Days since the draft: 19; Number of rookies signed: 0; Number of stories from the local media covering the negotiations: 0; Total value of stories appearing in the local media: Worthless!

The local media members had their opportunity.  They had John Fox cornered during the recent luncheon at the Charlotte Touchdown Club.  How many questions did Fox have lobbed his way about contract negotiations with the team’s draft picks?  Zero.  None.  Nada.  Zilch.  Not nary a one!

So, we are to take it that the media are on top of the story, huh?  There they were - 600 people in the room with the head coach of the Carolina Panthers and not one of them thought about asking him if they are close to signing Jonathan Stewart or Jeff Otah to a contract?

Okay, we know how this game is played - players get signed in the order they were drafted in most cases.  That gives the teams and the agents a starting place for negotiations.  I still can’t believe that the team hasn’t at least approached the players’ agents with some semblance of a contract number, though, and the local media (I’d call names but you know and they know who they are) can’t seem to think of such an important question.

The Carolina Panthers have been allotted a rookie pay pool of $5,371,570 to pay their rookies but that’s a number they can work around with bonuses, prorated monies and really creative contract numbers.  That number ranks seventh in the league.  (The Chiefs got over $8 million and ranked first.)

What I’m still not understanding here is this - we have been bombarded by stories of that worthless, cheating, hunk of lard from New England and his video tapes but we can’t get any of these journalistic monoliths (ESPN, NFLN, FOX Sports, or our established local reporters) to run even one story on where the league’s first-round draft talent stand in contract negotiations?

What have we gotten instead?  Let’s recount…

Steve Smith is throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game.  I got a warm fuzzy.

Jonathan Stewart might be returning kickoffs for the Panthers.  It’s news but how can he return kickoffs, take a handoff or even be part of training camp if he isn’t signed to a deal?

What else did we get from that 600-person crowd facing John Fox?

Question:How many games are you going to win this year?

Or how about this?

Question:Are the Panthers going to make opposing defenses not double-team wide receiver Steve Smith this season?

Well, gee, we thought we’d make opposing defenses triple and quadruple team him!  DUH!

This is what passes for serious journalists?  Where are the tough questions like, “Coach, do you prefer the toilet paper flap to hang out the front or the back?”  How about, “Coach, do you squeeze the toothpaste from the middle or from the end and roll it up as you go?”

If the local media, and national media for that matter, will be ignoring it, I can assure you, I won’t.  Hey, I’m just a blogger but I can see the importance of these contract numbers even if these educated pansies don’t.

Why am I ripping these guys a new one, you ask.  I’ll explain it like this - they are supposed to be our eyes and ears, the guys who get us the inside dope, the scoop.  They’re failing as usual.  They’d rather ask “Is there any additional pressure after two consecutive non-winning seasons?”  Seriously, that was one of their questions!  Unbelieveable!  I only wish the coach had said, “You’re too stupid to ask me any questions!  Get them outta here!”

We have $5,371,570 to spend (more or less).  The clock started ticking the day the draft ended.  Days until the start of training camp (as of May 16th): 72.  We’re counting even if nobody else is.

The website for the Marlin Briscoe movie tells the story - “Four decades have passed since Marlin “The Magician” Briscoe became the first African American starting quarterback in the NFL as a rookie for the Denver Broncos in 1968. The dramatic story of Briscoe’s life and career as told in his autobiography “The First Black Quarterback,” is now close to becoming a feature length film with support of actor and Omaha native John Beasley.

He is a remarkable man who has led a remarkable life full of challenges.  He overcame the odds to play quarterback and even longer odds to recover from a terrible addiction.

The movie is currently in the developmental phase which involves a fellow blogger, Brian Miller, the lead writer at Phin Phanatic.

There is much to be told about Briscoe.  Miller has been telling the story in a month-long series.  Part one of the story covered Briscoe’s early life - a poor kid from the projects who had to overcome the pitfalls of growing up in a rough neighborhood and ends with the final days of Briscoe’s NFL career.

Miller’s most recent entry details a life that has spiraled out of control.  “The Magician” had left the game behind and found himself addicted and homeless.

There is much more to tell about a noteworthy man who has lived an extraordiary life.  This incredible story has also been choronicled by Briscoe himself in two interviews.  (Part one is here and part two is here.)

You can follow the remainder of the series at Phin Phanatic.

 The NFL is the greatest sports league in the history of mankind.  Professional football (American football) is the greatest sport ever invented and it comes with a bonus - cheerleaders!

Coming to Bank of America Stadium this season to cheer for the Carolina Panthers are the 2008 TopCats cheerleaders.  The squad will ba made up of 27 ladies who are beautiful, talented and who have all the team spirit one could ask for.  Not to mention the spandex.

Everybody start picking your favorites now!

You can read more about the TopCats at Panthers.com.

Call in the dogs, pee on the fire and pack up your gear.  The hunt is over.  At least the hunt for more evidence in the Spygate saga is over.

Yesterday, Roger Goodell read us a bedtime story, sang us a lullaby, tucked us in and told us that everything was going to be okay.  The old Boogie man, Bill Belichick, isn’t going to come after us anymore.

A newspaper has had to apologize.  Still, Senator Arlen Specter isn’t happy with things and wants an investigation.

The long nightmare is over.  We think.  The offseason is not over, however, so, now that the big story is getting the “we told you we punished them enough” treatment, we’re left with little to do but sit and wait for training camp to start.

That’s where I come in.  I’m a blogger.  It’s what I do.  I write.  I create reasons to bring you all back here…I hope.  Thus begins another edition of Fill in the Blank. Continue Reading »

The Charlotte Observer ran the following update on the death of Curtis Whitley, the Carolina Panthers former center:

The cause of the death of former Panthers’ center Curtis Whitley still isn’t known, but there is new information to report.

He was found dead at around 6 p.m. Sunday — Mother’s Day, and one day after his 39th birthday — in his trailer in Fort Stockton, Tx., where he’d be living since October, according to a Texas law enforcement official and Whitley’s brother.

The Pecos County Sheriff’s office says there was no sign of foul play and no reason to believe the death was a homicide. It is being called an unattended accidental death, pending an autopsy.

His body was sent to El Paso, Tx., for the autopsy, and is expected to be flown home to North Carolina on Wednesday.

A private ceremony for only immediately family members, per Curtis’ request, is planned for Thursday or Friday near his hometown of Smithfield, N.C.

Whitley, a former Clemson standout, played for the Panthers in 1995 and ‘96, the team’s first two seasons. He started 24 games and was suspended four games in ‘96 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The team released him after the season and he played for the Oakland Raiders in ‘97 before getting suspended again.

Cat Crave Radio is back with Episode nine!  We want to thank Brian Miller of Phin Phanatic.com for joining us this week to talk some Panthers!

You can listen by selecting the audio file below or just go to our Radio Page to check it out!

 

 Cat Crave Radio Episode Nine: May 11 [29:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Episode Nine- May 11, 2008                                                                                               

In Episode Nine…

• News
• Panther Profiles - John Kasay
• NFL Insider - Brian Miller (Phin Phanatic.com)
• Final Thoughts - Need to Know

Curtis Whitley, a former Carolina Panthers center, was found dead in Texas according to his family.  Details of the cause of death are still unknown.  The family informed the media that they were also awaiting further information.

The family learned of his death early Monday.  The Charlotte Observer reported the following:

Family members said Monday night that they learned earlier in the day that Whitley, who turned 39 on Saturday, had been found dead in Texas, where he was living. They were awaiting details about the cause of his death.

Whitley started every game during the Panthers’ inaugural 1995 season, then made eight starts in ‘96 before getting suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

He resurfaced with Oakland in 1997, but was suspended again before the ‘98 season and didn’t play in the league again.

Whitley is a Smithfield native who played at Clemson. San Diego picked him in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL draft.

The Panthers chose him in the expansion draft. It was originally announced the 1996 suspension was alcohol-related, but Whitley later admitted he had inhaled crystal methamphetamine.

Whitley turned 39 this past Saturday.

Question:  What does a team receive in return for back-to-back non-winning seasons?  Answer: An opening day road trip to the west coast to play a team that has 25 regular season wins and a conference championship game appearance in the last two seasons.

Talk about not getting the benefit of a losing record!  Whatever happened to playing an easier schedule due to lack of wins the season before?

These are the cards our Carolina Panthers have been dealt.  Now they have to play the hand.  Folding isn’t an option.  It’s time to go all in. Continue Reading »

Cat Crave Radio is back with Episode nine!  We want to thank Brian Miller of Phin Phanatic.com for joining us this week to talk some Panthers!

You can listen by selecting the audio file below or just go to our Radio Page to check it out!

 

 Cat Crave Radio Episode Nine: May 11 [29:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Episode Nine- May 11, 2008                                                                                               

In Episode Nine…

• News
• Panther Profiles - John Kasay
• NFL Insider - Brian Miller (Phin Phanatic.com)
• Final Thoughts - Need to Know

 

 

 

For eight weeks (nine when we post this week) I’ve run my mouth endlessly on Cat Crave Radio.  Now, here’s your chance to talk back.

Call or email us and sound off on the Panthers, the NFL, the hosts, the show - we just want to hear from you.  It’s perfectly okay to tell us what you think of the show or the team.  We only ask that you don’t curse, at least not much, anyway.

Take advantage, Carolina Panthers fans.  Make your feelings known!  We’ll be using the best voicemails and emails on the show.

Here’s the contact information:

Email:  jkdub1@gmail.com

Phone: (417) 459-4465