My Jonathan Stewart Blog

Panthers roll call requires answers from a host of players including James Anderson (50), Jason Baker (7), Gary Barnidge (82), Jon Beason (52), Mackenzy Bernadeau (65), Tyler Brayton (96), Jeremy Bridges (73), Jason Carter (11), Dan Conner (57), Donte Curry (55), Thomas Davis (58), Jake Delhomme (17), Na'il Diggs (53), Chris Gamble (20, Gary Gibson (91), Charles Godfrey (30), Nick Goings (37), Jordan Gross (69), D.J. Hackett (18), Geoff Hangartner (63), Chris Harris (43), Nick Hayden (78), Brad Hoover (45), Dwayne Jarrett (80), Charles Johnson (95), Landon Johnson (54), Mark Jones (84), Ryan Kalil (67), John Kasay (4), Maake Kemoeatu (99), Jeff King (47), Jason Kyle (56), Damione Lewis (92), Rhys Lloyd (5), Ken Lucas (21), Richard Marshall (31), Josh McCown (12), Kenny Moore (3), Muhsin Muhammad (87), Frank Omiyale (76), Jeff Otah (79), J'Vonne Parker (98), Julius Peppers (90), Ryne Robinson (10), Dante Rosario (88), Nate Salley (25), Adam Seward (59), Steve Smith (89), Jonathan Stewart (28), Hilee Taylor (66), Quinton Teal (26), Keydrick Vincent (68), Darwin Walker (93), Dante Wesley (23), Travelle Wharton (70), DeAngelo Williams (34) and C.J. Wilson (27).

The coaches include head coach John Fox, tight ends/quality control-offense coach Geep Chryst, special teams coach Danny Crossman, offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson, linebackers coach Ken Flajjole, secondary/safeties coach Mike Gillhamer, special teams/assistant strength and conditioning Matt House, secondary coach Tim Lewis, offensive line coach David Magazu, quality control/defense coach Sam Mills II, strength and conditioning coach Jerry Simmons, assistant head coach/running backs Jim Skipper, defensive line coach Sal Sunseri, defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac and wide receivers coach Richard Williamson.

When it comes to their top 10 plays, the Carolina Panthers have quite an interesting line up of accomplishments:

* Tenth - Chad Cota intercepts in the end zone against the Steelers in 1996.
* Ninth - Steve Beuerlein made the winning 5-yard touchdown against the Packers in 1999.
* Eighth - Sam Mills pulled off a 24-yard return against the Cowboys in 1997.
* Seventh - Ricky Proehl scored a 12-yard, game winning touchdown against Jacksonville in 2003.
* Sixth - Sam Mills intercepted and ran a 36-yard touchdown against the Jets in 1995.
* Fifth - Kris Jenkins blocked an extra point against Tampa Bay in 2003.
* Fourth - Ricky Manning threw a one-handed interception that won the game against St. Louis in 2004.
* Third - DeShaun Foster completed a one yard touchdown with four broken tackles against Philadelphia in 2004.
* Second - Muhsin Muhammad made an 85-yard touchdown against the Patriots in 2004.
* First - Steve Smith's 69-yard touchdown won the game against St. Louis in 2004.

With a history of accomplishments that include such fabulous plays, fans and opponents alike can expect more great footwork and ball-carrying feats from the Panthers in the season ahead. Even Owner/Founder Jerry Richardson has the brakes off to get to the next season. Richardson was recently released from the hospital just 12 days after having heart transplant surgery. Although still recovering, one can imagine that he's still got plenty of love for his Panthers.

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Jimmy Clausen certainly seems to have the swagger of a champion. He has spent an ample amount of time saying the right things around the Carolina Panthers training sessions, and the Panthers have not said a whole lot about who will be leading the Panthers into the 2010 season. They named Matt Moore as the starter during the offseason, but that was before they used their top draft pick to draft Notre Dame product Jimmy Clausen. Since then, they have been largely quiet about who will lead the Panthers.

Moore has to be the odds on favorite to be under center on opening day, but he faces a number of challenges moving forward. Most of the problems he has are not related to his football skills. Moore is one of many Carolina Panthers starters that are to be free agents come the off season, and the Panthers clearly are not going to be able to sign them all. That group of free agents also includes all-world running back DeAngelo Williams, and the Panthers are sure to have him at the top of their list. Where does Moore fit in?

It appears that Matt Moore is going to be moving on regardless of his performance on the field. Of course, this could change with an incredible on the field performance, but it is not likely. He simply is not playing in the type of offense that allows a quarterback to put up big numbers. Sure, he has Steve Smith and some interesting rookie options at the receiver position, but the Panthers are really all about running the football. With Williams and Jonathan Stewart on the team, that is not going to change. The bottom line is, Moore is likely playing to make his trade value go up this year.

The Panthers need to recognize this, and get what they can from Moore. If they hope to make any type of trade and get something either from Moore or potentially Clausen if Moore is as good as he appears, they need to establish that Moore is their starter. They have been a bit dicey about coming out and saying so. That has to hurt Moore's confidence.

Hand Moore the football, tell him that he is the man, and then let the chips fall where they may. If the Panthers do this and Moore flops, it is easy enough to then bring in Clausen to see what he has got. There is no advantage to the Panthers to do otherwise. Moore needs to be named the starter and either win or lose the position with his on field play. By making it up in the air, the Panthers are essentially telling the rest of the NFL that Moore is not as good as they thought. That could hurt his trade value going into a tough off season next year.

Rodney Southern has been writing on the Carolina Panthers and NFL action since they first came into the league. He runs popular blogs on several players and the Carolina Panthers in general, as well as making NFL predictions weekly. If you are looking for content to be written, or just simply want to enjoy reading the hottest Panther and NFL news, then you should check out his work today.

All Carolina Panthers fans need to head on over today for the hottest Panther action and most entertaining Panthers blogs on the Internet! Come visit Carolina Panther Fanz today! Carolina Panthers rule in 2010!

Aside from the word "injury", there is no other word more feared in fantasy sports than the word "platoon". It has been much more common in fantasy baseball with Outfielders and Closers for many years, but the offensive approach in the NFL has been evolving for some time. We are now seeing platoon situations commonly used in the NFL backfields. The polite way of describing the use of multiple running backs is "running back by committee". No matter how you term the approach, Platoon situations can be fantasy football team killers.

We have come to expect starting running backs to produce on a weekly basis, which is why they normally make up 80% of the players drafted in the first two rounds of standard-scoring fantasy football leagues. However, with over half of the league employing a Committee approach to their backfield, it is proving wise to change your drafting strategy. You can now use your first three picks on one of the top quarterbacks and two of the top wide receivers. This leaves plenty of productive running backs to draft from these committees, some of who could be the primary workhorse during the season in the event of an injury.

Teams With RB Committees To Consider

? Detroit Lions - Kevin Smith, Jahvid Best, Maurice Morris. You should target Best as your fourth round pick. There is a good chance that Kevin Smith will see little time after coming off an injury. The Lions have a good opportunity to see if they made the right choice with Best in this year's draft.

? Carolina Panthers - DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart. Williams will be drafted in the first three rounds. Stewart is a number 1 back in most offenses, but is 1A here and is coming off of a foot injury. Over 1000 yards and double-digit TDs is very nice so grab him if Best is not available.

? Miami Dolphins - Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams. Brown always has great games, but is too injury-prone. Ricky had a fantastic year after Brown went down last year and has plenty left in his legs. Grab either of these, Williams first, should they be available next.

? Arizona Cardinals - Chris Wells, Tim Hightower. The Cardinals will run much more this year with Leinart at the helm. Both running backs are productive and you cannot go wrong with either. Your preference should depend on your scoring system. Wells will get more carries, but Hightower will see more passes floated his way as well as more action around the goal line.

? Cleveland Browns - Montario Hardesty, Jerome Harrison. The Browns will be horrible, but they will continue to run the ball a lot, especially with Jake Delhomme at QB. Harrison had a monster final three games of 2009, but Hardesty seems to be getting drafted in the same location as Harrison (rounds 6-7). Hardesty seems to be the carrier the Browns would like to see succeed, but he is already dinged up. So, I would rank them equally at this point and consider getting both of them if you have the chance.

? Seattle Seahawks - Julius Jones, Justin Forsett, Leon Washington. Jones is way to unreliable and unproductive. Washington is coming off a devastating injury. So, Forsett would be the only back that I would draft. You could steal him in rounds 8-10 and end up with a possible number 1 RB.

Teams With RB Committees To Consider only when finishing your skill positions

? Houston Texans - Steve Slaton, Ben Tate, Ryan Moats, Arian Foster. After butterfingers, lack of production and injuries last year, Slaton should not be considered before the last few rounds. I truly think the rookie, Ben Tate, will be used sparingly and may be the first player drafted from this committee. So, your may strike gold with Arian Foster in low double-digit rounds.

? Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, Michael Bush. Both of these guys are only worth a risk in round 10 or later. With a more talented QB running the show, Oakland's offense may actually score some points. Which RB is the better choice is yet-to-be-determined. I have a slight lean on Michael Bush.

? Washington Redskins - Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, Willie Parker. I don't think Fast Willie makes the team. With Portis coming off a knee injury, he is a risk and should only be considered around round 10. Larry Johnson may be cooked but is worth a gamble in the later rounds. Hey, someone needs to get the carries in the Nation's Capital...just who and how successful they will be is a true mystery.

Bill Parsons is the owner of http://www.MaximumFantasySports.com and a rabid fantasy sports participant. He began creating his own football and baseball fantasy leagues at the ripe old age of seven; tracking stats and standings on paper. Bill decided to create a real-time fantasy football league website that includes all of the best features and some of which have never been attempted at any other website. Maximum Fantasy Sports offers Free Fantasy Football leagues, Free Pools and Public Fantasy Football Leagues with cash payouts.

We look at it this way from a fan point of view... It is about risen above misfortune, having faith that the guy next to you is going to be doing his job and you being responsible by doing your job and having conviction that it is going to happen, having tolerance, because you know that sometimes you make errors and there are ups and downs through the game, that there's this tide and flow going on. Throughout all of that, the teams that overcome that kind of adversity are the teams that are going to win.

The Panthers overcame about as much adversity as a team could in their 20-17 home-opening victory over the Bears last Sunday September 14th.

As much determination as the Panthers demonstrated a week ago, winning their season-opener at San Diego on a last-second touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme to Dante Rosario, they managed to dig out of an even deeper hole to improve their record to 2-0. On Sunday, the Panthers battled back from a wicked first half filled with penalties and other mixed mistakes, including allowing a punt to be blocked and returned for the game's first touchdown to help the Bears to a 10-3 halftime lead (which would grow to 17-3 early in the third quarter).

This is not to deceit the Bears. They opened the season with a convincing win over the Colts at Indianapolis. They have an impressive rookie running back in Matt Forte, who rushed for a game-high 92 yards Sunday and they have a highly talented defense, we've stated this before (Preseason Preview NFL - Chicago).

The Panthers were simply inferior through two quarters. How bad? They nearly had as many yards in penalties (40) as they had in offense (47). They were called for multiple false starts and illegal-formation penalties (one of which was declined).

Muhsin Muhammad finished with five receptions for 59 yards, making him the 29th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards, but he was not alone, Jake Delhomme's 3 for 3 and running back Jonathan Stewart gave the Panthers a boost in the second half after the team managed just 47 total yards in the first two quarters. The rookie finished with 77 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

Just how is it possible to overcome a 17-3 lead by Chicago at the end of the 3rd quarter? The Panthers' final five full series included two touchdowns. Chicago's final five series ended in three punts, a fumble and a turnover on downs, creating a result that showed how both the offense and defense picked each other up and carried the team when the other side needed it the most.

More importantly, the Panthers learned just how intensely they can count on each other, a lesson that could serve them richly in the weeks and months to come.

Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer, currently writing reviews on the NFL Season 2008-09 for the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

NY GIANTS (-4) VS. Washington Redskins: The Giants kick off the 2008 NFL season and the defense of their Super Bowl title on Thursday night against a Redskins team that begins the Jim Zorn era. Zorn has installed a pass-happy scheme for Washington and QB Jason Campbell has the accuracy and strong arm to make it work. Of course this is also the third different offense he has had to learn in the last three years so expect some struggles early on as he tries to adapt. DE Jason Taylor comes over from Miami to shore up the line but he currently is listed as questionable with a knee sprain. For the Giants, the loss of DE Osi Umenyiora to season-ending ACL surgery and retirement of Michael Strahan will certainly take some bite out of the pass rush but Justin Tuck is on the verge of becoming a star and Mathias Kiwanuka has great pass rush ability so things won't fall apart in that aspect. The offense has the chance to be very good with a great corp. of RB's and solid depth at the WR position led by Plaxico Burress who looks to put his ankle issues behind him in his quest for a new pact. As far as the game goes, the Giants do qualify in a solid 28-15 ATS angle against a division foe at home but the -4 is a tad high for our liking. Both teams will be jazzed up a nationally televised kickoff so expect the best from both squads. Washington also has some angles that favor them here so it's best to stay clear of this game altogether. If the line drops to -3 then jump on the Giants with confidence but at -4 it's in that danger zone of a field goal game. One major commandment of football betting is to be extra careful with Week 1 games due to the lack of knowledge of the teams and that certainly is the case with this game. THE PICK: PASS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-7.5) VS. St. Louis Rams:*******BEST BET*****

BUFFALO BILLS (-1) VS. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks come into the season as one of the most overrated teams in the NFL. The pass-happy 'Hawks have major issues in the receiving department as Deion Branch wont be available until possibly midseason and the leading pass catcher looks to be the very mediocre Nate Burleson who flopped in that role with Minnesota. The infusion at the RB position with Julius Jones and TJ Duckett will surely help and the defense looks great led by LB Lofa Tatupu and CB Marcus Trufant. This team however struggled on the road at times in 2007 and now they must open 2008 across the country against a Bills team that always gives a good effort. Buffalo is nothing to write home about but they have an emerging offense led by super talented RB Marshawn Lynch and very smart QB Trent Edwards. All-Pro OT Jason Peters is still holding out as we write this which could hurt but the rest of the unit is solid enough to get the job done. The defense also looks to be good as DE Matt Schobel leads a good pass rushing unit with some emerging players in the secondary. They certainly stand a good chance of beating the Seahawks here as a major betting no-no is going with West Coast teams in Week 1 on the road in the East. That's the setup here and the value clearly rests on the Bills who won't be getting much love as many bettors will take the points with the seemingly better team. Value is where you make your money and the home team has it and then some. THE PICK: Buffalo Bills (-1)

New York Jets (-3) VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS:*****STRONG OPINION***

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-16) VS. Kansas City Chiefs:******STRONG OPINION***

Detroit Lions (-3) VS. ATLANTA FALCONS: This is truly the worst game on the slate for Week 1 and is one that looks to be unwatchable. The Falcons will start the Matt Ryan era right off the bat against a Lions team whose defense can't stop a retirement home team. Ryan will surely lean on the running of new RB Michael Turner and the pass catching of emerging star Roddy White. The offense line is a joke however and it wouldn't be surprising to me so se Ryan challenge David Carr's record for most sacks taken. For Detroit, they continue to wallow in mediocrity but they continue to add pieces to the offense in rookie RB Kevin Smith who looked good in preseason and second-year wideout Calvin Johnson who will be a star very soon. The Lions being the Lions however, they then go out and sign a washed up Rudi Johnson late of the Bengals and continue to give the ball to mistake-prone QB Jon Kitna. So expect nothing but struggles for both teams all year. This game is one to stay away from for sure and I would rather watch women's tennis than sit through this. THE PICK: PASS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-3.5) VS. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Saints went into the off-season hell-bent on improving a defense that let them down way too often last year. The offense could be the best in the NFL however led by the steady hand of QB Drew Brees and an explosive receiving trio of RB Reggie Bush, WR Marques Colston, and TE Jeremy Shockey. If the defense can be even average, then New Orleans could be sitting on a huge season. For the Buc's, Jon Gruden has successfully changed the look of his team on the fly as new young additions to the defense have reestablished the tradition of a hard hitting stop unit. MLB Barrett Rudd and DE Gaines Adams are on the cusp of stardom and they form the perfect blend with still effective vets LB Derrick Brooks and CB Ronde Barber. The offense is once again led by QB Jeff Garcia after failing to acquire Brett Favre and the Earnest Graham looks to build off a breakout year in the running attack. This is a classic match up of great defense versus great offense and should be fun to watch. The Saints struggled against Tampa last season and it wouldn't be a shock to see Gruden's bunch steal one on the road. Either way this looks to be tight contest between two bitter division rivals. The extra half point makes Tampa Bay an attractive pick. THE PICK: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5)

Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS: The Joe Flacco era begins in Baltimore as both Kyle Boller (injury) and Troy Smith (illness) couldn't answer the bell. Flacco played well in preseason at times and has shown the tools that made Baltimore salivate over his selection in the draft. Count on a heavy dose of RB Willis McGahee as the Ravens try to ease the transition for their franchise QB. On defense is where this team's strength lies as usual as Ray Lewis and company look to clamp down on opposing offenses as they have done so well over the years. They will look to do just that against a solid on paper Bengals offense. led by QB Carson Palmer. Palmer certainly has lots of weapons to throw to as Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh form possibly the best wideout combination in the NFL. As far as the running game is concerned, Chris Perry gets his chance after Rudi Johnson was cut and there is no telling whether he can hold up over the course of the season as injuries have been a problem. This is a very tough game to call as the Bengals struggled tremendously on the road last season but with Flacco starting for Baltimore, things could take awhile for them to get going. One trend that does stick out is that the Ravens qualify in a 33-19-1 ATS home underdog season opening angle so based on that aspect, we will go with the home team to stay competitive. THE PICK: Baltimore Ravens (+1.5)

Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) VS. TENNESSEE TITANS: These teams played a crazy series last season as each won on the other's home turf. Both teams also had successful 2007 seasons as each qualified for the postseason, with the Jags winning a game in Pittsburgh. Expectations are certainly high as we go into 2008 so this will be a barometer game for both squads. Jacksonville needs contributions from a so-so receiving unit in order to take that next step and the Titans needs QB Vince Young to learn to be a better passer for them to progress. This game figures to be a defensive contest as both units can lockdown any offense so the UNDER is worth a look. The Titans are also in the better betting position as a home underdog at home against a division foe which has gone 33-19-1 ATS. Just like the Cincy-Baltimore game, we will take the points and back that solid trend. THE PICK: Tennessee Titans (+3)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-6.5) VS. Houston Texans:*******BEST BET******

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (-9) VS. Carolina Panthers: Another interesting game here as the Chargers have the look of a team destined to make the Super Bowl and the Panthers look to make a run of their own now that QB Jake Delhomme is back. The Chargers have stars all over the field at almost every position and 14-2 is not out of the question. The offensive is explosive with RB LaDainian Tomlinson, TE Antonio Gates, and WR's Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson. The defense is just as good with All-Pro LB Shawne Merriman, DE Luis Castillo, DT Jamaal Williams, and CB Antonio Cromartie. Carolina on the other hand more of a blue collar look to them but don't take this team lightly. Delhomme is a Super Bowl runner up so he has proven he can win games and take his team deep into the postseason. Also rookie RB Jonathan Stewart is the perfect fit in coach John Fox's run heavy offense. The problem is that WR Steve Smith is suspended for the first two weeks of the season due to sucker-punching teammates Ken Lucas in practice. Without Smith the offense looks almost punch less, at least from a passing standpoint. It's almost too easy to say the Chargers will cover this one easily but based on the matchups, you can't argue against it. The only problem is that Carolina historically is a great bet as an underdog under Fox (31-16-2 ATS, with Delhomme at QB its 19-4-1 ATS). Those are some serious trends to look over when going with San Diego as the Chargers are great at home as evidenced by them having a 22-6-1 ATS when not favored by more than 11. So based on last trend and the fact Smith is out, leans us toward the home squad. THE PICK: San Diego Chargers (-9)

Dallas Cowboys (-5.5) VS. CLEVELAND BROWNS:******STRONG OPINION*****

Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Certainly no one will be paying much attention to this one as both teams figure to struggle. The 49ers are in worse shape than the Cardinals however as its been determined that journeyman QB JT O'Sullivan gives them their best chance to win. Unreal. The Cardinals had their own QB issues as Kurt Warner beat out Matt Leinart in preseason. That's actually good news for Arizona as Warner had a great year last year and has much more ability to run the offense. WR's Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald should both have huge years with Warner at the helm and if RB Edgerrin James can give them one more good year, then this unit will be a major force. The defense needs work however but they do have some nice pieces in S Adrian Wilson and DE Bertrand Berry. They certainly wont have to work hard against a terrible 49ers offense that has only RB Frank Gore to scare people. Mike Martz comes over from Detroit to shore up the unit but there is no talent to work with. Hate going with Arizona on the road as they certainly have a long track record of letting down to the opponent but no way we back the 'Niners in any situation. THE PICK: Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (-9.5) VS. Chicago Bears: Colts QB Peyton Manning looks like he will play after having an abscess removed during the preseason. He will once again lead an offense that is one of the NFL's best and is expertly run. Manning will have four great options to throw to in star WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark, emerging WR Anthony Gonzalez, and the returning from injury WR Marvin Harrison. Harrison's return is huge in that the offense will be much tougher to contain with him on the field. Throw in the great running of Joseph Addai and the Colts are one of the bets units out there on offense. The defense on the other hand struggled toward the end of last season due to injuries but star DE Dwight Freeney is back and S Bob Sanders looks like he is ready to go. When all hands are on deck, this is a very tough defense to score points on. The Bears certainly are no strangers when it comes to struggling to score points. Kyle Orton is in QB and rookie RB Matt Forte will run the ball. Not very scary. The defense is decent as there are big names up and down the roster but this is the same group that struggled badly toward the end of 2007. The Colts will be able to score no matter who they play and the Bears just don't have the ability to hang tight. If Manning doesn't play however then we pass. THE PICK Indianapolis Colts (-9.5)

GREEN BAY PACKERS (-2.5) VS. Minnesota Vikings: The Aaron Rogers era begins on Monday night at home against division rival Minnesota. The whole Brett Favre drama was certainly a major distraction for the Pack but they have said all along that Rogers is their guy and he looked all right in preseason. For Minnesota, QB Tarvaris Jackson is the key to the whole team's fortunes as every other unit looks outstanding. If Jackson can be even somewhat decent, then the Vikings could be Super Bowl-bound. The defensive line looks to be one of the best units ever assembled with incoming star DE Jared Allen joining stud DT's Kevin and Pat Williams to make life miserable for opposing passers. That will spell big trouble for Rogers who really couldn't have drawn a worse assignment from a pass rushing sense. RB Adrian Peterson is looking to build on a ridiculously awesome rookie year and so Green Bay must be ready on D to make sure this game doesn't get away from them early. This is a very tough game to call as it could go either way. There is way to much uncertainty here so it would be best to stay away as there are no trends pointing firmly toward either squad.. THE PICK: PASS

Denver Broncos (-3) VS. OAKLAND RAIDERS: There is nothing that Mike Shannahan loves more than to beat up the Oakland Raiders. Ever since he was unceremoniously fired by Al Davis as coach many eons ago, Shanahan has made it a point to stick it to his former boss whenever he can. The opportunity is there again as the Raiders are very young and raw on offense with QB JaMarcus Russell and RB Darren McFadden. The wideout corps is weak and there surely will be struggles for Russell early on. The defense needs a comeback from DE Derrick Burgess in order to be able to stay in games. The Broncos on the other hand have an emerging talent in QB Jay Cutler who has successfully dealt with the diabetes that plagued him last year. Cutler has a cannon of an arm and will be looking to air it out. The running game will also churn along as always with Selvin Young being the guy to pick up the workload. Oakland could certainly make strides this season but they have to go through some growing pains before they can take that step. Denver is the safe choice in this game. THE PICK: Denver Broncos (-3)

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After winning the NFC South divisions of the NFL in 2008-09, the Carolina Panthers finished with an 8-8 on NFL Picks in 2010-11, 3rd in the division. The Panther had high expectation coming into last season but quarterback Jake Delhomme had a less than spectacular season and that got him a one way ticket out of Charlotte. Last year the Panthers offense struggled, especially in the passing game, averaging only 174.9 and that was 27th in the National football League, The running game was very good, the tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart was 3rd in the entire NFL averaging a little over 156 yards per game, Stewart led the team with 1,133 yards. Carolina scored 19 points per game which was not exactly spectacular. The Carolina Panther defense gave up 315.8 yards per game, 8th in the league, the pass defense was the units strong point as opposing quarterbacks threw for 191 yards per game and that was 4th in the entire NFL, the run defense led by linebacker Jon Beason gave up a 124.8 yards per game. As far as the team was for sports bettors, they were 9-7 against the spread, going over the betting odds total 6 times and under 10 times.

Panthers coach John Fox and the Panthers will be faced with Delhomme, the quarterback who led the team to their first and only superbowl appearance. Incumbent Matt Moore played at the end of the season and performed admirably but this sports handicapper doesn't think he is the answer and apparently neither does the Panthers management, the team drafted high profile quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen from Notre Dame in the 3rd round and University of Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike in the 6th round. Carolina is strong up front on the offensive line and the team may have the best tandem of running backs in all of football with Williams and Stewart, the tandem will be even better this season and we really believe Jonathan Stewart will have a breakout season, becoming one of the best backs in the NFL. Wide receiver Steve Smith will have another great season, there is no problem with his confidence and he will back it up every time.

Carolina also parted ways with longtime defensive end Julius Peppers, who has a much talent as anyone at the position has ever had, I mean anyone and Peppers is not that old, this will hurt Carolina. Middle linebacker Jon Beason is becoming one of the best in the National Football League, he's just a tad behind Ray Lewis when it comes to intensity and hitting, this guy can flat out play. cornerback Chris Gamble is the stud in the defensive backfield but the guy on the other side isn't bad either, Richard Marshall could easily have a pro bowl season. The Panthers lack of experience at the quarterback position will be the only thing holding them out of the 2010-11 playoffs.

Greg C Nelson

The Carolina Panthers weren't able to build on their 12-4 NFC South title season of 2008. They won just eight games last season as quarterback Jake Delhomme held the offense back with his turnover problems. The Panthers said goodbye to their long time quarterback this offseason, and now they will turn to fourth-year signal caller Matt Moore, who led the Panthers to four wins in five games in last year's stretch run. More than anything else, the Panthers need Moore to make smart decisions with the football as running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams carry the offensive load.

The Panthers typically play good defense, and their performance in 2009 was no exception, but now they are about to experience life without stud pass rusher Julius Peppers.

Offense: Bookend tackles Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah, and Ryan Kalil (center) and Travelle Wharton (left guard), are all key pieces to one of the NFL's best run-blocking units. These guys do the heavy lifting while Stewart and Williams get all the glory. Thanks in part to the boys up front, this dynamic running back duo is perhaps the best in the NFL. Last season, Stewart and Williams combined for 2,250 yards and 17 scores, and both players averaged over five yards per tote. As a result, Carolina boasted the third-best running attack in the entire league.

The running game is certainly Carolina's bread and butter, but the Panthers will have to throw the football more effectively in 2010 if they hope to improve on last year's record. The Panthers finished No. 27 in the league in passing offense in 2009, averaging just 174.9 yards per game. Delhomme was throwing interceptions at such a high rate that the coaching staff completely lost faith in the passing game.

The Panthers are hoping that Moore can pick up where he left off last season. They don't need him to be great, just good. The Panthers will certainly take his 2009 performance when he completed 62 percent of his throw for 1,053 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions in limited action.

When the Panthers do take to the air, Moore will be looking to hook up with No. 1 wideout Steve Smith. In a down year, Smith still hauled in 65 passes for 982 yards and seven scores.

Defense: Carolina was one of 11 teams to give up less than 20 points per game in 2009. Of those teams, only two failed to make the playoffs. Had the offense been better, Carolina would have had a great opportunity to punch its playoff ticket for a second straight season.

The Panthers were one of the better defensive teams on the all-important third down. They ranked No. 7 in the NFL in third down defense, only giving up the first down 35.5 percent of the time.

This Panthers could slip on third now that Peppers is in the Windy City. His pass rushing ability was crucial on that down last season. Peppers is the Panthers' all-time sacks leader. They're really going to miss a guy that recorded double-digit sacks year in and year out, especially since no one else on the roster had more than five last season.

While I'm not sure who is going to step up to provide some heat on the quarterback (maybe Tyler Brayton), I am sure that the Panthers will need even more leadership and stellar play out of Jon Beason, Thomas Davis and Chris Gamble to help make up for such a huge loss.

Prediction: 3rd NFC South - The Saints, Falcons and Panthers will all contend for the division title in what is becoming one of the NFL's toughest divisions. Any of these three teams can win it, but right now the Panthers look to be a little behind the other two. The NFL is a quarterback's league, and the Falcons and the Saints both have Pro Bowl-caliber signal callers. Be sure to check out my 2010 NFL predictions to see which team I have winning the division.

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Is this one of the best rookie classes of all time? I can't say for sure, but I know this class of rookies definitely has the most Fantasy Football value that I can remember in a long time. We have a QB who is playing like a seasoned veteran, a running back who is #1 runner right now for fantasy, and a receiver who is 7th in the league in receptions. I will list some of the impact rookies and their fantasy value. The overall draft choice will be in parentheses.

QUATERTBACK:

Matt Ryan (3)- He has to be the leading candidate for R.O.Y. Atlanta drafted him with the third overall pick and he has been better than advertised. The best part is that because of him, no one thinks about Mike Vick anymore. After week 10, he is the eleventh overall QB for standard fantasy scoring. He would make a GREAT backup and I would not be hesitant to make him my starter, if needed. He has some very nice weapons with Turner and Roddy White and I look for him to continue to progress all season. Ryan is going to be a future stud.

Joe Flacco (18)- What a pleasant surprise he has been for Baltimore. A lot or Ravens players wanted Troy Smith to be the starter on opening day, but Baltimore went with the rookie. The Ravens actually traded up on draft day to take Flacco with the 18th overall pick, out of Delaware. They obviously saw something that they liked. And they have to be happy with the results so far. With Flacco at QB, Baltimore actually has a vertical passing game which they haven't had in years. (ever?) He is making nice decisions and is doing more than just managing the game. Derrick Mason is clearly benefiting from this and so with M. Clayton. Flacco is currently the 15th overall QB and is available on most waiver wires right now. Pick him for depth.

RUNNING BACK:

Matt Forte (44)- Forte is the # 1 running back in standard PPR scoring. The Bears got themselves a keeper in Forte. He was most likely drafted in the 6th round or later in fantasy football leagues. So, anyone who is lucky enough to own him got an absolute steal. He also has a great strength of schedule the rest of the way. So continue to start him in confidence. The Bears will continue to get him the rock. I would list him as a close 2nd to Ryan for R.O.Y.

Chris Johnson (24)- He and LenDale White have been a dynamic duo for Tennessee. Johnson is so explosive and can take it to the house at any time. Even though he is in a time share, Johnson is still the 7th overall running back for fantasy. It does seem like he can be a future superstar. The only question mark with him is if he can hold up being an every down back. That remains to be seen. But he will remain very solid for the remainder of this season based on the combination that Tennessee loves to run the ball and the high upside that he brings every week.

Steve Slayton (89)- Slayton was drafted with the 89th overall pick out of West Virginia. In most fantasy leagues, he was either undrafted or went very, very late. Both the Texans and whoever drafted him for fantasy, got great value. He was more than likely drafted as your 4th or 5th running back, so you should have great depth. Hopefully you traded one of your higher, underperforming running backs to upgrade at another position. He is worthy of starting as a RB2 or a great flex option. Slayton will continue to be productive in this potent Texans offense. He is the 14th overall back in PPR leagues. The only question mark with Slayton is if he will be able to hold up for an entire season. He is on the small side. We will see.

Tim Hightower (149)- Anyone who ended up drafting Edgerin James hopefully was smart enough to handcuff him with Hightower. The Cardinals have decided to roll with Hightower now and put Edge on the bench. They won't look back. Hightower has much more burst than Edge and that is what this potent offense needed in a running back. He also runs very hard, which is the reason Arizona decided to make him their goal-line back. Feel free to start him with confidence for the rest of the season. He makes a decent RB2 or a great flex player for most. He is the running back of the future for the Cardinals.

Felix Jones (22)- Dallas went after Jones in the draft and it looks like a wise move. Marion Barber has been the workhorse for the Cowboys, but Jones is a great change of pace back. He also has been very valuable to their return game. Jones looks to be returning from his injury soon, possibly even this week. Dallas could really use his speed. Jones is a must-handcuff if you own Barber and has some nice keeper value also. It looks like he will be a solid back down the road.

Jonathan Stewart (13)- He is another back that is in a serious time-share with Deangelo Williams. He does look to have a nice future though in the NFL. He has some nice speed and looks to be a complete back. Right now, the Panthers seem to be favoring the physical running of Williams more though. Stewart still has nice value though for fantasy. He is more of a fill-in/flex play right now, but that could change quickly if Williams were to stumble or get injured.

Darren McFadden (4), Rashard Mendenhall (23), Ryan Torain (139)- These three backs all have been plagued by injuries. McFadden had 1 good game all season (against the Chiefs) and Torain only played one half of a game all season. Torain did look rather good in that half and looked to be the back of choice for the Broncos. Overall the jury is still out on all 3 of them. I must say that McFadden has looked like somewhat of a bust. He doesn't have much speed and doesn't really look special, like a top 5 pick should. I would rather have most of the backs listed above over McFadden. I was very high on Torain and so were the Denver Broncos. They said that he could have won the starting job in the preseason before he got injured. Then when he comes back, he blew out his knee in the first game. Mendenhall looked good before his season ending surgery, minus his small case of the fumbles.

WIDE RECEIVER:

Eddie Royal (42)- Royal is the 10th overall wide receiver in PPR leagues. He has been clearly benefiting from all of the attention that Brandon Marshall demands, and he has been flourishing. Royal flashes a great combination of speed and good hands. He looks like he has what it takes to be a #1 receiver down the road. Royal went undrafted in a lot of fantasy leagues, or very late. He deserves to be starting for you now. He is a very solid #3 receiver, with the possibility of even more in PPR leagues.

DeSean Jackson (49)- Jackson has blazing speed and playmaking ability that the Eagles were lacking at wide receiver. He was great for them early in the season while the Eagles were minus their 2 top receivers. He continues to be a nice play as McNabb likes to spread the ball around. They also get him involved in reverses and punt returns. Jackson will remain to be a decent # 3 receiver or very good depth.

Donnie Avery (33)- Avery has been a very nice surprise for the Rams. He also is benefiting from the attention that Holt was demanding. It seems that he snuck up on some teams, but they are aware now. Avery has a very nice future in the NFL. He has great speed and is another playmaker. He is a nice fill-in or matchup player for your fantasy team. He can also fill in at the flex position.

If I had a vote for Rookie of the Year; this is how I would rank the top 5 as of right now:
1) Matt Ryan
2) Matt Forte
3) Chris Johnson
4) Joe Flacco
5) Eddie Royal

Honorable Mention: Slayton, Hightower, F. Jones

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There has never been a repeat champion of the NFC South Division and the Carolina Panthers were the victims of the South curse last season, following up their 2008 12-4 record and division title with an 8-8 finish and no playoffs last year. And really that 8-8 record was a bit misleading because Carolina had to win its final three games to manage a .500 mark.

Jake Delhomme's turnover-plagued 2008 postseason continued on into 2009 leading Matt Moore, who led the mini-resurgence late in the year, to eventually replace him. Moore is now the starter until 2010 NFL Draft pick Jimmy Clausen is ready, while Delhomme is now a Cleveland Brown. The Panthers ranked just 27th in the NFL in passing last season and may not be much better this year with some major receiver questions outside of Steve Smith, who himself is recovering from a broken arm. Dwayne Jarrett seems likely to start opposite Smith.

But let there be no doubt: this will be a run-heavy team behind DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, arguably the NFL's best running back tandem. Thanks to those two, the Panthers led the NFC in rushing last year and were third overall. Stewart and Williams became the sixth pair of teammates in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

The defense could take a big hit this season as star defensive end Julius Peppers left as a free agent for the Bears - meaning only one defensive line starter is back from last season. And linebacker Thomas Davis, the team's best pass-rushing linebacker, was lost for the season this summer with a torn ACL.

Carolina coach John Fox has never coached two playoff teams in a row at Carolina. If that streak runs to three, look for Fox to be gone and the team to try and lure Bill Cowher out of retirement.

The oddsmakers put Carolina's 2010 NFL season wins total at 'over/under' 7.5. Let's break down the 2010 Carolina Panthers schedule:

Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at NY Giants, 1:00 PM

Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM

Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at New Orleans, 1:00 PM

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Chicago, 1:00 PM

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, San Francisco, 1:00 PM

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at St. Louis, 1:00 PM

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, New Orleans, 1:00 PM

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Baltimore, 1:00 PM

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Seattle, 4:15 PM

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Atlanta, 1:00 PM

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Arizona, 1:00 PM

Week 16: Thursday, Dec. 23, at Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Atlanta, 1:00 PM

This is ranked as the seventh-easiest schedule in the NFL this season, with an opponents' 2009 winning percentage of.477 (122-134). Carolina has just five games against playoff teams from last season - it helps that only one NFC South team (Saints) made it.

The Giants will no doubt be out for revenge in the grand opening of the New Meadowlands Stadium as Carolina crushed the G-Men in Week 16 last year in the final of the old Giants Stadium. The Panthers have opened as seven-point underdogs.

Carolina really needs to be strong in the next five games because that stretch likely will determine its NFL betting lines with four of the games at home and only one against a playoff team from last year (Cincinnati) although the Bears and Niners could be in 2010. Should be interesting to see what Peppers does against Panthers star tackle Jordan Gross in that Chicago game.

That next three-game stretch also isn't that bad. Sure, the Saints are defending champs, but Carolina gave them trouble last year, winning the season finale at home (when New Orleans had zip to play for). Carolina has have won 11 of its last 15 against the Saints and hasn't been swept by them since 2001. The Panthers swept the Bucs last year and are 11-3 against them since 2003. The Rams haven't won at home since midway through the 2008 season.

Baltimore will be tough to beat before the Panthers could see Delhomme when they go to Cleveland on Nov. 28, although if Delhomme plays like he did last year he'll be benched by then. That matchup with Arizona is strangely the ninth year in the past 10 these two have played. Carolina has won six consecutive regular-season games over the Cardinals.

It's clear not much is expected of Carolina considering its only prime-time schedule game is that Week 16 matchup in Pittsburgh. The Panthers aren't a very good cold-weather team so it's hard to see them winning there.

If Matt Moore is just OK, this schedule really seems quite easy. I'd say that eight wins is probably very doable and that 'over' 7.5 seems like a lock, although the NFL Power Rankings indicate this is not a playoff team.

Doc Moseman is one of the pioneers of college football and the NFL Handicapping industry. Check out his Web site for up-to -the-minute NFL Odds and his famous winning college football and NFL picks.

#19 - Atlanta Falcons - C.J. Spiller - Clemson

Taking a RB in the first round seems a little risky, when this team could probably use more help at defense to go against the New Orleans Saints. CJ Spiller could provide the speed to complement the power of Michael Turner. Jerious Norwood hasn't played as well as the team expected in 2009 when his average dipped below 5 yards/carry for the first time. The team needs a two headed monster at RB to try to keep up with the Saints offense. Matt Ryan and his receivers should be able to put up some offense, but the RBs need to help as well.

The team could also use a pass rusher because Jamaal Anderson turned out to be a huge bust. They will definitely have to address that in the second round. The Falcons need to be able to get to the QB better if they want to overtake the Saints and win the NFC South next year. Peria Jerry was hurt for most of last year, and if he can make an impact, it will be a huge help for this team that needs better DT play. The team was ranked 10th rushing defense last year, giving up 106.9 yards per game. The team needs to be dominant up front to stop the Saints Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush and the Panthers DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Atlanta had a horrible pass defense last year, but they have been addressing it during free agency. Tye Hill and Chris Houston are gone, and in comes the top free agent CB, Dunta Robinson. The team was 28th in passing defense last year, giving up 242 yards/game. A rookie CB next year will not make the difference, so the team decided it needed to go get a #1 CB in Robinson to try to stop the Saints in 2010. The team should draft a CB in an early round to start developing more talent and depth at the position because two or three quality CBs are now needed in the pass-heavy NFL.

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The Carolina Panthers played a disappointing season in 2007, though it was hardly the worst in the league. They did manage to upset some powerhouse teams like the 49ers and the Seahawks towards the end of the season. Will making some roster changes help the team back into playoff contention? You might discern the Panthers' chances in 2008 by taking a careful look at the NFL Draft. The team was looking for a major league playmaker this year.

The team started the draft by selecting running back Jonathan Stewart from Oregon, and then offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh. Both players were first round picks and relatively early overall, at 13th and 19th respectively. The team also selected two third round picks in cornerback Charles Godfrey from Iowa and linebacker Dan Connor from Penn State. The fifth round pick went to tight end Gary Barnidge from Louisville, and sixth round pick to defensive tackle Nick Hayden from Wisconsin. For the final round there were three players: line backer Hilee Taylor from the University of North Carolina, offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz from Oregon and offensive guard Mackenzy Bernadeau from Bentley.

This appears to be the "last chance" for the Panthers' current management administration and for much of the roster. 2007 was forgivable due to the absence of prominent players like quarterback Jake Delhomme. However, in the new season it's time to for the Panthers to prove themselves. The draft selections of 2008 will play an important role in determining the team's success. First pick Jonathan Stewart has received accolades for his abilities and has been called a multi-dimensional player who has the gift of size, speed and experience. The biggest question on Stewart is his long-term durability, since he is injury prone. How did the team manage to get two first round picks? They had to trade next year's #1 pick to do it, but the team did manage to land offensive tackle Jeff Otah. Otah was impressive physically, weighing over 300 pounds and standing 6'6. He also combined strength and athleticism in one total package. However, experts are cautious about Otah's level of experience, as he didn't start playing football until his senior year of high school. While Otah is seen as a raw player, he does still have great potential.

Charles Godfrey was seen as a player with great depth, as he brought a lot of speed and quickness to his position, while Dan Conner won even bigger praise for his aggressive style and excellent range. Hilee Taylor, Nick Hayden and Gary Barnidge also received some praise by NFL experts. All in all, most fans would describe the 2008 draft as a risk-but a highly calculated risk that provided value players as well as high impact players and promising backup players. This is a very good draft play, especially considering that the team didn't have a lot of holes to fill going into 2008. This is definitely the make or break year of the current Panthers generation and so far, the draft looks promising.

Catch every out of market Carolina Panthers game on Direct TV NFL Sunday Ticket. Visit DirectStarTV today for the best Direct TV Deals. Direct TV is the exclusive provider for the NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL SuperFan.

Notable Players In History

Dan Fouts

Fouts is one of the greatest QB's to ever play at Oregon. Back when he played for Oregon the conference was called the All-PAC 8. He set 19 different passing records during his playing days in Eugene. He holds the record for both passing yards & total offense. Fouts was inducted into the the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 1992.

Not only was Fouts a great college QB he was also a great NFL QB too. He was drafted in the 3rd round in 1973 by the San Diego Chargers. After being drafted, he led the league on 4 separate occasions in passing yards. He was selected to the Pro Bowl 6 times. These numbers also led Founts into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 1993.

Gary Zimmerman

Zimmerman is a former offensive lineman for the Ducks. He didn't take the traditional route to the NFL though. He was instead selected in the USFL draft in 1984. He went on to play two season for the Los Angeles Express. One of his teammates was Steve Young.

In 1986, Zimmerman joined the Vikings. He spent 7 seasons in Minnesota. His next & final NFL stop was in Denver. He played a total of 5 seasons there giving him a total of 12 seasons in the NFL.

Over those 12 NFL years, he played in a total of 184 games. He retired from the NFL in 1997. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He joins five other former USFL players as a group to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mel Renfro

Renfro is a former halfback & defensive back at Oregon. Not only did he play football at Oregon, he was also a track star. He was an All-American halfback selection during his days at Oregon. He rushed for over 1500 yards & scored 141 points in three seasons during his college days. Renfro was selected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

He went on to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2nd round of the 1964 NFL Draft. He spent his entire NFL career in Dallas. He played defensive back his entire career but played at both the safety & cornerback position. However, after 5 seasons at safety, he was switched to cornerback due to his speed.

He accumulated 52 interceptions during his NFL career. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons in the NFL. He was also a great special teams player with duties of punt & kick returns. He ended his playing days when Dallas won Super Bowl XII over the Broncos.

Akili Smith

Akili Smith is a former 1st round NFL draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals. However, his NFL career didn't turn out as expected. During his 4 years with the Bengals, Smith never really lived up to his draft status. His NFL time came to an end after the 2005 season.

Jonathan Stewart (current NFL player)

Stewart is a current NFL player for the Carolina Panthers. He too is a former first round pick taken in 2008 draft. He was one of the highest rated recruits out of high school before coming to Oregon. He spent 3 seasons at Oregon before going into the NFL draft. He currently gets considerable playing time at running back for the Panthers.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school coach. Check out his Oregon Ducks Watch or his Tampa Bay Devil Rays Watch

The Carolina Panthers played an uneven season in 2007, finishing with a final score of 7-9. Though they had an exciting introduction, as the months passed they suffered defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, the Jacksonville Jaguars and other teams, though they upset the 49ers and the SeaHawks towards the end of the season. They missed the playoffs and now in their 14th season they hope to capitalize on some changes to play a more competitive game.

Some roster losses have already happened, including the loss of cornerback Patrick Dendy, linebacker Dan Morgan and safety Marquand Manuel, along with eight other losses. One of the biggest news items was the team's signing of offensive tackle Travelle Wharton to a six-year contract extension, which kept him off the free agent list. The team also signed extensions for safety Chris and defensive tackle Damione Lewis. Looking into the new year team management as well as quarterback Jake Delhomme stated that the team was looking for another playmaker capable of helping out wide receiver Steve Smith. Additional needs include a tight end and a power running back. Going into 2008, the Panthers would be left with Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson, which was big risk, especially with the departures of Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson.

Everyone's eyes were on the 2008 draft, to see who the Panthers would pick for a playmaker this year. The team started off the draft by choosing running back Jonathan Stewart from Oregon, followed by offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh. The team also signed cornerback Charles Godfrey from Iowa and Penn State linebacker Dan Connor. Louisville's Gary Barnidge was chosen as a tight end, along with defensive tackle Nick Hayden, linebacker Hilee Taylor, offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz and offensive guard Mackenzy Bernadeau.

What was the critical reaction to the team's draft strategy? It was expected that the team would look for a first-round running back, and with Jonathan Stewart, this was the second time in three years the team would do so. Some wondered if Stewart was truly 1st round draft material, especially with other big names available. However, Charles Godfrey was well received, as was Dan Connor. In fact, some believe Connor was good enough to be drafted in the first round. What was most surprising was that the team didn't choose a quarterback this year, which a considerable risk given Jake Delhomme's past injury. The team also neglected to choose another pass rusher, which puts added responsibility on the underachieving Julius Peppers.

While the Carolina Panthers have their fan base and still the respect of a few experts in the game, they are not winning any one's confidence with their draft picks. Experts stated that the team's biggest problem last year was in two key positions: quarterback and pass rush. Since these issues have not been resolved, what will the future hold for the team? Head coach John Fox, the team's choice since 2002, remains confident that the team has addressed the biggest concerns and will play a more competitive season in 2008.

This weekend the Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in an amazing show of run offense by the Panthers. Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart came together as an unstoppable run offense combo. Deangelo Williams broke away for big runs all day and Jonathan Stewart pounded into the in zone. It's becoming apparent that every NFL team is going to have to start having two NFL starter quality running back's to be effective in the NFL anymore.

Steve Smith was active in the game, he caught a touchdown pass. His explosiveness kept the Cardinals on their heels all day. The past few weeks Steve Smith was saying that he didn't feel like an asset to the Carolina Panthers anymore. He is one of the biggest reasons that the Carolina Panthers have such an effective run game. He is so fast and so great at the wide receiver position that it takes a safety and a corner back to cover him and in some situations it takes a outside linebacker.

If the Panthers can get their confidence back up the Panthers will have a good season and maybe even make a run at a wild-card spot in the playoffs. What everyone wants to know is, who is going to be the quarterback for the Carolina Panthers next year? I don't believe anybody believes it will be Jake. Jake Delhomme is too inconsistent and throws too many interceptions. During the off-season if John Fox has the opportunity to sign a better quarterback he should take it. If you look at the past two years the Carolina Panthers had the opportunity to sign Brett Favre, Michael Vick and how many other rookie all-star quarterback's? Yet the Panthers are still sticking with Jake Delhomme.

What was going on with John Kasay the Kicker for the Panthers this weekend? He missed two 40 something yard field goals. John Kasay usually is effective even past the 50 yard line. Maybe it was just an off week for the field goal kicker. John Kasay is the last original Carolina Panther and he is one of the best kickers in the NFL.

The Panthers have ALMOST all of the tools they need to be a dominate team in the National Football League. With so many tools on offensive and defense it is time to evaluate the quarterback position for the Carolina Panthers.

It's time for the Panthers to fill in the missing piece.

BLitzRumors.com is a NFL News and Rumors Website using the multiple NFL News and NFL rumors sources to display the latest and hard to find NFL News and Rumors. Visit us at http://www.blitzrumors.com.

Check out our Carolina Panthers News Section.

Here's a breakdown of every NFC team, including prediction standings by division.

NFC East

Washington Redskins (5-11) The Mike Shanahan regime has seemingly injected new life into an ailing franchise, but a tough schedule and a shortage of playmakers will hurt Donovan McNabb's chances of reaching the playoffs with his former division rivals. One question remains unanswered: will the $100 million man finally prove his worth?

Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Life without McNabb will be hard to swallow if Philly doesn't win right away. Kevin Kolb will be effective given the number of weapons he has, but the Eagles may suffer a letdown in their RB production from LeSean McCoy compared to pre-concussed Brian Westbrook.

New York Giants (10-6) The Giants are my NFC wildcard pick. They've bulked up with veteran leadership in key spots (i.e. Keith Bulluck, Shawn Andrews), and the receiving corps is looking better than ever. If Ahmad Bradshaw can fully embrace the starting RB role, they'll be tough to stop with Eli and his newly adjusted helmet.

Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Dallas has looked woeful this preseason, but then again.. it's preseason. They'll pick it up with their run-by-commitee ground attack, but ultimately it'll be their defense that gets them back to the playoffs.

NFC North

Detroit Lions (7-9) One of the league's brightest teams will look to give teams a run for their money. It will be crucial for Matthew Stafford to get into a rhythm with his O-line, his RBs (i.e. Jahvid Best), and his receiving corps, namely Calvin Johnson and newcomer Nate Burleson.

Chicago Bears (8-8) Hiring Mike Martz was definitely a step in the right direction for Jay Cutler's development. Brian Urlacher and the defense will look to bounce back, as will Matt Forte from his sophomore slump. A playoff berth could mean job security for Lovie Smith, so this could get interesting.

Minnesota Vikings (9-7) Surprise, surprise: training camp ends and Papa Favre shows up. But the dinosaur won't be able to recreate last year's magic without Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin in full-capacity. Inevitably, the weight falls on Adrian Peterson's shoulders. ?

Green Bay Packers (11-5) Aaron Rodgers is quickly becoming the Peyton Manning of the NFC, and with Ryan Grant in the backfield and a top 5 defense, the sky is the limit for this group. Watch out for 3rd year TE Jermichael Finley to step it up a notch and become a redzone regular for Rodgers.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) Every dark cloud has a silver Cadillac.

Carolina Panthers (6-10) Running and defense have always been John Fox staples. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart fill handle the running, but the defense could be suspect. Matt Moore has yet to prove himself, but how tough can it be to match Jake Delhomme's disgraceful performance.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) Matt Ryan will return from his sophomore campaign with a newfound confidence. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez will both have a hand in that, and a potent ground game should take the pressure off of him. The Falcons are my other NFC Wild Card pick.

New Orleans Saints (12-4) Not much has changed except that there's a huge X on New Orleans' back (as in XLIV). But if any coach is up for the challenge, it's Sean Payton and his gutsy playcalling. The defense was not as physical as other teams, but they'll have to be opportunistic with turnovers in order to get back to the Promised Land (a.k.a. The House That Jerry Jones Built).

NFC West

St. Louis Rams (4-12) With Steve Spagnuolo's defense more firmly intact, I'm giving last season's 1-win wonder 3 more wins in the NFL's weakest division.

Seattle Seahawks (6-10) Pete Carroll gets another crack at the pros with America's forgotten team. Leon Washington and Justin Forsett could put Seattle's running game back on the map, but the defense needs to find more ways to apply pressure.

Arizona Cardinals (7-9) With the ongoing QB crisis in effect, Ken Whisenhunt might have to seriously reevaluate his team's identity. This could mean more touches for Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells, opening up the passing game for the Cardinals. Now all they need is a QB.

San Francisco 49ers (10-6) This could be the first time San Fran wins the division since the T.O. administration. Aside from enjoying an easy schedule, the Niners are a complete team- Frank Gore owns the backfield, Alex Smith is coming into his own, and the defense is taking on the persona of the mad man that is Mike Singletary.

Asaf Winer is a sports journalist who freelances for sports predictions websites. He is considered a sports expert in football predictions and posts his free NFL predictions in many online forums. You can see his weekly NFL picks at http://www.Superpredictors.com, where last year he was ranked the top predictor for the 2009-2010 NFL season.

In 2007, the New York Giants became SuperBowl champs after beginning the season 0-2. The Giants finished the regular season with a 10-6 record and qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. The Giants punched their ticket to the Superbowl with playoff victories over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers, all on the road.

In the SuperBowl, little brother Eli Manning led the Giants to one of the biggest upsets in SuperBowl history. Tearing himself away from the grasp of several Patriot defenders, Manning completed an unbelievable pass inside the Patriots 20. He then hit Plexico Burris for the winning touchdown in the corner of the end zone with less than a minute to play destroying New England's perfect season.

If the Giants are to repeat as Superbowl champs, they will need to have a better start. Four of the Giants first six games are at home. The difficult stretch of the season will come at the end, when the Giants go on the road for four of their last six games.

Thursday September 4 Washington Redskins @ New York Giants 7 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($192-$1,470)

The Giants begin the season against the division rival Redskins. The Redskins finished the 2007 regular season 9-7. The Redskins season ended with a 35-14 wild card playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Redskins did not have a first round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Ticket sale price range ($192-$1,470)

Sunday September 14 New York Giants @ St. Louis Rams 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($74-$441)

Game 2 should be a cheap win for the Giants. The Rams finished the 2007 regular season 3-13, which is the worst record since the team moved to St. Louis. The Rams selected defensive tackle Chris Long from Virginia Tech University (son of Hall of Famer Howie Long) with the 2nd pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday September 21 Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Giants 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($138-$735)

In week 3, the disorganized Bengals visit Giants Stadium. The Bengals finished the 2007 regular season 7-9, and missed the playoffs. The Bengals players have had lots of problems off the field and star receiver Chad Johnson has asked to be traded. The Bengals selected linebacker Keith Rivers from USC with the 9th pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday September 28 Bye Week

Sunday October 5 Seattle Seahawks @ New York Giants 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($138-$686)

In week 5, the Seattle Seahawks come to town. The Seahawks finished the 2007 regular season 9-7. The Seahawks defeated the Redskins 35-15 in the wild card round, and then lost 42-20 to the Packers on a snowy day in Green Bay. The Seahawks selected defensive end Lawrence Jackson from USC with the 28th pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Monday October 13 New York Giants @ Cleveland Browns 8:30 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($94-$613)

The Browns can no longer be discounted, as the Giants should have a Monday night showdown with the much improved Browns. The Browns finished the 2007 regular season 10-6, and missed the playoffs. The Browns did not have a first round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday October 19 San Francisco 49ers @ New York Giants 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($147-$637)

Week 7 should be another cheap win for the Giants. The 49ers finished the 2007 regular season 5-11, and missed the playoffs. The 49ers selected defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer from The University of North Carolina with the 29th pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday October 26 New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers 4:15 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($127-$826)

Heinz Field is one of the most difficult places in the NFL to win. The Steelers finished the 2007 regular season 10-6. The Steelers season ended with a 31-29 wild card playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers selected running back Rashard Mendenhall from The University of Illinois with the 23rd pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday November 2 Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants 4:15 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($216-$1,029)

The hottest ticket of the year will be for game 8 against the Cowboys. The Cowboys finished the 2007 regular season 13-3. The Cowboys season ended with a devastating 21-17 defeat at the hands of the New York Giants. The Cowboys selected running back Felix Jones from Arkansas with the 22nd pick and cornerback Mike Jenkins from South Florida University in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday November 9 New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles 8:15 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($166-$837)

The Giants buy a Sunday night game against the Eagles. The Eagles finished the 2007 regular season 8-8, and missed the playoffs. The Eagles did not have a first round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday November 16 Baltimore Ravens @ New York Giants 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($138-$735)

The Giants look to deal a blow to the only team to beat them in a Superbowl, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens finished the 2007 regular season 5-11, and missed the playoffs. The Ravens selected quarter back Joe Flacco from The University of Delaware with the 18th pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday November 23 New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals 4:15 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($58-$637)

The Giants return to University of Phoenix stadium for the first time since Superbowl XLII to face the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals finished the 2007 regular season 8-8, and missed the playoffs. The Ravens selected cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Tennessee State University with the 16th pick in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday November 30 New York Giants @ Washington Redskins 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($93-$980)

The Giants will try to punch their ticket to an NFC East title with a victory in Washington.

Sunday December 7 Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($147-$735)

Tickets prices are always high when the Eagles come into Giants Stadium.

Sunday December 14 New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys 8:15 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($122-$19,980)

There won't be any cheap tickets for the rematch of last year's playoffs.

Sunday December 21 Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($113-$735)

The Carolina panthers and star receiver Steve Smith cannot be discounted. The Panthers finished the 2007 regular season 7-9, and missed the playoffs. The Panthers selected running back Jonathan Stewart from The University of Oregon with the 13th pick and offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh in the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Sunday December 28 New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings 1 p.m. ET Ticket sale price range ($35-$324)

The Giants finish the regular season against the Vikings who are hoping the price they paid for receiver Bernard Berian was worth it. The Vikings finished the 2007 regular season 8-8, and missed the playoffs. Vikings did not have a first round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Since the Giants are from New York, fans pay a high price to buy tickets in normal seasons. With their team coming off an exciting Superbowl winning performance, Giants fans can expect New York Giants tickets to be expensive this season. Ticket price ranges above are as of the time this article was written.

Justin Diamond is Director of Marketing at Swickets.com. He writes about New York Giants Tickets, Superbowl Tickets and many other topics.

The Carolina Panthers head into the 2010 season off an 8-8 record and third place finish in the NFC South. It was a disappointing finish, as the Panthers came into the 2009 season with high expectations after finishing 12-4 in 2008. A big reason for the Panther's drop off in 2009 was the play of quarterback Jake Delhomme, who started only 11 games before being benched. The Panthers will not be able to put the blame on Delhomme this season, as they cut Delhomme this past offseason. The Panthers are trying to get younger at a number of positions, and here is a look at what they will send onto the field this season.

Offense:

The Panthers will likely start the season with Matt Moore at quarterback, as Moore really impressed the organization with his play over the final five games, leading the Panthers to four wins in his five starts. The Panthers did draft Jimmy Clausen in the second round, and he will compete right away in training camp for the starting job with Moore.

The strength of this unit is the running game, as the Panthers have a deadly 1-2 punch in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. In 2009 Stewart led the way with 1,133 yards, but Williams was right behind him with 1,117 yards. The first time two backs from the same team both rushed for more than 1,100 yards. This duo will have to be even better in 2010 if this team is going to win the NFC South.

Luckily for the Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith will likely be ready for the start of the season, after breaking his arm playing flag football this offseason. Smith is the only proven weapon the Panthers have in the passing game, and they need him to bounce back with a big time season in 2010. The Panthers drafted LSU wide out Brandon LaFell, and he will battle Dwayne Jarrett for the No. 2 spot.

The Panthers have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL heading into the 2010 season. Left tackle Jordan Gross is coming off a broken leg from last season, but is expected to be ready to go for training camp. The only change up front will come at right guard, as Mackenzy Bernadeau is expected to take over for the departed Keydrick Vincent.

Defense:

The Panthers biggest lost this offseason was defensive end Julius Peppers, and there is no question that this team is going to miss his production this season. With Peppers gone it leaves the Peppers pretty weak at the defensive end position. Veteran Tyler Brayton is back after starting 15 games in 2009, but he will have plenty of competition for his job from Everette Brown and Charles Johnson. The Panthers also lost starting defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis. That leaves Louis Leonard, Tank Tyler, Corvey Irvin, and Nick Hayden fighting for playing time at the demanding positions inside.

The Panthers have one of the top middle linebackers in the game in Jon Beason, but will likely be without starting outside linebacker Thomas Davis for most of the upcoming season, and the team decided not to bring back 2009 starter Na'il Diggs. Heading into camp it looks like Jamar Williams and James Anderson have the early edge to start.

In the secondary the Panthers welcome back the starting duo of Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble at the two corner spots, but the Panthers will have to make a change at free safety after trading Chris Harris back to the Bears. Sherrod Martin figures to take over for Harris, with Charles Godfrey back at strong safety.

Prediction - 3rd NFC South: I know there are some that believe this team has enough to win the South this season, but I don't think they are better than either the Falcons or Saints heading into the 2010 season. I think the offense will be just fine with either Moore or Clausen at quarterback, but I just think there are too many changes on the defensive side for this team to stop the high powered passing attack of New Orleans or the running game of the Falcons.

For a complete look at the upcoming season check out our 2010 NFL predictions. If you plan on betting the NFL this season, make sure to check back before each week for our live NFL odds feed that ensures you the best possible odds for every game.