GumboBC

Panthers OL takes hit; Meadows quits with shoulder woes
Aug. 9, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Carolina Panthers' unsettled offensive line took another hit Monday when projected starting right tackle Adam Meadows abruptly announced his retirement.

Meadows, 30, signed a five-year, $15 million contract with the Panthers as a free agent March 9, but had been kept out of most of training camp by persistent shoulder problems. The team encouraged Meadows to undergo treatment for arthritis in the shoulder, but Meadows decided to call it quits.

"There was a lot of integrity for what he did," Panthers head coach John Fox said. "Rather than drift along kind of in limbo, he decided to retire, and that is something I respect him for totally."

Meadows, who spent his first eight seasons with Indianapolis, has agreed to pay back his entire $2.5 million signing bonus, general manager Marty Hurney said.

Journeyman backup Matt Willig has been with seven teams during his 13-year NFL career, but has only started 34 games. Willig has been working with the first team in training camp.

Willig is expected to receive some competition for the starting spot from Melvin Tuten, another career backup. Tuten, in his fifth season with the Panthers, missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his knee and has started just 17 games.

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CheramieIII

I think their whole O line should retire before they take a couple of good whipin\'s this year. I guess any news like this out of Atlanta, Carolina or Tampa Bay is great for us.

GumboBC

I\'m looking almost as foward to seeing the Panthers play this year as I am the Saints.

What does a cajun sound like when he\'s unconscious? Hey, I\'m just kidding!

I want Jake to air that ball out this year. Lead on Jake. Lead on!!

Danno

Sounds to me like he\'s gonna have to throw it up for grabs two seconds sooner than he did last year!

GumboBC

Even though the Panthers made it to the Super Bowl, they weren\'t really any better than a lot of 8-8 teams, IMO. I think they just got some LUCKY breaks and kinda got on a roll in the playoffs.

One of their strengths last year WAS their offensive line. They opened up big holes for thier runningbacks and allowed Jake Delhomme more than enough time in the pocket to wait for receivers to come open.

Their offensive line was already on shaky footing. Now they appear to be a very bad offensive line.

If you think the Bucs had a dramatic droppoff from their Super Bowl year, just watch the Panthers this year.

Things are different for them this year:

1. Tougher schedule.
2. Will get everyones best game.
3. Weak offensive line.
4. Higher expectations.
5. Probably won\'t stay as injury free as they did last year.
6. Secondary lost a couple of key players.

Oh yeah, that carriage Jake was riding in might just turn back in to a pumpkin, Cinderella!! :P