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August 28, 2008
Night off for the starters
PITTSBURGH -- For the first time in franchise history, the Panthers' starters on offense and defense are being held out of the final exhibition.
In a bit of a surprise move, coach John Fox is resting his first- and second- teamers on both sides of the ball. He clearly doesn't want to risk an injury, especially after last week's impressive 47-3 win at home over Washington.
Furthermore, it looks like neither of the team's top two running backs, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will play.
And despite the fact that pregame notes handed out in the press box said Ricardo Colclough would be the kickoff and punt returner, newcomer Samie Parker handled the first punt return.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on August 28, 2008 at 07:15 PM | Permalink
Comments
Smartest move EVER by the Panthers coaches...Thank you! The Preseason is meaningless at this point.
Posted by: RK | Aug 28, 2008 8:48:33 PM
Wow...Matt Moore. He makes things HAPPEN. I suggest, no, DEMAND he be the starter come week one. Move over, Joe Montana.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 28, 2008 9:16:29 PM
I surely hope Hurney and Fox will pick up a vet. QB next week. Moore has looked pretty bad during the preseason and he is clearly not ready to play if needed.
Posted by: J Thomas | Aug 28, 2008 9:16:36 PM
I'm not a market that is broadcasting the game, so I’m watching the live play-by-play on NFL.com and while I have no idea how bad it appears Matt Moore was just injured.
Posted by: Ryan H | Aug 28, 2008 9:22:30 PM
all week i heard brett was going to play and now Matt gets injured, can you blog guys please tell us WHY matt moore is playing???!!
Posted by: wtf | Aug 28, 2008 9:26:27 PM
wtf, Brett's playing now, but I know what you mean.
Posted by: Ryan H | Aug 28, 2008 9:29:50 PM
I will note that Dominique Thompson and Stanley McClover, a couple of potential bubble guys, have looked good tonight. Thompson was almost exclusively a returner in StL, so I'm very surprised he's never even gotten a practice shot since he's been here.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 28, 2008 9:46:55 PM
Absolutely brilliant move by Fox & company to hold out the starters. I have been wanting to see what the backups can do against starters! Absolutely brilliant!!
About WR D. Thompson, I've been on his bandwagon, but was gunshy about saying so since some of these players just don't seem to make the roster despite their efforts and achievements in these preaseason games. Frankly, I still don't think he'll make the cut, even though he has been the leading WR this preaseason going into this game, and definately moreso afterwards.
About the QB situation, yeah! How do you like me now all you Favre haters!! I still am glad the team took the approach they did though. The last thing the Panthers needed was more bad media hype.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Aug 29, 2008 12:01:49 AM
Farve had no place on this team. He wouldn't have beaten Jake, he wouldn't have wanted to be a backup, he would have been too expense, and he's too much of a drama queen.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 29, 2008 12:14:47 AM
I 100% agree that Jake is hands down better than Moore and the starter for this team, but I hope you are not trying to argue that Jake has looked "good" this preseason.
Posted by: Mason | Aug 29, 2008 8:49:15 AM
Procton,
Brett Farve would have run circles around Jake in training camp and preseason this year if he had been brought in. Period. Check. The End.
Now it would have been a huge distraction and probally bad for the overall team chemistry but to say that in an honest, open competition Jake would have won the job over Farve is completely ludicrous.
Oh and don’t even bother to give me the “16th rated QB in NFL history” crap either.
Posted by: J Thomas | Aug 29, 2008 10:29:45 AM
You're right...nobody wouldn't want a drama queen gunslinger who throws the ball into worse coverage than Delhomme even thinks about and who doesn't even care enough about his team or its success to make his mind up about playing. There'a a model NFL player.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 29, 2008 1:30:16 PM
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