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Mario Addison and the Panthers had similar trajectories to their 2018 season.Addison posted 7.5 sacks while the team was going 6-2 over the first eight games of the year. Addison slumped to 1.5 sacks in the second half and the Panthers plummeted out of the playoff race by losing seven of their last eight games.Addison called the drop “sad” while talking to reporters last week , but said he feels this year’s defense is going to be “something special to watch.” He also added his own personal motivation to show that the second half of last season was an aberration.“It’s a contract year,” Addison said, via the . “I just want to get out there and ball out. I’ve still got a lot of life in me.”He’s dropped weight in anticipation of the Panthers using more 3-4 looks on defense this season and head coach Ron Rivera said the veteran has “adapted to that very well.” Should that translate to the fall along with the pass rushing skills that have led to 29.5 sacks in the last three years, Addison should be well prepared to make up for the sour finish to last season. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first breaking news involving Byrd that didn’t being with his breaking something."After (most of) four seasons with the Carolina Panthers , free agent wide receiver Damiere Byrd has signed a one year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.This is in no way a surprising or needle moving event with regards to the Panthers. While often the source of highlight plays and post game quotes when he was actually on the field, he was never able to make a consistent impact. Ultimately, Byrd’s role as a speedy, versatile, and often injured wide receiver has been usurped over the past two years by the younger, faster , more versatile, and more often injured Curtis Samuel.Panthers fans will never forget head coach Ron Rivera arguing with the refs, successfully, that Byrd was in bounds on a game winning touchdown due to his having a “narrow ass.” That butt drag swag, as Cam called it, was one of the highlight moments of an otherwise forgettable 2017 season.Of interest , Byrd is one of the few edge-of-the-roster free agents from Rivera’s tenure to gain traction with another team not currently helmed by a former assistant. Stay tuned as we investigate the legality of teams exploring new talent and instead of recycling old names. In the meantime, look for the Panthers to consider signing Brenton Bersin to round out their wide receiver room for the summer.
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