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Carolina Panthers guard Keydrick Vincent would prefer his teammates think of him as the team's Charles Barkley.
The nickname that clings to him, though, is Shrek.
“That's one ugly sweater, Shrek!” running back DeAngelo Williams yelled across the locker room at Vincent the other day.
Then, turning to me, Williams said: “A lot of guys don't even know Keydrick's real name. They just call him Shrek.”
You can see why.
Vincent has Shrek's bald head and, at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds, sports a similar body type to the animated ogre. Vincent's skin isn't green, but he's gruff and quick-witted like Shrek, too.
You probably don't know much about Vincent.
But he's worth a closer look if you care about these Panthers, who are 6-2 entering their bye weekend.
Acquired as a free agent this past offseason, Vincent has started every game this season at right guard. He has turned into one of those pleasant surprises all good teams need.
Vincent happened to get assigned the very first locker to the right in the Panthers' locker room. It turns out to be an ideal perch for Vincent to comment upon every player who comes or goes through the main door – to rip Chris Gamble for his haircut or Ken Lucas for his clothes.
“I really do feel like Charles Barkley,” Vincent said. “You never know what he's going to say, either.”
At 30, Vincent is the Panthers' oldest starter on the offensive line. Carolina signed him in the offseason to a two-year deal – he was a reserve in Arizona in 2007 – after promising Vincent he would get a chance to start.
Prior to coming here, the undrafted free agent out of Mississippi had a total of 49 starts for Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Arizona.
Most notably, Vincent once started on a Pittsburgh team that went 15-1. The “Shrek” nickname actually originated in Pittsburgh, bestowed by running back Jerome Bettis and a couple of other teammates.
“It showed me they liked me,” Vincent said in a moment of seriousness.
Vincent doesn't mind the name, in part because he claims that “the ladies love Shrek.” He's even got a modest collection of “Shrek” memorabilia.
When Vincent first arrived at Carolina, his teammates didn't know how to take him. “Keydrick has an unusual sense of humor,” center Ryan Kalil said. “When he first came in, he thought it'd be good to talk about how great a player he is… And all the things he likes to buy and do.”
Vincent walked over while Kalil was telling me this, overheard Kalil's comment and interrupted.
“You've got to have an image, baby!” Vincent said. “It worked for Muhammad Ali!”
Kalil laughed and jerked a thumb toward Vincent. “My point exactly,” he said.
Kalil realized after awhile, however, that Vincent's persona was all for show. “He's actually a very humble guy,” Kalil said.
Vincent sure does liven up a room, and he has done that for years. He was Homecoming king of his Lakeland, Fla., high school.
“I was a favorite,” Vincent said. “I mean, look at me! I enjoy my life. I love to have fun!”
Do you know who Vincent really resembles?
Brentson Buckner, the Panthers' former defensive tackle.
More than Barkley and more than Shrek, that's actually who Vincent reminds me of the most – the crafty, quotable and irrepressible Buckner.
Scott Fowler: 704-358-5140; sfowler@charlotteobserver.com.
