Carolina takes steps to beef up dead last defense
By "Bucky Katz"

Off-Season 2147 (Charlotte) - Neither an 0-14 record or a dead last defense sat too well with Carolina Panthers GM 'Trader' Lee Remley in the 2146 season.

'We were, and still are, in rebuilding mode and were up front about that, but our fans deserved a better performance,' Remley pointed out.

So Remley took great pains to improve the front seven. The Panthers drafted DE Matt McDonald first overall in the draft. They signed DT Ray Walton and LB Wayne Bowles in free agency. Carolina acquired DT Issac Austin by trade.

As a result, three out of the starting front four linemen are new, plus one of the three linebackers. The hope is that the new personnel will help improve the disasterous defense last season.

In fact, the rest of the draft, two defensive linemen and two defensive backs, were made to improve the defense. Not to mention the acquisition of S Ross Stephens.

Now there is the blast from the past.

Remley was surprised to see QB Bob McCoy on the waiver wire. After QB Travis Zimmerman's less than auspicious beginning last season, he felt that the former MVP would be the perfect guy to help his career along. So the Panthers are bringing the real McCoy back.

'This is a win win situation,' Remley said. 'Travis will have to work hard to keep his job, and he will pick a lot up from a pure professional like Bob that will help him in his career.'

It will be interesting to see where all the changes lead. The hope is the Panthers make great strides in getting back to prominence.

Their fans are hoping for something much better than 0-14 this season. The team's GM agrees with that wholeheartedly.