September 1, 2015
Tick. Tick. Tick.
There's nothing like a good night's sleep, and what I had was nothing like a good night's sleep. Today is cut day: 8 players from the 83 the Panthers have carried until now are going to be out of work by 4 pm today. I could be one of them easily. I'm a seventh round pick who got burned for a 50 yard touchdown against the Patriots. I'm a seventh round pick at a position of strength on one of the better defenses in the league.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Then again, the coaches have me playing a lot on special teams. I've returned some kicks and punts, taking touches away from Ted Ginn [Jr.], and I've had a few tackles as a gunner on punts and kickoffs. I wouldn't mind playing special teams only, especially as a 7th round pick out of a small FCS school on a good defensive team.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
It's 11 o'clock. Why haven't they called? Do they still want me? Or have they just not gotten to the defensive cuts yet? Are they going to keep me? There are only 5 hours to go.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
It's 1 o'clock pm. Yesterday, I told my friends and family not to call me today. If they need me, email me or text me. I don't want to have to worry about a phone call from my mom scaring me to death at two pm. I've gotten a few inquiring texts so far, from friends, all asking the same question. The answer's been the same each time: "Nope, haven't heard anything."
Tick. Tick. Tick.
3 o'clock. Nothing yet. What will I do if I get cut? I'm not sure. I have a degree—political science—but who would want a 22 year old with only an undergrad degree and no experience in the field? The Panthers haven't called yet. I can't really focus on anything right now. I can barely even focus on sitting down. Still plenty of time for them to call, for my football career to lose stability. Have I proved enough during the three games so far? Do I need to prove more, so they're holding on to me to try and see that in the fourth preseason game?
I just want this hour to be over.
* * *
BY JOSEPH PERSON AND JONATHAN JONES
[email protected]
[email protected]
The Panthers' first round of cuts claimed cornerback Melvin White, a former starter who indicated on Twitter on Tuesday morning that he'd been cut.
White, undrafted out of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2013, started 17 games in two seasons and was in the starting lineup for the playoff loss to San Francisco as a rookie.
The Panthers also cut wide receiver Jarrett Boykin and safety Robert Lester, according to league sources.
Boykin, a Charlotte native and former Packers wideout, had a team-leading nine catches in three exhibition games but was inconsistent throughout the preseason.
Lester started several games in 2013 but spent most of last season on the practice squad.
General manager Dave Gettleman declined to comment on any roster moves, saying they had not been finalized.
The team has until 4 p.m. Tuesday to get to 75 players. The final 53-man roster must be set by Saturday.
White had a couple of big plays in key games. He intercepted Matt Ryan and returned it for a touchdown in the division-clinching win in Atlanta two years ago, and forced Ted Ginn to fumble on a kickoff return deep in Arizona territory in the Panthers' playoff win in January.
But the emergence of Josh Norman and Bene’ Benwikere last season and the addition of veteran Charles Tillman pushed White to the back of the rotation. He was competing with seventh round draft pick Adam Jones for one of the last cornerback spots, but Jones’ special teams skills gave him an edge.
White's release means the Panthers have turned over three-fourths of the secondary that started six of the first seven games last season. Cornerback Antoine Cason was cut in December, while safety Thomas DeCoud was let go shortly after the season.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/spo...#storylink=cpy
NB: Again, that is an article not written by me, though, if you read it closely, you'll see that I've edited it slightly.
11-30-2015, 07:48 PM
