NFL: PANTHERS: Terrific 10: Offseason Moves
Lists are starting points for discussion, and the following is no different. Here is a look at some of the top veteran offseason moves in team history as seen by Panthers.com.
10. Ken Lucas and Mike Wahle, 2005
In one 24-hour span, the Panthers shored up two positions by signing guard Mike Wahle and cornerback Ken Lucas. Wahle helped anchor the offensive line in Green Bay for seven years, and Lucas shared the NFC lead with Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble with six interceptions in 2004. Both players paid dividends in their first season as Panthers. Lucas made game-changing plays in the Panthers secondary, posting six interceptions in the regular season again, and one each in playoff victories at New York and Chicago. Wahle helped solidify the offensive line, helping the Panthers allow 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history and opening holes for a team-record 228 rushing yards in the regular season finale. Wahle was rewarded by his NFL peers by receiving his first career Pro Bowl invitation.
9. Mark Fields, 2002
Few remember that Mark Fields had played in the Super Bowl prior to the 2002 season as a member of the St. Louis Rams. But Fields, a former Pro Bowler in New Orleans, was released by the Rams. The Panthers signed him and he spent the entire 2002 season making them look like geniuses. Fields had his best season ever, posting 127 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a team record seven forced fumbles, and one interception. Unfortunately, during training camp the next summer he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease. He missed the entire 2003 season, but he and linebackers coach Sam Mills, who was diagnosed with cancer around the same time, served as an inspiration to his teammates with their Keep Pounding attitude. That mentality allowed him to come all the way back in 2004, when he earned his second Pro Bowl invitation.
8. Ricky Proehl, 2003
The Panthers already had Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith at wide receiver when they signed Proehl. They were seeking steady production, veteran leadership, and big play potential from their third receiver. It's safe to say that's exactly what they got. In his first game as a Panther, Proehl caught the game-winning touchdown versus Jacksonville with 16 seconds remaining. He hauled in three more touchdowns that season, then caught the game-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII with 1:08 remaining. Two seasons later, Proehl caught another four touchdown passes, including the game-winner at Detroit with 36 seconds remaining.
7. Kevin Greene 1996
When Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers was named the first head coach of the Carolina Panthers, he wanted to build an aggressive, attacking defense much like the one he had assembled in Pittsburgh. Enter Kevin Greene. Attack was Greene's middle name, and it paid off in terms of sacks and big plays. His first season in Carolina, he led the NFL with 14.5 sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered three, returning one of them 66 yards for a touchdown. Greene went on to post 15 sacks in 1998 and 12 in 1999 for a three-season total of 41.5, which stood as the franchise's high mark until Mike Rucker surpassed it in 2005.
6. Eric Davis 1996
Eric Davis was one of many veterans to sign with the Panthers in their first few seasons. After a successful start to his career in San Francisco, Davis brought his ballhawking skills to the Panthers and proceeded to do something that will be hard for anyone to match. In five seasons, Davis managed to finish with five interceptions every year. His 25 picks are nine more than the team's second best in that category. Davis scored two touchdowns on those interceptions, and his veteran presence in the secondary helped propel the Panthers into the NFC Championship game in his first season with the team.
5. Steve Beuerlein 1996
Signed as a backup to Kerry Collins in 1996, Steve Beuerlein never started a postseason game for the Carolina Panthers. But if you look at the team's record books, he did just about everything else. Beuerlein leads the Panthers with 1,723 passing attempts, 1,041 completions, 86 touchdowns, and an 87.7 career rating. In 1999, Beuerlein had one of the best seasons not only in Panthers history, but in League history as well. He became just the 11th passer to record more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in one season when he completed 343-of-571 passes for 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns with 15 interceptions for a 94.6 passer rating. For good measure, he added a game-winning five-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game at Green Bay. Beuerlein's incredible statistics were just a part of the package, though. His leadership, through good times and bad, was what set him apart in the locker room.
4. Michael Bates, 1996
The expansion Carolina Panthers had Michael Bates on their roster in 1995 but traded him to Cleveland. When they signed him during the 1996 offseason, they held onto him, and for good reason. Bates was named to the Pro Bowl in five consecutive seasons (1996-2000), and holds three Pro Bowl return records to this day. He was a force on special teams, returning five kickoffs for touchdowns as a Panther. His first two seasons with the team he became the first player since the AFL-NFL merger to lead the League in kickoff returns in consecutive years. His last three Pro Bowl nods came as a coverage specialist, at which he also excelled. Bates blocked three punts as a Panther and forced two fumbles.
3. Stephen Davis, 2003
When general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox were re-assembling the Panthers after the 2002 season, one key piece of the puzzle was missing. To play football the way John Fox likes, you need a workhorse running back to keep the chains moving on offense and keep the defense rested on the sideline. Stephen Davis fit the mold perfectly. Davis rushed for more than 100 yards in his first four games with the team, remarkably increasing his total each time. He finished with 318 carries for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns, all team records until he eclipsed the touchdown mark with 12 in 2005. Davis was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week three times in 2003, and his 178-yard effort at New Orleans that year still stands as the team's single game rushing mark. Injuries robbed Davis of most of the 2004 campaign, and parts of 2005 despite his 12 touchdowns. He is second only to Tshimanga Biakabutuka with 2,085 rushing yards with the Panthers, and his 20 rushing touchdowns and seven 100-yard games are team records.
2. Wesley Walls, 1996
Walls was a seven-year veteran when the Panthers signed him in 1996. He had enjoyed moderate success in those seasons, posting 106 receptions and nine touchdowns with the 49ers and Saints. The Panthers were hoping he could provide a nice safety net for young quarterback Kerry Collins. He provided that and more. Much more. Walls played seven seasons with the Panthers, hauling 324 receptions and a team-record sharing 44 touchdowns. His 3,902 receiving yards as a Panther put him among the League's elite tight ends. He received Pro Bowl invitations in each of his first four seasons with the team. Walls caught at least one pass in a team record 70 consecutive games. His famous shotgun end zone celebration was the precursor to Steve Smith's smorgasbord of 2005. Walls' best season came in 1999, when he caught 63 passes for 822 yards and 12 touchdowns, all career highs.
1. Jake Delhomme, 2003
The Panthers pro scouts had conviction, but who really knew what the Panthers were getting when they signed away the Saints backup quarterback before the 2003 season? In five seasons on the bayou, Delhomme had three touchdown passes and five interceptions to his credit. But he burst onto the Carolina scene in a huge way. In his very first game as a Panther, trailing 17-0 to Jacksonville when he first took the field, Delhomme led the Panthers to three second half scores, including the game-winner to Ricky Proehl with 16 seconds remaining. It was a sign of things to come. Delhomme led the Panthers with a remarkable seven game-winning drives as they won the NFC South with an 11-5 record. But he was just getting warmed up. Delhomme led the Panthers to the brink of the Super Bowl XXXVIII title, tying the New England Patriots with 1:08 remaining but never getting the chance to win the game. Delhomme's 113.6 passer rating in that game solidified his reputation as a cool customer in the clutch. He only added to it with two more strong performances in the 2005 postseason. Delhomme is tied with Roger Staubach and Len Dawson for the most playoff victories ever by a starting quarterback. He was also recently recognized by ESPN as the third best free agent signing ever, ranking behind only Reggie White with the Packers and Deion Sanders with the 49ers. Not bad for a backup from the bayou.
10. Ken Lucas and Mike Wahle, 2005
In one 24-hour span, the Panthers shored up two positions by signing guard Mike Wahle and cornerback Ken Lucas. Wahle helped anchor the offensive line in Green Bay for seven years, and Lucas shared the NFC lead with Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble with six interceptions in 2004. Both players paid dividends in their first season as Panthers. Lucas made game-changing plays in the Panthers secondary, posting six interceptions in the regular season again, and one each in playoff victories at New York and Chicago. Wahle helped solidify the offensive line, helping the Panthers allow 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history and opening holes for a team-record 228 rushing yards in the regular season finale. Wahle was rewarded by his NFL peers by receiving his first career Pro Bowl invitation.
9. Mark Fields, 2002
Few remember that Mark Fields had played in the Super Bowl prior to the 2002 season as a member of the St. Louis Rams. But Fields, a former Pro Bowler in New Orleans, was released by the Rams. The Panthers signed him and he spent the entire 2002 season making them look like geniuses. Fields had his best season ever, posting 127 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a team record seven forced fumbles, and one interception. Unfortunately, during training camp the next summer he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease. He missed the entire 2003 season, but he and linebackers coach Sam Mills, who was diagnosed with cancer around the same time, served as an inspiration to his teammates with their Keep Pounding attitude. That mentality allowed him to come all the way back in 2004, when he earned his second Pro Bowl invitation.
8. Ricky Proehl, 2003
The Panthers already had Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith at wide receiver when they signed Proehl. They were seeking steady production, veteran leadership, and big play potential from their third receiver. It's safe to say that's exactly what they got. In his first game as a Panther, Proehl caught the game-winning touchdown versus Jacksonville with 16 seconds remaining. He hauled in three more touchdowns that season, then caught the game-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII with 1:08 remaining. Two seasons later, Proehl caught another four touchdown passes, including the game-winner at Detroit with 36 seconds remaining.
7. Kevin Greene 1996
When Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers was named the first head coach of the Carolina Panthers, he wanted to build an aggressive, attacking defense much like the one he had assembled in Pittsburgh. Enter Kevin Greene. Attack was Greene's middle name, and it paid off in terms of sacks and big plays. His first season in Carolina, he led the NFL with 14.5 sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered three, returning one of them 66 yards for a touchdown. Greene went on to post 15 sacks in 1998 and 12 in 1999 for a three-season total of 41.5, which stood as the franchise's high mark until Mike Rucker surpassed it in 2005.
6. Eric Davis 1996
Eric Davis was one of many veterans to sign with the Panthers in their first few seasons. After a successful start to his career in San Francisco, Davis brought his ballhawking skills to the Panthers and proceeded to do something that will be hard for anyone to match. In five seasons, Davis managed to finish with five interceptions every year. His 25 picks are nine more than the team's second best in that category. Davis scored two touchdowns on those interceptions, and his veteran presence in the secondary helped propel the Panthers into the NFC Championship game in his first season with the team.
5. Steve Beuerlein 1996
Signed as a backup to Kerry Collins in 1996, Steve Beuerlein never started a postseason game for the Carolina Panthers. But if you look at the team's record books, he did just about everything else. Beuerlein leads the Panthers with 1,723 passing attempts, 1,041 completions, 86 touchdowns, and an 87.7 career rating. In 1999, Beuerlein had one of the best seasons not only in Panthers history, but in League history as well. He became just the 11th passer to record more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in one season when he completed 343-of-571 passes for 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns with 15 interceptions for a 94.6 passer rating. For good measure, he added a game-winning five-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game at Green Bay. Beuerlein's incredible statistics were just a part of the package, though. His leadership, through good times and bad, was what set him apart in the locker room.
4. Michael Bates, 1996
The expansion Carolina Panthers had Michael Bates on their roster in 1995 but traded him to Cleveland. When they signed him during the 1996 offseason, they held onto him, and for good reason. Bates was named to the Pro Bowl in five consecutive seasons (1996-2000), and holds three Pro Bowl return records to this day. He was a force on special teams, returning five kickoffs for touchdowns as a Panther. His first two seasons with the team he became the first player since the AFL-NFL merger to lead the League in kickoff returns in consecutive years. His last three Pro Bowl nods came as a coverage specialist, at which he also excelled. Bates blocked three punts as a Panther and forced two fumbles.
3. Stephen Davis, 2003
When general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox were re-assembling the Panthers after the 2002 season, one key piece of the puzzle was missing. To play football the way John Fox likes, you need a workhorse running back to keep the chains moving on offense and keep the defense rested on the sideline. Stephen Davis fit the mold perfectly. Davis rushed for more than 100 yards in his first four games with the team, remarkably increasing his total each time. He finished with 318 carries for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns, all team records until he eclipsed the touchdown mark with 12 in 2005. Davis was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week three times in 2003, and his 178-yard effort at New Orleans that year still stands as the team's single game rushing mark. Injuries robbed Davis of most of the 2004 campaign, and parts of 2005 despite his 12 touchdowns. He is second only to Tshimanga Biakabutuka with 2,085 rushing yards with the Panthers, and his 20 rushing touchdowns and seven 100-yard games are team records.
2. Wesley Walls, 1996
Walls was a seven-year veteran when the Panthers signed him in 1996. He had enjoyed moderate success in those seasons, posting 106 receptions and nine touchdowns with the 49ers and Saints. The Panthers were hoping he could provide a nice safety net for young quarterback Kerry Collins. He provided that and more. Much more. Walls played seven seasons with the Panthers, hauling 324 receptions and a team-record sharing 44 touchdowns. His 3,902 receiving yards as a Panther put him among the League's elite tight ends. He received Pro Bowl invitations in each of his first four seasons with the team. Walls caught at least one pass in a team record 70 consecutive games. His famous shotgun end zone celebration was the precursor to Steve Smith's smorgasbord of 2005. Walls' best season came in 1999, when he caught 63 passes for 822 yards and 12 touchdowns, all career highs.
1. Jake Delhomme, 2003
The Panthers pro scouts had conviction, but who really knew what the Panthers were getting when they signed away the Saints backup quarterback before the 2003 season? In five seasons on the bayou, Delhomme had three touchdown passes and five interceptions to his credit. But he burst onto the Carolina scene in a huge way. In his very first game as a Panther, trailing 17-0 to Jacksonville when he first took the field, Delhomme led the Panthers to three second half scores, including the game-winner to Ricky Proehl with 16 seconds remaining. It was a sign of things to come. Delhomme led the Panthers with a remarkable seven game-winning drives as they won the NFC South with an 11-5 record. But he was just getting warmed up. Delhomme led the Panthers to the brink of the Super Bowl XXXVIII title, tying the New England Patriots with 1:08 remaining but never getting the chance to win the game. Delhomme's 113.6 passer rating in that game solidified his reputation as a cool customer in the clutch. He only added to it with two more strong performances in the 2005 postseason. Delhomme is tied with Roger Staubach and Len Dawson for the most playoff victories ever by a starting quarterback. He was also recently recognized by ESPN as the third best free agent signing ever, ranking behind only Reggie White with the Packers and Deion Sanders with the 49ers. Not bad for a backup from the bayou.
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