Costly Gamble
Posted September 17, 2006, 5:41 PM ET

There hasn't been a bigger bonehead play by a Panther since John Kasay's ill-advised kickoff late in the Super Bowl against New England.

Chris Gamble's incredibly stupid 4th quarter lateral on a punt return deep in Panther territory led to a change of possession and changed the momentum in a game the Panthers should have won. Instead, the preseason Super Bowl favorites find themselves 0-2 and facing a must-win situation this weekend against the defending NFC South champs in Tampa. The loser of the rivalry showdown will fall to 0-3, and be guaranteed to be three games behind the winner of the Falcons-Saints tilt on Monday night.

There is no explanation for Gamble's blunder. It is one of the dumbest plays that I've seen in the NFL in quite some time.

The Panthers' offense has been pathetic without Steve Smith. So far in 2006, Carolina has mustered all of 19 points, 1 touchdown in 127 minutes of play. That's brutal. The offensive line is in shambles, Steve Smith's hamstring is still an issue, and the pressure to be a Super Bowl team has affected their psyche after just a few weeks of play.

While the offense continues to stall, the world-famous defense that continues to play without a nickname from local columnist Scott Fowler, continues to give up acres of yards on the ground. After just two games, the defense is giving up nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. Who would have thought the loss of Brentson Buckner would have meant so much? That's a joke, of course....kind of like Scott Fowler's the "defense needs a nickname" idea.

It is a good thing that team owner Jerry Richardson decided to take out all the local newsrag sports beatwriters to a delicious steak dinner. Despite the generous move by Richardson, the Panthers have been so ragged, that the local scribes might be forced to criticize the local team and their performance.

The Panthers better find an answer, and soon. The game this week in Tampa will be nasty, and the Bucs have been as bad as Carolina. Consider the fact that the NFC South champs have yet to score a touchdown and they look as inept as their NFC South counterpart this week.

A website reported last week that All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith was holding out for more cash and that he was using his hamstring injury as a source of leverage in negotiations. I find that hard to believe, but in this day and age you can't dismiss anything in professional sports.

Here's what I do know: Smith and the Panthers have to show up in Tampa. It is time to put down all the preseason magazines and local newspapers that picked the Panthers to win it all. Talk is cheap, and if the Panthers want to fulfill all the preseason promise that has been bestowed upon them by the media and the fans, it is time to take care of business.

You can almost feel the desperation from Tampa....the Bucs and Panthers will both bring a "playoff" mentality to the game on Sunday.