The Carolina Panthers are currently in training camp and waiting to see which quarterback between the incumbent Sam Darnold and newcomer Baker Mayfield is going to step up and be the team’s starting quarterback in 2022.
One player who could help both is running back Christian McCaffrey, who after three great seasons where he didn’t miss a single game to begin his NFL career has begun to get the label of injury prone.
The former Stanford Cardinal star has played in just ten games the past two seasons, and as a result the team has struggled mightily.
Per reports, “Run CMC” has looked spry and healthy during training camp, which is a welcome sight for head coach Matt Rhule who’s in a do-or-die situation as the team’s leader. As McCaffrey began to answer questions in an interview he was interrupted by the team’s star defensive lineman Brian Burns, who was posing as a reporter.
Mason and Jacoby came through with a good snack trade!@CMC_22 pic.twitter.com/IncvrehHIH
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 29, 2022
McCaffrey asked him, “What’s your name? Where you from? What network?
Burns replied, “I wanna know —”
McCaffrey then interrupted, saying, yes, he’s the best pingpong player on the team.
Burns finished his question:
“That wasn’t my question. I wanna know how it is going against Brian Burns? Or ‘BB Love,’” his made-up reporter name.
Run CMC answered, “Brian Burns is such a good football player.”
Brian Burns joins media scrum to ask Christian McCaffrey about … Brian Burns. Funny stuff. pic.twitter.com/MlHIW7tPjP
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 5, 2022
McCaffrey Calls Teammate Weird Off The Field But Special On It
As part of the ribbing, McCaffrey went on to call the Florida State Seminoles star a bit weird when he’s not playing, and a special talent when he’s on the field.
“He’s a little bit weird off the field, and he has some issues but when it comes to on the field, he’s special to watch. We don’t talk to him too much, because he’s a little off. But man, he’s a special player — a really special player. He can play the run, he can play the pass, overall just an amazing player.”
One could argue “Run CMC” and “BB Love,” are the two most important pieces to the Panthers team in 2022. If both are healthy and they can get some average QB play they could contend for a wild card spot in the NFC.
Brian Burns drill pic.twitter.com/eBitrc2aCy
— Bill Voth (@BillVothNFL) July 30, 2022
Burns Had Career Year In 2021: Pro Bowl Selection
Burns was a first-round pick from Florida State in 2019, and last year it all came together for the relentless edge rusher. His nine sacks were a career-high. He also forced three fumbles and tallied 18 quarterback hits. After three seasons of at least 7.5 sacks, the Panthers wanna see Burns take the next step and become the gamewrecker he’s capable of being on a weekly basis.
If he can it bodes well for the team and embattled Rhule, who’s probably on the hottest seat in the league.
