“I would consider anything as we move forward,” Rhule said Thursday on a Zoom conference call. “I’m supportive of the cause. I’m supportive of the movement. I’m supportive of social justice. I think for every person, coach or player, that will be a very personal decision. I think it has to be made at the right time and the right reason for everybody.”

The first-year coach hired from Baylor previously has told his players that he will support them for expressing their views about social injustice.

“I will support my players with whatever they do and then when the time comes I will really think deeply about what is the best thing for me and what is the best way I can show my support,” Rhule said.

In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. His ex-teammate Eric Reid kneeled alongside him and later played for the Panthers. Both players reached settlements with the NFL after filing grievances alleging owners colluded to keep Kaepernick out of the league.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien previously has said he will take a knee alongside his players during the national anthem.

Rhule, who like O’Brien is white, said he will confer with his players before making any decision about whether to kneel.

“I think a lot of this has come from the players so I will wait to see what direction they are leaning, and then I will make my decision,” Rhule said.

The post Panthers’ coach considers kneeling during national anthem appeared first on IdealCapper.

Perhaps being soaked by an early evening thunderstorm that delayed game action in the first quarter for 25 minutes led to their ill mood. But those who remained at Bank of America Stadium throughout had to be wondering how a Panthers season that started with high expectations is now teetering on the brink of disaster after an 0-2 start.

That became certain after Christian McCaffrey’s fourth-and-one fake reverse was stopped for no gain with 1:22 to play.

”It came down to the ball is in my hands and I’ve got to make a play at the end of the game, and I didn’t,” McCaffrey said.

It marked the third time Carolina was unable to convert a fourth-and-one play. Quarterback Cam Newton was stopped in the first quarter, and a pass by Newton was incomplete earlier in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers were just 3 of 14 on third downs, too.

Oh, and they failed to score a touchdown.

”It’s extremely frustrating knowing that you’re getting opportunities and you’re not putting the ball in the end zone,” Newton said

Carolina’s loss came on a night in which the Panthers were afforded numerous opportunities to even their record following a 30-27 home loss five days earlier against the Los Angeles Rams.

Tampa Bay had a missed touchdown catch on a drive that resulted in a missed field goal late in the third quarter, and the Buccaneers committed 12 penalties.

But the Panthers’ offense misfired time and again on a night in which Carolina’s points came on four field goals and a safety by Luke Kuechly.

”Through my lens, it’s hard to look defensive guys in the eyes after a game like this,” Newton said. ”Offensively, we’ve got to hold up our end of the bargain. We just didn’t uphold our end. And we’re past due.”

Newton, who had offseason shoulder surgery, was questioned earlier in the week about his team’s lack of deep throws.

He appeared to answer those critics with a 44-yard completion to Curtis Samuel late in the first quarter. But offensive line breakdowns led to pressure on six throws and Newton was sacked three times. He completed 25 of 51 passes for 333 yards.

Additionally, Newton’s usually effective running game was again non-existent.

The third all-time rushing quarterback in NFL history, Newton followed his career-low minus-two yards in Sunday’s loss with a second-worst game of two carries for zero yards. For the season, Newton now has five carries for minus-two yards with two fumbles.

”Obviously it’s very frustrating,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. ”It’s very frustrating when so many things go against us. And at the end of the day, that’s on me. We’ve got a couple extra days to watch some things on tape. We’ll get those things worked out and those things corrected. We’ve got 15 weeks and we’ll take them one at a time.”

McCaffrey followed last Sunday’s 209 total yards on 29 touches with 53 yards on 18 touches.

Were McCaffrey’s struggles a result of Newton’s inability to establish a running game that has churned for 4,808 yards in his first eight NFL seasons?

”I don’t know,” McCaffrey said. ”We’ll have to see.”

The loss gives Carolina its ninth 0-2 start in the franchise’s 25-year history – and first since 2013.

In 2013, the Panthers started 0-2 and 1-3 before an eight-game winning streak led to a 12-4 record. It marks the only time Carolina has recovered from an 0-2 start to have a winning record.

Even worse for the Panthers, Thursday’s loss marks the ninth time Carolina has started a season with two straight home losses. And the best the Panthers have ever done after losing their first two home games was 7-9 (in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2007).

The home loss was the team’s fifth straight. That is tied for fourth-longest in franchise history.

Newton said he heard – and understood – the fans’ frustration in the form of boos.

”It’s embarrassing,” Newton said. ”I hear the fans. Walking off the field, I can’t deny the fact that I hear that. You can’t blame them. They deserve better.”

The post Newton, Panthers offense reeling after sluggish 0-2 start appeared first on IdealCapper.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 24, 2016
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Falcons -3.
O/U: 52
PREDICTION: Falcons 30, Panthers 24

Oddsmakers currently have the Atlanta listed as 3 point favorites versus the Carolina, while the game’s total is sitting at 52.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The roles are reversed for this year’s late-season meeting between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.

The teams meet Saturday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium, where the Falcons have plenty at stake.

A year ago in the second-to-last game of the regular season, Atlanta delivered the first loss for Carolina, spoiling what had been a perfect season to date.

Now the Falcons (9-5) are clinging to first place in the NFC South, while the Panthers (6-8) are trying to avoid a last-place finish in the division.

“We’ve done some pretty good things,” Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan said. “I think we’re good enough to win every week. … We’ve got good, competitive players. We’ve got guys who aren’t scared of the moment.”

Ryan said the Falcons have performed well against some of the top defenses and it’s paying off late in the season. Atlanta leads the NFL with 33.5 points per game, ranking second with 412.9 yards of total offense.

“I think we’re starting to play our best football,” Ryan said. “To me, it’s going to be a tough one (at Carolina). We’re going to have to play our best.”

That’s probably not what the Panthers wanted to hear. They gave up 571 yards to the Falcons in the October meeting.

“They are still a dynamic football team,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. “They’re explosive on offense.”

It will be the home finale in what has been a challenging season for the Panthers, who have an extra-short week given their Monday night victory at Washington.

“We have to refocus,” Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said. “The Falcons are a different team than we just played on Monday night and we understand that. We’ve got to be ready for an extremely high-powered offense.”

One of the big offensive outbursts for Atlanta came Oct. 2 in a 48-33 home victory against Carolina.

This time, the Panthers aren’t likely to have Pro Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has missed four games since suffering a concussion. Although he has been cleared from the concussion protocol, it appears unlikely he’ll play again this season.

“I think their defense, in general, had done a good job in his absence,” Ryan said.

Despite an NFL-leading 40 sacks for the Panthers, the defense has been torched by opponents passing for 274.8 yards per game.

This game might be more than a divisional rivalry because of the roster makeups.

“We’ve got a lot of guys from the Atlanta area that do love Atlanta,” Rivera said. “That’s understandable. They want to be able to beat their home team to have a little bit of bragging rights. I think that’s part of it.”

Quarterback Cam Newton is one of the Carolina players with deep Atlanta connections.

Last season, Newton was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. Now, Ryan’s name ends up in those MVP conversations.

Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said Ryan already had been among the special group of quarterbacks, so to move higher on that list is a worthy accomplishment.

“For him to take it to another spot, it takes a lot of work,” Quinn said.

Ryan said with the Falcons pursuing a playoff spot, there’s no sense being distracted by MVP talk.

“I don’t think about it all that much,” he said. “It’s really nice to be mentioned in that. For me, it’s about the success of the team and trying to win games. I find a lot of enjoyment in that.”

Falcons running back Devonta Freeman was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three touchdowns against San Francisco. He finished with 139 rushing yards on 20 carries.

“I think when you look at the guys that are around Matt right now, man, the way they’ve been running their offense,” Davis said. “He has gotten comfortable in the new system and it’s showing.”

The Panthers, who are aiming for a three-game winning streak for the first time this season, continue to count on Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen as one of the centerpieces of their offense. He needs 8 receiving yards to become the first NFL tight end with three consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards, though he has missed practice time this week with a sore elbow.

“You’d better have awareness for where Greg is at,” Quinn said.

Some of the Falcons’ concerns might be eased with cornerback Jalen Collins available at practice this week.

The post Atlanta vs. Carolina Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Redskins
When: 8:30 PM ET, Monday, December 19, 2016
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE: Redskins -6.5.
O/U: 51
PREDICTION: Panthers 27, Redskins 26

Oddsmakers currently have the Redskins listed as 6.5-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.

The matchup Monday night between the Carolina Panthers and host Washington Redskins has playoff implications with three games to go in the regular season.

Yet there’s another topic that naturally has been making the rounds leading up to the game in Landover, Md. (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

That’s the role of Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, who played with the Panthers and was the focal point of the secondary until he wasn’t retained in the spring.

Now Norman goes against his former team. At least the Panthers don’t expect any surprises from the often-flamboyant and talkative defensive back.

“I think the guys know what to expect from Josh,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. “That’s the beauty of it.”

The Redskins don’t want Norman or anything else to be a distraction because it’s a critical time for them as they try to stay in line for an NFC wild card spot. Close games have become part of the process for Washington (7-5-1).

“With the parity in the NFL, we keep grinding it out and it’s what we expect,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said.

The Panthers have been complimentary of Norman, noting that he became a high-level player with them the past couple of years.

“He listened and he learned and he grew,” Rivera said of Norman said. “Those long arms of his come into play. … The way he practiced improved the level of play around him. He brought a swagger to us. Guys feed off of that and that’s what happened.”

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton said he can’t become consumed with Norman’s actions.

“It’s not a game about him vs. us,” Newton said. “We just need to win this game.”

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins consulted with Norman months ago about some of what to expect from Carolina’s defense.

“It really goes back to the spring,” Cousins said. “We talked some about the coverages and stuff, but at the end of the day it’s about executing.”

Cousins was in the same pre-draft training group a few years ago with Norman, so they had a connection prior to become teammates.

“What I’ve always loved about him is that he’s a worker,” Cousins said. “Winning matters to him. He has been a part of a winning team. He knows what that looks like.”

Cousins looks like a different quarterback at times as he continues to develop and might be directing a playoff-bound team.

“I see him building his confidence,” Rivera said. “I see him making good decisions. I see why they like who he is. To me, it all starts with Kirk Cousins. He has really come along. … They’ve got play makers and that’s what you have to be aware of.”

Carolina ripped the Redskins in a 44-16 home victory last season. That included the defense forcing five turnovers.

“Hopefully, we don’t turn it over five times,” Cousins said. “You’d like to think we’re a more mature team … and you protect the ball better.”

Cousins said there are lots of similarities with the Panthers defense to what the Redskins had to face a year ago.

“I remember Carolina being one of the better defenses we played all year,” Cousins said. “A lot of the same players are back. I do think their defense is still very good and smart players.”

With Norman now on the opposing team, the Redskins have been keen on praising the Panthers secondary this week. That includes rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley.

“It’s hard to come into this league and play right away,” Cousins said of Carolina’s rookie cornerbacks.

Cousins has been praised for his poise and precision at times as the Redskins have hung tough in the NFC East. The offense has become more difficult to defend.

“No matter who’s on the field, we spread it around,” Cousins said. “You’re building that chemistry on knowing where guys should be.”

It’s unclear if Cousins will have to contend with Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has missed three games because of a concussion. He returned to practice several days before last week’s game against San Diego, but ultimately wasn’t cleared to play.

The Redskins were glad to have extra time because of the Monday night game. That might give linebackers Su’a Cravens (elbow) and Will Compton (knee sprain) time to recover from ailments, while special teams player Mack Brown entered the concussion protocol based on a hit last week against Philadelphia.

The Panthers (5-8) have to win their final three games and receive quite a bit of help to land in the playoffs. It’s a complicated path to the postseason even for a team that has won four of its last seven games.

“There is no room for error and we have to rely on certain other things happening,” Rivera said. “At the end of the day, our concern is our next game. We play the Redskins on Monday night and I believe our guys are going to prep and get ready. … Our intention is to win them all.”

Washington holds a 7-5 edge in the all-time series with the Panthers, who’ve won the past four meetings.

The post Carolina vs. Washington Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Miami Dolphins
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2016
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -1.5. O/U: 49
PREDICTION: Panthers 27, Chargers 24

Oddsmakers currently have the Panthers listed as 1-point favorites versus the Chargers, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (5-7): Casey Hayward has been a thorn in the side of opposing quarterbacks this season as he leads the NFL with seven interceptions – including four in his last five games. The fifth-year cornerback out of Vanderbilt made a total of three picks in 35 contests with Green Bay over the previous three campaigns. Defensive end Joe Bosa is tied for third among NFL rookies with 5.5 sacks despite missing four games with a hamstring injury.

San Diego lost its last outing, a 28-21 result against the Buccaneers on December 04. The Chargers failed to cover in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 49 combined points took the game PUSH the total.

San Diego Stats:
Team record: 5-7 SU,7-5 ATS
San Diego is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 games
San Diego is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of San Diego’s last 13 games

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (4-8): Newton has excelled at home of late, throwing 19 touchdown passes and running for five more scores while being intercepted just six times in his last nine contests. Jonathan Stewart has rushed for seven touchdowns in his last seven games while Ted Ginn Jr. has hauled in a scoring pass in three consecutive contests. Linebacker Luke Kuechly has missed two games while in concussion protocol but has participated in practice this week and could play against San Diego.
Carolina was a 40-7 loser in its last match on the road against the Seahawks. They failed to cover the +9-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 47 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Carolina Stats:
Team record: 4-8 SU,3-7-2 ATS
Carolina is 1-2-2 ATS in its last 5 games
Carolina is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Carolina is 8-3-1 ATS in its last 12 games at home

EXTRA POINTS
1. Chargers RB Melvin Gordon is eight rushing yards shy from 1,000 on the season while WR Tyrell Williams needs 163 receiving to reach the plateau.
2. San Diego leads the NFL with 25 turnovers.
3. Carolina is 0-3 against the AFC West this season.

The post San Diego vs. Carolina Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
When: 8:30 PM ET, Sunday, December 4, 2016
Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC.
LINE: Seahawks -7. O/U: 44.5
PREDICTION: Seahawks 24, Panthers 20

Oddsmakers currently have the Seahawks listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.

Seattle amassed 88 points during a three-game winning streak prior to last week’s dud against the Buccaneers, in which quarterback Russell Wilson threw for a season-low 151 yards and was intercepted twice — matching his season total from the first 10 games. Running back Thomas Rawls was limited to 38 yards on 12 carries in his second game back from a broken leg, although Wilson rushed for a season-high 80 yards. Star safety Earl Thomas was a full participant in practice Thursday after missing the first game of his career last week while defensive end Michael Bennett could return to the lineup for the first time since Week 7. The Seahawks are allowing a league-low 17 points per game.

Seattle was a 14-5 loser in its last match on the road against the Buccaneers. They failed to cover the -5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 19 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.

Seattle Stats:
Team record: 7-3-1 SU,5-5-1 ATS
Seattle is 14-5-1 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games
Seattle is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home

Carolina’s last four games — and six of the past seven — have been decided by three points and it is 2-4 in those games, along with a one-point defeat at Denver in the season opener. Quarterback Cam Newton had a passer rating above 100 in half of his 16 games en route to winning league MVP honors last season, but he has reached triple digits once this year and has completed less than 60 percent of his passes in six of 10 games. Running back Jonathan Stewart finally broke out with 96 yards rushing and two touchdowns in last week’s loss after averaging 2.7 yards per carry in his previous three games. Carolina ranks second against the run (79.5 yards) but 29th versus the pass (275.2).

Last time out for Carolina, they were a 35-32 loser as they battled the Raiders on the road. The Panthers covered in the match as a +3.5-point underdog, while 67 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Carolina Stats:
Team record: 4-7 SU,3-6-2 ATS
Carolina is 2-5-2 ATS in its last 9 games
Carolina is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Carolina is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road

The post Carolina vs. Seattle Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Carolina Panthers vs. Oakland Raiders
When: 11/27/2016 4:25 PM
Where: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Raiders -4.
O/U: 48
PREDICTION: Panthers 27, Raiders 24

Oddsmakers currently have the Raiders listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game’s total is sitting at 49½.

This is a trip that could go a long way to define the season for the Carolina Panthers.

The Oakland Raiders are hoping they’re recovered enough from their latest voyage to be able to continue their winning ways.

The teams meet Sunday at Oakland-Alamedia County Coliseum.

“We’re talking about recovering from the trip,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “It’s all about what’s next for us and right now it’s the Carolina Panthers. … Busy turning the page to the Carolina Panthers.”

The Raiders, who are the leaders in the AFC West, are coming off Monday night’s victory against the Houston Texans in Mexico City.

The Panthers have packed up for the long haul. They’re staying on the West Coast after this game to take on the Seattle Seahawks the following week.

It shapes up as a crucial time for the reigning NFC champions.

“We’re going there for two reasons and two reasons only,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said, offering a twist on the one-game-at-a-time mantra. “They’re both important. Each game has (its) own individual meaning.”

Rivera, though, said the focus is clearly on the Raiders as the Panthers (4-6) embark on this trip. They’ll practice at San Jose State in between the games.

The Panthers are somewhat wounded, particularly with the likelihood that linebacker Luke Kuechly won’t play after entering the concussion protocol from the Nov. 17 game against New Orleans.

Carolina was fortunate to have extra time to prepare because of that Thursday night game. The injury report grew considerably, especially with defensive end Mario Addison and center Ryan Kalil exiting and their statuses for the next game uncertain.

“Hopefully they can come back and we can make a push,” Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said.

The Panthers, who’ve won three of their past four games, are in a wait-and-see situation regarding the linebacking because Kuechly’s normal backup is A.J. Klein, who missed the most-recent game because of a concussion.

The Raiders (8-2) appear in much better position, if nothing else they’re in a more enviable spot in the standings. But winning the division remains a priority and there’s lots of work to be done regarding that mission.

“It still begins with winning the division,” Del Rio said. “It’s the surest way to get a spot in that playoff tournament.”

With accolades and attention starting to fall on the Raiders, they’re intent on maintaining the right approach.

“You set goals and you want to reach certain things,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “Everybody expects great things and when good things come our way you have to know how to be humble.

“Anytime you have 10 games and you have eight wins, we’re thankful for that. If we don’t win another one, it’s not going to mean anything. Our focus right now is on beating Carolina.”

Del Rio, who was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers in 2002, said the Raiders have developed good tendencies during their four-game winning streak. He said there are challenges the team must encounter in the aftermath of the out-of-country trip and dealing with a shortened week of preparation.

The season’s foundation is something he’s counting on.

“As you have success and build on that and have a reference point to go back on,” Del Rio said. “I think our guys have embraced the idea of competing for the full 60 minutes. We’ve found ways to win, but it has been different ways each week.”

While Carr has become a focal point for Oakland’s offense, the team has thrived on balance and versatility. That’s something the Raiders figure can work to their advantage.

“To know that we can win a football game either way,” Carr said. “We can run the football or throw the football. Either way, I’m all for it as long as we keep on winning.”

The Panthers have been shoddy in converting scoring chances into touchdowns and quarterback Cam Newton’s inconsistency has created concerns. Turnovers and red-zone shortcomings have been glaring at times.

“We will make plays and hopefully we will make enough to win football games,” Rivera said.

Rivera has put a positive spin on the trip’s potential even though it means facing a pair of divisional leaders in consecutive weeks. From an internal standpoint, there are gains to be made for the Panthers.

“It’s an opportunity for those guys to do some bonding,” Rivera said. “Hopefully, it will be a good opportunity for our guys.”

This will be only the sixth meeting between the Panthers and Raiders, and the first in Oakland since 2008. The Panthers won the 2012 meeting to forge a 3-2 series lead.

The post Carolina vs. Oakland Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
When: 8:25 PM ET, Thursday, November 17, 2016
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NBC, NFL Network.
LINE: Panthers -3.5. O/U: 52
Prediction: Panthers 27, Saints 24

Oddsmakers currently have the Panthers listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Saints, while the game’s total is sitting at 52.

Newton has plenty of weapons at his disposal as he tries to exploit a Saints defense that is yielding an NFL fourth-worst 400.6 yards per contest. Kelvin Benjamin looks to atone after his costly fumble led to the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal with another strong outing versus New Orleans, against which he reeled in eight receptions on 14 targets in the first meeting. Fellow wideout Devin Funchess had a touchdown reception on Sunday against Kansas City and also had a 17-yard catch for a score in the first encounter with the Saints. Greg Olsen had six catches for 94 yards in the first meeting with New Orleans and leads all tight ends with 50 receptions and 712 yards receiving.

Carolina lost its last outing, a 20-17 result against the Chiefs on November 13. The Panthers failed to cover in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 37 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 3-6 SU,2-6-1 ATS
Carolina is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Carolina is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
Carolina is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games

Brandin Cooks enjoyed a career day in his previous encounter with Carolina, highlighting his career-high 173-yard performance with an 87-yard touchdown. The lengthy score began a string of four touchdowns in the last five games for the 23-year-old Cooks, who leads the team with six TDs and 694 yards receiving. Fellow wideout Michael Thomas leads rookies in catches (51), receiving yards (613) and touchdown receptions (five), but was held to his lowest yardage total (40) on Sunday and also lost a pair of fumbles – his first two of the season. Willie Snead, a former member of the Panthers’ practice squad, had two touchdowns on Sunday, marking the first time he reached the end zone since the first two weeks of the season.

In their last action, New Orleans was a 25-23 loser at home against the Broncos. They failed to cover the -3-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (48) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

Team record: 4-5 SU,6-3 ATS
New Orleans is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
New Orleans is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
New Orleans is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

The post New Orleans vs. Carolina Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Richardson sent a letter to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund dated Friday along with a check for $100,000.

Richardson asks in the letter that $10,000 go to each of the nine families of the victims and $10,000 for a memorial at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church honoring the memory of those killed in the shooting on Wednesday.

Bakari Sellers, a Democratic member of the S.C. House, tweeted a photo of Richardson’s letter on Saturday morning. Richardson mentions the victims by name in the letter and writes ”our hearts are with those who grieve the loss of these individuals.”

Panthers spokesman Steve Drummond confirmed Richardson’s donation.

—

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

The post Richardson gives $100,000 to families of Charleston shooting appeared first on IdealCapper.

Carolina at Seattle
When: 8:15 PM ET, Saturday, January 10, 2015
Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -10.5. O/U: 39.5
PREDICTION: Seahawks 27, Panthers 13
Join BetOnline and get up to $1,000 BONUS

Oddsmakers currently have the Seahawks listed as 10½-point favorites versus the Panthers, while the game’s total is sitting at 40½.

Seattle leads the league in allowed points (15.9), total yards (267.1) and passing yards (185.6), but has raised its game to another level over the final six weeks, yielding an average of a scant 6.5 points and holding four opponents without a touchdown. Wilson, called an MVP candidate by Panthers coach Ron Rivera, threw a 23-yard touchdown pass in the last minute to beat Carolina in October and rushed for over 100 yards on three occasions to add a dangerous dimension to a ground game powered by Marshawn Lynch. Coming off his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, Lynch ran for a career-best 13 touchdowns and gets back a key blocker in Pro Bowl center Max Unger, who has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain at Kansas City on Nov. 16.

The Seahawks were a 20-6 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Rams. They covered the -11-point spread as favorites, while the total score (26) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Team record: 12-4 SU,10-6 ATS
Current Streak: won 6 straight games.
Seattle is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Seattle’s last 6 games
Seattle is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

Carolina set a postseason record by limiting the Cardinals to 78 total yards last week, but suffered a huge blow when starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei fractured his foot in Tuesday’s practice and is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks. Cam Newton, who was held to 171 passing yards and an interception in a 13-9 loss to Seattle in Week 8, has seven touchdowns versus two interceptions over the past four games while running back Jonathan Stewart has rushed for at least 122 yards on three occasions during the winning streak. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen each had over 1,000 yards while linebacker Luke Kuechly, the NFL’s top tackler, leads a defense that has allowed 12.8 points over the past five contests.

Carolina won its last outing, a 27-16 result against the Cardinals on January 3. The Panthers covered in that game as a -5.5-point favorite, while the 43 combined points took the game OVER the total.

Team record: 8-8-1 SU,9-8 ATS
Current Streak: won 5 straight games.
Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Carolina is 2-4-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Carolina’s last 7 games on the road
Carolina is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Seattle

The post Carolina vs. Seattle Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.