Panthers’ Rivera big fan of joint practices
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said joint practices have become an invaluable part of today’s NFL.
Rivera’s Panthers wrapped up two days of workouts at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., Wednesday with the Bills that Rivera believes will go a long way toward helping both teams prepare for the regular season.
Unlike preseason games, players aren’t allowed to tackle in joint practices which Rivera believes can be dually beneficial in learning plays while not risking injuries.
“I’m not sure if playing the games is as important as it used to be, but things like this are invaluable,” Rivera said Wednesday.
It’s the third time in five seasons the Panthers practiced with another team.
North Carolina Highway Patrol cited Panthers DE Bryan Cox Jr. for speeding, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on the final day of the team’s training camp. Troopers pulled over Cox, 25, on Interstate 85 northbound near Bessemer City, N.C., for driving 90 mph in a 65 mph zone in a 2015 Nissan. Cox was cited for possessing less than a halfounce of marijuana. He has an Oct. 14 court date.
Carr set for test drive: Raiders QB Derek Carr figures to get on the field at least for a bit in the second exhibition game when the Raiders take on the Cardinals in Phoenix.
Carr said he doesn’t need much preseason action to get ready for the season but will be happy to get on the field anyway.
“It’s always good to get out there and compete again,” he said. “Any time you put a jersey on and helmet you’re trying to win the game, so that part of it. Just your routine and all those kinds of things.”
Jimmy struggles: Forty-niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo had a practice to forget in his final session before facing an opposing defense for the first time since he suffered a season-ending knee injury in September. Garoppolo threw interceptions on five straight pass attempts in Santa Clara, Calif. It was his worst session in his return from the torn ACL that cut short his 2018 season after three games.
GJay-Z defends deal: A day after Jay-Z announced that his Roc Nation company was partnering with the NFL, he explained that he still supports protesting, kneeling and NFL player Colin Kaepernick, but he’s also interested in working with the league to make substantial changes. Jay-Z fielded questions at his company’s headquarters alongside NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. When directly asked if he would kneel or stand, Jay-Z said: “I think we’ve moved past kneeling and I think it’s time to go into actionable items.”
Extra points: Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills said he and team owner Stephen Ross have agreed to disagree. Stills objected to Ross hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump, and said there was a contradiction in Ross supporting both the president and racial equality. Following a team practice against the Buccaneers, Stills said he recently spoke with Ross and they agreed there were no hard feelings . ... A joint practice in Houston was a reunion for Texans coach Bill O’Brien and Lions coach Matt Patricia. The two worked as assistants with the Patriots from 2007-11.