It was only two weeks into training camp when Panthers HC Ron Rivera stated he needed a WR besides Steve Smith to stand up. After that comment and then the subsequent loss of David Gettis caused concern in Panther land.

Said Rivera on Aug. 6th when the team signed Naanee: "Probably the biggest thing is we've had nobody step up other than Steve. We've got to find guys that are going to step up."

"Yeah, of course I took it personally," LaFell said. "It was a week into camp. ... We hadn't really gotten a chance to figure out the offense. But it's a business. (Naanee) was their guy in San Diego, he knows all the routes. He's playing well. I can't get mad. Just when I get my chance, I need to make plays."

"Cam said, 'You just run down the field 15-20 yards and spot up, and I'm going to throw you a jump ball,' " LaFell said.

LaFell explains is sudden rise to respectability:

"The game is starting to slow down for me now," LaFell said. "I'm reading defenses on the run now instead of just pre-snap reads. ... And then it's kind of easy when you've got those two tight ends out there making plays and (Steve Smith) is out there making plays."

When reminded of that quote Wednesday, Rivera said of LaFell: "Maybe we were a little impatient, to be honest. Maybe we wanted too much right away."

Wow...anyone else shocked that our HC actually said something like that? 'Maybe we wanted too much right away'? That is probably exactly right but I'm still so used to the evasiveness of the previous coach these type of comments still shock me.

Anyway, its nice to see a kid like LaFell up his game and make plays when the team needs them most. If I had my way he would already be the starter.