Panthers Paw Prints: News Drought Continues.

by bmoyer on Jul 6, 2010 9:54 AM EDT

Good Tuesday morning, Carolina Panthers fans. There is next to no news in Pantherland today. I hope you had a fun & safe holiday and your hangovers are completely worn off. The top two headlines I could find today are both about ex-Panthers RBs. One is a grim story about the ten year anniversary of the shooting of Fred Lane, the other is a more optimistic story about Jamal Robertson and his high level of play in the CFL. Hopefully a draft pick signs soon and gives us something to talk about. Here are your links for Tuesday July 7, 2010:

A (graphic in spots) story about ex-Panther RB Fred Lane's homicide and its effect on Charlotte area sports.

Fred Lane's killing shook serenity of Charlotte's pro sports. (CharlotteObserver.com)
In fact, though, Lane's death signified the end of that awful period of Charlotte's pro sports life. We've had our share of negative sports stories in the 10 years since - the Panthers' steroids scandal, the Hornets' move to New Orleans, Steve Smith beating up two teammates - but none of them has approached the shock of what happened to Adams, Phills and Lane in a heartbreaking eight-month period.

A geriatric (for a running back) ex-Panther having success in the CFL:

Robertson, still spry at 33, roars into opener. (Canada.com)
This is Buono's second go-round with Robertson, and he intends to use him a lot more than the first. Their association dates back to 2001, when Robertson spent the entire season on the practice roster of the Calgary Stampeders. After that, he began an odyssey which took him to NFL Europe, four seasons in the NFL, primarily as a kick returner and spare running back with San Francisco and Carolina, then career frustrations trying to attain a roster spot with two more NFL teams.

More after the jump.

I like the theme of him being a leader and going out of his way to be a special player:

'Everette Brown Franchise' makes strong first impression. (CharlotteObserver.com)
Even though few of those campers are likely to reach Brown's success on the gridiron, he hopes they will get his message. "The No. 1 thing I talked to the guys about is I told them: 'Be somebody. Be special. Don't just be a statistic,' Brown said. "Don't go through life and be a statistic or do it just like somebody else did it. Leave your legacy behind and that's it."

That's really all I could find for today. If anything else pops up throughout the day, I'll be sure to add it here.

(Update 7/6/10 2:25PM)

OK, it's not Panthers news, but this is too juicy not to post. I re-tweeted this yesterday evening, but I figured I'd also include it here. It's a tweet from a Raiders beat writer from the Contra Costa Times. I guess in case there were any doubters, JaMarcus Russell wanted to solidify himself as the biggest NFL draft bust of all time:

Wish I had a dollar for ev ... (Jerry McDonald via Twitter)
Wish I had a dollar for every time I got an e-mail or a tip about Russell and prescription cough syrup . . .

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I'm a little confused by the whole Lane thing.

I was in Africa I believe when that happened, either that or I was very young. Seems to me from what I’ve read about that case that Deidra Lane should have gotten a whole lot more jail time.

Good bye #43. Good luck in Chicago.

by Flowing Willow on Jul 6, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know the details but.

If she shot her husband in the back with a 12 gauge after recently giving birth, I would tend to agree. I am not an attorney though.

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by bmoyer on Jul 6, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Jamarcus needs that cough medicine..

to help with the constant “choking” feeling in his throat.

I can resist everything except temptation. - Oscar Wilde

by Rick Bates on Jul 6, 2010 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Man... 9 years?... Is that all?

Wonder if the court ruled that she was a victim of spousal abuse or suffering from post-partem depression? It would have taken some extenuating circumstances for 2 shotgun blasts to the back to not be 1st degree murder.

Just a sad situation…

Take the world as it is, not as it ought to be.

by Cold Steel on Jul 6, 2010 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

I'm no lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

I don’t know the full story, but my bet is there was no trial and she pled down to manslaughter. The DA probably wasn’t comfortable having to prove there wasn’t abuse (and smearing Fred’s good name in the process), or fighting a temporary insanity defense. Yes, it’s a sad, sad story, for Fred and for the poor child losing both parents.
And I watch way too much TV.

I can resist everything except temptation. - Oscar Wilde

by Rick Bates on Jul 6, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes - "she pled down to manslaughter"

And I’m sure good behavior and trying to take back custody of her child had something to do with it. What a tragedy.

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by bmoyer on Jul 6, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

9 years is a long time to be in prison.

All this 30 to life stuff is ridiculous in my opinion. I’m sure most people regret what they did before 30 years is up. There’s no point in detaining someone if they’ve changed their life around.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jul 6, 2010 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Wonder if your opinion would remain the same...

if it was your loved one that she blasted twice in the back with a shotgun? Would 9 years be enough penance to make up for the pain and agony that she put your family through?

Take the world as it is, not as it ought to be.

by Cold Steel on Jul 7, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

My religion teaches me to love everyone, regardless of what they do. I’ll admit, I’d be furious to begin with. Despite the faith I have, I would probably hate them. But, I imagine that would give way to a cooler head in a few days. Since I believe in an afterlife, by 9 years, assuming the person felt bad for it, I probably wouldn’t even care anymore. But, I can understand why people who don’t believe in such a thing would have a harder time forgiving people. It’s just a matter of perspective I suppose.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Jul 7, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand your point, and I think we’d all like to think that we’d take the high road if put in a similar position. I just believe the penalty for committing a crime such as murder should carry a stiffer sentence than 9 years in prison. Rae Carruth got 18 – 24 years for conspiracy to commit murder. Not sure how his crime (as atrocious as it was) carries a penalty that’s more than twice as severe as the one Lane’s wife received.

Take the world as it is, not as it ought to be.

by Cold Steel on Jul 7, 2010 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

Gender disrepancy?

Jking, I don’t want to open that can of worms.

Silver, I definitely agree with you to some extent. My religion teaches me the same. But I also realize that it would take a lot more than a few years to forgive that person, at least for me. I’d like to think I’d be strong enough to forgive him, eventually. But still, every sin has consequences, regardless of whether or not they are forgiven. And nine years for blasting a loved one twice with a shotgun at point blank range? 25, minimum. After that, we can talk parole.

Good bye #43. Good luck in Chicago.

by Flowing Willow on Jul 7, 2010 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions