Panthers coach Ron Rivera on Bucs rookie QB Jameis Winston:
“I think the best thing they did was they made him their starter right off the bat. That gives him the opportunity to get on the football field and start to develop. The only way you learn in this league is to be on the field. They’re going to take their lumps; they know it. They’re just looking for him to have a break-out game, and when he has those, those are going to be great moments for him.”
Panthers QB Cam Newton on the advice he’s given fellow Heisman Trophy winner Winston:
“I don’t view life the same way at 26 … There’s more to an NFL team than just one player. You see great players all the time that haven’t reached the success of playoff-winning-caliber teams, and that’s why you come into the league, to win championships. And it’s just a learning process.”
Panthers LB Thomas Davis, when asked if Winston reminded him of Newton:
“Cam is not similar to Jamies. Totally different quarterbacks. Cam is a guy who’s a true dual-threat. He’s a guy that can definitely beat you running the ball as well as throwing it, and I don’t see Jameis as that. I see him as more of a pocket passer, a guy that runs when he has to, not because he can.”
Panthers CB Josh Norman on Tampa Bay’s 6-foot-5 WRs, Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson:
“I’m just excited that I’m getting to play these two tall, big, physical go-and-get-the-ball wide receivers … They’re towers, man. You’ve got to guard them somehow, and you’ve got to put your hands on them and do the best you can to defend them.”
Winston on Norman:
“He is an amazing player. I have just been sitting here watching film on him. I looked him up and I was like, this is his contract year. He is trying to get paid.”
Panthers DE Mario Addison on the addition of Jared Allen, the NFL’s active sack leader:
“I’m going to watch him. I’m going to watch everything he does. Hopefully, I can soak in all this knowledge. He been in the league 12 years, he’s got like 100-and-some sacks. That’s a lot of sacks. That tells me this man knows what he’s doing.”