It was just a random question before a Wednesday practice in Charlotte:

Have we ever decided - are they mollies or mollys? pic.twitter.com/2FsliaOA2u

— Black & Blue Review (@BlackBlueReview) August 24, 2016

It didn't take long to get answers:

Early returns pic.twitter.com/U3pLk1Iwjo

— Black & Blue Review (@BlackBlueReview) August 24, 2016

But this one pretty much settled it:

@BlackBlueReview Molly and Mollies plural. As in I want 6 of those Hog Mollies pic.twitter.com/P9wEf7T7NT

— Mike Mahoney (@Mahoney) August 24, 2016

But wait, there's more:

@blackbluereview Submitted for your approval. Hog Mollies. pic.twitter.com/yXUKSAvqJB

— Justin Akins™ (@Justin_Akins) August 24, 2016

More on that great graphic in a bit, but first, some history behind the phrase Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has popularized in the Carolinas:

 

Gettleman first heard the term “hog molly” from longtime scout George Sengal when he was in his early days working with the Bills. It’s another name for the Northern Hogsucker fish, which is very strong for its size (usually about two pounds) because it spends its life fighting against heavy currents in fast-moving streams. And it’s ugly. – Greg Bedard, Sports Illustrated

 

How ugly? This ugly:

 

 

Meanwhile, Hogmolly is also the name of a blog by a former Georgia walk-on. And Hog Molly was a heavy-metal band:

Of course, for Gettleman, a hog molly is a big, strong guy who plays on either the offensive or defensive line. Which takes us back to that graphic. 

Many of you expressed interest in wearing those images of Michael Oher, Andrew Norwell, Ryan Kalil, Trai Turner and Mike Remmers on a T-shirt, and now you can. They're for sale here.  

As for the original question, I did my journalistic duty and asked Gettleman after practice.

Yes, Kawann Short by himself is just a 'molly.' But if you're talking about Short AND Star Lotulelei, they're 'mollies.' 

My work here is done for the day.