The Panthers Cannot Even Eat Correctly

Well, the Jeremy Shockey signing already paid one dividend for the Carolina Panthers.

When third string tight end Ben Hartsock was choking on a piece of pork tenderloin in the team cafeteria, Shockey came to his aid. Hartsock had been heading to the bathroom when the incident occurred, and Shockey hit him in the back, dislodging the pork from his throat.

Good for Shockey for being there and reacting quickly enough to save a teammate’s life. Yet, this is just another indictment as to how incompetent this organization is. Hell, they cannot even chew right. This is the organization that drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round last year, only to draft Akili Smith 2.0 in Cam Newton this year, essentially lighting a draft pick on fire. They let Julius Peppers walk as a free agent, only to hand a $30Million signing bonus to Charles Johnson and his one year of production. They have consistently bombed in their attempts to get a legitimate second receiver next to Steve Smith since Mushin Muhammad left, and that includes the re-signing of the aforementioned Muhammad. Should we really expect them to know how to eat?

And this incompetence goes back to Shockey here as well. Smacking someone on the back while they are choking is actually one of the WORST things you can do, short of lighting the person on fire or stabbing them with a machete. Yes, it worked in this case, but that is not something that typically produces good results.

Hartsock is doing fine now, and Shockey deserves credit for his quick thinking. Regardless, this is just a microcosm of how incompetent the Panthers truly are.