Panthers Tracks: What you need to know for when Carolina visits Tom Brady in Tampa
The Panthers are traveling coast-to-coast over the next two weeks. After the trip to Tampa this weekend to play the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday, they’ll head west to Los Angeles to face the Chargers. And there are away games in Green Bay, Kansas City and Minneapolis on the schedule.
But that’s all going to look a bit different this year due to COVID-19.
Teams are required to stay in their hotels the night prior to games. No going out to eat or getting in an Uber and no hanging out with teammates outside the hotel. It’s quarantine on the road edition and the food has to come to you. The team’s traveling party has also been reduced. Everything is being done to minimize the possibility of contracting the coronavirus.
“Guys are used to getting to a city and going out to dinner, anything like that. Obviously, that’s not able to happen this year, as per the NFL directives,” Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said. “I think all of us, really everyone across the league, this year is following this new set of rules and we understand why and we’ll do a great job with it.”
The team will still leave for Tampa on Saturday. Rhule will have them depart at the same time he always has (no, he didn’t get into specifics so you can’t watch the team depart), something he learned from working under Tom Coughlin with the Giants in 2012.
“Once we’re at the hotel, whether we’re there for eight hours or four hours, it’s still obviously more than 15 minutes, that is the time (that you could) catch something,” Rhule said. “We’re staying at great places, the places that we’re staying are all following the strictest of guidelines to make sure that we’re safe.”
For players, the new rules will actually increase the team bonding time since everyone will be sequestered together.
“It’s another opportunity or chance or more time just to go over the game plan or walk through or whatever we may do while we’re in the hotel,” returner and wide receiver Pharoh Cooper said this week. “But usually if COVID wasn’t out right now, (I’d) probably just go out to dinner like once you land, find a nice restaurant, probably go out to dinner with usually the receiver group or just a couple guys. Just to get out, try new restaurants in different states and cities just to test things out.”
Getting food delivered is still an option at least.
Fans
When it comes to what fans will see on TV Sunday, the Buccaneers are not having any fans in attendance at Raymond James Stadium. The team decided it would not host any fans for the first two home games of the season, starting with the matchup against the Panthers. Most teams around the NFL are holding off on hosting fans for the first month, however, the two other Florida teams — the Jaguars and Dolphins — have or will have limited attendance to start the season.
Streaks
▪ The Panthers will look to avoid starting off a second straight season 0-2.
▪ Tom Brady is 3-3 against the Panthers all-time and has not beaten Carolina since Dec. 13, 2009. One of his wins is Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Where to watch
▪ FOX (WJZY in Charlotte): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Lindsay Czarniak on the call.
▪ Radio broadcast: WBT-AM 1110 AM in Charlotte; Mick Mixon, Kurt Coleman, Jim Szoke, Kristen Balboni on the call. Spanish radio broadcast: WGSP 102.3 FM, 107.5 FM and 1310 AM in Charlotte,
— Alaina Getzenberg
REQUIRED READING
+ Is Tom Brady done at age 43? Panthers’ game at Tampa Bay will tell us the answer
+ How Rasul Douglas went from brand new player to playing in 81% of the Panthers snaps
+ No, the Panthers’ mascot isn’t a bear. A Carolina player was confused, amusing teammates
+ Teddy Bridgewater as Tampa Bay’s QB? Bruce Arians explains why Buccaneers had interest
+ Donte Jackson was back at practice, but 2 Panthers could miss game at Buccaneers
+ The Panthers’ pass rush was terrible against the Raiders. That spells doom vs. Tom Brady
+ Panthers had headset issues in first half vs. Raiders that caused ‘panic’ on play calls
+ Panthers’ Matt Rhule among coaches not wearing masks on sideline, NFL threatens discipline
