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TAMPA, Fla. -- For a second straight week, the Carolina Panthers' punt-return team was involved in a bizarre play.
But this one, near the end of the first half of Carolina's 28-21 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, didn't go the Panthers way.
Sunday, Carolina's Dante Wesley drilled Tampa Bay returner Clifton Smith – who hadn't called for a fair catch – before he caught the ball. Wesley was ejected from the game and Smith didn't return either after sustaining a concussion.
Angry Tampa Bay players charged Wesley and surrounded him after the play. As Wesley's teammates ran to help, a bench-clearing fight appeared to be unfolding. But things quickly cleared up.
Wesley, who spent the rest of the afternoon in the locker room watching the game on television, said he mistimed his hit on Smith.
"He never fair-(caught) the ball, so I was just trying to play," said Wesley. "It's not like I tried to deliberately hurt anybody. That's not even me. It just so happened that I hit him. My prayers go out with him."
Last week, in a victory against Washington Redskins, the Panthers recovered a muffed punt after Carolina's Quinton Teal blocked the Redskins' Byron Westbrook into teammate Antwaan Randle El, who had called for a fair catch.
Wesley said in watching film of Smith, it often appears that he's going to signal for a fair catch, then doesn't.
"The first time we punted, he kind of fake fair-caught the ball," Wesley said. "I was kind of slow reacting to it."
Wesley, a backup defensive back who has been a regular on special teams for most of his nine seasons with the Panthers, hopes he won't be suspended or fined for the play.
"I hope not," he said. "You can check my record. I've never really tried to hurt anybody. I've never tried to take a cheap shot on anybody. That's not even me."
But he was surprised he was only player penalized, especially after the Bucs rushed toward him after the play.
"How could I be the only one being ejected (just) because I tried to make a play?" he said. "They came toward me. I didn't go in their face and try to say something aggressive toward them. When the other team came toward me like that, I felt like the ref could've looked at the situation a lot differently."
Notes Linebacker Jon Beason was confident the Panthers would score on their final, game-winning drive. "I had the towel on my head and my legs were crossed (on the bench)," said Beason.
Beason also spoke with reporters for the first time about his comments on defensive Julius Peppers two weeks ago on WFNZ radio. Beason said then he was going to talk to Peppers improving his effort. Beason eventually decided not to.
"We didn't have the conversation," said Beason. "It's over. I'm moving forward. I apologized for it. I shouldn't have said it. Because of the negative coverage of the way it was intended, I should not have said that. Especially because I'm a captain of this team."
Peppers had 2.0 sacks Sunday and has 5.0 for the season. He's on pace for 16.0, which would be a career high.
Rookie Mike Goodson was inactive Sunday and has now missed two consecutive games after suffering a concussion against the Dallas Cowboys. Kenneth Moore again returned kicks in Goodson's place, averaging 19.7 yards on three returns.
Other inactives: Running back Tyrell Sutton, cornerback C.J. Wilson, tackle Garry Williams, guard Duke Robinson and defensive end Hilee Taylor. A.J. Feeley was the third quarterback.
Former Independence High star Dre Moore, a defensive tackle, was on Tampa Bay's inactive list. Other Bucs inactives: Quarterback Byron Leftwich (third quarterback), wide receiver Yamon Figurs, fullback B.J. Askew, center Jonathan Compas, tackle Demar Dotson and defensive lineman Kyle Moore.
Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson might be the most elusive quarterback the Panthers will see this season. A former University of San Diego Torero who played in the same league as Davidson (Pioneer), Johnson was especially effective on third-down plays when he was flushed out of the pocket. He picked up first downs on runs of 12 and 9 yards in the third quarter.
Johnson appeared to have done it again on a third and seven early in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers successfully challenged where the ball was spotted. Short by a yard, Tampa Bay went for it on fourth and one, was whistled for a false start and punted.
The first half was a bad one for field-goal kickers. The Panthers' John Kasay had a 52-yard attempt blocked – his first miss of the season. Tampa Bay's Shane Andrus came up short on a 43-yarder.
By the numbers 5: Fumbles by Josh Johnson (he lost one).
56.8: Delhomme's passer rating.
97: Yard kickoff return for Bucs' Sammy Stroughter, tied for longest in franchise history.
Several thousand: Empty seats in 65,857-seat Raymond James Stadium, although paid attendance was listed of 62,422.
Quoting "The streak is on." – Linebacker Jon Beason on the Panthers' two straight victories.
"A couple of runs felt like (we were) in practice." – Running back Jonathan Stewart.
"I'm not mad about nothing. I'm good. I don't care what it looks like – 48 runs and 17 passes." – Receiver Muhsin Muhammad.
