Inside the Panthers

Fox: Stewart could return kickoffs

First-round pick Jonathan Stewart could be the Panthers' primary kickoff returner as well as their featured running back.

Asked at the Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon earlier today who would be the team's kickoff returner this season, Fox said:

"Jonathan Stewart was one of the leaders in the country, as well as leading the Pac-10. He's the guy who'll start off with those duties when we go to (training) camp. Not only is he an outstanding running back, but that was one of the key factors but in our search for a kickoff returner -- that we were able to address that."

Stewart returned 58 kickoffs at Oregon for a 28.69-yard average, with two touchdowns. He ranked third in the Pac-10 last season as a junior.

Fox said he wasn't concerned about one of his top running backs also being exposed to injuries as a kick returner.

At 5-10, 233 pounds, with 4.45 speed in the 40-yard dash, Stewart would be one of the NFL's biggest, most powerful kickoff returners. Fox said there had been big kickoff returners before, but then couldn't name one.

But Panthers.com editor David Monroe thought of a good one -- Herschel Walker.

Carolina ranked 31st in the 32-team NFL in kickoff returns last season, averaging 19.1 yards per return. That's the lowest average in team history, with the second lowest coming the year before (19.4) in 2006.

The Panthers other leading candidates to return kickoffs are reserve cornerback Ricardo Colclough, a free agent signee, and second-year pro Ryne Robinson.

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Fox made it clear that third-round pick Charles Godfrey of Iowa made a strong impression in his first minicamp. Godfrey practiced at free safety with the first-team defense after playing cornerback the past two seasons in college.

"He adapted well," Fox said of Godfrey. "It didn't look like it was too big for him. He fit in well. Our players liked him."

Fox said receiver Steve Smith came back to the huddle at one point, saying, "Man, (number) 30 is pretty good."

"Smitty doesn't give out a lot of compliments," Fox said, smiling.

-- Charles Chandler

Memorials for Whitley ...

In lieu of flowers, the family of former Panthers center Curtis Whitley has asked that contributions in his memory be sent to Reins From Above, 12160 Highway 42 East, Kenly, NC 27524.

Curtis Whitley update

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.

More information on his passing in tomorrow's Observer.

-- Charles Chandler

Shhh! ... It's a surprise ...

Many Panthers fans won't like this, because it joins a growing list of national media outlets with repesentatives speaking out and saying Carolina could be a comeback playoff team next season.

First, it was SI's Peter King. Now, it's ESPN's John Clayton, who lists the Panthers as the No. 1 surprise team in the NFL for the 2008 season.

Clayton says, with the return of quarterback Jake Delhomme and the renewed emphasis on a power running attack, the Panthers could win 10 games and make the playoffs.

-- Charles Chandler

Sad News

Former Panthers center Curtis Whitley has died. His family learned today that he had been found dead in Texas, where he was living. Two family members said they were still awaiting details on his cause of death.

Whitley, a Smithfield native and former Clemson player, played for the Panthers in 1995 and '96. He started 24 games before getting suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The Panthers later released him and he resurfaced with the Oakland Raiders in 1997.

Whitley's 39th birthday was Saturday.

-- Charles Chandler

By the (receiving) numbers

Panthers wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad probably hasn't thought about it, but his return is likely to secure one important team record for at least a few more years.  Muhammad, who played for Carolina from 1996 through 2004, has 578 receptions, the most in franchise history. If he plays at all regularly, he should blow past 600 this year.

Which means fellow receiver Steve Smith, who has 431 catches, will stay No.2 awhile longer.

Carolina, of course, has only been in the NFL since 1995, which means its various top tens aren't exactly dotted with Hall of Famers.

While Wesley Walls -- a superb tight end -- is No.3 with 324 grabs, the rest of the list doesn't conjure up images of Jerry Rice.

No.4 is Mark Carrier (176 receptions), a solid performer who made one Pro Bowl (with Tampa Bay, not the Panthers) in his 12-year career. He's followed by Kris Mangum (151), Brad Hoover (135), Donald Hayes (132), DeShaun Foster (126), Rocket Ismail (117) and Keary Colbert (109).

Then consider that the Colts' Marvin Harrison caught 143 passes in 2002 alone, a total that would be good for No.6 on Carolina's career list.

Which means that if free agent signee D.J. Hackett, whom I wrote about for Thursday's paper, has two simply respectable seasons with the Panthers, he could jump right into the Top Ten.

• By the way, Smith's 103 catches in 2005 is the club single-season record. But it's tied for 32nd on the NFL's overall list. -- Stan Olson

Replace NFL shield at midfield?

    You may have seen the petition, floating around Panthers' message boards and popping up regularly on our blogs. Its point is to get the team to switch its midfield logo in Bank of America Stadium from the NFL's famed "Shield" to Carolina's stylized big cat.

    The petition was organized by a group called Fans For The Logo, although no individuals are named. The explanation of the petition reads in part: "This petition is to show Mr. Richardson (owner Jerry) an example of how much it means to the fans for us to have our own logo on our football field. What would Dallas be without the star or even the Colts without their logo? Fans take pride and ownership in some of the simplest things."

    And while I can think of many more important things to spend one's time on, as fans they have every right to pursue this one.

    So I called the club to see if changing the midfield logo was a possibility, or even on the team's radar at this point.

    A team spokesman said there are no plans to make changes at this time. He reiterated that Carolina officials believe that the NFL logo reflects the respect for the league and reinforces its popularity, just as the script "Carolina Panthers" in the end zones reflect the popularity of the team.

Still, the team knows about the drive.

"The Panthers are aware of it (the petition) and appreciate the passion of their fans," the spokesman said.

    So that, at least at this point, is that.

-- Stan Olson

Panthers play the numbers game

    When Charles Chandler blogged that new Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, who was wearing No.29 in minicamp, was given the No.28 he favored by backup safety Quinton Teal, it got me to thinking.  We had already heard that veteran wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who had been wearing 87 his whole career, was given it for free by third-year tight end Jeff King, who then switched to 47.

    Now, in this all-business day and age it has become something of a tradition for athletes to sell their numbers to teammates who want them for one reason or another. And Muhammad and Stewart, who each make considerably more than the guys who gave them the numbers, could have afforded to pay.

    But there's more going on here than that; the fact that the two players freely gave the numbers has to be a boost for team chemistry; after all, they are just numbers, and if key players are going to be more happy in them, why not keep everyone in a positive frame of mind?

    I applaud Teal and King; although I probably would have held out for at least a Rolex.

    By the way, some other new numbers you may not be familiar with include offensive tackle Jeff Otah (79), defensive tackle Darwin Walker (93, Mike Rucker's old number), DT Ian Scott (94), linebacker Landon Johnson (54), wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18), defensive end Tyler Brayton (96), cornerback Charles Godfrey (30, Mike Minter's old number), linebacker Dan Connor (44) and guards Keydrick Vincent (68), Toniu Fonoti (77, Kris Jenkins' old number) and Milford Brown (61).

-- Stan Olson

Moore: If Jake can't go, I'm ready

As it stands right now, if anything happens to Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme this season, or if his comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery hits a snag, the Carolina Panthers plan to turn to Matt Moore.

    And now Moore believes he would be ready.

    “Absolutely,” he said at Carolina’s minicamp last weekend. And he credits the three starts he made at the end of last season for his readiness.

    “I’ve been saying all along that there’s nothing like game experience, and I got a decent amount last year,” Moore said. “So it really helped me out, and kind of prepared me for this year, and I just know the ropes that much better. It’s definitely kind of catapulted me to where I need to be, I think.”

    Moore said getting thrown into the public eye as a starter was a dramatic change for him.

    “It was kind of weird. But now it’s kind of different going in. People have seen me play. I don’t want to say I’ve proved myself because I haven’t, but there’s no mystery, I guess, anymore, about what I can do.

    “I always felt that I was here for a purpose, and if something were ever to happen — hoping that it wouldn’t — that I’d be able to do my job. And last year, I don’t want to say everything kind of fell into place because some unfortunate incidents happened, but that led me to find out if I could do my job.”

In case you missed it, there was a story on Moore in Tuesday's Observer, with Charles Chandler writing about the man who would be Carolina’s future QB.

-- Stan Olson

Stewart switching jersey numbers

    After spending last weekend's minicamp in jersey No. 29, Panthers first-round pick Jonathan Stewart (pictured) is getting the No. 28 he's worn since high school.

     Because safety Quinton Teal, a second-year pro from Coastal Carolina, had No. 28, Stewart was initially given the option of taking No. 29 or No. 30. He chose 29 and wore it at all five minicamp practices. He's recovering from toe surgery and watched from the sidelines.

     Stewart and Teal were introduced over the weekend and became friends. Teal had no allegiance to No. 28 and readily gave it up to Stewart. Teal is now in No. 29.

      The Panthers wanted to get Stewart's permanent number settled now, both for his comfort and so that sportswear manufacturers can begin producing Stewart jerseys to sell to the public.

     The Panthers picked Stewart with the 13th overall selection in the NFL draft April 26. They believe he is an ideal fit for the power running attack they want. He rushed for 1,722 yards, 11 touchdowns and a 6.2-yard average last season at Oregon.

     Teal was undrafted in 2007 and has a chance to make the team as a backup safety.

-- Charles Chandler