Giants @ Panthers / Rivera Is Seeking a Few Good Men

                             
The Carolina Panthers won’t answer all of their questions in the first preseason game against the New York Giants at 8 p.m. tonight at Bank of America Stadium. But what Carolina will get is an opportunity to evaluate several players and positions. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he will not know who will be his starting quarterback until Week 3 of the preseason, but he is going with Jimmy Clause for the first preseason game.

However, Rivera is likely to get an idea on how other competitions at receiver, defensive end and cornerback will shape up.

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Santella Savors Taste Of NFL Training Camp

Wise and realistic, Anthony Santella expects, much like one of his soaring punts, his NFL high won’t maintain its current altitude. His pro football dream could end soon, although he’s been known to overcome great odds before. His competition at the Carolina Panthers camp on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., after all, is veteran Jason Baker, who’s been punting in the league for 10 years.

“He’s been nothing but helpful,” says Santella, the former Wauconda and University of Illinois star, who says the same about longtime kicker Olindo Mare, who’s also in camp with first-year head coach Ron Rivera’s Panthers. “It’s always good to go against someone like that,” Santella adds of Baker. “But it’s highly unlikely I’m going to take his job. ... His form, you can tell he’s really mastered it.”

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Newton's theory of training camp - learn, have fun

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The first thing you notice is the size. Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton looked big in street clothes at the scouting combine, but in full uniform he is the tallest guy in his huddle and at 253 pounds -- real weight -- he is as big as his tight ends. The second thing you notice is Newton's playful approach to the game. He is serious when taking the play call, and serious when he runs a play, but at times when the play is done, he will do something child-like, such as skipping to the sideline after a handoff or goofing off with a teammate.

Maybe that's who Newton is: A kid in a man's body.

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New Deals, Young Star, And Hope In Carolina

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Cam Newton made his first pass as quarterback of the Carolina Panthers recently when he gave up trying to buy jersey No. 2 from Jimmy Clausen and settled on No. 1. How fitting. The Panthers are in desperate need of a public relations makeover after a disastrous 2010, and Newton, the No. 1 overall draft pick in April, is going to be the new image of this franchise. He will be their No. 1, sooner or later.

But the Panthers, whose fiscal austerity last year in advance of the looming lockout was blamed in part for a league-worst 2-14 record, are not putting the franchise entirely on Newton’s back. The Newton era begins with a new coach — Ron Rivera, the former San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator, replaces John Fox — and a jaw-dropping spending spree.

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Kasay Left a Lasting Mark On Panthers' Franchise, Fans‎

When I think of the Carolina Panthers' various incarnations of Fan Fest through the years, I think of two Panthers players above all else - the late Fred Lane and John Kasay. I think of Lane because that's where he burst onto the scene. The running back was one of the very few players to make a mark on the field at Fan Fest and then continue that momentum for months.

I think of Kasay because of the way he acted at every fan day like the one coming up Saturday - he knew they weren't just another practice but were truly for the fans. After the Panthers released the last of the original Panthers last week, I asked readers on my "Scott Says" blog to email me with some of their favorite Kasay memories. I received far too many to publish them all here - thanks to all who participated. But this edited sampling should give you an idea of what Kasay meant to fans:

"That's No. 4 going out there"

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Richardson Pays Visit To Camp

Carolina Panthers owner/founder Jerry Richardson took a brief respite from answering questions Wednesday at training camp by directing his own inquiry at anyone who had negatively wondered about his financial commitment to the franchise. “Does anybody feel just a little bad about calling me cheap last year, just a smidgen?” Richardson asked following NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s fan forum.

With the team sinking to a league-worst 2-14 and fan enthusiasm equaling the level of a funeral procession, many fingers pointed at Richardson as the team remained well under the salary cap and was a virtual ghost in the free agent market. Last season’s lockout didn’t refer to any labor situation but rather Richardson’s bank account as he gained a reputation for frugality among Panthers fans that didn’t settle well with those shelling out big bucks for tickets.

But a year later Richardson suddenly became footloose and fancy free with his funds, and Carolina has been breaking the bank to re-sign its best players.

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Beason To Drew Brees, Matt Ryan & Josh Freeman WATCH OUT !!!

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Jon Beason has a message for NFC South quarterbacks Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman: Get ready, this isn’t the same Carolina Panthers defense you’re used to seeing twice a year.“They’re going to have to do their homework this year,” Beason said confidently on Monday.

“It’s not gointo be, hey, we know about the Panthers and we know about their scheme. It’s going to be a completely different defense.”

In a word, Beason describes the new scheme being installed by coach Ron Rivera and coordinator Sean McDermott as “aggressive.”

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