In Charlotte, Joseph Person notes Panthers players on Saturday night “listened as league officials talked about the impact of domestic violence and sexual assault, with an emphasis on how bystanders can help those at risk.” Joining players was Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, who “drove from Charlotte and sat in the back of the room for the program” at the team’s training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. If the players “needed a reminder where Richardson stood on the issue of violence toward women, his presence at the league’s education session Saturday provided it.” Panthers LB Thomas Davis said, “When you have an owner show up for a meeting like that, I think it should open some of these guys’ eyes for them to realize how important it is.” Panthers OG Amini Silatolu: “He’s not playing any games this year with that kind of nonsense. I think everybody got the feel for that, with him being there” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/4).
JUDGEMENT CALL: In K.C., Blair Kerkhoff noted Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt “addressed the difficulty of personnel decisions when non-football factors enter the equation.” Hunt said, “I wouldn’t say there is a hard and fast policy because every situation is different. It’s up to [GM John Dorsey] and his staff to do the research when a player has an incident and make a judgment call as to whether it’s going to work out.” Hunt added, “John is very aware that we don’t want guys who are going to be a problem in the community to be part of the Kansas City Chiefs, and as a result he and his team have to do a lot of work.” The Chiefs last month released undrafted rookie CB Justin Cox after he was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic violence, burglary of a residence and trespassing (K.C. STAR, 8/2).
GROWING PAINS: Buccaneers co-Chair Bryan Glazer said the team’s fans should still consider ‘15 a “growing year,” while acknowledging “anything can happen.” The team has not won a playoff game since Super Bowl XXXVII in ’03 and has not even made the postseason since ’07. Glazer said that it has been “hard for his family ... to endure the losing seasons and playoff drought.” He said, “You try each year to put it all together and get all the right pieces, and some things don't work out. ... It is frustrating to watch, but as much as we own the team, we're fans, and we want to win” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/3).
'BOYS WILL BE 'BOYS: ESPN's Tony Reali noted the Cowboys are using a training camp fight between WR Dez Bryant and CB Tyler Patmon as "click bait" at their official website. ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said it is a “good idea to promote anything interesting that happens in training camp." Gutierrez: "If you show me video of a kicker making a 45-yarder in training camp, I am never visiting your website again.” espnW’s Kate Fagan said, “You’ve got to own your content these days. Do I wish it wasn’t about fighting? Yes. But if we didn’t see it on that website, it was going to exist somewhere else.” ESPN’s J.A. Adande: “You might as well get the clicks on your own website” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 8/3).
