Wednesday was supposed to be a relatively structured news day.Quarterback Cam Newton would practice, meaning his status for the upcoming week was a-ok. He’d be the big story, and everything else filler ahead of Sunday’s season opener.But then, defensive end Greg Hardy didn’t show up. In the hours that followed, local TV stations redirected news reporters to Bank of America Stadium, and fans jumped to all sorts of conclusions. In the end, Hardy’s absence was more a case of bad timing than anything newsworthy.On Wednesday night, Roger Goodell was supposed to attend an award ceremony for his good friend, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson. But media would likely be limited to a few photos instead of hearing the commish talk about how the league bungled the Ray Rice case.Goodell ended up changing his plans, which was probably a smart choice. But then Richardson gave an emotional and tear-filled speech in front of cameras that rarely get access to him.So yeah, about that relatively structured news day? Well, there really isn’t such a thing in the NFL.In case you missed any of the above, you can catch up with the links below. And as a bonus, we’re tossing in a new Steve Smith video. Believe it or not, it appears the former Panthers receiver hasn’t changed all that much.

• Newton practices
• Hardy doesn’t 
• Richardson’s speech
• 89 being 89