Brad Hoover News

After spending the first half showing what they can do, the Carolina Panthers spent the second half showing what they can't. They can't convert big plays.

After holding Arizona's Kurt Warner to 242 yards,the Panthers still have the NFL's top-rated pass defense .

Panthers fullback Brad Hoover is carted off the field after spraining his ankle against Arizona on Sunday.

Panthers kicker John Kasay is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in New Orleans against the Saints.

It was third-and-8 and Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams appeared bottled up at the line of scrimmage.

They were about to cart Brad Hoover off the field Sunday as the crowd politely applauded and the Panthers quietly worried.

He had to wait a year after high school before enrolling at Troy, then was hampered by two shoulder surgeries and a broken hand in college.

The Carolina Panthers are hoping their 34-21 win Sunday over Arizona serves as a springboard for the rest of the season.

Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers yells to his teammates during their game against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on September 14, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Here are the grades from Sunday's game... RUN OFFENSE: A+ The Panthers returned to their winning formula on Sunday, which is running the football and playing good defense.

Even though it seemed like Carolina Panthers coach John Fox 's Monday post-mortem was all about Jake Delhomme , he had a few sharp words for some other struggling aspects of his team.

Julius Peppers broke his silence, but had little to say. Talking to reporters Thursday for the first time in a month, the Carolina defensive end said there's "nothing to talk about" regarding his increased production in the past three games and wouldn't discuss details of his address to teammates before a win over Tampa Bay on Oct.

CHARLOTTE The Carolina Panthers not only emerged from the Buffalo game Sunday with a loss, but also pretty beat up.

Wide receiver Steve Smith broke down in tears at a post-game press conference while talking about the death of his former Santa Monica Junior College football coach Robert Taylor, who passed away Thursday at 64 of cancer.

QUARTERBACK Grade: F Comment: Jake Delhomme's performances this season simply aren't up to the standard he set in the past.

Can some of the Panthers' passing problems be traced to tipping off opposing defenses to their tendencies? Receiver Muhsin Muhammad thinks that might be the case.

Dante Wesley labored under the radar for nearly a decade in the NFLa 'until becoming the villain of the week for his vicious way-too-early hit on Tampa Bay punt returner Clifton Smith.

Steve Smith first used humor when asked if he saw a difference this season in his struggling quarterback, Jake Delhomme.

Carolina Panthers coach John Fox made it pretty clear he's not worried about quarterback Jake Delhomme, even though he's tied for the league lead in interceptions with 10.

The only mild surprise on the Panthers' injury report today was that kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd didn't participate.