Injury Prone Panthers To Stop Playing Hard On Every Single Play

CHARLOTTE, NC--The Carolina Panthers lost their first game of the season Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, 20-6, but they lost more than the game. They also lost linebacker Dan Morgan to a concussion and offensive lineman Travelle Wharton to a knee sprain. In the preseason, wide receiver Steve Smith was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Panthers have a history of injuries during the John Fox era, which has prompted the coach to reverse his policy of playing hard on every single play.

“It wouldn’t hurt for them to take a few plays off, I suppose,” said Fox. “They don’t have to play hard on every single play. Hustling is nice some of the time, but if you do it constantly you’re just asking for trouble. Hopefully the team can make the transition to a style of play that requires them to work a little less hard. I think they will. These guys are extremely coachable.”

The Panthers suffered through an injury-plagued 2004 season, when Smith, Stephen Davis, Kris Jenkins, and 11 others were placed on injured reserve. In 2005 they rebounded and advanced to the playoffs, only to lose running back DeShaun Foster and defensive end Julius Peppers in a second round victory against the Bears.

This year they are hoping for another shot at the Super Bowl, but early injuries could hurt them out of the gate.

“We’re still very optimistic about this season, but we are concerned about the injuries,” said Fox. “It just seems like every time we’re stacked and ready to make a run we have setbacks. That’s why I’m telling guys to calm down. Don’t kill yourself to pull down a ball carrier. If you’re a receiver, don’t wrestle a cornerback for a pass intended for you, and don’t throw yourself at him if he intercepts it. Let it go. Live to fight another day. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make the big play and get on Sportscenter. Stop being selfish.”

Starting this week, the Panthers practices will be easier and players will be asked to do less during games. It’s a welcome change for the players, who long believed that Fox’s deranged obsession with hustle was putting them in harm’s way.

“I think this is going to be the best thing for the team, ultimately,” said Jenkins. “I certainly know what it’s like to sit out a season because of injury. I tore my ACL because I was playing hard on a play I could have very well taken off. If I did, coach Fox would have killed me in practice. Thank God those days are over, because the way I feel right now, I couldn’t play hard on every play if I wanted to. And I don’t, of course. Nobody does. It’s stupid.”

Monday at practice, players saw a different side of Fox.

“Hold it! Hold it!” he said after whistling a play dead. “Seward, slow down. Relax. Don’t chase the wide receiver like that. He was definitely scoring on that play. You don't have to expend all that energy for nothing. That's the third time you've done that today. God, you're such a dork.”

Later he scolded several offensive players for diving after a loose ball after a fumble.

“Guys, you don’t have to do that stuff. The play was pretty much over. It looked to me like his knee was down. If it looks like his knee is down, then just assume it is. Otherwise you’ll get yourselves killed. Trust me, you don't want to be digging around at the bottom of one of those piles. Your nuts are worth more than that football.”

Afterward, Fox told reporters that the new policy would be in place for the foreseeable future, regardless of whether the team remained healthy.

“This is how we’re going to play from now on,” said Fox. “I’ve always preached to my players that you had to play hard on every single play and play right up until the whistle. But that’s the wrong advice. You really have to pace yourself. Just like when you’re drinking, you can’t drink the whole jug of vodka in one sitting or you’ll get sick. You have to pace yourself and do it over a few hours. Heh. I um…learned that from my grandfather.”

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