Here's a hearty shout-out to Buck55, who was the first person to come up with the correct answer at 1:27pm.
When Ricky Proehl came to the Carolina Panthers in 2003, there were few expectations for the veteran who was best known as the supporting actor from the St. Louis Ram's "Greatest Show on Turf". After all, you won't see too many football players make a significant impact at the ripe old age of 35. If you look at the stat sheet of Proehl's three year stint with the Panthers, you won't find anything that stands out. For example, the New York native never had more than 497 receiving yards and was unable to muster more than four receiving touchdowns in any one of those seasons. However, he did make one of the most spectacular catches I've ever witnessed and I'll never forget it. Do you remember?
It was the Panthers season opener(and Proehl's first game in the black and blue) against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the game was quickly slipping away. Down 0-14 at halftime, then coach John Fox made a desperate move as many of you will recall. He decided to sit quarterback Rodney Peete in favor of another newly acquired free agent by the name of Jake Delhomme. No one will remember that the Louisiana Cajun threw two interceptions because he more than offset those miscues by throwing three touchdown passes, including the twelve yard game winner with sixteen seconds remaining to who else but mister reliable. History would repeat itself, in part, nearly five months later as Proehl caught another twelve yard touchdown pass with just over a minute left to tie the score against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be enough. Nevertheless, both of those spectacular catches, along with the elation and enthusiasm they incited, are still two of my most cherished football memories.
Perhaps another Super Bowl catch awaits. One that Proehl vicariously makes through one of his prized pupils(if you know what I mean). Only this touchdown grab will be for the win.