Just 66 days until the season kicks off, let’s celebrate on this 4th of July by talking about a new Panther wearing #66, Guard/Center Gino Gradkowski
Bio
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 300 lbs
Age: 27
College: Delaware
Experience: 5 years
Career
Gradkowski has been with several teams in his career, most recently the Atlanta Falcons though he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 draft. He saw a lot of playing time early in his career, making an appearance in all 16 games and winning a Super Bowl as a rookie, and then starting at center the entire 2013 season after Matt Birk's retirement. In 2014, after undergoing some minor offseason knee surgery, Gradkowski played half the year, but was inactive for the final half until the playoffs. At the end of the year, Gradkowski was traded to the Denver Broncos, but released during final cuts where the Atlanta Falcons claimed him. It has been reported that Carolina entered a claim for him at that time, but the Falcons had higher priority. Now, here he is, signed as a free agent one year later.
Gradkowski is to be interior line insurance for us, mainly for Ryan Kalil, but also for guards Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner. i am not sure why exactly he went from a 2 year starter to jumping around between teams, but hopefully everyone on the O-Line will stay healthy and we will never have to see him.