Beason respects Ward, but ...
December 23
Charlotte Observer
"Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason is a prideful player and one of those guys who will answer a reporter's question straight-up.
Monday afternoon, still less than 24 hours after Sunday night's 34-28 overtime loss against the New York Giants, Beason was asked about New York's big night running the ball. The Giants rolled up 301 yards on the ground, the most by an opponent in Panthers history. Derrick Ward had 215 of them, an individual record for an opponent.
After blaming the Panthers' inability to stop the Giants' running game on sloppy play and poor communication, Beason was asked if the talents of Ward and backfield mate Brandon Jacobs might have had something to do with it.
"I hate you asked that question," Beason said. "The politically correct thing to say is they're a great combination of running backs - really good backs. And they are. But based on the film, of the 300 yards, let's say, uh, 250 were on us. That's how I'll answer that question."
BRIEFLY
It was a situation kicker John Kasay has been in and succeeded at often - a last-second field goal. In Sunday night's overtime loss to the Giants, Kasay had another such chance.
He kicked from 50 yards with nine seconds left, and the ball, pushed by a crosswind, barely missed to the left.
At his Monday news conference, coach John Fox was asked if Kasay felt comfortable from that distance.
"I'd say that's fair to assume," Fox said. "It's something that we gauge all the time. There were conditions in the stadium, obviously. The wind was an element that had to be dealt with by both teams.
"Obviously John had plenty of distance; it just sailed a little bit left. It happens. But he was comfortable kicking it, yes." Stan Olson
During Carolina's one overtime possession, the Panthers turned to backup running back Jonathan Stewart instead of starter DeAngelo Williams, who had 108 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Stewart carried twice for 7 yards before a third-down incompletion forced a punt.
The Panthers, of course, have split carries between the two all season.
"We try to spread the wealth a little bit there, at the running back position," Fox said. "It hasn't been problematic thus far and we didn't think it was problematic last night. At the end of the day it was a heck of a game, and hard-fought, and we just came up a little short." S.O."
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