
12-21-2005, 08:50 AM
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Everything we do is dictated by motive
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12/21/05
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Former OSU receiver catches break
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
ASSOCIATED PRESS
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle> </IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DAVID T . FOSTER III | CHARLOTTE OBSERVER </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Carolina’s Drew Carter, who played at Ohio State, caught two passes for 48 yards on Sunday in his first game of the season. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The Carolina Panthers have spent most of this season searching for a complement to star receiver Steve Smith. By releasing Rod Gardner, they may have found one.
Drew Carter was the biggest benefactor of Gardner’s sudden release last week, moving up to the active roster against New Orleans for a successful NFL debut.
Although he finished with just two catches for 48 yards, the first was a 40-yard grab on Carolina’s third play of the game.
Now the second-year receiver is trying to show he can be a valuable asset to the offense.
"You want to catch balls, you want to make plays," Carter said yesterday. "Every Sunday I hope I get that chance."
Chances have been few and far between for Carter, a fifth-round pick out of Ohio State in 2004.
He missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, then was a victim of numbers this season and was inactive through Carolina’s first 13 games.
But as the Panthers struggled to widen the involvement of their receiving corps past Smith — who has 93 catches for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns — it became clear that Gardner wasn’t a fit. Acquired in a trade with Washington the day before training camp opened, Gardner never found a role in the offense and failed to pass Keary Colbert for the second starting slot.
So coach John Fox released him last Thursday, paving the way for Carter to get involved.
Carter got his first game action on the Panthers’ first drive, coming in on third-and-5 at the Carolina 42 in a four-receiver set. Carter went long, beating his defender to open up for Jake Delhomme’s long pass. The catch set up the first touchdown of the game and gave the Panthers a lead they never relinquished in their 27-10 victory over the Saints.
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