After a productive off-season in FA the Panthers were able to add some depth not only to their roster, but also their coaching staff. As they have been in a rebuilding mode they were able to bring “Mike Ditka” out of retirement and put some much needed leadership, loyalty and respect for the game back in their locker room. With so many young players on their roster Coach Ditka was exactly what the Panthers needed.

Fans have been on edge waiting to see how the players would respond to such a legendary coach and former player. With their first home game being against their south rival “Atlanta Falcons” the Panther’s showed up and showed out. Holding the Falcons to under 80yds total offense and zero touchdowns. With a 35-0 win the Panther’s defense showed they had much improved forcing 6 takeaways (4 INT and 2 FF). Also 2nd year running back “Kenjon Barner” proved he was ready for the starting job this year rushing for 116YDs and 2TDs. Between Barner, Stewart & Cam Carolina’s rushing game looks better than ever. Don’t get me wrong #PantherNation it’s a long road ahead with some very good and competitive teams lying in the path of the Panthers to the playoffs. Only time will tell if this is the year the Panthers make it to the big dance...

"This past Sunday, I saw something special, something that when experienced live in person has a much different result compared to watching on TV" - New Owner Irv-Godey said.

"I’ll explain this phenomenon......Our team sucks!!!"

At 1-8 on the season the Oakland Raiders are done. With only one injury this season to WR-J. Ford the Raiders roster has been entacked the entire season so far. Even with a healthy roster they manganed to not be able to close out a lot of closed games. Owner Godey says there will be a lot of changes coming next season especailly with the avaiable cap space the team will have. Also rumors floating around that the billionaire owner is looking to relocate he's Oakland Raiders, but of coarse he failed to comment on that topic. Well the Raiders have the #1 pick right now and with the why they are playing they should keep it. So with the season playoff hopes no where near reach we will have to wait to see what the billionaire guru does in the off season.

Ok so we are halfway through the season sitting at (5-3) we got a chance to make a run and make a statement in the Teckmo National Football League. By no means has it been easy we lost 2 close games early on by making some minor mental mistakes that cost us the game. Even with our debacle facing our rival in there house this past week our team is still focus looking ahead and taking it one game at a time. We have 7 great opponents coming up in the following weeks that we respect and will not take lightly so we will have to stay focus on our game plan each week in and week out. This up coming stretch of our schedule will determine if we are a good enough team to compete with the best an also foretells our future to the "Super Bowl". Our offense is not the top of the totem-pole, but we have been able to balance our schemes and convert TD's fighting inch for inch & yard for yard. Our defense is playing lights out right now with out any injuries I hope we can keep up our level of play through the rest of the season. We will continue to grow week after week and progress along as we go. There's not much attention on us as of the moment, but we like that we will remain silent and continue to climb the ranks as we move along. Our team is hungry and ready to make a dent in the Teckmo League.

Finally:

• 49ers         - Week 10
• Dolphines - Week 12
• Bucs          - Week 13
• Saints        - Week 14
• Jets           - Week 15
• Saints        - Week 16
• Falcons      - Week 17

1. If I’m Robert Griffin III, I’m wondering why the Redskins became worried about my health before a game against a bad defense that doesn’t apply much pressure – yet left me in to face a good defense in bad field conditions the previous week. When there are so many other aspects to this story, and when so many leaks come out, it’s hard not to wonder about every potential motive. Maybe it’s as simple as being about his health. Maybe it’s performance related. Maybe spite. Because of the distrust on either side this still doesn’t feel all that simple. 

2. Griffin was laughing and joking with a couple teammates in the locker room after practice, so it’s not as if he’s walking around defeated all the time. His practice demeanor, in the portions open to the media, did not seem any different. But there is little doubt that he remains bothered by this mess and can’t wait to reach the offseason. This is just my opinion, but in reading the situation and being around Griffin, it’s tough to see it ever working with him and coach Mike Shanahan. That’ s not to blame one side or the other, but that’s just the way it is. 

3. If Kirk Cousins lights up the Falcons, there will definitely be some who will take that and use it as more criticism toward Griffin. Make no mistake, the second-year quarterback hasn’t looked sharp at all in three of the past four games. He is a young quarterback enduring growing pains and definitely not always getting the help he needs from others. In the past four games he’s faced two defenses currently ranked in the top 10 (New York and San Francisco) and two who are 20th or below (Philadelphia, Kansas City). If you’re going to rip him, you need to be fair and point out everything. Griffin holds the ball too long and does miss open targets and does need to work on his pocket presence, learning to keep his eyes downfield and not stare down targets (Derrick Johnson nearly picked off two passes because of this last week). But if Cousins plays well Sunday, it doesn’t mean that Griffin wouldn’t have done the same against the NFL’s 26th-ranked defense (20th against the pass, but opposing quarterbacks have an NFL best 104.3 passer rating against the Falcons; only one other team is close. Yes, the Redskins at 101.2). 

4. I am curious to see Cousins play, just like everyone else. It certainly adds intrigue to the on-field performance in the next three games and will serve as a couple-hour diversion from the other mess surrounding the franchise. I have heard so many mixed opinions from NFL types who have studied or watched Cousins. Some love him; some consider him just a backup. The Redskins coaches, obviously, are in the former category. They really do believe Cousins can be a quality starter in the NFL. They also thought Pat White would be on someone’s roster this season. 

5. Cousins’ understanding of the offense, helped by being in his second season and getting so many offseason reps, should help Sunday. Cousins said he felt better prepared for this game than he did a year ago at Cleveland, when he subbed for an injured Griffin. “I’m comfortable, I can be more decisive,” Cousins said. 

6. Atlanta’s defense does have some talent, especially up front with tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who had a strong game against Washington last season. The Falcons will send the occasional blitz and they will also try to move around at times and disguise fronts and coverages. The problem is, that often gets them out of position and leaves gaps in the coverage. Looks like they try to make you work your way downfield, but if you’re patient you will. 

7. Another player to watch: running back Alfred Morris. The Falcons tend to flow hard to the play side, which means there could be good cutback lanes available. Morris did a terrific job setting up some runs against the Falcons last year, stringing out linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on one run before cutting inside. This isn't related, but watch out for tight end Tony Gonzalez near the goal line; the vet sells the run fakes well on play-action passes and the Redskins have been stung by that in the past. 

8. For better or worse, way too much of this season has been about Griffin: When will he return? How does he look in camp? Is he ready? Do the coach and quarterback really not get along? Is he still hurt? Why is he struggling? Is he back to his old self? Is he a leader? Is he too tight with the owner? Every week a new line of questions. It’ll finish up with questions about how he’s handling his situation? Some of this Griffin brought on himself; the initial leaks in this whole story came from his side. But certainly not all of them. Now you have both sides leaking stories. It’s just not healthy. If I were Griffin, I’d lay low. He can ultimately regain his standing just by going out and playing well next year. All would then be forgotten. 

9. Will London Fletcher return next season? We still don’t know, though I’d be surprised. Here’s what defensive coordinator Jim Haslett had to say about Fletcher: “He’s effective. He’s not doing as much as he’s done before in the past, coverage-wise, on third down but I think he’s playing pretty well. ... Let me say this – how many linebackers do you know that are 38 years old that playing in the game? There’s not many. ... Age catches up with everybody, and he’s played a long, long time. He’s had a great career and whether he plays another year or not, obviously that’s up to him, but I think as you get older you can’t do the things that you did when you were 28, 29, 25, 26. That’s just life. That’s how it works.” 

10. What happens if the Redskins get blown out and Cousins plays poorly? I can’t say that I’ve heard a lot about that scenario. But if this really is becoming a standoff about money, then I don’t know if something like that occurs that anything would change regarding Shanahan’s status, unless one side buckles. It still would be a surprise to see him return for 2014. The same questions asked since the spring would return. Who wants that?