The suspension will sideline Dante for the Panthers game vs. Buffalo this Sunday.

In a letter to Dante today, Mr. Anderson wrote:

“The playing rules (Rule 10, Section 1, Article 1) specifically provide that a member of the kicking team is prohibited from interfering with a receiver attempting to catch an airborne kick. The prohibited contact in this case went well beyond simply interfering with the receiver. Instead, by striking your defenseless opponent in the head and neck area, you committed an unnecessary and unnecessarily dangerous act that is specifically prohibited by the rules. Your actions are of particular concern in light of the emphasis that our office has placed on developing and enforcing rules designed to protect players from injury, including head and neck injuries. The safety of our players is paramount to all of us in the NFL.”

Dante will lose about $36,000 (his weekly game check) because of the suspension. He would later say he was “just trying to make a play.” But he’s clearly in denial. Dante lost his mind for a moment and the mistake will cost him a week’s pay. Luckily, Clifton Smith emerged uninjured after the collision.

Source: NFL Media

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Dante Wesley Suspended One Game

Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers / Image: Zuma Press

Yes, Julius said he would never sign a long-term contract with Carolina and begged the team not to place the franchise tag on him. Of course, they did it anyway, understanding the exorbitant amount of money they would have to pay him. It also meant another team couldn’t sign him unless it gave Carolina two first-round draft picks in return. And obviously, nobody was willing to go that far.

In a statement released by his agent, Julius said:

“Recently, I’ve had positive and productive discussions with the organization. I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season.”

If I were set to make $16.7 million this year, I’d be pretty optimistic, too. Do the math. Julius is set to make more than $1 million per game. And he’ll need to have a career season to reward the risk.

Source: Panthers.com

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Julius Peppers Will Stay in Carolina

Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers / Photo: Newscom

Jake was happy to get this deal done before his contract was up at the end of the 2009 season:

“My wife and I were very happy, but truly, honestly, we’re more excited to know that we can be in Charlotte, North Carolina. That meant the most to us. It’s such a relief to know that we’re here with the Panther organization. To be able to play here, to play for Big Cat (owner/founder Jerry Richardson) and the Panther family, I feel it’s pretty special.”

Concerning last season’s finale — and in Jake’s defense — his embarrassing implosion (six total turnovers) in January’s divisional playoff game against the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals was an aberration. But it did keep the favored Panthers from advancing as expected and put the brakes on an otherwise impressive 12-4 season. At 34-years-old and taking into consideration the way last season ended, I was surprised to see the Panthers make such an expensive commitment to Jake at this time. But there was a method to their madness. The deal did clear out some much-needed salary-cap space because franchised defensive end Julius Peppers will make a whopping $16.7 million this season. Jake was going to cost the team $10 million against the cap this season in the last year of his deal. So this gives Carolina a little financial freedom with the NFL Draft just two days away.

Source: Panthers.com

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Jake Delhomme Signs Contract Extension

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Carolina Panthers signed All-Pro offensive tackle Jordan Gross to a six-year contract extension today, keeping him with the only team he’s ever played for in his National Football League career. Jordan was drafted by the Panthers in 2003. The deal includes more than $30 million in the first three seasons. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney recognizes the talent:

“Jordan’s one of the leaders of our offensive line and our team. He’s an excellent fit. He’s a perfect fit for our team and our organization. He’s one of the top left tackles in the league. Our offensive line was one of the strong points of our team last year and Jordan was a very big part of that.”

Jordan is more like the number one reason the offensive line set franchise records for the fewest sacks allowed (20) and most rushing yards (2,437) last season. He also proved dominant in pass protection, especially later in the season as the line allowed less than one sack per game (0.85) in the final 13 games of the regular season. I won’t go so far as to say he’s the best left tackle in the NFL, but there’s no doubt he’s top five.

Source: Panthers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jordan Gross Signs Contract Extension

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Carolina Panthers signed cornerback Chris Gamble to a six-year contract extension today. The deal is worth $53 million and includes $23 million worth of guaranteed bonuses. This “early” signing will keep Chris off the free agent market this offseason. A day after Thanksgiving, Chris was thankful, indeed:

“I am very excited just to get it out of the way. I want to be in Carolina. I didn’t want to be with another team. I like the organization, the coaching staff, the fans (and) my teammates. I wanted to get it out of the way. Luckily we did that and I can get focused back on Green Bay and the rest of the season.”

Chris is having a great 2008 season and has become one of the league’s best “lockdown” corners since being drafted in the first round by the Panthers back in 2004. He has 17 passes defensed, two interceptions, a forced fumble and 70 tackles through 11 games this year. In an NFL age where you can’t keep any good group of players together for very long, Carolina is smart to secure one of their best players at least through 2014. Next up on the priority list — defensive end Julius Peppers and left tackle Jordan Gross.

Source: Panthers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Lockdown: Panthers Keep Chris Gamble

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith has very quietly returned to the team after serving a two game suspension for bloodying teammate Ken Lucas’ nose during training camp. Fortunately for the Panthers, they’re already 2-0 and one would assume they’re only going to get better with Steve back in the lineup. Steve was candid in answering questions from the media and says he and Ken have settled their differences:

“I can’t really say exactly everything that I have felt and thought. I know I’m not a victim, as people may think. I know I’m not giving them lip service. I’m not just saying stuff just to get people off my back. I’m telling you how I feel. Sometimes, obviously, when you do something wrong, you don’t want to constantly keep talking about it and going over and over, whether it happened two weeks ago or a month ago — you just kind of want to say, ‘Hey, I made a mistake; I had to pay a price’ ….. Flat out, we said it: I thought he didn’t like me and he thought I didn’t like him. It’s plain and simple ….. I would think we’re friends. I think the conversation we had would indicate we are. There were some frowns going on, some laughing and we talked about a lot of things. I think that was kind of the icebreaker. Hopefully it continues and I think it will.”

Now it’s time for Steve to get back into the flow with QB Jake Delhomme and fellow receivers Muhsin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett and Dwayne Jarrett. Plus, he’s got to rehab a shoulder, watch film and decorate his locker.

Source: Panthers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Steve Smith Back With Carolina Panthers

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith was suspended for two games following a training camp fight with teammate Ken Lucas yesterday. Ken left the practice field with ice over his left eye and a broken nose. Steve will continue to practice when camp resumes Monday and he will be allowed to participate in the team’s preseason games, but he’s out for the first two regular season games, costing him more than $205,000. According to Panthers head coach John Fox:

“What (Steve) did was wrong and we take very serious and he is being punished severely for it. He is still ours and he will have conditions. He knows what those are and we will move forward.”

I realize that tempers can flare amidst the heat of training camp. And teammates get tired of beating up on one another. But you can’t let your emotions get the best of you to a point where you’re taking out one of your own. It certainly send a strong message to the rest of the squad that as teammates, you have to take care of one another.

Source: NFL.com

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Panthers WR Steve Smith Suspended

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme was back under center during his team’s voluntary minicamp today. It seems like a miraculous recovery considering Jake went through “Tommy John surgery” (doctors replaced the failed ligament in his right elbow with a tendon from his left thigh) just eight months ago. I thought his career was over. But it looks like he’s stronger than ever and Jake is optimistic about his full recovery:

“It felt great. I think mentally I was a little rusty, but that was to be expected. It was good to be out there in the huddle and actually competing again.”

Jake threw about 40 passes in his latest rehab milestone today and could be ready for a full workload when training camp starts July 26. Hopefully he won’t already be spent from the grueling comeback. His motivation will include a new-look offense that includes a bigger line, a new backfield and more depth at receiver.

Source: Panthers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jake Delhomme Continues Comeback

Carolina Panthers QB Vinny Testaverde says he’s going to retire after today’s game against the Tampa Bay Bucs. He’s 44 years old and has just completed his 21st NFL season. It sounds like the logical thing to do (unless you’re Brett Favre), but can we believe him? He saved what was left of the Panthers’ season, starting five games and adding an additional 1,000 passing yards (almost) to his career stats. Not bad for his age. But his body wore down late in the season, and he was sidelined by back pain and a right Achilles tendon injury that kept him out of games and practices the past month. In an AP interview yesterday he said:

“I just feel like it’s time. Obviously at 44 it does get a little bit tougher as the weeks go by. I’m glad I’m able to do it on my own terms and walk away from the game not only healthy, but to experience some of the things I’ve been through.”

You know what? I don’t think he’s done. He may say he’s retiring, but when he’s had some offseason time to heal, another team will attempt to avail themselves of his services in an “emergency” or backup role and the competitor inside will take over. I think Vinny Testaverde will be back.

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Vinny Testaverde Set to Retire From NFL

Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox is giving the starting quarterback nod to the ageless Vinny Testeverde again this week against undefeated Indianapolis. The reasoning is that David Carr is not 100%, although he is listed as probable on the latest injury report. Coach Fox said:

“It’s not a season-long decision. It will be game to game. Contrary to popular belief, this wasn’t about keeping our opponent in the dark as much as it was us sorting it out. I think we have two starting quarterbacks, albeit not our original starter.”

I’ll go ahead and read into that statement. Coach Fox likes what he sees from Vinny T. And if “the old man” finds a way to beat the Colts (like he beat the Cards last week), you can bet Vinny will be the starting QB next week as well.

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Vinny Testeverde to Start Against Colts