Between their franchise-record five trades and 11 total draft picks, the Carolina Panthers might’ve had the busiest phone lines in the NFL this past weekend. They also might’ve had the most entertaining ones as well.
After ringing up their first selection Jaycee Horn, someone who should be particularly familiar with cell-phone usage, on Thursday night, the team’s brass had 10 more calls to make. And although we haven’t gone through each of the 31 other clubs’ conversations with their newest players, we’re willing to bet they pale in comparison to the banter head coach Matt Rhule, general manager Scott Fitterer and owner David Tepper got throughout the process.
Like, did anyone else’s coach’s wife demand the team take a certain player? Well, Mrs. Rhule got her wish with Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard:
Count another offensive pick for 2021 ✅
Listen in on the @Hubbard_RMN call 📞 pic.twitter.com/TTos7iTHhu
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 1, 2021
And did any other team take a long snapper who was willing to walk over to their new digs? Sixth-round selection Thomas Fletcher was ready to make the trek by foot from Alabama to Charlotte:
.@longsnapfletch getting the call of his life!
🎥: @panthers #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/a1DNdtvRc0
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) May 3, 2021
How about the raw emotion? Second-rounder Terrace Marshall Jr. was audibly overcome when the Panthers rang him up, making for a warm, feel-good moment:
Can't get enough of these calls 🥺
When Terrace became a Panther… pic.twitter.com/SK5kti4B3p
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 1, 2021
Tepper couldn’t contain his emotion either. He let BYU offensive tackle Brady Christensen know he was more than elated his team was able to land him in the third round:
Tepper's unbridled enthusiasm for landing Brady Christensen is gold.
📽️: https://t.co/4myjn7qiUq pic.twitter.com/uIBnVSQJms— Jeremy Igo (@CarolinaHuddle) May 1, 2021
We can’t forget the family either. Sixth-round wide receiver Shi Smith had the cameras on while he shared the news with his loved ones:
Everything he's worked for.
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/7nTtLAusSg
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) May 1, 2021
While the phone bill at Bank of America Stadium may be a tad higher this month, it’s all worth it for the moments like these.
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