Panthers center Ryan Kalil replied “probably not” when asked if he was buying more newspaper advertising next year, considering Super Bowl week is happening in New Orleans without him, despite his published promise to be here.
“It didn’t work out? What do you mean?” Kalil joked. “The Super Bowl’s this week?”
But he told Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer that he didn’t regret promising a Super Bowl appearance for a team that had to fight for a 7-9 finish.
“Look, I have no misconception about how hard it is to win in this league,” he said. “But I’m not the kind of guy who can buy into managing expectations or rebuilding or timing.
“Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s just not how I feel.”
If the Panthers are going to make any kind of push next year, they’re going to have to learn to win close games, as they’re 13-19 under coach Ron Rivera, but just 2-12 in games decided by a touchdown or less.