Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

I’ve been here before, with an undefeated team in December, but this 2015 Panthers squad is different from the 2009 Saints—younger, more unified on the field, but still learning how to handle success. We may not go 16-0, but it’s what happens in Santa Clara in February that matters.


The Panthers are 11-0, something I’m proud to have a small part in. At 32, I’m no beacon of wisdom in the NFL, though our team is so young and my hair is so gray my young defensive backs are calling me Uncle Rome in the locker room. These days guys are beginning to realize how rare it is to go undefeated for this long. As a veteran of the 2009 New Orleans Saints, a team that started 13-0 and won a Super Bowl that season, I get asked about success, and winning, and what an undefeated team looks like.

The short answer is I don’t know.

I thought I knew, before I joined these Panthers two offseasons ago. Now I’m not so sure. Back in 2009, after our 11th consecutive win, a fellow defensive veteran and I had our fair share of drinks on Sunday night to celebrate. After our 11th win in Carolina, I celebrated by playing two-man spades with defensive back Kurt Coleman.

Carolina Panthers safety Roman Harper: Why We

I recommend this read. I enjoyed it.

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Good perspective on Harper's part ... reminds me of an ol' infantry sergeant I once knew, :).

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Good read.

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Great read, but wasn't it a Saturday night that Dallas beat us?

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Agreed. Experience and football I.Q. goes a long way in this league.

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Are you listening, Payton, Junior, Cam, Loomis, Benson? One of the biggest problems with this year's team was, the "10 players in the club at 4 AM" before the season even started. This team spent far too much time partying and living out a real-life episode of "Ballers" down at Republic and the champagne room of the strip joint, and not enough time preparing or prepping. And just like last year, they believed their own hype and thought they were the bees' knees.

Read that paragraph by Harper carefully again, folks. I'd say he is definitely talking in an oblique way about Payton and the current locker room culture of the Saints. He is still friends with a lot of those guys here, and loves them.

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Fantastic read. Thanks for posting that Crusader.

I liked this part...

Its the recipe for success that we need to get back to.

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

Every team in our division was built to beat us.

Guess What? Mission accomplished!:biglaser:

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

If carolina wins the sb it will bother me to stay a fan of football.

Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated
 

And they are nothing like our 2009 season.