[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”]KELVIN BENJAMIN was the biggest name at the Panthers two-day rookie minicamp, and the first-round pick left no doubt he was also the best player on the field.He had his hiccups. Friday he briefly tweaked an ankle making a cut, he dropped some passes, he was confused a few times at the line. But for the most part, it was a solid start for Benjamin. And that was before his exclamation-point finish.Near the end of Saturday’s second session, the 6-5 wideout skied high in-between two defenders, and using just one hand, he made a spectacular snag.For most, it elicited impressed “oohs.” For general manager Dave Gettleman, who playfully grabbed his heart and smiled, it was a very early moment of affirmation. For receivers coach Ricky Proehl, it was why the Panthers fell in love with Benjamin the last couple months.”Your normal person isn’t going to be able to make that catch,” Proehl said. “He can make that catch because of his reach – 11 feet, 12 feet. Other guys probably wouldn’t even have the opportunity to touch the ball, let alone catch it.”[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_row_inner no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”]KONY EALY rode a bit of a minicamp roller coaster. That’s to be expected for a guy in his first pro practices, and while he appeared to get winded too easily, that’s not uncommon this time of year either.What Ealy’s up-and-down days should do is encourage folks to curb their expectations, at least for early in the season.Yes, he received a first-round grade from the Panthers, and Gettleman is still perplexed the defensive end slid to the second, but the coaching staff has some work to do.

The best analogy I can give is Greg Hardy in 2010 and Kawann Short last offseason. Each had to learn to practice like a pro, to adapt to the tempo.Panthers defensive line coach Eric Washington could be heard shouting encouragement at Ealy a number of times, and while the organization has plenty to worry about with Hardy these days, Washington’s main job the next few months will be getting Ealy up to speed – both physically and mentally.DAVID FOUCAULT came into minicamp with a decent segment of the fan base talking him up like some sort of cult-like figure. It was easy to see why when Foucault first walked onto the field Friday.

Listed at 6-8, 320, and with flowing blonde hair, those watching quickly started calling him Thor, after the Norse mythological god.Foucault’s legend will continue to grow after he signs with the Panthers Monday.JOEL MURPHY, one of at least a couple dozen long shots living out dreams this weekend, stood out, and not just because of his size. The tight end is listed at 6-6, 270, an inch taller and 20 pounds heavier than Panthers’ tight end Greg Olsen.Murphy played for Baker College, an NAIA school in Balwin City, Kansas. And while it would be a surprise if he gets more than just this tryout, he at least looked the part for more than a few moments.

ROOKIE MINICAMP PICS

• FRIDAY SLIDESHOW
• SATURDAY SLIDEHOW

[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”]

BBR NUGGETS

• Ladies love Luke Kuechly.
• Linebacker Jason Williams, doing it for the kids.
• The latest CBA took all the drama away from draft picks and contracts. Carolina’s sixth-rounder is the first to sign this year.
• Bank of America Stadium is starting to look like the place where the Panthers play again.
• Redskins sign former Panthers’ defensive end Frank Kearse.

COMING UP

Posts this week will include: Tre Boston, Bene Benwikere, Philly Brown and Proehl’s pre-draft visit to Florida State that left him “in awe.”

[share title=”Share this Post” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true” pinterest=”true” reddit=”true” email=”true”]

[ad 3]