Bleav in Panthers: Breaking Down the New-Look Roster
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00:00 Welcome to Believe in Carolina Panthers here on Believe Podcast Networks.
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00:30 Do you believe?
00:31 I changed the intro.
00:32 I'm so proud of myself.
00:33 Wow.
00:34 I almost forgot.
00:35 Welcome to the Believe in Panthers podcast here on Believe Podcast Networks.
00:36 I'm your host Desmond Johnson joined by Sports Illustrated Panthers beat writer Skylar Callahan
00:37 and Panthers all time leading rusher Jonathan Stewart.
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06:40 week, correct? >> My days are all mixed up.
06:44 >> I don't think we talked about it or not. >> I don't believe we do.
06:48 >> Were we talking about the offensive lineman? >> No.
06:50 >> Yeah, we got- >> No, we did, we did.
06:52 >> No, we didn't? >> We talked about Hunt and Lewis,
06:54 yeah. Those are the only ones we had at that point, cuz it opened up on Monday
06:57 of last week. >> I guess we didn't really know
06:59 too much about them. >> Right, yeah, yeah.
07:02 >> Listen. >> We know now.
07:04 >> Yeah, we know now. >> Now I can tell you, boy.
07:08 >> Josie Jewel, we talked about him.
07:11 Yeah, there's a couple more, like DJ Wanam, a couple others.
07:14 So yeah, let's start off with Deontay Johnson.
07:19 Got him in a trade, new weapon for Bryce.
07:23 Thoughts on this?
07:24 I had to stop myself from just blowing up Skyler all week.
07:27 Like, hey, who's this guy?
07:28 What's this guy?
07:29 What's he do?
07:29 What's happening?
07:30 Like, why is he here?
07:32 What did we give up for?
07:33 Tell us a bit about Deontay Johnson and how he might be able to help the Panther
07:36 offense.
07:37 >> Yeah, so he's probably the best separator in the entire NFL.
07:43 That's coming from one of my guys that covers the Steelers.
07:46 He's covered them for probably two plus decades.
07:50 And that's what the Panthers needed a lot of in 2023, right?
07:54 They lacked that to the nth degree.
07:57 >> I think we complained about that more than anything else.
07:59 >> And if you followed Deontay's kinda career,
08:02 he's kinda had a little bit of the drop seeds, right?
08:06 He's had some issues with that.
08:08 I can't remember the year.
08:09 Well, actually, I'm gonna go and pull this up.
08:13 This is actually the scouting report that I got from my Steelers guy.
08:17 So this is kind of really in depth, but it's not too much.
08:21 But it's got some concerns, but I wanna get your guys' take on this.
08:26 He says, here's the deal with Deontay.
08:29 He's a head case, but not the typical wide receiver type.
08:33 He's an introvert, overthinker, always in his head.
08:36 Felt like he was getting pushed aside by pickings here.
08:39 He isn't as good of a fit for the new offense as the old one.
08:42 He will literally be open on every play.
08:44 He's the best separator in the NFL.
08:46 When Ben was here, he loved him.
08:48 His hands are just okay, and he loses focus sometimes.
08:51 He started dropping passes in 2020, got in his head,
08:54 just kept dropping them all year.
08:55 Got even worse as the year went on.
08:58 Got benched, eventually pulled himself out of it, but it took all season.
09:01 Last year at Cincinnati, he dropped a touchdown pass.
09:03 Next play, he was so in his head about it, he didn't block for a run or
09:07 notice or react when the running back fumbled, just stood there.
09:12 He was on some rough offenses here.
09:13 He's not a bad guy, actually a really good dude.
09:16 He's just in his zone, feelings it all the time.
09:19 Deontay is quiet, but a straight shooter.
09:21 Not afraid to say hard truths.
09:23 He was always good to me.
09:24 >> Cool.
09:27 >> A little mixed about it.
09:27 >> Yeah.
09:28 >> [LAUGH]
09:29 >> But we really got to know-
09:30 >> 25?
09:31 >> 27, is that right?
09:35 >> I think so.
09:35 He's one of those, I'll tell him a Steeler friend, he was complaining about
09:38 the Steelers the other day and what they were doing and everything.
09:41 I'm like, dude, you have no idea what it's like to be out of the fence.
09:43 >> [LAUGH] >> You're complaining about things.
09:46 It's just like, what are we gonna do about whatever?
09:49 And then a week later, Russell Wilson shows up for a million dollars.
09:53 And then- >> [LAUGH]
09:54 >> And then you end up-
09:54 >> And you adjust the field.
09:55 >> Yeah, and you adjust the field for a six round pick.
09:57 And you're over there complaining.
09:58 Meanwhile, the Panthers were over here just like, what in the world is happening?
10:02 >> I personally love the Deontay Johnson trade,
10:05 because you're giving up Dante Jackson anyways.
10:07 You're cutting ties with Tim.
10:08 >> Right.
10:09 >> So if you get the higher fifth round pick, so
10:11 you move up a little bit in the fifth round, whatever, that's worth it.
10:15 That may be ammunition for something else, who knows?
10:19 But I really wanna know Stu's take on this, because when you have a player like
10:23 this, that has struggled at times throughout his career in one particular
10:27 area, in this case, it's arguably the most important area for him,
10:31 catching the damn football.
10:33 >> Yeah.
10:34 >> How can a player actually make that curve and get past that in a new offense,
10:40 in a new change of scenery?
10:43 Because we can see when he's on, he's on.
10:46 He's the fastest dude in the league in terms of separation.
10:49 He's going to get open.
10:51 >> Yeah. >> So can he get past the drop sees and
10:54 become a reliable guy for Bryce?
10:57 >> No, I think it's all about the supporting cast.
11:00 We are, obviously we just revamped coaching staff.
11:06 We're revamping roster moves.
11:08 But I look at that receiver room with Adam Thielen, and
11:12 I just look at how he's carried himself as a professional throughout his whole career.
11:18 You have a guy like that, where you add Deontay Johnson into a space where
11:24 he is now being able to learn how to play football.
11:29 I mean, every single day an athlete walks into that locker room,
11:35 your focus is to get better.
11:39 You have not arrived.
11:40 And if the moment you think that you've arrived,
11:43 that's when you find yourself on the street, right?
11:47 So you have a guy like Adam Thielen.
11:51 If I'm him, I'm going to him and saying, hey, look,
11:54 how do I get better at playing this position?
11:57 I see you excel at so many heights and so
12:01 many levels at the receiver position.
12:04 How do I focus on catching?
12:08 How do you catch the ball every single time that it's in your vicinity?
12:13 You know what I'm saying?
12:14 So if I'm him, I'm going to guys like that to just figure out how to better myself,
12:20 how to recreate myself, how to find myself in the mix, right?
12:25 But I'm not too concerned because he's gonna have a good coaching staff, right?
12:32 The leadership that's in position right now, it's an environment.
12:35 Once again, I'm gonna say this throughout the whole entire season.
12:39 The environment to learn for
12:42 the Carolina Panthers is at the top level in this league, I think.
12:48 Because clearly, what we've seen from Dave Pinellas, Tampa Bay,
12:53 Seattle Seahawks, he created a environment for guys to learn and to get better.
13:00 And it's been proven, right?
13:02 So hopefully we get to see those things translate from every single position,
13:08 to every single assistant coach being able to take their guys and
13:13 give them a level of confidence, just better themselves.
13:19 And the whole thing about him,
13:23 at the end of the day, he's a jitterbug, right?
13:30 >> Yeah. >> When I say jitterbug,
13:31 I mean stop and go, okay?
13:35 We haven't had that.
13:36 We need a guy that can jitterbug about it and get that touchdown.
13:42 He can take a hitch and get going.
13:46 That's what we need.
13:47 And I think what we are failing to realize, the Pittsburgh Steelers last year,
13:52 they went through some offensive woes, but he got fired.
13:57 >> Yes. >> What is his name, Matt Canada?
13:58 >> Matt Canada.
13:59 >> Yeah.
14:00 >> And like 17 quarterbacks.
14:02 >> Right.
14:03 >> Yeah.
14:04 >> So at the end of the day, frustration is gonna be there, especially for
14:09 a guy that wants to ball, that wants to be a game changer, that wants to go out there
14:12 and be the best that he can be.
14:14 And if he feels like he's being harnessed, yeah,
14:17 you're gonna have some frustration.
14:18 Now he's gotta learn how to recover and be a better teammate and
14:22 whatnot under those situations.
14:25 And that's the reason why I think him being here in the Carolina Panthers,
14:28 having a guy like Adam Thielen in the locker room, in the position,
14:32 in the locker room, that's gonna be able to help him grow
14:38 as an individual, as a professional.
14:41 And so I'm not too worried about it.
14:43 I'm excited to see him dress up in that Panther uniform and be a Jitterbug.
14:50 >> That's the exact point I was gonna bring up, Stu, is like, and
14:54 I'm not a Steelers encyclopedia, of course.
14:56 But I think the situation that he was in in Pittsburgh,
15:01 it was always, he was kind of thrown into the mix right away when he came into
15:05 the league, and they kind of leaned on him and some other young guys.
15:08 They never really had that true veteran.
15:11 And then they bring in George Pickens, who's top draft pick, and
15:15 all the attention's going to him.
15:17 I can understand that, because when you bring in a new guy,
15:21 yes, it's not really to replace Deontay, but it could be taking away some of that
15:26 attention or some of those looks or targets.
15:29 >> Yeah, they want them all.
15:30 >> When you don't have somebody to really groom and develop you,
15:34 that could be a part of the reason he went through those bumps.
15:37 And now he's coming to Carolina, where he can live right here under Adam Thielen's
15:41 wing, and just, if I'm Deontay Johnson this offseason,
15:46 I'm moving into Adam Thielen's house.
15:47 >> [LAUGH] >> And I'm just playing catch with him
15:49 every single day.
15:50 Because that dude, he's not the fastest,
15:54 he's not gonna get the separation that Deontay gets.
15:57 But my goodness, can that boy run routes, and he can catch the football.
16:02 >> Deontay living with Adam Thielen, I'm telling you, that's why I'm confident.
16:07 Because he's finally got someone he can look up to.
16:10 He's not gonna feel threatened by Adam Thielen by any means.
16:12 >> Yeah, and they did show that video on Twitter, I don't know if it was
16:15 the Panthers that put it, I think it was the Panthers that put it out.
16:18 When Deontay first got here, and the first person he saw was Adam Thielen.
16:22 And it was their interaction and them talking.
16:24 And honestly, I didn't think Adam Thielen was gonna be here next year,
16:27 the way it was sounding at the end of the year.
16:28 It sounded like he was gonna ask to leave, but it sounds like he's gonna stay.
16:31 >> Praise the Lord that he is coming back.
16:35 >> The 2023 Panther MVP, Adam Thielen, back in the house, it looks like for next year.
16:41 The other big move they did was signing former Viking linebacker DJ Wanham
16:47 to a two year $12.5 million contract this past week.
16:50 They needed somebody to replace Brian Burns as the edge rusher.
16:53 Wanham came in along with Chase Young and, what's his name?
16:59 >> Jadavion Clowney.
17:01 I just saw Chase Young's son yesterday with the Saints, fantastic.
17:05 I don't know if Clowney has a son anywhere, but
17:08 Clowney kinda has a track record of son in late anyway.
17:10 So- >> That boy does not want any part of OTAs
17:14 and training.
17:15 >> Yeah.
17:15 >> [LAUGH] >> But he's trying to wait until August.
17:18 >> Yeah, he might have a nice little recipe right now where it's like,
17:23 yeah, I don't know.
17:24 >> I'll wait till about August 18th.
17:27 >> Yeah, and then we'll see who needs some services.
17:30 But he's from, where is he from?
17:32 Is he from South Carolina?
17:33 Cuz I keep hearing different spots, but it's generally in the area of where
17:36 the Panthers play.
17:38 It's somewhere around here, and he played at South Carolina.
17:40 Everybody knows him, claimed the fame, the hit in college that he did against
17:44 Michigan, knocked the dude's helmet off in the backfield.
17:46 Was he number one overall?
17:49 He was the number one overall pick that year when he came out,
17:51 went to Houston.
17:52 >> So he's from Rock Hill.
17:54 I don't know if that's true.
17:55 >> Really, okay, so I thought somebody said that on the radio too.
17:57 I was like, Rock Hill, that didn't sound right.
17:59 >> He's really close.
18:00 >> So he's a hometown guy.
18:01 So maybe he's sitting there in their back pocket.
18:03 Some other sign is just some housecleaning.
18:05 Troy Hill's back on a one year deal with Donte Jackson being released.
18:09 Cornerback is very thin on his roster.
18:11 Raheem Blackshear, I know there's people on this panel that love Raheem Blackshear.
18:15 He's back on a one year exclusive rights deal.
18:18 He'll be able to help as a reserve back receiver, return specialist.
18:21 Yeah, I reached 27 yards per kickoff last year, so.
18:24 >> Raheem Blackshear, y'all better watch out for him.
18:27 >> They underused him.
18:28 >> Especially the offensive line.
18:29 >> Yeah, they underused him.
18:31 They underused him last year.
18:32 >> They create these lanes where he don't have to deal with these defensive linemen.
18:37 He get to go up there and be angry against some DBs.
18:41 Listen, it's gonna be a nice little thing to watch.
18:44 >> JJ Jansen, the long snapper, resigned for one year.
18:46 How many years has JJ Jansen played?
18:49 He's played 243 career games with the Panthers.
18:53 By far the team record.
18:55 >> 25th year.
18:56 >> I think he might be right.
18:58 [LAUGH] >> It says 2009.
19:00 >> Decade number three year soon.
19:02 >> 2009, yeah, so he's been here since 2009.
19:04 Wow, that's amazing.
19:05 >> Six years?
19:07 >> Amir Smith-Marset, the wide receiver that we had picked up last year,
19:11 has resigned.
19:12 He'll be back for the 2024 season.
19:14 I'm interested in how they use him.
19:15 He's been a journeyman.
19:16 He's been on 14 since 2021.
19:17 >> Speaking of that room, I don't wanna get too far off track here, but
19:20 I'm really interested to see what happens with Terrence Marshall.
19:24 Because- >> Yes.
19:25 >> If they draft the guy in the second round, whether it be Xavier Leggett or
19:29 Ladin McConkey or somebody else, you're adding a rookie, Adam Thielen,
19:34 Jonathan Mingo's coming back, and Deontay Johnson, Amir Smith-Marset.
19:39 Terrence has gotta go somewhere, right?
19:41 I don't think he can stay here.
19:43 >> I mean, he asked to go somewhere last year, right?
19:44 Like in the middle of the season.
19:45 So I completely forgot he was on the roster cuz he didn't play.
19:48 Like the last couple of games, he was a healthy scratch.
19:51 >> What if Terrence Marshall- >> Is on loan?
19:55 >> Viewed, exactly.
19:57 What if he's viewed as someone that actually can play?
20:02 Because if you don't recall, he's shown that he can go get that ball.
20:08 >> Yeah. >> He's shown that he can go get that ball.
20:11 And for whatever reason, we just haven't been able to see him on the field.
20:16 Maybe it's coach's preference.
20:19 I don't know, but- >> I mean, if you think about it,
20:22 his rookie year, he kinda dealt with a bunch of injury stuff.
20:26 And he was kinda in and out, never really got into a rhythm,
20:29 never really got the chance.
20:30 And then last year, I mean, no receiver really had a good season.
20:35 And that's out of Adam Thielen.
20:37 >> I'm just gonna say, bro,
20:39 there's a lot of things that we just don't really know.
20:45 But a guy like Terrence Marshall, he can play.
20:49 It's not a thing that he can't, it's just that he hasn't.
20:53 >> He was on the 2019 LSU team.
20:55 >> Yeah.
20:56 >> And so for whatever that's worth, you have a guy like,
20:59 you have a head coach that comes in here and says, hey, look,
21:03 we're gonna go look at the tape, see what we're good at.
21:06 I'm pretty sure he's gonna go and look at Terrence Marshall and
21:10 see what he's good at.
21:13 And say, well, this guy, this beef plays can fit what I wanna do.
21:18 But if you don't necessarily have to go and get guys and
21:24 replace a bunch of people that you don't need, then why do it?
21:29 If you can unlock a guy.
21:31 >> Sometimes the answer might be on your roster already,
21:33 he just wasn't being capitalized on.
21:36 I forgot Marshall was on the team.
21:37 [LAUGH] >> I can tell you one thing,
21:41 Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis,
21:43 they are about to unlock the Carolina Panthers offense.
21:48 >> I'm really starting to lean towards that center you keep talking about from
21:51 West Virginia.
21:52 Cuz they've left this hole open at center and you brought these two guards and
21:56 what better place to put a rookie center, smart rookie center right there.
22:00 And that first second round pick that we have at 33.
22:03 And then with that other second round pick, I'm trading that baby.
22:06 I'm trading that thing off.
22:07 I'm going lower in the second, I'm picking up a third or something.
22:10 And then I'm just gonna start adding depth to this roster.
22:12 Dan Morgan's done a pretty good job.
22:15 I know everybody freaked out at the very beginning when Burns got traded and
22:20 everything else.
22:21 It was that emotional knee jerk, what's Dan Morgan doing?
22:23 He's trading him away.
22:24 But now everybody's had a week to sit on it and they kind of look at it and
22:26 they're like, you know what?
22:28 We probably needed to trade Brian Burns away.
22:30 We're kind of lucky to have gotten what we've gotten because they've seen other
22:33 players around the league getting moved around for really small amounts.
22:38 I think everyone thinks a player's worth the first for some reason and
22:41 that's not how it works.
22:42 Like it's very rare for a player to get traded for a first to begin with.
22:47 Christian McCaffrey never got, he didn't get traded.
22:49 There was no first involved in his trade.
22:50 We were complaining about that.
22:52 In hindsight, 49ers weren't gonna put a first round pick in anything like that.
22:55 So I mean, the fact that we got something for
22:58 Burns when he could have walked for nothing after all this was said and done.
23:01 Or we could have played disgruntled next year on the tag with us.
23:04 We kind of got out of that the best way possible.
23:07 And then to be able to replace some of the stuff that they've cleared out and
23:11 the money they got back for not signing Burns.
23:14 They've been able to do a lot of this stuff in free agency.
23:17 The main story this week though, I guess Skylar would be,
23:20 Mike Williams coming to visit a couple other wide receivers still coming to visit.
23:24 Has that happened already or that's later on this week?
23:27 >> I'm trying to get my days straight here.
23:30 >> It's Tuesday.
23:32 >> I think it's this week, right?
23:35 >> Yeah, I think it's later this week, they're supposed to talk to Mike Williams.
23:38 >> Yeah, Mike Williams and the clowny situation.
23:43 I think he's visiting the Jets next.
23:46 >> The kick tires on Mike Williams?
23:48 He went out three last year, was it 20 ACL?
23:52 I think it was.
23:53 >> Yeah, he's a very intriguing player because man, when he's healthy,
23:59 I don't think there's been any question that he's one of the better Xs out there.
24:04 I mean, he is big, long, physical, he's got speed, he can catch the ball.
24:09 >> We call that a satellite dish, man.
24:12 >> Yeah.
24:13 >> You can basically take all the way.
24:15 >> [LAUGH] >> I love it.
24:18 >> He's a satellite dish.
24:19 >> Satellite dish.
24:21 >> I'm picking up everything.
24:24 I'm gonna go get it, boy.
24:26 >> I mean, how old is he?
24:27 Do you know?
24:28 >> He's pushing 30, right?
24:30 >> I feel like he's been in the league for 15 years.
24:33 >> I'm bad with ages.
24:34 >> I always guess 30.
24:37 [LAUGH] How old is he, about 30?
24:39 >> What did Aaliyah say?
24:43 >> Age is a number.
24:44 That might be a bad example though.
24:45 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm sure we edit that out.
24:53 >> [LAUGH] I'm in the comment section.
24:57 You guys can comment here throughout the show while we're live on the air.
25:01 Jesse Pinkman says, what's up guys?
25:03 Just wanted to say I'm a fan of the Panthers since 1995 here in Brazil.
25:07 It was a joy to see J.
25:07 Stu back in the day.
25:08 Cheers.
25:09 Shout out to you, reaching out to us all the way out from Brazil.
25:11 >> We appreciate it.
25:13 >> Yeah. >> What y'all doing in Brazil, man?
25:15 >> Watching the Panthers, man.
25:16 >> Yeah.
25:17 >> We play soccer and they come inside and watch the Panthers.
25:18 So Richard Fierce says, what's up J.
25:20 Stu, Desmond, and Skyler?
25:22 Remember the last time we took a center in round two, it worked out pretty good,
25:25 Ryan Khalil.
25:27 >> I'll say this about Zach.
25:29 If anybody wants to know anything about Zach, you can come and
25:32 ask me because I've watched the kid for four years, he's phenomenal.
25:35 But the WVU football sideline reporter that I do a show with, Jed Jerning,
25:41 he is a absolute football geek.
25:45 And we may actually have to bring him on here if I can get him to free up,
25:48 if that ends up happening with Zach.
25:50 >> Yeah, let's do it.
25:51 >> Because he is so good at projecting certain players.
25:57 He knew Creed Humphrey when he came out that he was gonna be a top center in
26:01 the league.
26:02 He thinks that within the next two to three years, and again,
26:05 there's just no bias just because he's covered Zach too.
26:09 He believes Zach's gonna be a top five or
26:11 top six center at some point throughout his career.
26:14 And I would expect it to be sooner than later.
26:16 Everyone's sleeping on Zach Frazier and I don't understand it.
26:21 The dude literally broke his leg in November.
26:24 >> I'll tell you what, if you're on diets then keep sleeping because we'll go ahead
26:27 and grab him.
26:28 >> Yeah, I'll say we'll just stop talking about him.
26:29 >> [LAUGH] >> In this case,
26:30 in the best case because- >> Yeah,
26:32 that dude broke his freaking leg on November 28th or
26:36 whatever it was and was at the combine running around.
26:40 That is- >> Yeah, I'm intrigued.
26:42 Normally I don't get intrigued about taking offensive linemen early.
26:45 >> It's not sexy.
26:46 It's not a sexy thing to do, but man.
26:48 >> After last year, I'm like, yeah, it's kind of crucial that we invest.
26:53 I mean, if we're fully 1,000% behind Bryce Young in his development,
26:56 which it appears that we are, then the next step is building a front so
27:01 we don't die.
27:02 [LAUGH] And then giving them some guys to give the ball to,
27:04 which they're starting to do a little bit.
27:06 >> Yeah.
27:07 >> And I love the fact they're not reaching.
27:09 They're not trying to, Dan Morgan's been pretty adamant that they're not gonna go
27:12 up to get a first or whatever.
27:13 That if anything, they might go down and pick up extra picks.
27:16 They're kind of looking for some of these guys that he described as dogs in his
27:20 opening press conference.
27:21 I can look through some of these free agent signs that they've signed, and
27:25 they're dudes that are either looking for an opportunity or coming from a place.
27:29 >> [CROSSTALK] >> Like you over there trading looks with
27:35 another receiver across from you, you might be doing some type of way with
27:41 what's going on with the coach and the offensive coordinator calling plays.
27:46 Not giving you all the route tree that you deserve,
27:48 because you can run everything in the route tree.
27:51 So you come in here, you got something to prove.
27:55 Everybody got something to prove.
27:57 Every day you got something to prove.
27:58 So guys that live with that and literally wake up in the morning and
28:05 just stomping the ground, angry, mad.
28:10 They out here, yeah, you look at me one way, I'm gonna slap.
28:18 >> [LAUGH] >> But just the guys that have that type
28:22 of energy, right, that I'm always gonna have,
28:27 what's a chip on my shoulder, right?
28:31 >> Yeah, yeah.
28:32 >> And especially those receivers that are small.
28:37 I like a little pissed off guy that has little man syndrome sometimes.
28:43 >> Steve Smith is the walking definition of being small but
28:47 walks around like he's six foot eight.
28:50 >> Steve Smith is a giant, boy, he is a giant.
28:54 >> This is a good place to, before we get into some of the moves from around
28:58 the league and our final four predictions, cuz we got a hard out at 1130 today.
29:03 If you're on right now and you're watching us on Twitter, do us a favor,
29:07 go over to our Twitter handle, Believe in Panthers, and follow us there.
29:11 We are in the middle of putting together the Panthers Ultimate 53-man roster.
29:15 The votes are from the fans only, myself, Stu, Skyler,
29:19 we don't pick these players for the roster at all.
29:23 It's all from the fans.
29:24 And we have already picked a number of positions.
29:28 We picked quarterback, QB1 is Cam Newton, QB2 is Jake DeLombe, voted by the fans.
29:33 The head coach is Ron Rivera, he beat out John Fox.
29:37 The offensive coordinator is, who was the office coordinator, it was last week.
29:42 Dan Henning, I believe it was.
29:43 And the defensive coordinator is Sean McDermott.
29:48 So we've got the coaching staff in place.
29:50 I decided this week to do offensive line, guard and tackle.
29:54 Cuz some of these guys, a lot of these guys,
29:56 Stu's gonna be able to talk about in depth in terms of running behind them.
30:01 Offensive guard, the top two go forward.
30:04 And as it stands today, cuz this ends whenever we come on the air,
30:08 Trey Turner is your leader at offensive guard, followed by Andrew Norwell.
30:13 So you got Turner and Norwell at offensive guard.
30:16 They'll move on to the Ultimate 53.
30:18 And then tackle, there it is, tackle.
30:23 Only two guys got votes.
30:24 Jordan Gross with 85% of the vote, of course.
30:27 >> Makes sense.
30:28 >> Yeah, the best offensive tackle in Panthers history.
30:30 And then Taylor Moten with 14% of the vote.
30:33 No one voted for Michael Orr, nobody voted for Jeff Otah.
30:35 So- >> They got it.
30:36 >> Yeah, so your offensive line is Jordan Gross, Andrew Norwell,
30:41 a center that has to be determined.
30:44 Trey Turner and Taylor Moten at right guard.
30:49 So that's not a bad offensive line there, starting out there.
30:52 Stu, tell us a little about some of these guys that made this,
30:57 in particular, Jordan Gross.
31:01 Drafted in '01, I believe, he was our first round pick in '01.
31:06 The first pick under the Fox era.
31:08 He came in, of course, years later, but he was, of course, still here.
31:11 And through the Ron Rivera era as well.
31:14 What's the benefit of having a left tackle like Jordan Gross?
31:17 Because everybody has a left tackle, but not everybody has a good left tackle.
31:21 And he, in my opinion, by far is the best left tackle we've had in Panthers history.
31:26 What was it like playing with him, being a teammate of his?
31:29 And whenever a play got called where you're running to the left,
31:32 how did that make you feel?
31:33 [LAUGH] When you were calling that way,
31:34 Jordan was gonna be up that way leading the charge.
31:36 >> It makes you feel like you got a safety blanket.
31:42 You know what I'm saying?
31:43 So Jordan Gross, blindside, he's one of the quarterback's best friends, right?
31:52 Knowing that you got a guy that's not just a physical football player, but smart, right?
32:02 Has really good spatial awareness of what he's supposed to be doing,
32:08 what he's anticipating as far as defensive edge rushes.
32:12 And he's just one of the best, obviously.
32:19 But one of the things that stands out the most is his ability to stay healthy and
32:25 play through injuries and stuff like that.
32:29 I mean, I remember seeing times where I've seen fingers coming back to the huddle,
32:35 just kind of crooked and all kind of stuff.
32:39 I feel like even once though, he had to, I don't know.
32:44 But I do recall 2009, cuz it was my first time really being brought to my attention,
32:51 how many games he's missed, right?
32:55 And at that point, he didn't really miss any games.
32:59 And we played the Atlanta Falcons, and I think we ran like a draw or
33:04 a duo or some type of inside run.
33:07 And he ended up shattering his leg,
33:13 got caught underneath the pile.
33:16 And I just remember hearing a weird snap, not really sure what that was.
33:21 But then I just hear, I'm hurt, I'm hurt bad.
33:25 And it was Jordan laying on the ground, I'm like, dang.
33:30 I think Jordan probably missed what, nine games throughout his career?
33:34 Played 167 games, he played, he started.
33:40 Think about that, offensive tackle, offensive line in the trenches.
33:44 >> It's a lot.
33:45 >> So one of the things that just, out the gate,
33:49 he's one of the most, he's the toughest offensive lineman that I've ever played with.
33:55 And just strictly because he's played through so many injuries and
34:01 he took pride in suiting up on Sunday and being there for his guys.
34:06 And I obviously spent a lot of time banged up and not being able to play.
34:13 And so I learned kind of that whole edge of, hey,
34:19 if you can be out there with your guys, it's very important.
34:25 Because even if you are banged up, even if you are playing hurt,
34:30 it means something to the guys that are lining up next to you.
34:35 Because he did it day in and day out whenever he could.
34:38 And literally, all the times he didn't was when he had a broken shadow leg or
34:45 a concussion.
34:47 And so, yeah.
34:49 >> We've been searching for a left tackle ever since he retired.
34:52 >> Yeah, just tough as nails.
34:54 >> Mm-hm, turnstile.
34:57 >> But I also remember one time though, his humility, right?
35:00 I remember actually Julius Peppers had just went to Chicago and
35:05 we were playing Pep for the first time.
35:07 And I just remember him kind of gearing up for that week and he's like, man,
35:12 I forgot who it was that was on scout team.
35:15 And they were obviously acting like Pep, right?
35:19 Giving looks for Jordan Gross on the rush.
35:22 And he's like, no, Pep's not gonna do it that way.
35:25 He's gonna, you gotta run this way.
35:28 So he was really about his craft getting ready to play Pep.
35:33 Because he played against him in practice his whole career.
35:37 Think about that.
35:38 >> Iron sharpens iron, baby.
35:40 >> You gotta go against Julius Peppers every day in practice.
35:43 >> First ballot Hall of Famer.
35:44 [LAUGH] >> No wonder why Jordan Gross was so
35:48 great, cuz he was going with- >> For real.
35:50 >> First day, Hall of Famer.
35:52 So, but yeah, man, I mean, if you think about it,
35:56 I definitely had a privilege to play with some really good ones.
36:02 And Jordan Gross is definitely one of those.
36:04 And I don't know, how are we gonna do the center?
36:08 >> I don't know, that's why I hadn't put it up yet.
36:10 I don't know.
36:10 >> I mean, I think at the end of the day,
36:12 Ryan Khalil is the best center on campus.
36:17 >> I think we should just move Khalil on, cuz I can't even name the other centers.
36:20 >> In my opinion, he can probably be one of the best centers of all time,
36:24 in my opinion.
36:25 >> He's so smart and just so aware of the spacing and getting guys lined up and
36:31 making sure he points out the mic and just everybody's on the same page when
36:37 you have a good center and when you have a good tackle.
36:41 We had two really good ones and we were always on alignment.
36:47 It was a beautiful thing.
36:49 >> A lot of, or I would say a lot of Cam Newton's success came from the fact that
36:52 when he came in, he had Ryan Khalil as a center that could help him with the calls
36:56 up front and protections and things of that sort.
36:59 And we saw it last year, not every quarterback is blessed with a left tackle
37:03 and a center, and I think we all learned as Panther fans how important it is.
37:09 Again, it's not sexy like Skylar said, but it's super important to build your,
37:13 in the trenches, offensive line, defensive line, and then come out from there.
37:16 Cuz when you get into this whole skill position thing,
37:19 it doesn't matter if the quarterback is on his ass, you know what I mean?
37:21 It just don't matter.
37:23 >> Or the running back.
37:24 >> Or the running back, yeah, none of this matters if they're in the backfield
37:28 tackling you, so- >> I get the excitement of drafting
37:32 a left tackle or right tackle and finding that guy,
37:36 that bookend guy that can be there for 10, 12 years.
37:40 That is important, don't get me wrong.
37:42 But for me, at least how I've always understood football is you've gotta build
37:47 that thing from the inside out.
37:49 Because what's the quickest route to the quarterback?
37:52 Interior leakage, right?
37:54 >> Well, it's for the Panthers last year.
37:57 >> Exactly, you can't step up in the pocket, you can't climb it,
38:00 you can't move around the pocket if you have interior leakage.
38:03 So you have to have, in my opinion, yes, it's great to have great
38:08 tackles that can pass block and whatnot.
38:10 But to me, it all starts with those three in the middle.
38:14 You have to have a good pass protection with those three.
38:17 >> Richard says Ryan Khalil or Jeff Mitchell.
38:19 And actually, thank you, Richard, cuz I said Gross was drafted in 2001,
38:22 Peppers was drafted in 2001.
38:23 Gross was drafted in '03 with that first round pick.
38:26 Before we get over to our final four predictions and
38:30 everything before we get out of here, cuz we have about 15 minutes left.
38:32 I wanted a quick moment around the league,
38:35 any moves that surprised you guys, guys may have landed or
38:38 anything the teams did.
38:40 For me, it was what Pittsburgh did.
38:41 What Pittsburgh did was chef's kiss, because they went from having Mitch
38:46 Trubisky and- >> Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pick.
38:49 >> Yeah, Mason Rudolph, they went with that quarterback room and
38:52 in a span of three days, they flipped it into a potential Hall of Famer and
38:58 also Wilson, a former Super Bowl winner, MVP contender.
39:02 And a former top two pick just from what, two years ago in Justin Fields?
39:06 And they did it all for a million dollars and a six round pick.
39:09 And I'm just sitting here watching it, how did, what just happened?
39:15 How did this, cuz now they're set up for the future,
39:17 cuz Russell Wilson's there on a one year deal.
39:20 Denver's paying his salary.
39:22 There's no risk in any of this really.
39:24 If they wanna throw the whole thing away at the end of the year,
39:26 they can do it cuz they don't have to give the fifth year extension to Fields if
39:29 they don't want to.
39:30 And they can just start fresh or
39:32 Fields could learn under Wilson for a year in the quarterback room.
39:35 They've already said there's gonna be no quarterback controversy.
39:38 Wilson is the starter, so you won't have to worry about that.
39:41 Say Wilson plays fine, but they wanna move on with Fields.
39:44 Wilson moves on someplace else next year, he's 35, and then, and
39:48 Fields steps right in.
39:49 And at that point, you've had two drafts to actually address some things that you
39:52 might wanna put around them in terms of skilled position players,
39:55 offensive lineman, defensive lineman, short, all that kind of stuff.
39:58 It seems like my Steeler friends are tripping because they were worried.
40:03 [LAUGH] They were worried that, my gosh, the Steelers, what are they doing?
40:07 Blah, blah, blah.
40:07 I'm like, is Mike Tomlin still there?
40:09 Well then, what are you worried about?
40:11 [LAUGH] >> If you recall,
40:14 the reason why they struggled last year is because their offense.
40:18 >> Yeah.
40:19 >> So in my opinion, they're the most dangerous team in the NFL.
40:23 >> That's where I was going, because look at that division.
40:26 I don't know what Cincinnati's doing.
40:27 It feels like they're dismantling the offense, just with some trade.
40:30 They traded away Joe Mixon.
40:32 It doesn't look like, what's his face, T Higgins is gonna be back.
40:37 If I'm Joe Burrow, I'm looking at this like, yo,
40:40 I know y'all just gave me a quarter of a billion dollars.
40:42 But I didn't mean for y'all to get rid of my whole offense.
40:45 He never built me a O-line.
40:46 So that's Cincy.
40:49 You don't know how many games he's gonna give you.
40:52 And we really don't know if Deshaun Watson is the top ten Deshaun Watson that he was
40:56 the last year at Houston, cuz that was how long ago now?
40:58 Three years, it was before COVID.
41:02 Yeah, it was before COVID happened.
41:03 So it was 2019.
41:05 This is 2024.
41:07 It's been five years since that season.
41:09 They better hope they get Nick Chubb back and tip top.
41:13 >> I'll tell you the Chiefs somehow getting freaking Hollywood brown.
41:20 That's dangerous.
41:22 I mean, that's tough.
41:26 I think the Jets are kind of lost in all this because again,
41:30 it's not sexy when you just go inside an offensive lineman.
41:32 But my goodness, did they need it?
41:34 They got Morgan Moses, Tyron Smith, John Simpson.
41:38 >> Tyron Smith's on with the Jets?
41:40 >> Yeah, I mean, that O-line is completely rebuilt.
41:44 And then I would say the other couple of moves would be the Texans.
41:50 Like you said with Joe Mixon, they could not run the ball last year.
41:54 >> They can run the ball next year, my God.
41:56 >> It's over.
41:58 >> I'm gonna say, I'm just gonna have the Neil Hunter,
42:00 the other one going to Houston.
42:02 That's a huge gift for them.
42:04 >> I'm just gonna have Richard Ferron host the show next week cuz my stats have been
42:07 completely off.
42:08 Dan Morgan was drafted in 2001 by the Panthers.
42:11 Julius Peppers was in 2002.
42:12 Thank you, Richard, for keeping me honest cuz it's early in the morning.
42:16 Yeah, all those moves, I felt like, yeah, those are all huge around the league.
42:22 I guess Derrick Henry going to Baltimore is a big deal too,
42:25 although we'll see what's left in the tank there.
42:28 I don't think they necessarily needed Derrick Henry cuz they were the number one
42:31 Russian offense without him.
42:32 >> They didn't run the ball in the playoffs, they chose that.
42:35 >> Yeah, I don't know what happened.
42:36 It's almost like they wanted to prove that Lamar could win it with his arm.
42:39 And I'm so tired of, if it was Lamar,
42:41 if it was the coaches trying to do this.
42:43 Cuz Kyle Shanahan did the same thing in the Super Bowl,
42:45 trying to prove that they could win a certain way when they were running the ball
42:49 in the first half and then they went away from it.
42:52 Don't get too cute.
42:53 [LAUGH] >> Yeah.
42:54 >> Doing what works, if it keeps working, then just keep doing it.
42:58 >> All I can say though is Derrick Henry is going to have
43:03 the most room running the ball that he's ever had.
43:07 >> My God.
43:08 >> In his entire career.
43:09 >> It'll be like him running in the gym, like on a treadmill, like there's no one.
43:13 [LAUGH] >> I got two yards before I hit somebody?
43:16 >> That was crazy.
43:17 >> I can build up speed before I run into you.
43:19 >> That's when people start turning around and running the other way.
43:22 >> Yeah.
43:23 [LAUGH] >> We start that neck and
43:25 business decision, coach.
43:26 >> [LAUGH] >> So Baltimore, we'll see.
43:29 It looks like it's gonna come down to the usual suspects in the AFC,
43:32 Baltimore, like I said, Pittsburgh.
43:36 Mike Tomlin is still there.
43:37 They had a defense last year, that's why they won ten games.
43:40 And now you're giving them quarterbacks?
43:42 [LAUGH] >> Buffalo is the wild card to me,
43:44 because there's this somewhat kind of a friction, but
43:47 not really type of friction with Stephon Diggs.
43:51 I don't know what's going on with that.
43:53 >> I keep hearing the entry into Dallas, actually.
43:55 >> I just, I don't know, did Buffalo miss their window?
43:59 Like honestly, they did that.
44:00 >> I think so.
44:01 Remember, I've always said these teams have three, four year windows.
44:05 And once they reach the conference championship game in my mind, and
44:07 that was year four this past season for Buffalo.
44:11 Cuz just inevitably the team gets broken apart, salary cap, retirements,
44:14 injuries, cuts, things of that sort.
44:17 Even the Patriots, Brady's Super Bowls were stretched out over what,
44:22 like 12 years or whatever?
44:23 But it was like his first four years.
44:25 >> Reload.
44:26 >> And then they had to reload, and that took them like eight years before they got
44:28 back, and then they were in there three or four years in a row again.
44:31 So those windows are about three or four years.
44:32 And I think the problem is the Bills division is gonna start
44:38 catching back up to them with the Dolphins, see what the Patriots do.
44:42 >> The Jets.
44:45 >> The Jets, if Rodgers- >> And A-Rod, and A-Rod,
44:48 we got a new offensive line.
44:51 >> So that might have been it last- >> We got them all models up there.
44:54 >> Yeah, so that might have been it last year for the Bills, but we'll see.
44:57 And again, the AFC reminds me of the 1990s NBA Eastern Conference,
45:03 when Jordan was running around, and Pat Mahomes is Michael Jordan.
45:07 Nobody's gonna eat until they can beat Pat Mahomes, and
45:10 I have no reason to believe that any of them are gonna beat him.
45:13 >> You gotta go through the man.
45:14 >> You gotta go through him, I mean, and beat him in January, and then we'll talk.
45:18 But until then, it's Pat Mahomes' world, man.
45:21 I saw he just restructured his contract again or something.
45:24 So he just got some extra money again.
45:26 >> When you get half a billion dollars, you can restructure that.
45:28 >> Yeah, there's some room to move some things around.
45:31 >> Which is smart, because it gives guys an opportunity to re-up and
45:37 stay on the team and go sign some guys.
45:40 That's what some of these other quarterbacks need to be thinking about doing.
45:42 >> For real.
45:43 Zach Jose says, Panthers need to get Zach Frazier for the future center.
45:46 Also, is there any way we can get Julian Council or John Ellis for future podcasts?
45:50 I think what we usually do in the preseason, like in August,
45:53 is when we invite on beat writers like Joe Person and some others.
45:58 We'll probably have some Believe podcast hosts on.
46:00 As we get into August, we usually take a break, I think usually after the draft.
46:05 So we'll just kind of see what happens there.
46:08 Before we get out of here, of course, it's March Madness.
46:11 Western Union didn't make the turning, did they?
46:16 No. >> No, they got snubbed, man.
46:17 They got absolutely snubbed.
46:19 They had 22 quality losses, okay?
46:23 That's the most of any team in the country.
46:26 They got left out, so.
46:27 >> [LAUGH] >> Gotta hang in there.
46:29 >> I don't know.
46:29 >> I'm excited about it.
46:31 >> Expand this thing to 96 teams today.
46:34 >> I just heard 22 losses, that's all I heard.
46:36 >> [LAUGH] >> Did Oregon get in?
46:38 Oregon got in, didn't they?
46:39 >> Yes.
46:40 >> We won the Pac-12 championship.
46:42 >> That's right.
46:43 >> [CROSSTALK] >> South Carolina.
46:47 >> They got South Carolina?
46:49 >> Yeah. >> Top 25, I see it now.
46:51 It's on TNT, 4 PM Thursday.
46:53 Let me just go ahead and pull this thing up real quick.
46:56 The final four picks, I'm gonna get you guys final four picks.
46:59 Well, before the whole thing starts, as you all probably know,
47:03 my Tar Heels lost to NC State in the ACC tournament final on Saturday.
47:08 And a lot of people were like, you must be so upset, blah, blah, blah.
47:11 I really wasn't.
47:12 I had so many childhood friends that were Wolfpack fans that had never seen their
47:18 team win a conference championship in any major sport.
47:21 That was the first since 1987.
47:23 The NC State had won something like that.
47:25 So I was actually pretty happy for them when the game was over,
47:27 knowing that Carolina was still gonna get a one seed.
47:30 Carolina's gonna start off in the west.
47:31 They're gonna throw Arizona in there, cuz that's what they want.
47:34 They want Carolina, Arizona, and the Elite Eight, and that's what they did.
47:38 >> I do know there are some NC State fans that are kind of having this bittersweet
47:43 feeling, cuz they were ready to get rid of Kevin Keats.
47:45 And now you can't get rid of him now.
47:48 >> Automatic two year extension.
47:50 >> If he comes back next year and they're missing the tournament,
47:54 [LAUGH] that's gonna be hard to swallow.
47:58 >> But I will say this for those that are thinking this is a repeat of the cardiac
48:02 pack from 1983 and everything else.
48:05 They are playing Texas Tech round one, 9.40 PM on CBS Thursday night.
48:09 This is gonna end right there, I'm sorry.
48:11 This is gonna be over by midnight.
48:12 >> I have been winning that game, but they're not beating-
48:15 >> Really?
48:16 >> Yeah, they're not beating- >> Yeah,
48:16 the Kentucky's right after that, probably.
48:18 Unless Oakland can do some kind of upset here.
48:21 Give me your final four predictions, guys.
48:23 Have you done a bracket yet?
48:26 >> I just did mine this morning on my show.
48:28 If you want the full bracket, go to Mountaineers Now on YouTube, and
48:34 you can copy my picks.
48:35 It'll be the first perfect bracket ever, so.
48:37 >> [LAUGH] >> But I got you-
48:41 >> I got you, Conn and Carolina on the one
48:45 side, and then the other side I have Creighton and Kentucky.
48:51 >> Wow.
48:53 >> So, yeah.
48:55 >> All right.
48:55 >> [LAUGH] >> The way I think of it is,
48:59 Tennessee is vulnerable in that region.
49:03 Purdue never has success deep into the turn.
49:07 So, Creighton's the three seed, so it only makes sense that they would have
49:12 the next easiest path, and that's how I found it there.
49:14 I had UConn playing Kentucky in the title and UConn repeating.
49:21 >> Stu?
49:24 >> Well, I got Houston in the south.
49:27 >> I got you.
49:28 >> Got UConn and Purdue.
49:32 >> Hm.
49:33 >> And I hate to say this one, but Arizona.
49:37 >> Damn it, Stu.
49:41 You got them beating Carolina.
49:43 >> Yeah.
49:43 >> [LAUGH] >> I don't mess with Carolina like that.
49:46 >> I know, you're a left coast guy.
49:49 >> Yeah, left coast, best coast.
49:51 >> [LAUGH] >> But I will say though,
49:53 Oregon will beat South Carolina.
49:57 That will be an upset.
49:58 >> I can see it.
50:01 >> Yeah, I can see it.
50:02 I've got, of course, Carolina.
50:05 I've got Purdue losing early.
50:08 I think I got UConn losing early too.
50:11 Two stats that I saw, Purdue the past three or four tournaments,
50:15 they've lost a double digit seeds.
50:17 Don't forget last year, Purdue was a one seed, lost the 16 seed.
50:20 >> Yeah.
50:21 >> The year before that, they lost a 12 seed or a 14 or something like that.
50:25 So I'm not too sold on Purdue.
50:27 And then I saw another stat where it's like the past five or
50:30 six defending national champions who have received a one seed the following year,
50:35 did not make it to the sweet 16.
50:37 So I'm like, okay, that puts UConn in the crosshairs because who's the one team that
50:41 would mess up America's brackets?
50:43 That's how I kind of do this now, because of the way college basketball is.
50:46 Who's the one team, if they lost early,
50:48 would screw up the entire nation's bracket?
50:50 Last year it was Purdue.
50:52 >> Purdue will do it again.
50:53 >> This year, I think it's UConn.
50:55 Everyone's picking UConn to win the whole thing.
50:57 >> I think- >> They might not make it out of
50:58 the first weekend.
50:58 >> Honestly, and I hate to say this, but it could be Carolina.
51:03 >> To what, lose early?
51:04 >> I mean, Michigan State, Mississippi State, whoever comes out of that game,
51:09 they're gonna give Carolina a tough game.
51:10 I don't know if they're gonna lose, but that could be a tough game for them.
51:15 Either way.
51:16 >> I do think that they didn't do UConn any favors.
51:18 >> I would beg everybody to stay sick.
51:20 >> [LAUGH] I do have to say, they didn't do UConn any favors.
51:25 UConn's supposed to be the number one overall seed.
51:28 But if you look at the East, you have the SEC tournament champion,
51:32 the Big Ten tournament champion, the Big 12 tournament champion.
51:35 San Diego State's in there, Florida Atlantic is maybe their second round
51:38 opponent, both of them were in the Final Four with UConn last year.
51:41 This is not the easiest bracket on the thing, so
51:44 they did not do UConn any favors at all.
51:46 But I think I had Carolina and Tennessee in the final, I remember that.
51:51 It was Carolina, Tennessee, Houston, and I can't remember the third one at this moment.
51:57 I can't get to my ESPN bracket, it's locking me out.
51:59 Cuz apparently I don't know my password, so it might have been Purdue.
52:05 No, I had them out early too, but I have Carolina, Tennessee in the final.
52:09 In a rematch from a game they had in December where Carolina beat the Breaks
52:12 off Tennessee the first half, scored 50 on them in a half, 100 by the end of the game.
52:17 Tennessee came back, Dalton got hurt with two minutes to go in the game and
52:22 that kinda ended it, so we'll see.
52:25 But before we get out here, who should we do next for the ultimate 53?
52:29 Now that we've done, I think we've all agreed,
52:31 Ryan Khalil's is gonna be the center, so the offensive line is complete.
52:35 We've got- >> Let's get to them pass rushers.
52:38 >> You wanna go to the defense?
52:39 Cuz I was gonna say we could do tight ends.
52:40 >> We've got any trouble offense?
52:41 >> No, we still got tight ends and we still have running backs.
52:44 I've been saving the running backs.
52:46 >> Let's do tight ends next.
52:48 >> Okay, cuz we- >> Save running backs.
52:49 >> The couple, man, Greg Olsen, Jeremy Schottky, Wesley Walls.
52:55 >> Wesley Walls, I can just give you that one.
52:58 Wesley Walls.
52:59 >> Wesley Walls was the problem.
53:01 Really the first real tight end we had in this franchise that you had to kinda
53:05 scheme for, kinda the template.
53:08 >> Greg Olsen.
53:09 >> Greg Olsen.
53:10 >> Wesley Walls.
53:11 If anybody else has anything to say about it.
53:14 >> They're gonna just- >> [LAUGH]
53:16 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
53:17 >> I mean- >> We might need to send you to
53:19 a psych board.
53:19 >> Like who else can you put in there?
53:21 >> I mean, Hayden Hirsch did have a really good one year.
53:25 >> Chris Magnum, I'm trying to think of some other tight ends that,
53:29 who was the one guy, Dante Rosario, or whatever his name was.
53:33 Did I say his name right?
53:34 >> Yeah, Dante Rosario.
53:35 >> Was it Rosario?
53:36 Yeah. >> Yep.
53:37 >> I remember him having a huge,
53:39 like something happened in a game in San Diego or something at the beginning.
53:41 >> Yeah, so that was my rookie year.
53:43 >> Yeah.
53:44 >> So did I tell you about my rookie year trip, my first game?
53:48 >> No.
53:49 >> Yeah, about him getting sick?
53:51 >> Yeah, but it was that game.
53:52 But it was that game.
53:53 We went to San Diego.
53:55 And before we get out of here, we went to San Diego, got sick on the plane,
54:00 ate some shellfish, shouldn't have eaten it, almost died.
54:03 >> He never watched Airplane before.
54:05 >> Ended up getting, having the trainers make me, what's it gonna call it?
54:12 Some medicine, and knocked me out on the plane, woke up next to Moosa Muhammad in
54:18 the front of the plane, went to practice that day, and we were there, and that was good.
54:23 And then, but it was a really great first away game experience,
54:28 because it was everything that you wanted in the game.
54:32 It comes down to the wire, Jake DeLone finds Dante Rosario in the back of
54:37 the end zone for the game winning touchdown.
54:39 And I just remember being on the sideline,
54:41 I just ran straight to Dante Rosario in the end zone.
54:45 And I just picked him up and threw him against the wall.
54:48 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm like, yeah!
54:50 >> [LAUGH] >> Anyways,
54:53 that's my Parasaurus story.
54:55 >> You don't eat fish on airplanes anymore, is that?
54:59 >> No, shellfish.
55:00 >> Shellfish, he was gonna eat more.
55:02 >> I can eat fish.
55:04 It was shrimp tails, and I don't eat shrimp, I'm allergic to shellfish.
55:09 >> See, I don't trust shrimp unless it's from a hibachi restaurant or
55:12 something like that.
55:13 If it's from an Arigato's or something cooked right in front of me,
55:16 then I'll eat it like that.
55:17 But when I walk in a grocery store, if I walk into a Harris Teeter and
55:21 I see that thing, that little display at the front with the chilled shrimp or
55:24 whatever with the cocktail sauce, I don't trust that.
55:26 I don't know.
55:27 >> Is this the place?
55:28 >> I don't like that.
55:29 >> Yeah, that's it, right there.
55:31 >> Yeah.
55:31 >> Nice.
55:32 >> Well done, well done.
55:33 >> Shout out to Dante Rosario.
55:36 Dante Rosario is one of the best run blockers that I had the privilege to run
55:42 behind, he just had a knack for reaching guys on the edge.
55:47 And so making sure that thing was wide open for your boy.
55:53 >> So okay, so we'll do tight ends next week.
55:54 Do we wanna do running backs too?
55:55 So I've been doing two positions a week.
55:57 You wanna go ahead and do running backs?
55:58 >> Running backs, yeah, cuz we're running away.
56:00 >> And we need to figure out how many.
56:01 So tight ends, I think we keep two?
56:04 >> Yeah.
56:05 >> Running backs, four.
56:07 >> You gotta get three, right?
56:09 At least three.
56:10 >> I was gonna say four for running back, cuz that's gonna be deep.
56:12 I might have to do three different groups.
56:15 >> We're just gonna run the ball a whole- >> Uh-huh.
56:17 >> [LAUGH] >> Yes, sir.
56:19 [LAUGH] Keep pounding.
56:22 So I guess we're gonna do tight ends and running backs next week.
56:24 So for everybody that's watching this right now on Twitter,
56:29 not at the end of the show, go to @BelieveinPanthers.
56:34 Follow us there right now.
56:36 You'll get alerts on when the new polls are up.
56:38 It's fan only voting.
56:41 You'll be able to vote.
56:42 The top two move on in those groups.
56:44 And by the time we get to the end of this, we'll be near the draft and
56:46 we'll have a complete ultimate 53-man roster from Believe.
56:49 So time for us to get out of here.
56:52 Back next week with a new episode.
56:54 We'll have some, who knows what's gonna happen in the next seven days.
56:56 So we'll talk about all that.
56:59 The March Madness will be going on as well.
57:01 Maybe our team will still be alive.
57:02 So appreciate everybody that came in today, whether it was via Twitter,
57:06 YouTube, Facebook, Instagram.
57:09 We really appreciate the support that's been growing here in the off season.
57:13 So definitely thank you for that.
57:15 So for Skylar Callahan, for Jonathan Stewart, this is Desmond Johnson.
57:18 You've been watching and listening to the Believe in Panthers podcast here on
57:21 Believe Podcast Networks, brought to you by BET Online.
57:24 Keep at it.