JEALOUS JERRY?

Panthers fans often look at teams like Dallas with envy, at least when it comes to free agent additions. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t afraid to make a splash. Really, that’s the motivation behind many of his moves.

So you could have a general manager like Jones, who makes things exciting in March. Or you could have more prudent decision-makers, like the architects of the NFC’s lone unbeaten.

“Carolina is an outstanding team. They’re well-coached. They built a great team. They’re a team that I have to admire when I think about the NFL,” Jones said Thursday night.

“When I look at a team like Carolina, I look at what they do well, how they play on defense, what they’ve got going on offense, the kind of year that Cam Newton is having and how they’re a real example of how to put a team together that is exemplary.”