Carolina Panthers

Friday, 23 October 2009 - administrator

The Carolina Panthers are a relatively new National Football League (NFL) franchise team from Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers joined the NFL’s National Football Conference (NFC) South Division as an expansion team in 1995. In 2003, the Carolina Panthers played in their first Super Bowl (XXXVIII), losing to the New England Patriots 32-29.

History

The Panthers joined the NFL in 1995 as an expansion team along with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Owner Jerry Richardson selected Dom Capers as the first head coach for the Carolina. The first NFL draft pick in Panthers franchise history was quarterback Kerry Collins. In the 1995 NFL expansion draft, they selected wide receiver Rod Smith. Other players on the expansion team included wide receiver Don Beebe, linebacker Sam Mills, kicker John Kasay, Greg Kragen, Jack Trudeau, and Mark Carrier. The Panthers won their first game in franchise history on October 15, 1995, against the New York Jets 26-15.
In their second NFL draft in 1996, the Panthers selected running back Tim Biakabutuka, and wide receiver Mushin Muhammad. Veteran linebacker Kevin Greene, tight end Wesley Walls, and quarterback Steve Buerlein were added to the roster. The Panthers performed extremely well in their second year (1996), reaching the National Football Conference championship game, losing to the Green Bay Packers, 30-13.

Carolina Panthers Coach Seifert era

George Seifert (former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers) became head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 1999. He played an integral role in drafting Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, and standout linebacker Dan Morgan. The Panthers did not have success under the coaching of Seifert. Their three, season records under from 1999-2001, were (8-8), (7-9), (1-15). George Seifert was fired after the 2001 (1-15) season.

Carolina Panthers in the 2000’s

After Coach Seifert was fired in 2001, former defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, John Fox, was hired as new head coach for the Panthers going into the 2002 National Football League (NFL) season. The 2002 draft and offseason added 1st round draft phenom Julius Peppers, defensive end from North Carolina, linebacker Will Witherspoon, and running back DeShaun Foster from UCLA. In Fox’s first season as head coach, the Carolina Panthers improved to (7-9).
2003 was the Carolina Panthers most memorable year. Led by quarterback Jake Delhomme, Carolina played in Super Bowl XXXVIII, against the New England Patriots. Despite losing the Super Bowl, the Panthers were nicknamed the Cardiac Cats for their spectacular performances in critical games. In the National Football Conference (NFC) championship game against the St. Louis Rams, the Panthers won the game in the second overtime, on a 69- yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Delhomme to wide receiver Steve Smith. Seven of the sixteen games during the regular season were won by the Panthers in the last two minutes of the game.

2009 Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers began the 2009 National Football League (NFL) season with great expectations. After going (12-4) in the 2008 season and losing in the playoffs, the Panthers are looking to make it back to the playoffs. In the 2009 NFL draft, Carolina traded away a 2010 first round draft pick for a San Francisco 2009 second round pick, in order to select defensive end Everette Brown from Florida State. After, a contract dispute with defensive end Julius Peppers during the offseason, the Panthers drafted Brown as either a replacement or opposite side defensive end. The Panthers had success in 2008 trading up for a draft pick with the Philadelphia Eagles to select offensive lineman Jeff Otah. The mammoth-sized Otah is a key to the Panthers success in rushing with running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Wide receivers Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammad return to the offense to catch balls from quarterback Jake Delhomme. Linebacker Jon Beason and defensive back Chris Gamble lead the defense into the 2009 season.

2009 Carolina Panthers draft picks

*Round 2 (comp select) Everette Brown, defensive end -Florida State
*Round 2 Sherrod Martin, defensive back -Troy
*Round 3 Corvey Irvin, defensive lineman -Georgia
*Round 4 (comp select) Mike Goodson, running back -Texas A&M
*Round 4 Tony Fiammetta, fullback -Syracuse
*Round 5 Duke Robinson, guard -Oklahoma
*Round 7 Captain Munnerlyn, defensive back -South Carolina