If you were a fan who stayed up late Tuesday worried if all the Carolina Panthers would make it in by their self-imposed midnight curfew, you can rest now. Potential crisis averted.
Not only was every player at the San Jose Marriott by the deadline, but a night spent watching Jeopardy and the 10 o’clock news would have been more fun than what some of these guys did.
“I’m still trying to adjust time-wise so I just went to sleep. I went to bed early, around nine,” cornerback Robert McClain said.
Compared to McClain, left tackle Michael Oher partied.
“I got a light workout in and just watched Netflix all day," he said. "I was chillin'."
For those who did make the 50-mile trip to San Francisco, some beat the curfew by a mere six hours.
“I took a couple pictures and I got back probably around 6 or 6:30 then went into the film room and got some treatment,” defensive tackle Kawann Short said.
“Really? People were concerned?” cornerback Charles Tillman wondered.
Not really, but sort of. Even coach Ron Rivera admitted he'd be holding his breath Tuesday night.
The Panthers don't have many guys who make off-the-field headlines, but you never know how some react to Super Bowl week. Ryan Murphy was a little-known practice squad safety until he embarrassed the Broncos.
But the off day came and went with no incidents in Carolina's camp. No news was good news.
“It was great. No media, nothing,” Tillman said. “We had one day to relax and just chill and unwind.”