Tom Talks

Less than a leader

     After rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen apologized to linebacker Jon Beason Sunday, Steve Smith offered one of the best quotes of the season.

     "I'm the last guy to tell anybody to be apologizing," the veteran receiver told reporters. "But if you're going to apologize, you should apologize to people that's in the huddle with you. But he has a lot to learn. He ain't at Notre Dame anymore, that's for sure."

     The quote offered sportswriters something to write and broadcasters something to broadcast.

     But what does it do for the Panthers?

     Does it make the Panthers better?

     Does it make Clausen better?

     Does it enhance the Smith-Clausen relationship?

     Is this leadership? If so, how? Where does it lead?

     Some fans think that the guy with the loudest voice is the guy that cares the most.

     They're wrong.

    

    

Will Brett play? Will he not play? And why does it matter?

    I don't care about awards. I had no interest in the Heisman Trophy. I think the NCAA should award a trophy for Most Outrageous Heisman dad. Cecil Newton, father of Heisman winner Cam, would win. I want to hear the speech.

    I don't care about streaks. For awhile, Brett Favre's was a testament to his willingness to play hurt.

    The streak now has more do with Favre hurting his team. 

     It has become less about how Favre plays than about how many consecutive games -- 297 -- he has played. Maybe he plays tonight against the New York Giants. Maybe he doesn't.

    Doesn't really matter either way.

    Favre was a warrior once -- a blue-collar taker of chances who got hit, got back up and had so much fun.   Now he's a guy who clings to what he once was, unsuccessfully.

     

 

Is Michael still angry?

    Michael Jordan is at the Carolina-Atlanta game. He allegedly yelled at his Charlotte Bobcats Saturday after the horrific loss to Boston. Maybe he'll yell at the Panthers after the loss to Atlanta.

Clausen sacked. Also, it's Sunday. And Panthers are losing. And fans are leaving.

   Panthers go for it on fourth and four and Clausen sacked. From now on, I'll write only when Clausen is not sacked. He's completed four passes for 18 yards. He's been sacked five times for 31. It's not news when he's sacked. It's news when he is not. 

Falcons cling to 17-0 halftime lead

   Falcons lead the Panthers 17-0 at the half. High point for the Panthers so far has been the play on which Jimmy Clausen was not sacked.

    Been like one long STAY IN SCHOOL campaign for Stanford redshirt sophomore Andrew Luck.

       

Falcons cling -- yes, cling -- to a 14-0 lead

   All the Falcons are doing is angering Carolina. Carolina fumbles on its first possession and punts on its second. Atlanta scores a touchdown on its first possession and a touchdown on its second. Atlanta leads 14-0.

    Way to go, Falcons.

    The sleeping giant will awake.

    But probably not this season.

 

Atlanta clings to a 7-0 lead

    This could be bad. This could be New England 2001 bad. The Panthers fumble on their first play from scrimmage and lose the ball, and the Falcons score three plays later. Panthers have run three times and thrown a tepid pass along the line of scrimmage before punting.

    In 2001, in George Seifert's final season, the Panthers lost their final game to the Patriots, at home, 38-6. The game was not as close as the score.

    The stadium is about a third full today. Never has driving to the stadium been easier. It was more like a Saturday than a Sunday. Few tailgaters. Lots of empty tents.

    And, because Panther fans want the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, lots of support for the visitors.

What's in a name?

   I wrote Thursday that the Bobcats ought to spend their money, if they have any to spend, on talent and not on branding. In other words, remain the Bobcats. Instead of undergoing the staggering cost of changing the team's name to the Hornets (if the name becomes available) and all that the name change entails, spend it on a player.

    That said, Hornets is a much better name than Bobcats. Hornets evokes wonderful memories, many of which readers have shared with me after the column ran.

    I wouldn't mind if the NBA enacted a rule that said teams can leave town, but can't take their name with them.

    Utah has as much to do with Jazz as New Orleans does with Hornets. Salt Lake City does have one great jazz club. Thursday is wives' night. First wife gets in for half price,  second, third, and fourth wives get in free.

    Lakers is a Minnesota and Minneapolis name. I grew up in Minneapolis and Lake Harriett  was four blocks away and Lake Calhoun  was eight. Lakers has nothing to do with Los Angeles.

    Yet the name fits. The name sounds right, the L in Los Angeles playing off the L in Lakers. Calling Los Angeles the Lakers is  like calling a tall guy shorty or a fat guy slim. Sometimes a team can grow into a name, and the Lakers have.

    The Hornets and Jazz? Not so much.

 

 

 

 

Colts by 2

   Need to get my Thursday pick in. Indianapolis by 2.

Man

    In the first half, the Panthers improvement was evident. It was as if all the young players, foremost of them quarterback Jimmy Clausen, began to figure the NFL out. It was the same improvement they flashed last week on the road against Cleveland.

    In the second half, the Panthers regressed. Ahead 14-3 at the half, they were outscored 28-0. They were abysmal.