Inside the team meeting that helped a disconnected Panthers team finally come together
There was a moment during the Panthers’ game against the Buccaneers in Week 2 when Rasul Douglas said he looked around at this teammates and found himself disappointed.
The Panthers trailed the Bucs 21-0 in the second quarter, and as he looked at them, he said it appeared they didn’t care. It didn’t feel like a team.
“And I didn’t like it,” Douglas said.
Douglas knew what a team felt like. He was a rookie on the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles who won a Super Bowl. He said that team was close, and remains friends today. But the Panthers felt disconnected.
After the loss, the players were noticeably distraught.
Defensive end Brian Burns said of the then-Panthers losing streak: “I’m sick of it.”
The following day, they watched film and had their normal team meetings. Players were upset about the loss. Still bothered by what he saw during the game, Douglas said he called Rhule after the meeting.
“I told him how I felt about it and I wanted us to play for each other,” Douglas explained. “It’s bigger when you play for the team, than the individual stuff.”
Douglas, who the Panthers claimed off waivers in September, suggested to Rhule the team share their individual stories with each other. Rhule said he liked the idea. So each day throughout the week, before their game against the Chargers, they told those stories.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater talked about his mother overcoming breast cancer, and how she continued to support his football dreams throughout her battle. Offensive guard Chris Reed talked about his battle with COVID-19, and how he wasn’t able to be around and comfort his wife, who is 23 weeks pregnant. Linebacker Tahir Whitehead talked about the ups and downs of his career. Linebacker Shaq Thompson shared his frustrations with losing, and his desire to get a win. And Douglas talked about his time with the Eagles and how they came together to win a Super Bowl.
Hearing and sharing those stories helped bring the players closer last week, they said.
“You start feeling everyone’s passion. You see the emotion comes out of guys,” Bridgewater said. “When Shaq broke us down on Wednesday, you could sense his frustration. Like man, it’s time to start winning.
“Everybody’s journey is different, but there are so many similarities within us all. The more we understand that, this guy has been through some stuff, but he pretty much went through the same things I went through.”
Part of the reason these players say they felt disconnected with each other was because of the shortened offseason due to COVID-19. There were no OTA’s, no preseason. There was little time to get to know each other. They wore masks around each other in the building, and stood six feet apart.
From coaches to players, the Panthers were — and in many respects still are — a brand new team. It was like marrying someone without knowing whether you’re compatible.
“If I’m here with you all day, I need to know you,” Douglas said. “I need to know who you are, I need to know how you think, so when I’m on the field, I want to play for you. So that’s the thing I was trying to get down here.”
The ‘get-to-know-you’ sessions seemed to work. The Panthers’ defense forced four turnovers last week, and they beat the Chargers 21-16 for their first win of the season.
“I also felt like we played together as a team, and that was the fun part about that game,” Rhule said. “Defense gets a turnover and Shaq is standing next to me ... and he’s cheering on the offense. If we can keep that up, there’s going to be highs and lows in every game in every season, but when you know you’re in it together, it has a way more powerful feeling.”
The Panthers hope the momentum from those meetings and the win can carry over in their remaining games. This Sunday, they’ll play the 2-1 Arizona Cardinals.
Reed said since the meetings he’s noticed a change in the locker room.
“In that time, I really think it’s helped bring people together and know more about our teammates,” Reed said. “The want to go out and play for each other is a big thing.
“I think it was a great idea by Rasul. I honestly think it did work and is currently working and it will bring our team closer together.”
