The Carolina Panthers haven't returned a kickoff for a touchdown since Rod Smart did it in 2003, and since He Hate Me isn't walking through that door, John Fox is looking for answers there.

So it shouldn't have come as a shock, though it did at first, that Fox suggested to some charitable bigwigs in Charlotte that the Panthers' returner next season could be rookie running back Jonathan Stewart. Didn't Carolina draft Stewart to be a Stephen Davis clone?

Perhaps, but not every rookie running back is Purple Jesus, and it's not like Stewart has never returned kicks before. In fact, Stewart averaged 28.7 yards per return at Oregon and returned two to the house, and he did all that while also serving as the starting running back.

Of course, he still has to compete for that job in camp, too, as DeAngelo Williams -- who, by the way, reacted far more positively to Carolina selecting Stewart than at least one of his fans did -- remains the incumbent starter. However, Williams only averaged 17.8 yards per kickoff return last season, and Ryne Robinson managed 23 yards per return. So if Stewart can fill that role effectively, that wouldn't be a bad start to his NFL career.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field for today's Cubs v. Padres game.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Smith has always wanted to see games at the most famous ballpark in America, and his trip to Wrigley Field was a gift from his wife Angie. However, when someone in the Cubs organization heard that Smith was coming to Wrigley, he was immediately invited to throw out the first pitch.

Apparently, the Cubs organization must not think too highly of Bears fans. Clearly, they forgot all about how Smith almost singlehandedly knocked the Bears out of the NFL playoffs in 2006. He burned the Chicago secondary for 12 catches for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns -- at Solider Field.

Smith has said that he's flattered that "little ol' me" was asked the throw the first pitch at Wrigley Field. He might feel slightly less flattered when he walks onto the field and gets booed mercilessly by all the Bears fans in attendance. If the Cubs thought this was a good idea, it's no surprise that they're considering signing Jim Edmonds.

Curtis Whitley, a center who started all 16 games of the Carolina Panthers' inaugural 1995 season, was found dead in Texas. He was 39 years old.

Family members said Monday night that they learned earlier in the day that Whitley, who turned 39 on Saturday, had been found dead in Texas, where he was living. They were awaiting details about the cause of his death.

Whitley, who was with the San Diego Chargers, was selected by the Panthers in the expansion draft and started every game during the team's first season. That season was played at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, where Whitley starred at during the early 1990s. He would start eight games during the 1996 season, but then was suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

He would come back and play for the Raiders in 1997, but was suspended again in '98 ... ending his career. It was originally thought that the suspensions were due to alcohol abuse, but Whitley later admitted that he was using crystal meth.

There was some nervous laughter surrounding Torry Holt's recent comments about him becoming a Carolina Panther (see the video above ... the comments below). Holt was at a golf outing in North Carolina just after his brother Terrence signed with the Carolina Panthers.

"I wanted to send in my resignation to the the Rams and see if I could join him," the elder Holt joked. "I'm excited, but I'm also a little jealous because I've always wanted an opportunity to come back home."

Holt is from Greensboro, NC and was a star at NC State. There was some joking there, especially when the word "resignation" was thrown in.

However, it has to be a bit concerning to the Rams that Holt said this, especially as he enters the final two years of his contract. He's had a rocky relationship with head coach Scott Linehan and just witnessed the unceremonial exodus of fellow receiver Isaac Bruce this offseason.

Recent comments threw some more fuel on the fire ... especially since he name dropped the Panthers again.

As soon as his frustrating 2007 season ended, Carolina Panthers wideout Steve Smith decided he needed to blow off some steam. Instead of doing what some other NFL players might do -- like choking pregnant girlfriends or piloting boats while drinking -- Smith settled on a good old-fashioned workout at the gym.

Only Steve Smith doesn't go to normal gyms. No. He went to Velocity Sports Training, which specializes in improving athletes' speed, strength and agility. Smith really liked the workout he got there. In fact, he liked it so much, he bought a stake in the company.

Not only did Smith see an opportunity to work with other athletes and get a head start on his post-NFL career, but he saw actual improvement in his game during last weekend's minicamp.

"I could see a big difference (in performance) in a short amount of time," he said. "Physically, I feel stronger, and faster in and out of breaks."

So, to recap, Steve Smith, 28, All-Pro NFL wide receiver, is faster and stronger than he was last year, when he had 87 catches for 1,002 yards and 7 touchdowns under adverse conditions. Plus, his favorite quarterback is getting healthy, and his team has new depth at receiver. Still looking like a train wreck to you, Panthers fans?

It's only May, so we're months away from seeing the proof here, but it seems the big story about The Train Wreck That Is The Carolina Panthers -- you can thank the FanHouse commenters for that moniker -- is that they have (*gasp*) actual depth at receiver.

First, there's D.J. Hackett, who reportedly made "several fine catches" during the weekend workouts and had nothing but good things to say about Jake Delhomme. In turn, the Panthers QB had nothing but good things to say about Muhsin Muhammad's return.

"I'll be honest with you -- the day we got Moose back, that was huge. And not for what he's done in the past. Just the way he works, the way he blocks. He brings a presence."

Another report has Jason Carter, the third-year man from Texas A&M who spent last season on the Panthers' practice squad, making the most spectacular catch of the weekend and looking generally impressive. That same report says, "Dwayne Jarrett has great hands. That's all." (Translation: He runs routes like Keary Colbert.)

Of course, it's way too early to tell whether any of these guys will take the double- and triple-teams off Steve Smith during actual games, but it sure sounds like there's a light at the end of the tunn-- Agh! It's an oncoming train! Run!

Reports out of the first day of Carolina Panthers minicamp indicate that Jake Delhomme is throwing short passes without pain and has had zero setbacks in rehab following Tommy John surgery on his elbow.

In other news, all those pundits who thought the Panthers would trade half their draft to get Matt Ryan scurried back to their computers to research how to manipulate Google so that no one would ever find out how silly they were.

Delhomme isn't throwing long bombs just yet, but he's probably further along than the team thought he might be at this stage, and he should be very close to 100% again by the time training camp starts in July. How you react to that news may depend entirely on your opinion of Jake Delhomme as a quarterback. (I have co-workers who refer to him as "Forrest Gump." What they called David Carr, though, is unprintable here.)

The Charlotte Observer is also reporting that 3rd-round picks Dan Connor and Charles Godfrey are getting first-team looks at middle linebacker and free safety, respectively. Connor is filling in for Jon Beason, who had surgery on his wrist on Wednesday but is expected to be ready before full camp opens.

Actor, game show host and intelligent design defender Ben Stein lashed out at the Carolina Panthers yesterday after hearing of their latest free agent signing.

"I think it's shameful that a team in the NFL, which is known to be filled with deeply religious people, would so eagerly accept Darwinism," said Stein.* "People need to understand the horrible impact this theory has had on millions of people."

Then someone explained to him that the Panthers actually signed Darwin Walker, the defensive tackle who formerly played for the Bears and the Eagles.

"Oh," said Stein.* "Well, that's entirely different. I was wondering why they waited so long to draft a defensive tackle."

Reportedly, Panthers coaches had been on the phone with Walker all throughout the draft to make sure he was still interested in joining the team, which explains why Carolina passed on several defensive tackles in the 3rd round. Walker is expected to move into John Fox's defensive line rotation with starters Damione Lewis and Ma'ake Kemoeatu and possibly either 6th-round pick Nick Hayden from Wisconsin or free agent rookie Brandon Jenkins from Mississippi. The full list of the Panthers' post-draft rookie signings is here.

* - Not actual quotes by Ben Stein. These are the jokes, people. It was also a cheap excuse to run that photo of Stein with Jenna Jameson. That pair would make a great sitcom, if sitcoms weren't dead.

We all know the Carolina Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart to be the next Stephen Davis. Ask the big bruising running back from Oregon which NFL player he'd like to emulate, though, and he gives an even better answer:


Yeah. If video of the late, great Walter Payton pounding the ever-lovin' crap out of everything in his path doesn't get you going on a Monday morning, nothing will. If Stewart displays just half the unwillingness to be tackled that Sweetness did, Panthers fans are going to be very, very happy with this selection.

Carolina Panthers 2008 Draft Picks:

13. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
19. Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
67. Charles Godfrey, DB, Iowa
74. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
141. Gary Barnidge, TE, Louisville
181. Nick Hayden, DT, Wisconsin
221. Hilee Taylor, DE/OLB, UNC
241. Jeff Schwartz, G, Oregon
250. Mackenzy Bernadeau, G, Bentley

The Good: John Fox wanted to go back to the power running game he had in 2003, and GM Marty Hurney took this year's and next year's 1st-round picks to get it. Jonathan Stewart is the next Stephen Davis, and Jeff Otah could be a run-blocking force from the start. Carolina added some value players in the 3rd round, including a potential replacement for Chris Gamble, who's in the last year of his contract, and possibly another Dan Morgan without the concussion issues. They also added yet another 5th-round tight end -- their third in three years -- which could be a sign that Dante Rosario is poised to replace Brad Hoover at fullback after this season. They waited a while to get a defensive end, but they didn't need a starter there, and Nick Hayden has that Jordan Carstens look about him. (That's a good thing.)