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Rucker Willing to Accept Back-up Role

The chances of Panthers DE Mike Rucker returning to the Panthers locker room just got better. When asked whether he would accept something less than a starters role Rucker replied:

"I'm a team player," he said. "At the end of the day, I want a Super Bowl ring and that's it. And I love this community. Whatever happens, this is home."

It gets better. When asked to elaborate on why he would return for another season:

"I felt like I finished strong," he said. "Watching the Giants win the Super Bowl reminded me of how close we came to winning (in 2004). I still think we can do that. And I feel like I can contribute."

Rucker is a lead-by-example type of leader but his serious knee injury in 2006 sidelined his ability to inspire his teammates. It wasn’t until the middle of last season that he began to get comfortable.

"The longer I went, the more confident I was that the knee was stable," he said.

I hope the Panthers do resign Mike Rucker regardless of his role. This team needs as many leaders as it can get. The 2008 season could be a ‘pass the torch’ kind of season for Rucker, similar to what Sam Mills did a few years back. He can provide much needed guidance to the young DE’s Stanley McClover and Charles Johnson.

You have to love his attitude:

He had all three of his sacks in the second half of the season. "We had goals at the beginning of the year that didn't work out, and I didn't want to quit like that," he said.

Nothing wrong with being goal-oriented. Maybe we can start a slogan for the 2008 season that will fire up the fan base and motivate the players to win it all baby!

"Win one for the Rucker!" or

"Give a _uck for the Ruck!"
(You fill the blank)

"We will Ruck you!"

"Ruck Off!"

You got one better let’s hear it.

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Rucker Plans to Play in 2008

Feb 2008 by Jaxon - 4 comments

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I'm glad Rucker is willing to take a back-up role, but he also has to acept back-up money.  I mean, I'd take back-up roles for starter money - no brainer.  

I want to get off topic for a second, though.  We agree that we need OL help, and maybe a power runner and a safety.  So I looked up some free agent info to see where we need to go.  I'm assuming that Rucker will back-up Charles Johnson and Jarrett will prove to be a solid #2, Foster is going to be cut, Morgan will be cut, and Gross will be signed to a long-term contract.

This is who I want from the Unrestricted Free Agent List:

Tony Richardson, FB
LaBrandon Toefield or TJ Duckett, RB
Alan Faneca, G
Ken Hamlin or Gibril Wilson, S

I like the idea of Faneca and Gross on the right side, with D-Will following Richardson for big gains.  LJ ran for over 3500 yards and 30 TDs behind Richardson before he went to Minnesota and led AP and Chester Taylor.  Then if we need to, we get the ball to Duckett inside the five.  I was shouting for us to get Hamlin last year.  He went to the Pro Bowl, and now we should get him.

Then we draft two OL, a young safety, a young LB, and a couple DL.

Check out this site:  http://www.footballsfuture.com/2008/...

by usana_gaines on Feb 6, 2008 9:32 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

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