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The Dan Morgan Curse

Folks it looks like the Dan Morgan curse has reared it's ugly head again in 2009.  But first for those of you who are unfamiliar with the curse, here is a brief description and history...

By definition "The Dan Morgan Curse" is defined as: an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict injury upon a Carolina Panther team, player or position.  The curse is appropriately named after Dan Morgan the most injury ridden Panther player in recent history.  Morgan was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 draft, 11th overall.  The Panthers had big hopes for this 2004 Pro-Bowl linebacker.  However due to continuous injuries and concussions he never played more than 13 games in a season, and averaged only 8 games per year.

Star-divide

The Dan Morgan Curse is not confined to a specific period in time, and can effect players before, during or after Dan Morgan's career.  In 1996 the curse fell upon an African-born running back named Tim Biakabutuka, when he was selected 8th overall by the Panthers.  Like Morgan he too averaged only 8 games per season, and never played more than 12 games in a single season.

In 2007, the curse fell upon Carolina's quarterbacks.  After it took Jake Delhomme out in game 3 of the regular season, it continued to spread to each of his successors... 1st Jake, then David Carr, and next Vinny Testaverde.  The Panthers went through 4 starting quarterbacks that year.

In 2004, Dan Morgan's curse struck the whole team!  It took out all-pro wide receiver Steve Smith, starting running back Steven Davis, Davis' backup Deshaun Foster and starting defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. In all, the Panthers had 14 players on injured reserve, including their top four running backs.

Due to Dan Morgan's retirement and the Panther's return to dominance in 2009, it finally appeared as if the Dan Morgan curse had been lifted. Not so fast!  Within only 30 minutes of training camp starting defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu ruptures his Achilles' tendon.  An one by one the dominoes continued to fall effecting linebackers, receivers, running backs and more.  It looks like once again the curse is at it again.

Jonathan Stewart may personally have been struck with the curse, and may not recover. In 2007, Stewart's junior year at Oregon, knowing his destiny was in Carolina, the curse fell upon him.  Determined to not let it slow him down, he played almost the entire season with a toe injury.  Even with surgery in 2008 the injury lingered throughout his rookie campaign.  Moving to his entire foot, the curse has kept him out of the entire 09 preseason.  And now it seems the curse is even affecting his brain.  Players, coaches and staff members all through training camp and the pre-season have been saying that Stewart is fine.  But week after week... no Beef Stew is served.  Why would the team be so positive, yet he still be sidelined?  Could it be that the curse has turned him into a hypochondriac?  Could possibly even team doctors be telling him that he is fine, yet he doesn't believe it?  Could this be why he took personal time this week?  To get a second opinion on an injury that is really good to go?  More importantly could this turn into a career disabling, reoccurring  issue for the young running back?  The signs of the Dan Morgan curse are there.

Poll
When will Jonathan Stewart return to action?
The last pre-season game against the Steelers
3 votes
The first regular season game against the Eagles
32 votes
Sometime during the 1st half of the 09 regular season
21 votes
This is injury will plague Stewart all year
7 votes
We will never see a healthy Jonathan Stewart
7 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

The content of these posts are those of the person/idiot making the post only

0 recs  |  Comment 9 comments

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I simply just don’t believe that it will plague Beef Stew all season. They are being very careful b/c of the whole blog post you just posted southtunnel. We don’t want anything to happen to him in a game that means nothing. Plus with Goodson in the fold Beef Stew doesn’t have to carry the entire load as a backup RB this season. Now don’t get me wrong b/c their is no way that I would compare Stewart or Goodson b/c that is just silly for one and Stewart and Goodson are two completely different style players altogether.

Go Post though.

by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Sep 1, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It's growing on me

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Sep 2, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

Me as well – at first I wasn’t a fan, but I was watching some highlights last night :) It does sort of fit.

by boywonderncsu on Sep 2, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not sure I want to label one of our best players

as causing a curse on the franchise. I do agree I do feel cursed with injuries at times. Counterpoint though our starting 11 defenders didn’t miss a game until game 15 last season. That was quite remarkable so I guess we are getting hit doubly hard now

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Sep 2, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

We"ll find out soon enough if Beef Stew will be served..
Only 11 more days to Opening Season.

by tarheelfan on Sep 2, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No Offense SouthTunnel

No Offense SouthTunnel but I find this article retarded…“the Dan Morgan Curse”…seriously??

There is no such thing as the “Dan Morgan curse”…every NFL team always has some guys injured, and sometimes they are key players…the Panthers are not immune to this nor are they a special case. Look at New England last year with some of their key guys hurt, namely Brady…they don’t have a curse or anything. You’ve got to understand that football is a very physical game and that guys get hurt, that’s just what happens…the Panthers are not some special team that gets injured more than any other…every team has these issues.

Thus, there is no such thing as a Dan Morgan curse…that’s just plain stupid…

by jkp1516 on Sep 2, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

And by the way...

J Stew will be fine and he will play in the first game…he is simply nursing a sprain…he rides the bike and he doesn’t wear a boot! The guy is simply taking care of his body before the season to prevent any flare ups…lets not make too much of this….he did the same thing last year and was fine…

by jkp1516 on Sep 2, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lol. Thanks for clearing that up

My follow up post was going to be in why all the players should carry garlic and a crucifix on them… But now since I know there’s no such thing as a curse, I won’t waste your time.

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Sep 2, 2009 1:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

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