Gary Barnidge News

Spin: It's surprising the Panthers were so willing to toss Rosario back into the fray, productive as stand-in Gary Barnidge had been lately.

The second half of the season gets under way Thursday and one of the best parts of the second half is the insight we are afforded by teams that have no chance at making the playoffs.

The Panthers ran the ball beautifully in the first half, racking up 130 yards and two touchdowns - including a 66-yard scoring run by DeAngelo Williams on the second play from scrimmage.

Coach John Fox wouldn't say Wednesday how the team planned to replace fullbacks Brad Hoover and Tony Fiammetta if they can't play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

The Carolina Panthers' rushing attack is defense-proof when it's going well. When they took on that run game last December 8, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 9-3 and had the sixth-best run defense DVOA in the game.

Dwayne Jarrett gets his shot today. With Muhsin Muhammad back in Charlotte with an injured knee, Jarrett will likely start.

I have seen some awful play calling this season and this game for the Panthers is at the top of the list.

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

The Panthers were hoping to build on two straight wins Sunday as they took on the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium.

The opening day loss to Philadelphia was rough. But it was quick. Every time you turned your head the Eagles scored twice.

There are ugly losses, when superb opportunities are inexplicably squandered against a lesser opponent, and there there's what happened Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

The Panthers led the Cowboys at the half 7-0. JEFF SINER - jsiner@charlotteobserver.com Only one Carolina Panthers player has caught a touchdown pass this season, and his name isn't Steve Smith.

A blocked punt, another returned for a touchdown, fewer touchbacks on kickoffs and damaging starting field position for the opposition.

Atlanta Falcons' Brian Williams stretches out to block a punt by the Panthers' Jason Baker.

Perhaps the biggest problem the Carolina Panthers have after Sunday's 28-20 loss at Atlanta - other than the 0-2 record it leaves them - is that they couldn't count on their bedrock principles.

2:31 left in First Quarter Leading 3-0, the Panthers' attempt at a trick flea-flicker play on first-and-10 from the Falcons' 37 backfired when Delhomme was sacked for a 12-yard loss.

The Carolina quarterback even pointed it out. And yet, the members of the Panthers ' offensive line looked like kindergartners trying to figure out quantum physics.

The Panthers have decided to go with the tight-end-by committee approach. They kept three Jeff King, Gary Barnidge and Dante Rosario and each will bring his own set of quiet skills to an offense that already has standouts in the backfield and at receiver.

Carolina Panthers Running Back Mike Goodson Week 5 a ' Pittsburgh Steelers 21 at Carolina Panthers 10 Thursday, September 3 Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman wanted Mike Goodson to be the future of the Aggies, but Goodson decided that his future was in the NFL.

His Carolina Panthers teammates insisted defensive end Julius Peppers' offseason efforts to leave town hadn't affected his standing in the locker room.