Panthers definitely did not stand pat in the offseason
By "Bucky Katz"

Off-Season 2141 (Charlotte) - With a record of 22-6 the past two seasons and two appearances in the NFC Championship game, there were those who didn’t think the Carolina Panthers needed to make any changes.

But six time GMOY winner “Trader” Lee Remley is always looking to the future, always looking to improve his squad. Not reaching the Sundby Cup the past two seasons was not acceptable with the team tat was assembled. So the changes began.

Brian Anderson, Richard Gant, and Clint Jones, all mid-career veterans, were brought in to bolster an aging offensive line. Jones will most likely be the new starter at left tackle there. Casey Hollis was brought in from Washington as the new fullback to team up with Rusty Mitchell, giving the Panthers the top two rushers from last season in the same backfield. David McGill and John Garcia take over at wide receiver, giving the Panthers two speedsters to stretch the field. Last year’s number one receiver Mitch Elder is now the third receiver and is still one of the best around. Keith Young, possessing both speed and good hands, steps in as the new starting tight end.

On defense, Mitchell Markham and Kent Jones come in from New York to bolster the defensive line, who did well last year without them. But GM Remley knows where he is playing.

“The teams that win it all in the NFC put pressure on the quarterback,” Remley commented. “With those guys on our side, we have six guys we can rotate on the defensive line who can now do that.”

There are two positions that were considered up for grabs on the eve of training camp. The first is at middle linebacker where Brian Johnson and Norm Oliver are fighting it out.

“That is going to be a tough one,” Remley admitted at the start of camp. “Either one of those guys can play that position and play it well.”

But as camp ended, it appeared Oliver had won the middle linebacker job because of his speed and ability to stay on the field longer.

As for the other spot up for grabs, talk had begun that it is time to see if Bob is the real McCoy at quarterback, as he has an athleticism that 2139 MVP Bernie Brown lacks. It was no secret that the Panthers shopped Brown around the USAFL to see if there was any interest. But Remley refused to confirm the rumors that Bernie has lost his job when camp began.

“There will be a competition at the quarterback position, leave no doubt about that,” Remley said at the time. “We’ll see who steps up to the challenge.”

Apparently Bob did just that because he is now at the top of the depth chart at QB. A study by the USAFL fantasy experts called McCoy the most improved quarterback in the league from last year. But Brown, having been a league MVP recently and now graciously working with the new starting quarterback, will be a tough act to follow.

Will these moves put the Panthers back in the Sundby Cup? It promises to be an interesting season as the answer to that question emerges.