Can't get the Panthers on your TV??

There seems to be a way to watch NFL games on your computer, for free. I'm not sure if it is legal, but, without saying I have done it, I can tell you it works.

Go here: http://streamednfl.blogspot.com/

And you will have to download either SOPcast Download or TVants Download on that page. Links for both are on the right side menu.

Do at your own risk, I would imagine the NFL wouldn't like people watching games for free, but it seems that a lot of folks are doing it without any problems.

Panthers vs Texans pre-game notes

Safety Deke Cooper and Defensive End Mike Rucker are on this week's Injured List as of Sunday morning. Deke is officially "questionable". Rucker is listed as "probable".

What kind of intel does David Carr bring to the table. The former number 1 overall pick of the Texans started at QB for 5 seasons there. If anyone should know their offense it's him.

It'll be a homecoming of sorts for Mario Williams. Williams played for my beloved NC State Wolfpack, and hails from Richlands, NC. I go through Richlands every time I make the trek from Raleigh to Emerald Isle in the summer.

Keys to the Game:
1) Will the Texans DL be able to put pressure on Jake?
2) Will the Panthers shut down the Houston running game as they did to STL last week?
3) Will Foster break 100 yards rushing?

Carolina Panthers fortify practice facility to keep out spies

When a four-story condominium building across the street from the Carolina Panthers' practice fields went up several years ago, the running joke had the team's divisional opponents pooling their money to buy a unit on the top floor.

When the building caught fire a few years later, the joke was the Panthers had something to do with it.

Today, the condos are still there, but the view has changed. Strategically planted trees and a tarp over the black iron fence surrounding the fields make it difficult to see anything from a condo balcony.

Welcome to the paranoid world of the NFL - brought to light this week by the New England Patriots' spying scandal.

"I think there's an advantage if you know what's going to happen before it happens," Panthers coach John Fox said. "You always worry about that, whether it's the playbook or signals. It's just like in baseball, they try to protect their signals. But sometimes people get them."

For some time, Fox has talked about building a bubble over the practice fields - not for the few rainy days, but to keep people from peering in. The Panthers already employ a security team that watches practice and chases away anyone who stops along the fence and might stumble upon inside information.

Last year, the Panthers worked on direct snaps to running back DeAngelo Williams during a practice before surprising the Atlanta Falcons with it. Before the ill-fated Chris Gamble lateral turned into a costly turnover in Week 2 against Minnesota last year, the Panthers worked on the trick play in practice.

Safety Deke Cooper said Thursday that in training camp - when practices are open to the public - the team worked on defences they'll never use in regular-season games to try to throw off other teams. Before last week's season opener against St. Louis, they installed several different schemes they never worked on in camp.

Still, Cooper thinks the Rams' unusual call that resulted in Torry Holt's three-yard touchdown catch Sunday was a result of former Panther Chris Draft - now a member of the Rams - passing on a secret about his former team.

"You don't see that route run in the red zone very often," Cooper said. "But with how we play our red zone defence, it was definitely a good call."

Fox said they have three ways of relaying defensive signals from the sidelines. Some are hand signals, but Cooper said blitzes are called from the huddle.

Still, every little piece of information helps, and the Panthers have been challenged to keep their practice facility fortified as downtown Charlotte explodes with growth.

Last year, a skydiving simulator was set up in the parking lot of Johnson & Wales University, located across the street from the practice fields. While the Panthers worked on their game plan, people in full skydiving gear hovered in the air nearby.

While reporters joked about it at the end of practice, Fox didn't laugh. In the NFL, it's never funny if somebody sees what you're doing - even a wannabe skydiver.

"It just goes to show you in this game the difference between teams is very small," Rucker said. "People are wanting to get an edge."

Panthers add TE Christian Fauria

The Panthers signed former Redskins TE Christian Fauria on Tuesday. This gives Carolina experience at tight end with the release of Michael Gaines earlier this year. Current starting TE, Jeff King, is only in his second season, while even his backups are both rookies. Fauria has 13 seasons of NFL play under his belt.

Panthers strong in week 1

Steve Smith had a 68-yard touchdown catch and Drew Carter added a pair of receiving scores as the Carolina Panthers defeated the St Louis Rams 27-13 on Sunday. Jake looked solid, and the defense played very well. An encouraging start to a unknown season.

Colbert #2 WR

This offseason, Kerry Colbert was trying to stay on the team.
Now he's the #2 WR, opposite Steve Smith.

"I really just kept faith in myself and didn't believe what other people were saying or what I heard," Colbert said Wednesday. "That's kind of how I dealt with it."

Depth for the D; Wesley comes home

It's official, the Panthers inked deals with S Marquand Manuel and CB Dante Wesley on Monday.

Marquand is a 6th year player out of U of Florida. Last year for the Packers he tallied a career high of 81 tackles (62 solo) and ran an INT back for a TD. In 2002 he was the 6th rd pick of the Bengals.

Dante Wesley comes home to Carolina, where he played 4 seasons before defecting to the Bears last season. Dante was the 4th rd pick of the Panthers in 2002.

Donald Bowens, my favorite player

One good feeling I have coming away from watching State lose to lowly UCF this past weekend was the performance of Sophomore WR Donald Bowens. He will be another in the long line of State WRs playing on Sundays. Let's hope Beck can get him the ball successfully the rest of the season. Bowens might lead the league in yards after catch if he gets an adequate number of receptions.

Panthers making moves, adding players

The Carolina Panthers made four roster moves Sunday, agreeing to terms with free agent cornerback Dante Wesley and claiming three players off waivers - quarterback Matt Moore from Dallas, tight end Marcus Freeman from Baltimore and tackle Frank Omiyale from Atlanta.

To make room on the roster, the Panthers waived offensive tackle Rashad Butler, a former third-round draft pick, and center Will Montgomery. They placed tight end Michael Gaines on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

The Panthers were also courting free agent safety Marquand Manuel, who was cut by the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.