Black and Blue Review
T he day teams report for training camp is usually drenched in optimism. In places like Cleveland and Jacksonville, guys are “refreshed” and “excited.” From Oakland to Miami, they have “something to prove.”
But the mood wasn’t as upbeat Wednesday in Charlotte, where the Panthers gathered for the start of their camp.
A few players offered up the usual clichés, but a new list of injuries and Greg Hardy’s legal situation hung like dark clouds over Bank of America Stadium on an otherwise mostly sunny summer day.
“We have to abide by the league’s conduct policy. It’s in the courts and we have to respect that process.”Dave Gettleman, on Hardy
Hardy showed up on time and with a smile, but his recent conviction on domestic violence charges was impossible not to address. The defensive end didn’t meet with the media, and even though some of his teammates and head coach Ron Rivera did, they mostly deflected the uncomfortable questions.
Before Rivera referred to Dave Gettleman as the franchise’s “one voice” going forward, the general manager handled the topic in a somber tone.
“These are very serious allegations,” Gettleman said. “At the same time, we also respect the fact that Greg has appealed the decision and is entitled to a jury trial.”
Ultimately, Gettleman and the Panthers will let the league deal with Hardy, whose appeal likely won’t be heard until after the upcoming season.
“I feel awful for the kid … He just can’t catch a break.”Gettleman, on Edmund Kugbila
While it appears Hardy won’t have to sit out a single day, Edmund Kugbila is already done for the year.
The 2013 fourth-round pick, who wasn’t able to get through a full practice as a rookie, was expected back this week to compete at guard. But after injuring his back recently, he’s set for surgery on Aug. 8. So again, Kugbila’s season is over before it even started.
Jonathan Stewart, another oft-injured Panther, is also dealing with a new problem. The running back tweaked his hamstring while working out last week, and he’ll be limited to watching the first week or two of camp. The team isn’t concerned it’s all that significant, but with Stewart, nothing should be assumed as just a small deal.
But wait, there’s more.
The Panthers had hoped safety Tre Boston and receiver De’Andre Presley could return on time, but instead, they’ll begin camp on the PUP list.
Boston, this year’s fourth-round pick, has been slow to heal from sports hernia surgery he had in May. And Presley, who sat out the final days of offseason workouts with turf toe, now has a stress fracture.
“I saw him today bouncing around, so I’m excited to see him on the football field tomorrow.”Rivera, on Cam Newton
There was some good news Thursday. Cam Newton has been completely cleared, which is what he and the team said would happen after he underwent ankle surgery in March. Newton will do “just as much as last training camp,” according to Rivera, who added, “Unless something happens, unless he has an issue, which we don’t foresee.”
Also, guard Amini Silatolu said he’s 100 percent after last year’s torn ACL, and Charles Godfrey, who’s coming off a torn Achilles, proclaimed himself ready to fully compete at nickelback.
So while the first day didn’t follow its usual script, neither will the first practice. And that could be a good thing. Instead of opening up in Spartanburg, the Panthers will hit the field for the first time Friday night in Charlotte. Their stadium has a new look, and so does a decent chunk of the roster.
Fan Fest is usually training camp’s second chapter, but perhaps this year’s edition marks the end of a brutal offseason that was extended an extra day.