And On The Seventh Day...

God for our sakes rested on the seventh day, the Sabbath, and called it Holy. The Vuelta for the riders sake took a day off too, and called it, "pre-Etapa Once" (On say)... or "Stage Eleven."

Trek Strong in Etapa (Stage) 10 Individual TT's

Janez Brajkovic

Maxime Monfort

Fabian Cancellara

Jakob Fuglsang

Tiago Machado

What company holds 50% of the Vuelta's Top 10 in the Individual Time Trials of Etapa (Stage) 10?
4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th for the guys from Waterloo! Nuff said!

Stage 10 results
1  Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad         0:55:54   
2  Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky            + 0:59   
3  Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky               + 1:22   
4  Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Leopard Trek    + 1:27   
5  Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing         + 1:33   
6  Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek       + 1:37   
7  Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack          + 1:54   
8  Janez Brajkovic (Slo) RadioShack        + 1:56   
9  Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank    + 2:02   
10 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard Trek       + 2:06

2nd, 6th, 9th, and 10th in the overall!!! 40% of the Top 10 
in the GC!!! On Wisconsin! Did I mention the fact that the 
guys from Wisconsin, make a pretty mean bicycle? 
40% of the Top 10... ok again, nuff said!

General Classification after Stage 10
1  Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky             38:09:13   
2  Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek          + 0:12   
3  Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky                  + 0:20   
4  Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale  + 0:31   
5  Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana            + 0:34   
6  Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard Trek          + 0:59   
7  Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank               + 1:07   
8  Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Geox-TMC        + 1:47   
9  Janez Brajkovic (Slo) RadioShack           + 2:04   
10 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack    + 2:13

Photos Courtesy of Velo News

The Expected & Unexpected Sports For This Weekend...

The EXPECTED:

UFC:
The Big Brazilian Blockbuster UFC Rio, saw the home favorites taking care of business. Silva amazes me still. He is the most humble fighter that I have ever seen. He's calm, going into training, he is calm going into the fights, he is calm during the fight, and he is calm at post fight. Anderson "Spider" Silva treats every fight like it's no big deal. He trains hard, and care free, and he fights the same way! He set his opponent down twice in the second round with a jab, and finished him off with the ground and pound. In the locker room he hugged his boys and shook the oldest son's hand and loved on them like any good father would want to after a days work. Silva is the first fighter in UFC History to win in ten title bouts, and first to 10 consecutive title bout victories.

Cycling:

Levi stayed out front, and finished among the leaders in the peleton, and claimed the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Levi won the individual honors as the Trek teams flip flopped in the overall team standings with Leopard Trek finishing in fourth, and Team Radio Shack finishing in fifth. Most of his fellow riders pictured with him won their respected jersey's and the race was a success. I believe this will be a great challenge that other riders will also embrace and participate in, in the years to come. Great job city of Denver, and USA Cycling.

Pictured are the winner of each competition... overall race winner Levi Leipheimer, mountains winner Rafael Montiel, points winner (and most awesome sprinter award!) Elia Viviani, best young rider Tejay Van Garderen and most aggressive rider Timmy Duggan.


The UNEXPECTED:

NASCAR:

I didn't expect one car to come out of his pit stall, and pass another car that was already up to speed and exiting the pits... Bad thing was it didn't happen once, but on a couple of occasions. I didn't expect the 18 car to remain drivable after squeezing between two other cars, and ticking off a few more drivers either. That, "Not So Happy w/ Busch" list probably grew by two more drivers Saturday night.

Track & Field World Championships:

Usain Bolt beat by the worlds fastest man! "HIMSELF!" Only allotted one false start, the reigning champion and world record holder in the 100 & 200 meter events jumped early, and about 10 meters out realized it, and in disgust, hastily pulled off his sprinters jersey, and walked off the track. He had cruised into the finals and then was eliminated by a false start!

That ladies and gentlemen was my weekend in sports Expected & Unexpected.

Again note that the reproduction for sales purposes of any images are forbidden. Photo's used strictly for viewing only and appear as a courtesy and not intended on my behalf for the use of any ad(s). Thank you.

I am not getting any funding for the use of the pictures, they come courtesy of Steephill, and are not meant for reproduction or redistribution for any monetary gain... thank you. Now that, that is out of the way let's talk cycling shall we...

La Vuelta A Espana

Jakob Fuglsang is now third, and Monfort holds on to Top 10 spot, resting in tenth, in the Vuelta. So a very condensed update today... Go Trek Go! Joaquim Rodriguez is now the overall leader in the CG. The Shack owns the top team spot, and Leopard is third.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Levi still maintains his eleven second lead over Vandevelde, with other riders not much farther back than that. This could be a sprinters dream if they can get an early jump on Levi... So where is Hincapie again? Tomorrow starts with a big climb, and ends with a bit more level and somewhat downhill ride into Denver, and closes with a circuit in Downtown. I have a feeling it's going to be a dog fight!!! Again let me finish with the condensed update, and say: Go Trek Go!

P.S. Levi, we'd sure like to see an American on home soil, on the worlds finest machine bring home the main prize! Git it did brother. Oh yeah Team Standings :
Team Shack is fourth in the team standings, and Leopard is fifth. OK, I am spent! Goodnight.

Blazing (Bicycle) Saddles

Photo Courtesy of Steephill

Michal Golas received some rear burns from the crash in the sprint to the finish. I know this is bad, butt (punn intended) are you ready to take a psychiatric test? Step back from your computer, put your hand up to block the white portion of Michal's legs, squint, and take another look at the picture above. What do you see? Looked like a guy with his eyes rolled back in his head wearing a mask to me upon first glance. All jokes aside it was a pretty wicked crash, you can see part of the pile up in the picture below. Michal Golas had to have medical attention after the race. Reports say that Golas had dental and facial injuries. It was a fabulous sprint, just a shame that it was closed out with the crash.

Photo Courtesy of Steephill

Of course, no bike blog is complete without a Trek picture. That is Fabian Cancellara just behind J Rod (Joaquin Rodriguez). J Rod appeared to have damage to his left wrist or elbow. This could affect the standings if he has to drop and is unable to start tomorrow morning. I am not certain if Fabian was involved in the crash or not, but I needed a Trek pic so there you have it.

Overall Individual Standings:

5. Jakob Fuglsang LEO
7. Maxime Monfort LEO
14. Haimar Zubeldia RSH
18. Janez Brajkovic RSH
23. Tiago Machado RSH
46. Oliver Zaugg LEO

Team Standings:

1. Team Radio Shack
4. Leopard Trek

Photo Courtesy of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

The Challenge had a fairly tame finish compared to the Vuelta. No sprint to the finish crashes, just a sprint that produced a battle of the sprinters that was superbly controlled by Team Liquigas Cannondale. Italian rider Elia Viviani of Team Liquigas won the 4th Stage, but no changes were made in the CG, and Leipheimer is the first to hold the Yellow Jersey for consecutive days, and the first repeat Yellow Jersey holder in the Challenge. If he holds onto the Yellow through tomorrow, he will be the first and only rider in the inaugural race to hold the Yellow for consecutive days. If he wins, he will be the only rider, to this point, to win consecutive and multiple Yellow Jerseys.

Trailing American, Levi Leipheimer the leader of The Shack and overall race leader, is another American and Team Garmin Cervelo, rider Christian Vandevelde, whom trails Leipheimer by 11 seconds. Team Garmin Cervelo has Vandevelde in second place overall, but holds the top spot in the Team Standings. Sunday closes out the Great American race, but Saturday promises to be a showdown for the ages. It is the last of the mountain stages, and the stage that could very well determine the race, or set up the final stage to be one of the most promising finishes in American cycling history! It would be a sprint, and a dog fight if something major happens on the mountain tomorrow afternoon! See you then!

Whose House!!!?

 

Photo Courtesy of Steephill

I am dedicating this one to the High Priest, with another Preacher's lyrics... We have, we have, we have, we have, say what!? (echoing from the turntables of Jam Master Jay) a whole lot of Superstars on this stage (Stage 3 to be exact) here today! But Levi wants y'all to understand one thing, and that is that the USA is his HOUSE! SO when I say whose house, y'all know what time it is! "Whose house...!!!? Levi's House!!! Loving the fist pump in the picture! Power to the people! Levi bring it home brother!

First I have to give props to Levi's teammate Jason McCartney, for setting a really good time for the first half of the Time Trial. Jason was in the top spot for a hot minute! Actually several hot minutes, so I ask that the Grammar Po-po pardon the hood comin' out in me. Mac finished 23rd, and helped keep Team Radio Shack in the Top 5 in the Team Standings as well. Also helping Trek stay in the Top 5 was Frank Schleck, whom also had a decent time finishing in 20th place. The Top 3 Time Trialers for Leopard Trek were:

Frank Schleck - 20th, Bruno Pires - 12th and Jens Voigt 8th, helping keep Leopard Trek in the Top 5 and allowing them to rest in 5th place in the Team Standings at the Time Trials end.

The Top 3 Riders for Shack were:
Jason Mc 23rd, Ivan Rovny 11th, and Stage Winner Levi Leipheimer. Shack lost the top spot in the Team Standings, but gained the Individual Yellow back with seeing Leipheimer win the Stage. It was one of the most dramatic Stages I have ever witnessed!!!

Mac held the top spot, for Shack, then along comes Zabriskie rocketing past and taking it from him. Evans was in good form and looked as though he might win yet another TT, but the Tour de France Champ, was just not as strong today as he was in the Tour de France. Colombian rider Rafael Infantino of Team EPM (I love the Spanish pronunciation... use the long "A" sound... Ep-A-M-A) took top honor momentarily, only to surrender it to Vande Velde whom just happen to break the race, and course record with his finish of 25:47.01! Levi would come along gritting his teeth, aerodynamically poised and out for YELLOW! 25'47" for Leipheimer, a new race and course record by .01 over the most recent record holder Vande Velde (whom had just finished a few minutes ahead of Leipheimer)! It was truly an incredible time trial!!!

 I had to post this pic! You can find these on Steephill, along with other great write ups, but I am hoping you drop by and see me too! My son is a huge Captain America fan, so I had to post the Z-man in his Patriotic National Champ attire! He was one of the first riders that I saw today catch the man in front of him.

Frank caught the rider in front of him as well, and put in a valiant effort, but still needs work on his Time Trialing. Frank has improved a bit more so that his brother Andy, but they can both stand to improve in their Time Trial efforts.

Cadel put in the Time Trial of his life in the Tour de France, and that is what took the race from 2nd and 3rd podium finishers Frank and Andy Schleck. Look at the calves on this man!!! Can we say, "chiseled?" Cadel put in another great ride today, and once again has shown why he is the defending Tour de France and World Champion, and deserving to be called among the elite! However, even though a brilliant ride for the Aussie, he fell just a bit short. Still very much in the hunt of the overall victory, but not in yellow just yet. The Rockies are a tall beast to tame, and not just anyone can tame them! However, the Stage Tamer today was one Levi Leipheimer. I know, I know, if... if's and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas... but what if the rain hadn't fell yesterday? Would Levi's lead be even greater? The pics below show the near perfect form of Mr. Leipheimer. I loved the camera crew today, excellent work! They had some great close up shots, and it appeared that TeJay kept slipping forward in the saddle. He also favored his left, while Levi didn't appear to slip, but seemed to favor his right... Look at the look on Levi's face in the last picture. That is sure bust your heart determination right there boys, and lady girls!!! Well early rise, and it's already past my bedtime, so allow me to conclude with standings from the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, y de la Vuelta!!!

Photo Courtesy of Ricardo Moreno

The Vuelta

Individual Standings look like this:

1. Sylvain Chavanel - Quickstep
2. Daniel Moreno - KAT
3. Vincenzo Nibaldi - LIQ
4. Joaquin Rodriguez - KAT
5. Jakob Fulgsang - LEO

7. Maxime Monfort - LEO
14. Haimar Zubeldia - RSH
18. Janez Brajkovic - RSH
23. Tiago Machado - RSH
46. Oliver Zaugg - LEO

Team Standings as such:

1. Team Radio Shack

4. Leopard Trek one second behind third place Katusha!

No Rain in Spain, No Pain No Gain in Aspen

The Challenge...
Today the USA Pro Cycling Challenge lived up to its name. It was marred by wrecks, and then the elements challenged everyone! Overhead camera crews had to fly lower because of icing, and then the rain cautioned the riders. Race slicks on a rain slicked road could produce tragedy. Tonight is the condensed version, so bear with me...

I don't know the international scene as well as I should, Aussie Cadel Evans is the 2011 Tour de France Champ, and he is still very much in contention (along with about many others), so there is your international report.

The race seemed to have a fairly fast pace in the beginning with no major breaks or attacks. I love the picture above... They left the black top today momentarily and hit the mountains on gravel, and some hit the road. A nasty spill changed things, and rain eventually slowed the pace a bit, especially Levi Leipheimer, coming into Aspen. Better safe than sorry I guess. I believe that theory based on personal experience. I know what paint strips, and water can do, and what affect the combination can have on the human body. I have scars on my left ankle and knee to prove it. The Cottonwood Pass over the first peak on the gravel was a Wisconsin bike manufacturers dream! Look at the picture above, and notice the sea of red, not the Red Sea, although technically I guess one could use that moniker!!! That cycling fans is Team Shack! Oh and the Boys in Black and Blue... that's non other than Leopard Trek. The Shack and Leopard teams did well, but Levi fell from first to 4th in the overall standings with a 9th place finish in Stage 2 today, and Andy Schleck could have very well fallen completely out of contention today with a poor finish. Question earlier was, "Did the Tour de France or the rain sap the energy out of him?" Either way, he is a fair way down on the list of names now. His brother Frank is 12th overall, and has a legit shot, being a climber (and some serious climbing left to do). So the final mountain stages could play out well for Frank if he can survive the last Time Trial tomorrow. It's a slightly uphill TT if I read and remember correctly, so again even the TT could play to his favor? OK I gave props to the Trek guys and now for the winner... From Queens, NY, now residing in Somewhere, SC, give it up for Mr. Georgie Hincapie! I love how the Brits call him Georgie!!! Too funny!

Here's how we close the Challenge today:

Overall Standings
1. TeJay Van Garderen (HTC)
2. George Hicapie (BMC)
3. Tom Danielson (GAR)
4. Levi Leipheimer (RSH)
5. Christian Vandevelde

Hold up y'all! I totally missed Bruno!!! No not Bruno Mars! Bruno Pires!!! 9th place for the Portuguese rider! Portugal doing its thing today!!! OK he deserves a photo op... it's not much better than the top pic, but he's in there on the right on Cottonwood Pass...

Swelta in the Vuelta!

Props to Portugal's Tiago Machado who finished 29 seconds back today, and 29th in the stage to move into 22nd overall, just 1'37" out of first place. Singing the Campbell Soup song now... "Mmm mmm, Possibilities..."

Chavanel finished back in the pack but still holds on to the red jersey, and Moreno still flanks him in second. Jakob Fuglsang of Leopard TREK is in 4th, and teammate Maxime Monfort drops to 7th overall after finishing in 21st today in the blistering Spanish sun. Team Shack is still looking good as well with Brajkovic in 18th overall, and Zubeldia in 12th overall. The big story for the Waterloo guys, however... drum roll please... Shack has top honors as a team, and Leopard Trek is 4th overall in the team standings. And that ladies and gents of the cycle world is all I have in me. It is time to go dream of how awesome tomorrows stages will be, and how good it will be for me to get back on my bike hopefully this weekend! Good night.

Day 2, Stage 1, Swelta La Vuelta, Stage 4

Photo Courtesy of USA Cycling Challenge

A picture is worth a thousand words! Today I am going to have to start with home cooking! Reason being, because the Chief Priest likes it! He is proven that you don't mess around on his turf! Levi was the chief priest today, and his sermon today was about having heart! He timed his break perfectly!

Beltran was the first man over the big mountain, and started the downhill side over Monarch Pass. He was caught quickly and over taken by the chase group. I thought they looked strong enough to extend their four minute and forty second gap, but I again was proven wrong as the margin decreased slightly with every passing kilometer. The Breakaway group of four did not team, and the group became two. With forty-four kilometer or twenty-five miles to go, the just under five minute gap and two man break had dropped to just over two minutes. At near the eighty mile marker, with just under twenty miles to go, Team Garmin Cervelo rider, Thomas Peterson has a rear brake problem. His mechanic trailed him at twenty plus miles per hour, making adjustments on the fly! Can you imagine what would happen if he over extended a thumb or a finger!? The spokes are flat like helicopter blades on my Madone, so I am guessing it would be like testing a Ginsu at twenty-five mph!

Levi surged in the final kilometer, and held off the rest of the attackers and cruised across the line taking a ten second bonus with him! Congrats to Team Radio Shack, and to the High Priest LSquared! Trek is looking good because of his fine ride today!

In the Vuelta with approximately thirty-eight kilometers to go, Mark Cavendish withdrew. I thought he would go for at least one more stage to get a step closer to Eddy Merckx, but Cavendish had tormented himself enough for the summer session. He had moments of brilliance in the Tour de France, but could not endure the heat, and the punishment of the Vuelta just after the tour. There was a small breakaway group that had a two minute gap in the Vuelta as well, with approximately fifteen kilometers to go, but within half of that distance it shrank dramatically. With just seven kilometers to go, the gap closed to thirty seconds and it was like blood in the water to a hungry shark, when the peleton edged closer. The climb was grueling, and the heat was just as bad. In both races, with the Team Time Trials starting the Vuelta riders went from near worst to first finishes in just a days worth of riding. Today would be much of the same. Leopard Trek sprinter Dianele Bennati once in first dropped to mid pack. Team Movi Star rider Pablo Lastras with a brilliant finish yesterday to claim the leaders red jersey, dropped five minutes back today, and now rest among those in the mid pack also. Strong climbing from Frenchmen Sylvain Chavanel of Team Quickstep and Katusha rider, Spaniard Daniel Moreno saw them finish in first and second. So the overall General Classification looks like this:

1. Sylvain Chavanel (QST) Red Jersey
2. Daniel Moreno (KAT)
3. Jakob Fuglsang (LEO)
4. Maxime Monfort (LEO)
5. Vincenzo Nibali (LIQ)
15. Janez Brajkovic (RSH)
16. Haimar Zubeldia (RSH)

The team efforts are as such:
1. Trek Radio Shack (RSH)
5. Trek Leopard (LEO)

Not that I am biased or anything...

US Stage 1 Spain Stage 3...

Photo Courtesy of Steephill/Reuters

With the tough pace at the end of Stage 2, and roughly twenty more days to go, what will Stage 3 manifest? It is still too early on to say too much, or these guys are starting to feel France catching up to them... Cavendish, Cancellara, most of their teammates, dropped in the heat of Spain. Movi Star led by Pablo Lastras, and Liquigas with a nice team effort, looked very strong today. However, it is still early on. 

The Spanish roads are gorgeous! What a beautiful country is Spain!!! The snake trail of mountain roads look like a riders dream! I would love to have ridden the Alto de la Santa. It was a tough climb, but the descent looked amazing!!! Fast, sharp switch backs, and "S's" that pushed riders to the roads edge, and the tires edge. The mountains in Spain look a lot like the mountains here in North Carolina. I love the fast twisty downhills!

Plus if you like bicycle racing and an Irish accent, you simply have to listen to Sean Kelly call a race! An American broadcaster would say, "He's thirty, or thirty-five seconds back of the leader," and Mr. Kelly says, "He's torty, torty-fyev seconds back o' tha leada."  I could listen to this guy talk all day!!!

Movi Star rider Pablo Lastras made a fabulous move and led the break away. He was up by what appeared to be a 30 or so second lead. He left the attack group behind, and dropped a few seconds to them and was up by 17 seconds, and looked very strong. The attack group finished just 10 seconds off his pace, and the peleton came in a few minutes later. This Pablo's victory was clear, and not an abstract and in need of interpretation like the other Pablo's art. Mr. Lastras' moniker could indeed be Picasso after Stage three, because his portrait was painted in vibrant living color that was a masterpiece titled, "The Perfect Breakaway."

Trek still has a great presence, and strong showing with three riders in the Top 10. Trek Leopard teammates Fuglsang and Monfort are in fifth and sixth place respectively and Team Radio Shack rider Markel Irizar  is in third place in the General Classification. The Leader Jersey may have been short lived for a Trek rider, but being in only the third stage, one would have to admit, there is still a good deal of racing left. I am eager to see who can last, and put together the best strategy in the Spanish sun, and mountains.

Photos courtesy of Shack Tracker

Meanwhile back in the good ol' US of A, the Time Trials show favorable for a couple of Trek riders, and not so much so for others. Leopard Trek favorites Frank and Andy Schleck, finished well off the pace and show in 60th and 57th places. While teammate Jens Voigt had a strong finish in the Prologue, and rests in 5th position after day one. Team Radio Shack saw Levi Leipheimer (winner of the 2011 Tour of Utah) did well finishing seventh in the opening day, with teammate Benjamin King (21 yr old US National Champ) finishing in a well respected 17th. Question is now can Leipheimer do it again in Colorado? Does he have enough in the tank to out last Cadel Evans, or Evans' American teammate George "King George" Hincapie? The American and German riders hold 80% of the Top 10 to this point, with the American riders controlling 50% of the Top 10. HTC Specialized riders had great individual Time Trials, taking the top spot with a time of 8 minutes and 27 seconds put in by 24 year old German rider Patrick Gretsch. Specialized now claims Stage victories in the Tour de France, and in the USA Cycling Challenge, and could quite possibly take a TT in the Vuelta as well. That would be impressive, but I am banking on Fabian Cancellara to redeem himself in the Vuelta if crashes, or brutal fatigue do not play the spoiler. Well two wheeled fanatics, it is time for this tired biker to ride through Napperstown. Good night.

My Drive Time...

Photo Courtesy of SteephillTV

The peleton finished with the same time as the guys out front, and Treks lead man was sprinter Daniele Bannati. The breaks are nerve racking in the closing kilometers. One rider makes a break and then with 100 meters to go, another sprinter finds a burst from deep within, and overtakes the attacker! It is ridiculous! Team Sky rider Chris Sutton, from Australia made such a surge, to out last Team Lotto and Team Shimano Skil riders to claim the stage victory. However, again because the peleton finished with the same group, Team Trek Leopard finished on top in the General Classification, taking first and second overall. Daniele Bannati with his sprint finish took the red jersey from teammate Jakob Fuglsang finishing ahead of him in the slightly uphill finish. Trek Leopard now has three riders in the Top Ten.

Now if I can just find a replay of Stage Three for tomorrow! Great job Trek Leopard. Great job from Fabian Cancellara and the team to force a grueling pace!

Viva La Vuelta!

Is it just me, or is that the Trek Leopard Team, with the Time Trial World Champion Fabian Cancellara out front in the Vuelta A Espana after winning the Time Trial stage on Saturdays opening day? 170+ km stage tomorrow, but with no serious climbs. The experts (again) are saying that this 21 stage race will favor the climbers. Isn't that the way of most Grand Tour races? All I can say is Go Shack, Go Leopard!

 

Trek Leopard won today as a team, and kept it together. They kept things together despite a few crashes, and kept the Schleck's up front in France, so I feel pretty good about Trek bringing home another victory. Time will tell. In fact September, 11th will tell. Until then, I will catch you after church tomorrow para Etapa Dos dela Vuelta...

2011/12 Panther Training Camp

The sun was relentless at the start of the day. The players looked fresh and very alive. Coach Rivera seems to have the team geared and ready to play in the Rivera Era! The veterans seemed to mesh well with the rookies, and believe it or not one of those rookies was Cam Newton, and Cam Newton's attitude seemed contagious! Mr. Newton got the crowd into the spirit, bounding around the field like a young buck and flailing his arms up and down to pump up the fans, and then he got the receiving core fired up. Cam was giving out high fives and motivating fellow rookies and vets alike. Yes, including one Steve Smith.

Moving onto the other QB's (quarter backs)... Clausen showed some good signs, but on the down side he showed signs of the same rookie mistakes that he manifested from last year. Clausen was still hesitant, but not horrible. He tried to force a few passes (a couple of potential interceptions), but did manage to find Steve Smith on a pass or two where Smith erased the young QB's mistakes by making some circus snags.

Anderson took limited snaps, and appears to be the clear cut starter. He has the NFL experience, but is he the guy that you want guiding your younger and rookie QB's?

Newton didn't look bad, appeared a bit rattled when blitzed in passing drills, but showed his strength and his touch on numerous occasions. He looked good throwing to Steve Smith and had a sixty yard strike to Clowney, which seemed to please the crowd -including yours truly- and allowed Clowned to redeem himself. Newton seemed to make the pass with ease!

Stewart and Williams looked poised and ready to return healthy and in peak form. If the offensive line stays healthy and makes lanes for the S&W Express then it should also open up lanes for the receivers and buy Anderson the time that he needs to deliver. I don't expect a Super Bowl run this year for the Panthers, but certainly not another 2-15 season either!

Eric Norwood looked as if he has bulked up even more, and the stand out from South Carolina looked faster in drills. He broke up a few pass plays and got to each QB in drills. He is not Peppers at 6'0" and not a prime Dwight Freeney, but he is a good football player and seems to be an even better person.

Should be a good season and the beginning of a very successful Rivera Era!