Carolina Panthers fans, we know you could really use a hug right now. But if you can’t get one, the next best thing can be found over on Twitter/X.
Sunday was an absolute horror show for the Panthers—who were clubbed, from pillar to post, by the New Orleans Saints to open the 2024 regular season. The 47-10 loss featured a frightening performance from second-year quarterback Bryce Young, a ghastly showing from the defense and some scary bad effort by special teams.
But franchise legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers offered a bit of perspective on the defeat this morning . . .
1. The sun still came up this morning.
2. It was only one game.
3. New Orleans is one of the tougher places to play.
Success doesn’t happen overnight- embrace the challenges and do the work.
— Pep (@juliuspeppers_) September 9, 2024
Peppers learned that very lesson from the get-go of his NFL career, as he was drafted to a 1-15 team with the second overall pick in 2002. He’d proceed to help Carolina bump their record to 7-9 as a rookie, and then to 11-5 and a Super Bowl appearance the season after.
So while we can’t expect the current team to fast-track themselves to success like Pep’s Panthers did, a lane to greener pastures is out there somewhere. Take it from No. 90.
