Panthers Team Notes

[Carolina Panthers]

Find out the latest news about your Carolina Panthers.

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers reportedly hire Bills trainer credited with saving Damar Hamlin's life

The Carolina Panthers now have themselves a literal life-saver.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the team has hired Buffalo Bills associate athletic trainer Denny Kellington as their vice president of player health and performance. Kellington has been credited with helping save the life of safety Damar Hamlin—who experienced an episode of commotio cordis, a rare disruption of heart rhythm, during a Monday night game on Jan. 2, 2023.

Hamlin collapsed on the field following a tackle of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Kellington would then provide immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a motionless Hamlin, a decision that proved to be a critical one.

Kellington spoke about the moment while giving the commencement address at his alma mater of Oklahoma State University later that spring.

“I was not a hero on January 2nd, I was ready,” he stated. “I was ready because I dedicated my life to this work and because I had the support of my friends, my family, and my mentors.”

Kellington received a fifth-place vote for the AP’s Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season.

Related​

Carolina Panthers Honors: Our 2024 season awards​

Panthers GM Dan Morgan is asked what he's looking to add this offseason​

Panthers, American Heart Association host CPR training for players, staff​

Source: https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2...-bills-trainer-denny-kellington-damar-hamlin/

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Tom Brady's Super Bowl LIX commentary had NFL fans missing Greg Olsen

Tom Brady may be the “G.O.A.T.” of the gridiron, but the same cannot be said—at least for now—about his abilities in the broadcast booth. That title, rather, may currently belong to a Carolina Panthers great.

FOX’s presentation of the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs had its A-squad on the call, with Kevin Burkhardt on play-by-play duties and Brady on analysis. That two-man team looked a bit different just a few years ago, as former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen was the network’s No. 1 color commentator in the last Chiefs-Eagles showdown.

Olsen, however, was bumped away from Burkhardt beginning this season—leaving the top spot to Brady. And since then, fans have missed the two-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster.

Sunday night was no different . . .

Tom Brady may be the best QB to ever play the game, but in the booth, he’s not even close to Greg Olsen.

— Ryan Dengel (@RyanDengel) February 9, 2025

Tom Brady doing 5 months of tv and getting to call the Super Bowl is so disrespectful to Greg Olsen lmao

— John (@iam_johnw) February 9, 2025

Guys… Tom Brady is really bad at this. I hate doing this, but my god. Greg Olsen deserves this spot.

— John Stocco (@fakeJohnStocco) February 10, 2025

The “this is your life Tom Brady” approach to the broadcast reflects the flaw in this booth. Greg Olsen calls the game at a much higher level, but star struck empty suits and sponsors love the idea of spending time with Brady and producing slick promos in lieu of a good broadcast

— Brian Webber (@bwwebber) February 10, 2025

I wish I could trade Tom Brady for Greg Olsen second half

— A Real Naysayer (@Aye_Pain) February 10, 2025

Greg Olsen should have kept his job as Fox’s lead football color commentator. Tom Brady is better suited for in studio analysis or deep dive football nerd talk on his own podcast.

— Mike Evans (@CoachEvans57) February 10, 2025

Greg Olsen is worlds, GALAXIES better than Tom Brady as an analyst.

— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) February 10, 2025

I really don’t enjoy listening to Tom Brady as a commentator. His flow is awkward, and he always makes it about his own experiences.

Greg Olsen should’ve been the one doing the Super Bowl with Kevin Burkhardt.

— Rick Bingham (@VagueTrain) February 10, 2025

It really is too bad that Greg Olsen isn’t doing this game

— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) February 9, 2025

Can we make a second half substitution and get Greg Olsen in the booth? Brady adds nothing to the broadcast to give insight into what’s happening. pic.twitter.com/hZUyqwXvYx

— Steve White (@NTVsSteveWhite) February 10, 2025

Related​

Panthers great Greg Olsen goes viral for wild photo from Christian McCaffrey's wedding​

FOX Sports bashed by Twitter users after Greg Olsen's Sports Emmys win​

Cam Newton, Greg Olsen recall amazing Thanksgiving story from 2015 season​

Source: https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2...agles-chiefs-commentary-tom-brady-greg-olsen/

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. seemingly angry with comments from Cam Newton

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Is there a beef cooking between two Carolina Panthers legends?

The franchise’s all-time leading passer Cam Newton has seemingly ruffled the feathers of the franchise’s all-time leading receiver Steve Smith Sr.

Newton, while joining reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter at “Radio Row” this past week, talked about the pressure of being a No. 1 overall pick of the NFL draft. And in doing so, he used a not-so-flattering title for his former teammates . . .

Cam Newton hopped on Travis Hunters’ show and dropped a GEM about being the #1 pick

@TravisHunterJr @CameronNewton pic.twitter.com/oJPsXALOEx

— Overtime (@overtime) February 7, 2025

That “losers” comment apparently didn’t sit well with Smith Sr., who tweeted out the following on Monday:

@SteveSmithSr89 (Twitter/X)

The Panthers selected Newton atop the 2011 draft after going a league-worst 2-14 in 2010. They weren’t “losers” for much longer, as Carolina went 12-4 in 2013 while capturing their first NFC South title in five years.

That campaign would be the final one in Charlotte for Smith Sr., who was released by the Panthers during the 2014 offseason.

Newton and the Panthers proceeded to win two more division crowns in the following two seasons, a run capped off by the franchise’s first-ever Most Valuable Player Award (Cam) and their second-ever Super Bowl appearance.

Smith Sr. played out the final three seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring after the 2016 campaign.

Perhaps Newton, who has praised Smith Sr. numerous times in recent years, wasn’t directing the “losers” label to him specifically. After all, can you guess who was a (big) part of the organization’s first-ever Super Bowl team?

Update (5:10 p.m. ET): Smith Sr. followed up the above post with this . . .

I’ve watched & listened from a far as U @CameronNewton
talk about @Panthers! None of us are perfect. Yes We were 2-14 before you blessed us w ur presence. The way you have talked about @panthers lately I’m very disappointed. I wish u nothing but the very best. I’m done !!!

— Steve Smith Sr. (@SteveSmithSr89) February 10, 2025

Related​

Panthers great Cam Newton says he wouldn't trade his MVP award for Super Bowl title​

No, Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. did not get knocked out at UFC event​

Julius Peppers: Steve Smith should already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame​

Source: https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/10/panthers-steve-smith-cam-newton-beef-travis-hunter/

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers announce signing of familiar face on Tuesday

The Carolina Panthers may have just added a bit of insurance behind one of their soon-to-be free agents.

As announced on Tuesday afternoon, the team has signed kicker Matthew Wright to a reserve/future contract. The deal comes a month before the start of free agency, when Carolina’s primary placekicker Eddy Piñeiro is set to hit the open market.

Wright has signed to nine different NFL teams since entering the league out of the University of Central Florida in 2019. One of those teams was the Panthers, who picked up Wright to cover for Piñeiro’s groin strain during the summer of 2023.

He returned to the Panthers as a member of their practice squad at the end of the same campaign after Piñeiro sustained a hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old kicked for the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans this past season. He successfully booted through 15 of his 16 field goal attempts and all six of his extra point tries.

Related​

Panthers sign big WR on Tuesday​

Panthers' signing of Robert Hunt projected to net Dolphins high compensatory pick​

Panthers sign 10 players to reserve/future contracts on Monday​

Source: https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/11/panthers-sign-kicker-matthew-wright-eddy-pineiro/

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Report: Panthers expected to allow K Eddy Piñeiro to test free agency

The Carolina Panthers are entering an offseason in which all three of their specialists are set to hit free agency. That group includes kicker Eddy Piñeiro—who, according to a team beat writer, may be prepared to explore the open market.

Joe Person of The Athletic reported on Thursday that Piñeiro, Carolina’s primary place kicker for the past three seasons, could be on the outs. In addition to acknowledging Tuesday’s signing of kicker Matthew Wright, Person notes that the team’s reluctance in sending out Piñeiro from long range in 2024 might be another indicator of a possible split.

He writes:

Signing Wright to a future deal doesn’t mean he’s going to be the Panthers’ kicker next season. And the move on its own doesn’t spell the end of Pineiro’s time in Charlotte. But the sense in league circles is that Carolina will allow Pineiro to test free agency following a season in which he made 22-of-26 field goals and was 33-of-35 on extra points. Accuracy has never been the issue with Pineiro. But Panthers coach Dave Canales and his staff seemed to have little faith in Pineiro’s leg strength. Pineiro’s two attempts from 50-plus were the fewest among 25 kickers who tried more than 25 field goals in 2024.

Piñeiro made one of those two attempts, a 53-yarder from the Panthers’ Week 10 win over the New York Giants in Munich, Germany. Over his two prior seasons in Carolina, he booted through seven of his nine field goal tries from at least 50 yards away.

There was a bit of uncertainty surrounding Piñeiro last offseason, after he did not attend voluntary minicamp or organized team activities in the spring. He did, however, return for the summer—where he declined to comment on the reason behind his absences as he entered the final year of his contract.

The 29-year-old is currently the third-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (88.1 percent)—behind only Justin Tucker (89.1 percent) and Harrison Butker (88.6).

Related​

Panthers K Eddy Piñeiro injured knee in one of the silliest (but most understandable) ways imaginable​

Panthers' Eddy Piñeiro is now NFL's most accurate FG kicker ever . . . and he didn't even play this week​

Panthers P Johnny Hekker hits Patriots returner with 'too small' taunt​

Source: https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/13/nfl-rumors-free-agency-panthers-eddy-pineiro/

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Biggest takeaways from Panthers' media availability at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine

Carolina Panthers president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales held a little court from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday. And, as expected, they touched on a number of topics—including free agency, the draft and the state of the current roster.

Here are the eight biggest takeaways from their media availability in Indianapolis . . .

Source: https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/lists/panthers-nfl-combine-takeaways-free-agency-draft/