that are that are going
to get in there soon, So I'm loving it.
Speaker 6 (30:26):
How cool is it too? I mean, you played with
Smitty back in college. I mean, did you ever think
when you were playing with him in college that he
would one.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
Day be in the Hall of Fame?
Speaker 2 (30:35):
No?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
I not in college.
Speaker 10 (30:37):
And I don't mean that I didn't think he was good,
but I didn't even know what of Hall of Fame
player looked like. And it's funny when you're playing with
these guys. You know Steve and I, like you said, Sharon,
we played thirteen seasons together, including college and pros combined,
And when you're in it with somebody, you don't they
haven't reached those milestones yet, or they haven't they haven't
(30:58):
accumulated the career or yet, because maybe when I got
to Carolina, Steve was only in his third year. Is
just kind of coming on and in the moment you
don't maybe realize that it's a Hall of Fame player
until you step back and realize, Holy cow man, that
guy just was different.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
And he.
Speaker 10 (31:14):
Gave Speaking about Steve, he gave defense his fits, he
gave corners fits, he took over games, and he did
it has been well noted with a large variety of quarterbacks.
Speaker 5 (31:25):
Thrown in the ball, so Steve's one of those guys.
Speaker 10 (31:28):
But the best thing I say about Steve people usually
asked me about playing with Julius Peppers and Steve Smith,
those two guys, and out of all the guys I
played with, that's who they want to know about.
Speaker 8 (31:37):
And so very happy for Steve.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
That's a great company. What are your what's your optimism
level about what we're seeing? You know, yesterday was what
it was, was depleted roster, but in general, the kind
of the direction of Bryce and the team overall heading
into this offseat, and because they've definitely played their best
football in the second half.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Of the season.
Speaker 10 (31:57):
They sure have Jim and I'm really happy for the
guys that the season is coming to a close. And
I say that because I know from players just how
long the season is, and it's a dang long season.
When you're winning, we talk about the good times when
we get together as players are talking about our careers.
But you know, I was on the two and fourteen
(32:18):
team and I could not wait for that dang season
to get over. Man, it was just painful to have
put that much effort into something and not get the
results that you're looking for. So that being said, huge
difference from that team, the two and fourteen team to
what I'm seeing now, And you said it. Since Bryce
has come back from getting the time to kind of
(32:39):
sit and watch Andy and take catch his breath, He's
just done a great job.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Man.
Speaker 10 (32:46):
He looks composed, he's throwing great, great balls. Steelen's back
on the field and from him being heard and those
guys have got a great relationship going.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
The O line I think is a really.
Speaker 10 (32:58):
Bright spot moving in the off and that I haven't
had any chance to really get to know coach Allice,
but what I can tell you from watching the team
all season long is that the guys believe in him
and the locker room is drinking drinking the potion because
the messaging coming out of that locker room after games
and during the week. I don't hear finger pointing, man,
(33:21):
I don't hear woe with me. I hear Hey, we
believe in this team, we believe in the coach, We
like the group that we have, and I really do
think that it's an exciting off season. Yesterday wasn't a
great result, but there's so many injuries. I mean, you
you two talked about it at length. It's just there's good,
(33:42):
good things that I'm seeing that's making me believe we're
on the right track.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
When you look at specifically the play of the line,
obviously that's your your expertise. So they brought in a
couple of pieces this off season, and it seems like
they've really solidified that group in spite of having some
injuries and some guys in and out and there, the
play is just free. It's so much better than it
has been in years past.
Speaker 10 (34:05):
Yeah, yesterday seeing Taylor not out there is just so weird.
He's been a fixture on that right side. Yeah, A
ton of respect for that guy. A non starter that
I just am very impressed with Brady Christiansen, who's you know,
had had kind of an up and down career to
you know, was a tackle, then was a guard and
(34:26):
I'm the center and whatever and not this week but
last with k may is getting getting sick before right
before the game, so then go in and play center
and do an excellent job. There's just great versatility with him.
Speaker 8 (34:39):
I'm a fan of Achy.
Speaker 10 (34:40):
I think that I I know that playing left tackle
is the hardest position and that they pay those guys
a lot of money for a reason, and he, to
me just continues to work and do a nice job.
And I've celebrated Robert Hunt numerous times, uh in my
on the podcast with Jake, just how impressed I am
with him and what a great acquisition he.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Was and all of that.
Speaker 10 (35:03):
So if you got a good old line that you
can count on, you've got Cuba. You know who's on
ir now. But he's gonna just be a heck of
a back for us next year. And Bryce finishing this
season on a high note. They're gonna have an off
seat now to work together. Look at film with the coach,
Canalis and Brad and everybody. I think, I like what
(35:23):
I'm seeing, and just getting Derek Brown back is gonna
just do wonders for the team. Who's obviously somebody that
we were counting on this year. We didn't get to
see it all.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Yeah, your old teammate Dan Morgan doing a good job
with that staff up. They're putting some talent on the
field here. But Jordan, great to talk with you. We'll
let you get back to whatever happens after skiing, get
out of the ski boots.
Speaker 10 (35:41):
Or whatever ski after Okay, right now. It's me and
my kids and my niece, and it's probably involves a snack.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
That's a good plan. Good to hear your voice. Have
a happy new Year. We'll catch up next year. That gay,
We'll see us soon, all right, Jordan Gross.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Right there, We've got to hear from another great Panther
from that era, Mussin Mohammed on Panther Tails. Some of
that coming up next on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Yes is Panther Talk. She's hiding by bush power to us.
Speaker 7 (36:13):
It was cold and it was close to midnight and
somebody set off the fire line. We all had to
run out in our pajamas and go stand outside until
the fire department came. And we knew like some Eagle
fan was trying to play a joke on us, so
we were pretty upset about it by the time we
got to the field the next day.
Speaker 5 (36:34):
He's a Mohammed, a man up.
Speaker 4 (36:36):
They got it stuck down, Get down.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
What a great detain Mohamed.
Speaker 7 (36:46):
It's an amazing feeling, you know, It's an amazing feeling
when the whole world knows you're gonna lose. Except for
the fifty three guys that walk out on that field
and actually have to play the game.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
You know everybody's Philly's supposed to win. Third times a charm.
Speaker 7 (37:04):
You know this team coming from the South don't play
good in the cold weather.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
All that moves killed there he stum all on three three.
Speaker 7 (37:15):
I remember our defense playing lights out.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
And just does he let go of but he was hitting.
Speaker 7 (37:23):
I remember Ricky Manning Junior having an amazing game, three
interceptions mcnabn.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Here comes a flex.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
My cousin floats it down the.
Speaker 8 (37:30):
Field Manning, then he pick it off. Me Dad, not
what looks it's a slam.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Manic picks that off and the Panther defense.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
With another that cold now when he had.
Speaker 8 (37:44):
Time down the middle of the field goals.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
It's better than the ms picked up by Ricky Mannick
Ricky Manning with three interceptions today.
Speaker 7 (37:52):
I remember running back to Sean Foss still getting a
touch by almost every single player on the defense before
he scored a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Fitch the foster trying to turn the fireside, gets over Hoover,
bounce us off a tackle, still keeps the legs.
Speaker 8 (38:05):
Turning and tis towards the endo touchdown.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
Oh my goodness to shine Foster on a play that
took a minute and a half.
Speaker 8 (38:14):
I was able to get into the end.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Zone as he kept stretching it outside, bouncing off tacklers.
Speaker 7 (38:20):
And I remember catching a big play and you know,
taking the knee and listening to that crowd just come
to a complete silence.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Back to throw looks, looks, nobody opened.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
He's a tap field for Muhammad and the ends up.
He got touchdown, bought a great catch by my sin
Muhammad and talone got parted us.
Speaker 7 (38:41):
To let him go.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
He caught the tick down.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
He did his little moves.
Speaker 7 (38:45):
Dan he gallon kne and he had dished to the
lead and it was quiet the rift of the game.
You can hear it a needle drop on the ground,
and I gave him, Yes, Charlotte, there is a Super
Bowl and we're in it.
Speaker 8 (39:00):
Everybody in organization.
Speaker 7 (39:08):
I just remember going into a hostile territory team led
by Andy Reid and Donoin McNabb that were destined to
go to the Super Bowl, and we upset them in
a big way. It's a great game.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
The improbable season for the Carolina Panthers continues. We're going
to Houston for the Championship of the National Football League.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
This is panthera talk presented by Bosh Power Tools.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
This is Panther talk presented by Bosh Power Tools.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
All I wanted to go in this regular season for
the Panthers and interesting turn of events. Oh, how the
turntables in the NFC South yesterday with tap Bay winning them.
Last night Washington in overtime beating Atlanta. So now the
Falcons in chase mode. They had it to themselves because
they had the eyebreaker and couldn't hold on to it.
And so now if if Tampa Bay wins, I mean
(40:05):
they're the team, right So it's like it's gonna how
many years as Tampa Bay won this division? Now three
years in four years? Used to be a different one
every year, And doesn't matter what variety of Tampa Bay
coaches and players are out there, that they've been on
a roll right now. But I don't like either of them,
so I don't really care which one wins. But Atlanta's
as a coach, Canal said earlier in the show's share
(40:26):
and two great running backs. Obviously, the young quarterback is
interesting but seems to give him a little bit of
a spark.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
But we'll see one more time. I'm sure the Panthers
would love to get that win.
Speaker 8 (40:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (40:35):
Another potent offense too, just like Tampa Bay. I mean
they're they've they're throwing the football, they're running and they
actually throw more than they than they run. And they've got,
of course Drake London, a couple of really good receivers.
Kyle Pitts to it that that that I thought was
gonna be the game when he touched, so it did
not work out. But you know, they they've got a
lot of talent. And Michael Pennix is he's not been
doing bad. I mean he's only been in there for
two games, but he's thrown for a lot of yards,
(40:57):
two interceptions, the one touchdown. But it's going to be
a challenge for this Panthers defense to try to keep
up with them. And then on the other side of
the ball game, I mean the Falcons defenses it's pretty
good too. They don't get after the quarterback very much though,
so somehow for Brice yep, yep, yep, that would be good.
Speaker 5 (41:15):
So we will see.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
Hey, we got the tackling machine Chandler Wooten, so fourteen
tackles yesterday, so it's funny I was. We saw the
same thing with women. We talked about him. These guys
sometimes they just need an opportunity and you'll have your
star players out there. But it's fun to see guys succeed,
especially him coming in last minute like that and being
able to play so well.
Speaker 5 (41:33):
But it's fun doing the show with you tonight. See
you in the new year, because after Wednesday it's a
new year. It's a new year. Happy new year.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Earlier the Panthers do coming up this weekend. Thanks for
joining us here on Panther Talk.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
This talk presented by Bosh power Tools on the Carolina
Panthers Radio Network, Brought to you by Atrium Health because
you deserve to live your best life and we're here
to help. Bank of America Official Bank of the Carolina
Panthers Coke tackled game day with a great taste of
(42:04):
Coke zero Sugar. Is it the best coke ever? Try?
And this Pantherton Panther Tall, Panther Tall. This is the
Carolina Panthers Radio Network
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