Carolina Panthers

From Wikinfo

The Carolina Panthers are a National Football League team based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Founded: 1995

Home stadium: Ericsson Stadium

Uniform colors: Black, Cerulean blue, Silver, and White

Helmet design: Silver helmet, a black snarling panther outlined in blue

Franchise history

In 1996, the second year of their existence, the Panthers found themselves in the NFC title game, playing the Green Bay Packers but losing.

During the next few years, the Panthers made far more news off the field than on, much of it negative. In 1999, wide receiver Rae Carruth was convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend. The following year, running back Fred Lane was shot to death by his wife during a domestic dispute.

In 2003, two years removed from a 1-15 season, the team returned to the NFC championship, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles to earn a trip to Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas, to play the AFC champion New England Patriots.

Players of note

Pro Football Hall of Famers:

Current stars:

• Stephen Davis
• Jake Delhomme
• Kris Jenkins
• Julius Peppers
• Todd Sauerbrun

Retired numbers:

("Hall of Honor")

• Sam Mills

Not to be forgotten:

• Tyrone Poole

Carolina Panthers official web site

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Carolina_Panthers" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Panthers, used under the GNU Free Documentation License