Among the folks looking to chat with Cam Newton about race and the Inés Sainz-like spectacles, Bruce DeHaven will be hoping to talk about anything other than what reporters may ask.
To the head of the Carolina Panthers' special teams, his current fight against cancer is "a non-story." At least, that's what he'll tell anyone who attempts to make it one during Monday's media night.
"That story has been written about too much early in the season," DeHaven said. "I don't think that any of these (players) care a thing about that. Half of them probably forgot that I was ever sick."
That's not true, of course. But DeHaven, who's missed only one meeting this season despite having to undergo treatments in Buffalo, has done a remarkable job making his guys nearly forget.
"He's the same Bruce we had last year. He doesn't tell us about it, he doesn't show it, he doesn't wear it on his sleeve," safety Tre Boston said. "Everything is about us and he wants us to know that even we are bigger than him and what he's going through. It's amazing."
Added kicker Graham Gano, "He has not mentioned it one time. He hasn't seemed tired one time. He's strong and he's been doing a great job.
"He comes to work every day and works hard, doesn't use that as an excuse, doesn't lean on anything like that. He's here working hard, players love him and he's been doing great."
Now in his 29th season, DeHaven has a fifth shot at winning an elusive Super Bowl ring. His initial four trips came with the Bills teams of the early 90s, a group he believes had similar chemistry to the current Panthers. So as he game-plans in February for the first time in his career, the 67-year-old is embracing every moment.
"I feel good. Maybe a little more fatigued than normal, but I'm getting older and it's been a long season," he said.
As much as DeHaven doesn't want to talk about it, his story is the embodiment of what the Panthers preach.
Keep pounding? He is.
"For him to kind of back seat reasons for him to be off the field for us is big," Boston said.
"Bruce is a fighter and he's going to continue fighting."
