Tag: Shaq Thompson

Shaq Thompson expects Panthers to get deal done with Brian Burns

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson on Brian Burns: Everybody upstairs better know he better be out there by Wednesday

Not only did Shaq Thompson not want to speak on another player’s business, but he also didn’t have to speak about how valuable Brian Burns is to the Carolina Panthers. But he did anyway.

Following Monday’s walkthrough, where Burns opted not to participate amidst a push for a contract extension, Thompson was asked about his fellow linebacker. And while he really wasn’t looking to divulge many words on the topic, he certainly didn’t mince them.

“I don’t really like talkin’ about other people,” he told reporters. “Everybody here knows, everybody outside of here knows, everybody in the stands know, everybody above us knows what he deserves and what he should be gettin’ paid. And they know what to do to make it right before Week 1.”

While Burns has not (at least publicly) threatened a holdout if a deal is not reached—his absence, the second in as many outings for the team, is a bit worrisome. It’s even more concerning, with the season opener approaching, given the Panthers just placed backup edge defender Marquis Haynes Sr. on injured reserve earlier in the day.

But Thompson, the second-longest tenured player in that locker room, seemingly feels like an agreement will happen.

“Everybody upstairs better know he better be out there by Wednesday,” he added. “He’s a big factor on the defense. He’s the one it really starts with. Him and Derrick [Brown]—there’s where it starts with. And they’ll make it right.”

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WATCH: Video of Saturday’s fight at Panthers training camp

Here’s a clip of Saturday’s little dust-up between the Panthers offensive linemen and linebackers:

A few Carolina Panthers did more than just get “back together” on Saturday.

In a minor hiccup during an otherwise fun afternoon, the team had themselves some tag team action. Following a takedown of wideout C.J. Saunders in team drills, offensive linemen Larnel Coleman and J.D. DiRenzo got into a shoving match with linebackers Jordan Thomas and Brandon Smith.

Here, courtesy of FOX Charlotte’s Will Kunkel, is a clip of the small scuffle:

Head coach Frank Reich commented on his team’s first dustup of the summer following practice.

“I’m not really lookin’ for any of that,” he said. “I’m not tryin’ to manufacture the emotion. It happens sometimes. And for us out there, right, it’s like, ‘ho-hum.’ It’s gonna happen at some point. But really, the energy and enthusiasm and the grit and the fight really has to come within.

“So, I think our guys have been doing that. When you have those moments there, you just move on and you stay focused.”

Luckily, cooler heads prevailed. Veteran backer Shaq Thompson would later play peacemaker between the offense and defense, something Reich seemed glad to see.

“These guys—they know what time it is,” Reich added. “They know how to take care of themselves. And everybody knows, we’re tryin’ to accomplish something special, and we wanna do something special. We can’t one of our guys gettin’ hurt fightin’ each other. Not much made of it. They guys know it, know how to handle it and did a good job.”

In a totally unrelated note, the pads go on starting Monday!

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Panthers training camp tracker: Observations and takeaways from Day 2

A couple of early training camp stars are emerging for the Panthers down in Spartanburg.

After a thrilling start to training camp on Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers returned to the field at Wofford College for their second practice this morning.

Here are the top takeaways and observations from the session:

Bryce Young ‘brought the house down’ at Panthers’ rookie talent show

Panthers QB Bryce Young went with the stylings of Keyshia Cole for his rookie talent show act and apparently brought the house down in Spartanburg.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young kept his act on the down low ahead of Wednesday night’s rookie talent show. But apparently, there was nothing low about it.

The No. 1 overall pick may have very well been the star of the team’s annual training camp display, where first-year youngsters are tasked with entertaining the vets. Just check out this sparkling review from the organization’s second-longest tenured player, linebacker Shaq Thompson:

“He had a hell of a performance. I thought I was at a concert, to be honest with ya. Bryce had a hell of a performance.

“Everybody enjoyed it. He got into it. Tryin’ to tell ya, it was like a concert. He set the stage. He set the stage.”

Second-year left tackle Ikem Ekwonu also spoke about the spectacle following Thursday’s practice. Ekwonu, who was the featured performer from last year’s show, was asked if Young topped his 2022 rendition of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye [to Yesterday]” by Boyz II Men.

“I’d say so—because last year, they didn’t sing along with me,” he replied with a smile. “They clapped it up though, I got a standing ovation. But we definitely sang along with Bryce. So I’ma give him the one-up on that one.”

So, what did Bryce belt out?

“He sang a Keyshia Cole song,” Ekwonu added of what he called an ‘A+’ showing. “I can’t remember what it’s called. He brought the house down. He brought the house down. It was crazy.”

As of this writing, there is no word on if Young and Ekwonu will branch off as an R&B duo.

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Shaq Thompson: This staff knows how to take care of players

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson praised Frank Reich and his staff for how they handle practices.

There’s a stark difference between the current and previous coaching regimes for the Carolina Panthers, and it’s becoming even more obvious by the day.

Linebacker Shaq Thompson refused to speak specifically of the latter following Thursday’s training camp outing. But when he was asked about his feelings on Frank Reich’s staff compared to the last one, the words the ninth-year veteran didn’t speak might’ve spoke volumes.

“I ain’t gonna talk about the other staff—but this staff, man, they just know how to take care of players a little bit,” he said. “You see our practices—we come out here, get our work in and we get off the field. Tryin’ to beat the heat, come in, work. We gonna start doin’ situational stuff—he’s bringing in that because it’s all about situational football. Things happen. Two-minutes happen, four-minutes happen.

“So it just brings a lot of knowledge into us and makin’ sure everybody knows what they’re doin’ handlin’ situations. Nobody folds under pressure. And that’s what they’re doin’ out here for us.”

Thompson, who’s seen quite a bit here as the team’s second-longest tenured player, probably saw some much different stylings out of former head coach Matt Rhule. In fact, it might’ve been the same stuff Cam Newton, Steve Smith Sr., Teddy Bridgewater and Tommy Tremble all saw.

But with all of that now in the past, the present and future looks pretty bright for Thompson, Reich and the ruly Panthers.

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Kamu Grugier-Hill shines, picks off Andy Dalton in 2nd straight practice

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill may be the (very) early star of Panthers training camp.

The Carolina Panthers may have a bit of an occasional opening right in the middle of their defense, one a newcomer is already making a hard push for.

For the second straight practice, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill picked off veteran quarterback Andy Dalton during team drills in Spartanburg. Fellow backer Shaq Thompson took some time after the session to speak about the defense’s early star of training camp.

“Kamu’s one of those guys that’s just like a silent killer,” Thompson said. “They brought him in for special teams, but I definitely think he’s gonna be one of those guys—they gotta put him on the field somehow, some way. He’s been making plays, he’s fast, he’s smart, he’s a veteran. I feel like you gotta find a way to get everybody on the field, and you definitely gotta find a way to get him on the field.”

Grugier-Hill, who signed a one-year deal with the Panthers this spring, has been primarily used as a special teams player for much of his NFL career. He did, however, pick up each of his 363 snaps from the 2022 campaign on defense for the Arizona Cardinals.

While Thompson and Frankie Luvu will likely command the vast majority of looks at the two inside linebacker spots, the unit’s realignment to a 3-4 base under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero should allow for some creativity. And if Grugier-Hill continues to make plays this summer, Evero may have to get creative this fall.

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Panthers players exchange trash talk with Cowboys fan at training camp

A few Panthers players had a bit of fun with a loud Cowboys fan (no, not Skip Bayless) who attended Thursday’s practice.

There was an undeniable buzz at the beginning of Carolina Panthers training camp on Wednesday. In anticipation of a new and exciting era for the organization, fans flocked to the scorching fields of Spartanburg—lining up over an hour early to see their team go to work.

But the next morning, while relatively packed again, was highlighted by a little fun with another type of fan.

Prior to the start of Thursday’s practice, a few Panthers players were seen chopping it up with a *gasp* Dallas Cowboys fan—who seems to be quite the fixture over at Wofford College this time of year.

Unfortunately, Thompson, Tuttle and the rest of the crew won’t get their chance to really stick it to the fan this season. “America’s Team” is not on the schedule for Carolina here in 2023.

But albeit a playful defense, at least it’s nice to see the Panthers guard their home away from home—especially after the noted takeovers of the last two years.

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‘Madden NFL 24’ ratings for Panthers middle linebackers revealed

The Panthers are a bit little in middle throughout these “Madden NFL 24” ratings.

Unfortunately for the league’s middle linebackers, the quarterbacks—as usual—commanded the spotlight during Friday’s “Madden NFL 24” ratings reveals. So, we’ll let ’em shine a little here.

Check out the marks for the Carolina Panthers’ backers:

3 positions the Panthers should address before training camp

The Panthers still may have some work to do before reconvening for training camp later this summer.

The Carolina Panthers have been remarkably active this offseason. Yet, their work on the roster seems far from done.

Here are the three positions the teams should address before entering training camp later this month.