Panthers Reeling After Loss to Cowboys
By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers entered the season as the trendy pick to win the Super Bowl.
Midway through the season, they're in disarray.
On Monday, coach John Fox called the team's 35-14 loss to Dallas a night earlier - when the Panthers gave up 25 fourth-quarter points - one of the most disappointing of his career. He also apologized to fans for the team's three turnovers in the final 10 minutes of Sunday night's nationally televised debacle that dropped Carolina to 4-4 heading into its off week.
On top of that, All-Pro receiver Steve Smith also appeared to be openly critical of the team's coaches for being too conservative as the Panthers blew a double-digit lead for the second consecutive week.
"One of the reasons why is you get up 14 points, sometimes we act like it's a hundred points," Smith said.
Smith had six catches for 55 yards against the Cowboys, but the normally solid receiver also dropped two passes and muffed a punt return that the Panthers recovered. Still, the former Pro Bowl punt returner said he didn't plan on being a return man again this season.
"That'll be my last time back there," Smith said.
When asked whether he or his coaches had made that decision, he bristled.
"The last time I checked, I've only got one person to answer to. That's my maker," he said.
Fox said Monday he didn't know about Smith's comments.
"I don't know what he said after the game. That could have been in frustration. I don't know," Fox said. "He was very open-minded to do it in that game. We'll revisit that as we move forward."
Fox didn't argue about Smith's criticism of the team's back-to-back collapses, saying only that it was one of many issues for the Panthers to deal with in the next two weeks. The Panthers are off until a Monday night game with division rival Tampa Bay on Nov. 13.
"The reality is the last two weeks in particular we have scored two touchdowns and then not scored again. I don't think there's any mistruth to that," Fox said. "What we act like I'm not really sure, but if that's what he's referring to, it's hard to argue."
The Panthers' quick start Sunday night ended with many of their fans booing in the final quarter, one of the worst single-quarter performances in franchise history. Carolina mishandled punts, fumbled kickoffs, dropped passes and allowed Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, in his first start, time to do anything he wanted.
"My level of frustration is (high) after a loss, in particular when the game is in hand at 14-13 and you lose 35-14," Fox said. "A lot of my losses, I'm not sure I've experienced one of those."
There was plenty of blame to be shared for the poor performance:
- Normally sure-handed Keyshawn Johnson let what might have been a touchdown pass slip through his hands in the third quarter.
- Carolina picked up only 76 yards rushing while the defense surrendered 156 yards on the ground, allowing on opponent to go over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season.
- The secondary, which lost cornerback Ken Lucas to a strained groin in the first half, struggled to contain Terrell Owens (nine catches for 107 yards, Terry Glenn (four catches for 52 yards) and tight end Jason Witten (six catches for 80 yards).
Safety Mike Minter appeared a step slow, getting beat on Witten's 3-yard touchdown catch and getting late to Owens on a 2-point conversion catch in the fourth quarter.
Fox, who hinted at personnel changes after Sunday's game, declined to discuss Minter's status.
"Like I said before, my satisfaction level is at 4-4 as a football team," Fox said. "I'm not going to go into individuals at this point, and probably won't a whole lot moving forward."
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers entered the season as the trendy pick to win the Super Bowl.
Midway through the season, they're in disarray.
On Monday, coach John Fox called the team's 35-14 loss to Dallas a night earlier - when the Panthers gave up 25 fourth-quarter points - one of the most disappointing of his career. He also apologized to fans for the team's three turnovers in the final 10 minutes of Sunday night's nationally televised debacle that dropped Carolina to 4-4 heading into its off week.
On top of that, All-Pro receiver Steve Smith also appeared to be openly critical of the team's coaches for being too conservative as the Panthers blew a double-digit lead for the second consecutive week.
"One of the reasons why is you get up 14 points, sometimes we act like it's a hundred points," Smith said.
Smith had six catches for 55 yards against the Cowboys, but the normally solid receiver also dropped two passes and muffed a punt return that the Panthers recovered. Still, the former Pro Bowl punt returner said he didn't plan on being a return man again this season.
"That'll be my last time back there," Smith said.
When asked whether he or his coaches had made that decision, he bristled.
"The last time I checked, I've only got one person to answer to. That's my maker," he said.
Fox said Monday he didn't know about Smith's comments.
"I don't know what he said after the game. That could have been in frustration. I don't know," Fox said. "He was very open-minded to do it in that game. We'll revisit that as we move forward."
Fox didn't argue about Smith's criticism of the team's back-to-back collapses, saying only that it was one of many issues for the Panthers to deal with in the next two weeks. The Panthers are off until a Monday night game with division rival Tampa Bay on Nov. 13.
"The reality is the last two weeks in particular we have scored two touchdowns and then not scored again. I don't think there's any mistruth to that," Fox said. "What we act like I'm not really sure, but if that's what he's referring to, it's hard to argue."
The Panthers' quick start Sunday night ended with many of their fans booing in the final quarter, one of the worst single-quarter performances in franchise history. Carolina mishandled punts, fumbled kickoffs, dropped passes and allowed Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, in his first start, time to do anything he wanted.
"My level of frustration is (high) after a loss, in particular when the game is in hand at 14-13 and you lose 35-14," Fox said. "A lot of my losses, I'm not sure I've experienced one of those."
There was plenty of blame to be shared for the poor performance:
- Normally sure-handed Keyshawn Johnson let what might have been a touchdown pass slip through his hands in the third quarter.
- Carolina picked up only 76 yards rushing while the defense surrendered 156 yards on the ground, allowing on opponent to go over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season.
- The secondary, which lost cornerback Ken Lucas to a strained groin in the first half, struggled to contain Terrell Owens (nine catches for 107 yards, Terry Glenn (four catches for 52 yards) and tight end Jason Witten (six catches for 80 yards).
Safety Mike Minter appeared a step slow, getting beat on Witten's 3-yard touchdown catch and getting late to Owens on a 2-point conversion catch in the fourth quarter.
Fox, who hinted at personnel changes after Sunday's game, declined to discuss Minter's status.
"Like I said before, my satisfaction level is at 4-4 as a football team," Fox said. "I'm not going to go into individuals at this point, and probably won't a whole lot moving forward."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:09 PM
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