Nothing that’s happening at the moment between the Panthers and defensive tackle Kawann Short is really out of the ordinary — Large, talented person who wants new contract sits out voluntary workout. It happens in many places.
So Panthers coach Ron Rivera wasn’t really panicking about the fact defensive tackle Kawann Short was absent from Tuesday’s OTA.
“You’d love to have everybody here, but again, this is voluntary,” Rivera said, via Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review. “The thing I appreciate, for the most part, everybody has told me what’s been going on — with the exception of one person.”
For all the qualities the two-time coach of the year possesses, obfuscation isn’t really among them. That Rivera’s abject honesty stands out says more about his industry than it does him, but it’s also easy to read a tinge of annoyance in Rivera’s words.
“Because it’s voluntary, he decided not to come,” Rivera said. “It’s one of those things that he’s got to decide what he wants to do, and since it’s voluntary, we’re not too concerned about it. We’ll coach who’s here. . ..
“He’s under contract, so I’m not concerned with it. The truth of the matter is, you expect him to do the mandatory things, you expect him to be where he’s supposed to be.”
But even if Rivera’s a little tight in the shorts about Short’s absence, this isn’t likely going to turn into a Josh Norman situation. The Panthers were willing to let their franchise-tagged cornerback walk without compensation when he didn’t choose to show up and play nice, but that’s not happening with Short. Unlike cornerbacks, General Manager Dave Gettleman values defensive tackles, especially if they can rush the passer the way Short can.
Short is still under contract through 2016 while they work on what will be a massive extension. The Panthers used their first-round pick on Vernon Butler, but there’s been no indication this is turning into anything other than the normal flow of business.