The Carolina Panthers start to the bye week has produced more disappointment following the two-game losing streak that has pushed to the outside looking in at the NFC playoffs. On Monday, running back Christian McCaffrey was deemed out for the season with an unspecified leg injury which has left many confused and wondering about the future of the star running back. Tuesday shifted the focus to the other side of the football when Donte Jackson was placed on the IR with a groin injury.
Rumors started earlier this college football season when the USC job became open, that Matt Rhule would be a candidate for the vacancy. The rumors didn't stop at USC, as since then LSU, Florida, Virginia Tech have since become open. Matt Rhule has deflected any chance at the possibility of him returning to the college game, but that hasn't stopped the rumors or him being named as a potential candidate for some of the best jobs in college football. Even this week, as the USC and LSU positions were filled, Oklahoma and Notre Dame have since become available as a consequence. That, meant more schools that will reportedly have interest in Rhule, who is just 10-18 in the NFL as a head coach. Interestingly enough, as Rhule keeps being mentioned as a possible candidate for those college vacancies, his job security isn't as high as you'd think for a coach on a seven-year contract. Scott Fowler, Panthers beat reporter for The Charlotte Observer joined Wilson & Norfleet earlier today to talk about these matters, saying: "Were I David Tepper would I fire him? Absolutely not, I don't think they should start the process all over again. But I'd give him a third year, after that they really need to improve in that third year."
Yesterday was a day to forget for the Carolina Panthers, as they fell to the Miami Dolphins 33-10, making it their seventh loss in their last nine games, following a 3-0 start. It was the worst game of Cam Newton's career, as he was eventually benched for backup PJ Walker during the blowout defeat. Earlier today on Wilson & Norfleet, Ross Tucker joined the program to talk about the latest loss for the Panthers. When asked about the job security for Panthers head coach Matt Rhule, Tucker replied: "I think the Carolina Panthers have a bottom five, offensive line and quarterback situation in the NFL. That answer would suggest that the issues that lie within the Panthers organization both on and off the field, are keeping the Panthers to reach their potential under Rhule, and would lead you to believe, that he's not the biggest issue with the team. Will owner David Tepper give Rhule, who is on a seven year contract, time to turn this thing around? Or will the owner who is hungry to win, and win now, while pushing for a new stadium, make a change? Time will tell.
Coming into last Sunday reunion game in Bank of America Stadium with the Washington Football Team, the Carolina Panthers had some high hopes about the remainder of the 2021-22 season and who could blame them. The team had just brought back arguably the most iconic figure in the history of the franchise and then proceed to go on the road to Arizona and take down one of the NFL best teams in dominant fashion.
In Cam Newton's first start back as the QB of the Carolina Panthers, the offense produced 21 points, and looked about as adequate as they could have given, Newton has only been in the saddle for 10 days. They may have been more effective had they not committed costly penalties in a tightly contested one-possession game yesterday afternoon. Fox 46 personality Will Kunkel joined Wilson & Norfleet earlier today, and when asked about the offense, and the penalties he replied: "Penalties bit them again, unfortunately. They are the most penalized team in the NFL, with 81 penalties this season. That's just undisciplined football, and you can't have that stuff. Penalties are usually the mark of a young inexperienced team, but there are veterans on this roster, which calls into question the job Matt Rhule, and his staff is doing to try to instill discipline into their football team. If they want to make a run at that final playoff spot in the NFC, which is still attainable, Carolina will need to crack down their self-inflicted wounds and become a smarter football team in the closing weeks.
Sunday is going to be one of the greatest spectacles in the history of Charlotte sports, as Cam Newton will make his first appearance back in Bank of America stadium, after rejoining the Panthers last week. Earlier this afternoon, on Wilson & Norfleet, the guys were joined by College Football Hall of Famer, and NFL veteran London Fletcher to take a deeper dive into Sunday's matchup against Washington. Washington will bring with them to Carolina just a 3-6 record but Fletcher said "They are coming into this game very confident, but they know it will be another challenge. Fletcher would go on to say that he doesn't believe that Sunday is a revenge game for either Cam Newton or Ron Rivera, before concluding his interview with his opinion on who the best team is in the NFC.
Pro-Bowl Cornerback for the Carolina Panthers AJ Bouye joined Kyle Bailey on Thursday’s edition of the Clubhouse as he discussed the jolt of energy Cam Newton has brought to the locker room, and if this Panthers defense is championship caliber. The conversation started with the impact that Cam Newton has had since his return to […]
Former Panthers and Maryland Terripans DE Al Wallace dropped by the Clubhouse With Kyle Bailey as he reacted to Cam Newton’s return to the Black and Blue, and if the win over Arizona can create some momentum for a team who looked dead in the water a week ago. Al first broke down what he […]
The Panthers Hall of Honor WR turned NFL Network Analyst joined Kyle Bailey on the Clubhouse today to recap the Panthers dominating win over the Cardinals and what he expects from Rivera’s return to the Queen City on Sunday. Steve started off by wanting to give a lot of credit to the Panthers defense for […]
Earlier today on Wilson & Norfleet, Gene Sapakoff from the Charleston Post & Courier joined for an insightful conversation around college football. Gene spoke on the chances that Wake Forest can still make the College Football Playoff, how Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Sweeney will rally the Clemson fan base, and explained why this past weekend's loss to Missouri was a typical South Carolina football loss. All of that conversation led to a question, about current North Carolina QB Sam Howell, who is a junior, participating in this weekend's Senior Day activities, suggesting that Howell will turn pro after the season concludes. When asked if that was the right decision for Howell, Sapakoff replied: " I think it is, and I'm guessing that Sam Howell and his pretty smart family have gotten some good advice on this from NFL people, agents, etc."