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Carolina Panthers: Bits and Bites During Bye Week

By John Woodcock

Oct 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws as Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) pressures during the first quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws as Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) pressures during the first quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers are receiving league reports and criticism during the bye week this week.

The Carolina Panthers are on bye this week but that doesn’t mean the Panthers have not been in the news. Thankfully it has not been for any domestic violence issues. The Greg Hardy issue is now two years behind us and we don’t envy the Giants with their Josh Brown situation.

The first thing that came down this past week was the results of the NFL and NFLPA investigation on whether or not Cam Newton was properly put through concussion protocols during the Denver Broncos game. Although the blocking hasn’t gotten much better, the league reported that the Panthers did indeed follow the rules in that game. Now if only the officials had noticed.

The second thing was a follow up of the Panthers’ tough 41-38 loss to the New Orleans Saints last Sunday. Kawann Short will be fined $18,000 dollars for a blow to the head of Drew Brees on a Saints touchdown pass. Short was flagged for roughing the passer on the play. Brees noted that it felt like a punch, but Short insisted it was just incidental and unintentional.

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There has been a lot of blame heaped on Dave Gettleman this week, mostly in regard to the state of the secondary. The Saints’ early lead was built on secondary miscues. Without that early lead the Panthers would have won the game. It did not help that Roman Harper was on the other sideline. While the plan seems set in motion for the cornerback position, the safety position will have to be addressed in the off season.

Next: Takeaways versus New Orleans

The 1-5 record that the Panthers have accumulated is troubling, but escape from here to the playoffs is not impossible. The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off such a move last year. The Panthers are fortunate that their divisional rivals are not far and away better. The Panthers have a -15 point deferential for the year, meaning they lose games by less than a field goal on average.

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