Your Personal Experience Meeting A Panther

[MHS831]

I have met most of them over the years. Take my kids to OTAs. They arre great, for the most part. My favorites: Jake , Hoover (gave my son his gloves). Rchard Marshall came up to me and discussed signing his tender--he was relieved. Nice guy. I think it was the same day Thomas Davis hurt his knee for the 2nd time. My son approached him for an autograph (Davis and a trainer were walking back to the stadium--he was not limping--and he said TD was visibly upset, but was nice to him. Moose was great. Lafell was hilarious--had my sons dying laughing (mocking some rude fan).When Beason was moving to OLB a few years ago, I asked him about it. He was upbeat, saying that he played OLB as a rookie and he would gladly do it again. He has a charisma that radiates leadership and greatness.

I don't seek autographs, I just get pictures. We have pics with Kevin Greene, Eric Davis, Wesley Walls, Rucker, Minter, Jake, Peppers, DWill, Stew, Otah, Beason, Clausen, Smitty, Moose, Kasay, and about 20 others. Frankly most of them are pretty cool.

Some of the nicest rookies I have met: Everette Brown was a great, humble guy. Hated to see him bust. I liked Dwayne Jarrett--very polite. Gettis looked me in the eye and said he would make the team and contribute as a rookie; thought he was dreaming. Anderson said his time on the pine was over and was going to be a starter-he did.

[Khaki Lackey]

I am playing Madden against Jerry Richardson as we speak.

[Ja Rhule]

About 4 years ago, huddlers (including my self) got together in Picasso's to watch NFL draft. That's the year Panthers picked Jon Beason. A week later my buddy asked me to go to night club "Forum" with him. I hate night clubs but I went anyway. When I got there, I saw Jon Beason near bar area. I yelled "Jon" and he turned around so I went to congratulate him. He gave me a big man hug and told me he'd make us "panthers fans" proud. Dude reminded me of a ninja turtle. He had the thickest chest I've ever seen.

About 3 years ago, Panthers signed DT Ian Scott. What I did not know is that we have friends in common. So when he came to Charlotte, I hangout with him almost everyday. Weird part is... I did not talk about Panthers with him at all. He would practice with Peppers and other dudes and then he'd come and hang out with us few hours later and I would not even bother to ask him anything. I hate bringing work home and I'm sure football players do too.

Met Thomas Davis not a long time ago. Super humble dude. Extremely nice guy. I really do hope he come's back from 3rd ACL. He deserves another chance.

[TruCatzFan]

I've had the pleasure of hanging out with J-Stew and DeAngelo on several different occasions.

On one of the occasions, I got to meet everyone on the team except for Smitty.

I have many pictures of all the players, have one of me and DeAngelo and J-Stew

Have one of me and Foxy.

And a bunch of random ones of a few different players.

Got a TON of autographs to include DeAngelo and J-Stew on a mini helmet the year they both broke 1000 yds from scrimmage.

I have a lot of pics! If a mod wants to shoot me a PM with an email address I'd be more than happy to send all of my pics and memorabilia to that account. I have several videos of one event, pretty cool.

Like I said though, if a mod emails me I will send all the pics and videos. They can then create a thread or "area" in which all the fans throughout the huddle can see it/them.

I also have hung out with them on a personal level several times Fishing and stuff. No pics or videos of those times at their request. I have several players' phone numbers, but now that I'm stationed in FL I haven't been able to hang out with them at all. It kind of sucks, but I do text back and forth with a couple of them every so often.

Believe me or don't... But I have pics that I'm WILLING to share, even though I have a scraggly goat tee in them. I don't really care if people know my name or what I look like.

Yeah, so that's about it.

Now it may make a little more sense to people when I take up for DeAngelo or J-Stew or even Goodson... I do it because I know them, and it's some bullshit what a lot of fans on this site are quick to talk poo about a contract or a trade or one of them being a possible pot head! We have some retards here. Make no mistake about that. That's why I make it a point to take up for them and others on this board. My opinion may not always be popular, or I may come accross as a dick, but they've been very nice to fellow fans, myself, and my family.

Now I'm done.

[d-run]

I've heard you say you hung out with them before, but how did you meet them in the first place?

[savage]

i've met much of the team. deangelo williams is the friendliest i have come across.

[Nicbsbll2]

Last spring I had class with Mario Williams every Tuesday and Thursday from January until May.When he wasn't paying attention, which was often, he spent most of the class talking about random bullshit with those of us around him. There was one day where he pulled out his ipad and ordered a new $2,000 computer monitor just because someone in class said he should.

One of the 'coolest' parts of being in the same class with him was when we would leave every afternoon. He would go out to his Land Rover and pull out a segway so that he could ride it to his next class. Seeing a 6'7'' 290 pound hunk of muscle riding down the side walk on a segway is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

Until this coming weekend (hopefully) that's the only interaction I've had with a current NFL player.

[TruCatzFan]

I've heard you say you hung out with them before, but how did you meet them in the first place?

I initially recieved a phone call from DeAngelo himself. I signed up and paid to become a member of his fan club. All proceeds went to charity, plus at the time I couldn't find a fan site. I was on one and then it disbanded, until I found this one.

I figured it'd be a good way to get "inside" info about the team and it was way more than I had ever thought it would be.

They sent me packages ti Afghanistanornery time I went. Autographed stuff for friends, skyped with us.When we got back we had several of them come to FT. Bragg and we took them to the shoot house, and other ranges. They loved that!

I went to a fan party and ever since we've hung out several times. I definitely feel cool to have had opportunities to hang out with them. But honestly they're so real (like me and my guys) that you forget that they're famous. Really down to Earth.

So that's it.

[Scrumtrilescent]

CJ's dog shits on my lawn. Talk with Steve Smith randomly when he walks by the house with his family after practice sometimes. I oil myself up and wrestle Ryan Kalil from time to time to see who picks up the check at Pinky's.

That last one may be made up. I never use oil..

[CLG]

In high school i played against AJ Green, and many of the USC football players including Gilmore. Hadnt had the chance to meet any panthers yet but i plan on meeting a few.

[Catalyst]

I'm guessing everyone who has "hung out" with all these Panthers actually mean they were once in the same bar/club/gym with them for a few minutes.

Never met any NFL players other than Vaughan Johnson, who is from my hometown and is always around town and used to always do speeches and stuff back when I was in high school. Matt Dodge went to my high school (West Carteret, Morehead City) but years after I graduated, and was friends with my best friend's little brother, though I doubt he even qualifies as an NFL player still, lol. Last I heard the dude still lives with his parents here in town since being cut by the Giants.

And then, as I mentioned before, my friend dropped a football on Mike Rucker's head at FanFest '06 trying to get an autograph, which was funny as hell. Rucker gave him the dirtiest fuging look.

[Pantherman]

I went the panthers training camp back in 96 and personally meet Kevin Greene while he was on his way to lunch. Greene was a cool guy. Tried to get his autograph, but he was in a hurry to eat and get ready for evening practice. But was nice to meet him person.

[janosha]

I had a class with Brad Hoover back in '98 at WCU. Why did I not ask for a autograph then?

[TruCatzFan]

I'm guessing everyone who has "hung out" with all these Panthers actually mean they were once in the same bar/club/gym with them for a few minutes.

Not in my case.

I've been on this site for over a year now, and this is the first time I've ever given this much detail about it. I'm just not "that guy" to rub it in people's faces. I shared my story just as everyone else did