Latest news with #CarolinaPanthers
UPI
2 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Replay Sports Cards to donate 1 million cards to Chicago youth
Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Piñeiro drops off a Replay Gives Back donation at the Boys and Girls Club in Charlotte, N.C. This week, Replay Sports Cards will donate 1 million cards to more than 40,000 youth in Chicago to "grow the hobby" of card collecting. Photo by Replay Sports Cards July 28 (UPI) -- A national sports card franchise plans to donate 1 million cards to more than 40,000 youth and teens in Chicago to "grow the hobby" of card collecting and "spark the sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack." Replay Sports Cards, which is dedicated exclusively to card collecting, will make the donation this week at the 2025 National Sports Card Convention in Rosemont, Ill. The convention runs from Wednesday through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. "We're passionate about growing the hobby and making it more accessible," said Mike Martin, co-founder of Replay. "Too many children are priced out of collecting today, and we want to change that." "Replay Gives Back" will donate the cards to youth-focused organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Noah's Arc Foundation. "The excitement of opening a pack of cards is timeless, and Replay Gives Back is our way of sharing that joy with kids who've never had the chance," said Brent Schepel, co-founder of Replay. "It's about inclusion, generosity and building the future of the hobby, one card -- and one child -- at a time." While Replay encouraged convention attendees and collectors to bring their unwanted cards, the company has already taken in more than 1.5 million trading card donations -- including Upper Deck, Topps and Pokémon -- since launching the campaign last November. "We're seeing a tidal wave of new interest in sports cards, and we built Replay to meet that wave with the infrastructure and innovation today's collectors expect," said Mike Weinberger, co-founder and president of franchising for Replay. "But none of it matters if we don't bring new generations into the hobby. At its core, Replay Gives Back is about expanding access," Weinberger continued. "Sparking that sense of wonder in a kid opening their first pack," Martin added, "there's nothing like it."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Entering new season, Panthers Robert Hunt ‘excited to see what the future holds'
Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Robert Hunt couldn't quite find the words, but described a heightened sense of optimism around what the team can accomplish this season. ALSO READ: Panthers brave the heat on day 2 of traning camp In the video at the top of this webpage, Channel 9's DaShawn Brown spoke with the 323-pound lineman following their first practice in pads. VIDEO: Panthers hit the gridiron for 1st day of training camp
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Clemson's Dabo Swinney rooting for Hunter Renfrow as he attempts NFL comeback with Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hunter Renfrow remembers being cut by the Las Vegas Raiders on March 13, 2024, and not even caring all that much. He had no desire to play football. Physically, he felt awful. He'd lost 35 pounds, went a week with a 103-degree fever and was completely zapped of the energy and fire he was once known to bring to the football field. Running routes, catching passes and being blasted by defensive backs was the last thing on his mind. But after being diagnosed with a severe case of ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum, the 2021 Pro Bowler is now feeling like himself again. He's trying to make an NFL comeback with the Carolina Panthers, the team he rooted for as a kid growing up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dabo Swinney, his college coach at Clemson, believes if anyone can make it back it's Renfrow. 'You're playing football at the highest level and he just couldn't eat,' Swinney said. 'It affected him, and he was really done (with football). I didn't think he was gonna play again.' Neither did Renfrow. 'I was like, I'm never playing a football again,' Renfroe said. 'Like when you feel like that, you feel like you're letting your teammates down.' Renfrow's problems surfaced late in the 2021 season in which he caught a career-high 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He noticed his energy level had dropped off significantly and he could never seem to get it all the way back, even after taking a month off to prep for his first Pro Bowl appearance. The Raiders rewarded Renfrow with a two-year, $32 million contract extension that offseason, but he never came close to reaching that level of production again. He caught just 36 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 and 25 passes for 255 yards and no touchdowns in 2023, leading to his release. But after several hospital visits and a referral to a Charlotte-area pediatrician, Renfrow finally received a diagnosis. He began receiving treatment, started a new diet and saw his appetite return. By September he'd put back on the 35 pounds he'd lost and then some. His energy returned. He played pickleball, basketball and golf and the competitive juices began to return. As the 2024 NFL season went out without him, Renfrow privately began discussing a possible comeback with Swinney, who has remained a close friend and father figure. 'I was like Hunter, listen, you know you're gonna be 40 one day," Swinney said. 'So if you got more left in you ...' In January, Renfrow took Swinney's advice and began to work his way back into football shape. He asked his agent if the Panthers might be interested in giving him a workout. They were, and that ultimately led to a one-year, $1.22 million contract that included a modest $50,000 signing bonus. It was a no-lose proposition for the Panthers. But if Monday is any indication, Renfrow might just be a solid under-the-radar free agent addition for the Panthers. With Swinney observing from the Panthers sideline as a guest of coach Dave Canales, the 5-foot-10 Renfrow made two impressive catches reminiscent of the player who went from walk-on to catching the game-winning touchdown pass with 1 second remaining in Clemson's dramatic 35-31 win over Alabama in the national championship game in the 2016 season. Renfrow said he feels appreciative as he continues 'pushing toward something special.' While the unimposing Renfrow may look like an ordinary guy off the field, Swinney said that when he puts on the pads he "turns into Superman.' 'He catches it. He makes plays,' Swinney said. 'He understands the leverage and influence and route-running and break points and how to set things up and how to play with his hands at full speed. And he's just got elite change of direction. ... But he's a little guy that plays really big, and is really crafty. Just his ability to separate and change direction, that's hard to find.' Renfrow is no lock to make the Panthers roster. The Panthers have upgraded their wide receiver position in recent years, drafting Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan in the first round in 2024 and 2025, respectively. They also have veteran wide receivers Adam Thielen and David Moore, and the team remains high on last year's surprise undrafted rookie standout Jalen Coker. But Canales likes what he's seen so far from Renfrow. 'He looks like the Hunter that I remember,' Canales said. Canales said Renfrow began to show a burst during the team's OTAs in the spring, and he's been pleased with his development ever since, citing the five-year NFL veteran's knowledge of coverages and leverages and ability to attack defenses. The next month will go a long way toward determining whether Renfrow is able to make it all the way back. Either way, at least he has his health. 'I'm just pulling for him,' Swinney said. 'He's having fun again. He's 29 and so I'm just happy that he's back out here. If he stays healthy he'll do what Renfrow does. That's just who he is.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Panthers observations: Rookie WR gets tested and continues evolving, Dabo visits
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers' first day in pads began with a Dabo Swinney sighting and ended with the first fight of camp. In between, there were impressive displays of touch passing by Bryce Young, route running by Hunter Renfrow and ball tracking by Tetairoa McMillan. The Panthers packed a lot into an hour and 45 minutes, and we'll get to all the particulars. Advertisement But speaking broadly, it was a good day for Young and the offense, which was on point after a couple of so-so showings in shorts and helmets during the first week of camp. 'We want to win every day just like the defense wants to win every day. Yeah, I think we had a better day today,' Young said after Monday's practice. 'They had some better days earlier on in camp. It's camp. It's back and forth.' It was enough to impress Swinney, the Clemson coach who spent his last day before the start of Tigers' camp watching Renfrow, the former Clemson standout who missed all of last season while dealing with ulcerative colitis. 'They've got a good core,' Swinney said of the Panthers. 'This is a good group and the way Bryce finished last year is exciting. They've got a lot to be excited about here.' Time to dive into some of the more exciting plays and developments from Monday: Some teams used to start the first full-padded practice with the Oklahoma drill before the NFL banned the high-intensity, big-contact exercise six years ago. So the first meaningful mano-a-mano moment for the Panthers arrived with one-on-one drills, with receivers paired against cornerbacks and nickelbacks. One of the first matchups was veteran corner Mike Jackson against McMillan, the No. 8 pick from Arizona. One of the questions about McMillan was how the slender, 6-5 wideout would handle press coverage from a physical corner like Jackson. And when Jackson got his hands on McMillan on their first rep, both McMillan and the ball ended up on the ground. Jackson has matched up with McMillan a lot early in camp. Panthers coach Dave Canales said that's not by accident. 'Mike wants to go good on good all the time. I love that. The thing I tell the guys is we make us, and the guy across from you will determine how far you go and your readiness for games,' Canales said. 'I love the competitive nature of Mike. He's like, 'I'm going against him. I want to battle against this guy. I want to work on my game.' ' A couple minutes later, Jackson again lined up opposite McMillan, who got a free outside release on a go route down the sideline. Jackson was right on his hip and swiped at McMillan's hands just as Young's perfectly placed pass arrived. Looking over his shoulder, McMillan secured the ball with a nice hands catch while going to the ground on what was the play of the day. Advertisement 'That was a great job of him going and tracking the ball,' Young said. 'It was great coverage, and that's the league. There's gonna be a lot of great corners out there. It's a lot of contested catches. It was a great job by T-Mac of understanding leverage, fighting pressure with pressure, fading off at the last moment.' Canales was pleased to see McMillan's response after the first matchup. 'The D-backs are challenging him every single time. And he's inviting that,' he said. 'Tough one-on-one rep to start, comes back and catches the deep go ball. To see him just stay even, processing what happened and just continuing to evolve each practice has been really cool.' Great hands catch by Tetairoa McMillan on a Bryce Young throw. Pretty good coverage by Mike Jackson. — Joe Person (@josephperson) July 28, 2025 Renfrow also looked good during one-on-ones, putting nickel Chau Smith-Wade in a blender with a stop-and-start route that forced Smith-Wade to hold Renfrow, who still made the catch. Renfrow won with a similar route on his first rep, a performance that didn't surprise Swinney. 'There's route runners and then there's craftsmen, and he's a craftsman,' Swinney said. Swinney said Renfrow understands leverage, knows how to set receivers up and has elite change of direction. 'I know he doesn't look the part,' Swinney said of the 5-10, 185-pounder. 'But (when) he puts a helmet on he turns into Superman.' When a reporter later told Young what Swinney said about Renfrow looking like a normal guy before putting the pads on, Young didn't miss a beat. 'I don't think I'm at liberty to say what a normal person looks like,' the 5-foot-10 quarterback deadpanned, drawing laughs from media members. Young usually plays things pretty straight with the media. But it was good to see him let his guard down and deliver the line of the day. Normal guy. — Joe Person (@josephperson) July 28, 2025 New punter Sam Martin was at practice after missing the first three days with a hamstring issue. But equipment personnel still used the JUGS machine to mimic punts during a special teams period. More interesting is that Renfrow joined Raheem Blackshear deep to field punts for the first time during camp. Advertisement Renfrow and David Moore, another veteran, look to be competing for the last one or two receiving spots on the roster. Moore was the 'safe' returner last season when the Panthers just needed a sure-handed player to catch a punt cleanly. Renfrow had extensive return experience with the Raiders, averaging 9.7 yards on 70 career punt returns. 'He's been a punt returner in his past. He's got a great feel for it,' Canales said. 'So like, what more can he do?' It was hot again Monday in Charlotte, with highs in the 90s. But the temperatures didn't cause tempers to flare. Instead, it was linebacker Trevin Wallace's hit on Chuba Hubbard that raised the running back's ire. When Young shot a swing pass to Hubbard late in team period, Wallace arrived with the ball, collided with Hubbard and knocked him to the ground. Hubbard rushed to his feet and swung at Wallace, appearing to connect with his facemask. Cornerback Jaycee Horn steered Wallace away from the scrum and there were no additional scrums. Having had time to cool off after his usual, post-practice hands work, Hubbard said he had no hard feelings toward Wallace. 'Football's all about emotions. Obviously, I got hit, reacted a certain way. But he's playing hard and I can't be mad about that,' Hubbard said. Canales, who wants his team to be more physical this year, wasn't mad about it, either. 'We've gotta toe the line. We've gotta play physical. And a lot of times it's not personal, it's just football,' he said. 'Guys will respond passionately. They don't like getting knocked on their butt. They take it personal. But there was a lot of physical play throughout practice, so that's gonna happen.' Chuba Hubbard on the Trevin Wallace play: 'Football is all about emotion.' — Joe Person (@josephperson) July 28, 2025 • The kicking competition couldn't be more even — at least statistically — through four practices. When rookie Ryan Fitzgerald went 3-for-5 on the skinny goal posts, it meant that he and Matthew Wright were both 7-for-10 on field goals during camp. • Ja'Tavion Sanders, the No. 1 tight end with Tommy Tremble out, was shaken up late in practice but appeared to be OK. Sanders was yet another offensive playmaker who had a strong day. 'The last couple of days didn't get a lot of targets, but he's winning,' Canales said. 'He looks fast, looks explosive.' (Photo of Tetairoa McMillian: Scott Kinser / Imagn Images)
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Clemson's Dabo Swinney rooting for Hunter Renfrow as he attempts NFL comeback with Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hunter Renfrow remembers being cut by the Las Vegas Raiders on March 13, 2024, and not even caring all that much. He had no desire to play football. Physically, he felt awful. He'd lost 35 pounds, went a week with a 103-degree fever and was completely zapped of the energy and fire he was once known to bring to the football field. Running routes, catching passes and being blasted by defensive backs was the last thing on his mind. But after being diagnosed with a severe case of ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum, the 2021 Pro Bowler is now feeling like himself again. He's trying to make an NFL comeback with the Carolina Panthers, the team he rooted for as a kid growing up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dabo Swinney, his college coach at Clemson, believes if anyone can make it back it's Renfrow. 'You're playing football at the highest level and he just couldn't eat,' Swinney said. 'It affected him, and he was really done (with football). I didn't think he was gonna play again.' Neither did Renfrow. 'I was like, I'm never playing a football again,' Renfroe said. 'Like when you feel like that, you feel like you're letting your teammates down.' Renfrow's problems surfaced late in the 2021 season in which he caught a career-high 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He noticed his energy level had dropped off significantly and he could never seem to get it all the way back, even after taking a month off to prep for his first Pro Bowl appearance. The Raiders rewarded Renfrow with a two-year, $32 million contract extension that offseason, but he never came close to reaching that level of production again. He caught just 36 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 and 25 passes for 255 yards and no touchdowns in 2023, leading to his release. But after several hospital visits and a referral to a Charlotte-area pediatrician, Renfrow finally received a diagnosis. He began receiving treatment, started a new diet and saw his appetite return. By September he'd put back on the 35 pounds he'd lost and then some. His energy returned. He played pickleball, basketball and golf and the competitive juices began to return. As the 2024 NFL season went out without him, Renfrow privately began discussing a possible comeback with Swinney, who has remained a close friend and father figure. 'I was like Hunter, listen, you know you're gonna be 40 one day,' Swinney said. 'So if you got more left in you ...' In January, Renfrow took Swinney's advice and began to work his way back into football shape. He asked his agent if the Panthers might be interested in giving him a workout. They were, and that ultimately led to a one-year, $1.22 million contract that included a modest $50,000 signing bonus. It was a no-lose proposition for the Panthers. But if Monday is any indication, Renfrow might just be a solid under-the-radar free agent addition for the Panthers. With Swinney observing from the Panthers sideline as a guest of coach Dave Canales, the 5-foot-10 Renfrow made two impressive catches reminiscent of the player who went from walk-on to catching the game-winning touchdown pass with 1 second remaining in Clemson's dramatic 35-31 win over Alabama in the national championship game in the 2016 season. Renfrow said he feels appreciative as he continues 'pushing toward something special.' While the unimposing Renfrow may look like an ordinary guy off the field, Swinney said that when he puts on the pads he 'turns into Superman.' 'He catches it. He makes plays,' Swinney said. 'He understands the leverage and influence and route-running and break points and how to set things up and how to play with his hands at full speed. And he's just got elite change of direction. ... But he's a little guy that plays really big, and is really crafty. Just his ability to separate and change direction, that's hard to find.' Renfrow is no lock to make the Panthers roster. The Panthers have upgraded their wide receiver position in recent years, drafting Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan in the first round in 2024 and 2025, respectively. They also have veteran wide receivers Adam Thielen and David Moore, and the team remains high on last year's surprise undrafted rookie standout Jalen Coker. But Canales likes what he's seen so far from Renfrow. 'He looks like the Hunter that I remember,' Canales said. Canales said Renfrow began to show a burst during the team's OTAs in the spring, and he's been pleased with his development ever since, citing the five-year NFL veteran's knowledge of coverages and leverages and ability to attack defenses. The next month will go a long way toward determining whether Renfrow is able to make it all the way back. Either way, at least he has his health. 'I'm just pulling for him,' Swinney said. 'He's having fun again. He's 29 and so I'm just happy that he's back out here. If he stays healthy he'll do what Renfrow does. That's just who he is.' ___ AP NFL:
