Panthers secondary respond to Santonio Holmes’ ‘weakest link’ claim
By Mike Dyce
The Carolina Panthers are hosting the New York Jets on Sunday. For the Panthers they’re looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. While the 9-4 Panthers might look like clear favorites against the 6-7 Jets, wide receiver Santonio Holmes sees some vulnerability in the Panthers dominating defense.
“Not to call these guys out, but their secondary is probably weakest link on their defense,” Holmes said this week.
The Panthers heard it and are using it as bulletin board and motivational material. Safety Mike Mitchell, who called Drew Brees soft, sent a link to Holmes’ comments to the team’s entire secondary.
“The whole team should take it personal,” Mitchell said, via Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “I like that coach tries to do things like that. Always making it team, team, team. I think that’s very good how he does that for us.”
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera shared it with the rest of the defense saying it isn’t about one unit within the defense, but the whole defensive unit.
“Coach Rivera said something to the defense about it and like Coach Rivera says, it’s a team game,” cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. “If he feels that way, everybody on the field on Sunday, we’re out there together and we’re going to play for each other.”