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Roll of the dice Panthers take 'youth movement' to another level
The Carolina Panthers have taken the dice in their hands. If they roll seven with their moves on the defensive line, they will be a playoff force to be reckoned with. If not, they'll have set back their youth movement years. The Panthers had already imported sackmaster Chuck Smith from Atlanta to play right end. Now they've acquired Reggie White and Eric Swann, a couple of rickety risks: White, because he's 38. Swann, because he's missed 21 games during the last three years with knee injuries. But if they can play anywhere close to their mid-90s form, the Panthers could have an imposing line. Throw in Sean Gilbert at tackle, and there's more than 400 sacks among the four -- but the flip side is that their average age is 33. Interesting sidebar to this development: The Panthers open against the team with the highest preseason expectations, Washington. The Redskins will play a rookie left tackle, Chris Samuels, opposite Smith. And they'll be without their best guard, Tre Johnson, who's been suspended for the first game for fighting last year in the playoffs. When he saw Carolina's moves this week, Samuels had just three words: "Pray for me."
Raven showing renewed zealThe Ravens have a man possessed, linebacker Ray Lewis, in training camp. He's come in with a renewed hunger, and you can trace it to more than just a zeal for the game after being exonerated of double-murder charges. You can trace it to tight end Shannon Sharpe. "We were destined to play with each other before the end of our careers," Lewis told me this week. During Lewis's trial in Atlanta, Sharpe would be in the courtroom near the end of the day, waiting to take Lewis to a punishing evening workout. When a day went badly, Lewis would say to Sharpe: "Not today. Too depressed." Sharpe would drag him out anyway. The result: Lewis is in the best shape of his life. "I owe so much to Shannon Sharpe," Lewis said. "He's the key to where I am right now."
Bears keep Crowton off the marketThe Chicago Bears did something very smart this week: They tied up offensive coordinator Gary Crowton contractually through the 2002 season. This offensive wizard would still be free to take a head-coaching offer after this season. But if he stays in Chicago Crowton will preside over an explosive attack directed by imaginative quarterback Cade McNown, who will benefit greatly from studying under Crowton for three years.
A new old star in the Big AppleFinally, when the upstart XFL announces its New York franchise next week, look for an interesting name as the general manager: former Dallas wide receiver Drew Pearson. Might be the first time a Cowboy gets cheered in New York. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and appears each Sunday on CNN's NFL Preview.
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