Carolina Panthers

Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, a two-time All American, was drafted in the first round of the National Football League draft by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. The Panthers used the ninth pick in the draft to select Kuechly. Kuechly, a 6-foot--3 inch, 242 linebacker, who watched the draft unfold from his home in Cincinnati, was the seventh Boston College player selected in the first round in the last 12 years and the fifth Eagle chosen in the first round in the the last seven years.

Veteran nose guard Ma'ake Kemoeatu has rejoined the Baltimore Ravens six years after leaving as a free agent. The 33-year-old Kemoeatu last played for the Ravens in 2005 before joining the Carolina Panthers. He signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Washington Redskins in 2010 and started 12 games and recorded 29 tackles. Kemoeatu didn't play last season after being released by the Redskins on July 28, 2011. He was bothered by Achilles tendon and shoulder injuries.

HOUSTON -- It is now OK to place the New England Patriots in a historical sentence that few teams are able to utter. You can call them one of the greatest teams of all time, and you can say it without apologizing or blinking or giving a monologue on this era of free agency. The Patriots are great. Swallow it straight, with no chaser. A few things became obvious when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII last night, 32-29 over the Carolina Panthers: Adam Vinatieri is one of the best clutch athletes New England sports fans have ever seen.

Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, a two-time All American, was drafted in the first round of the National Football League draft by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. The Panthers used the ninth pick in the draft to select Kuechly. Kuechly, a 6-foot--3 inch, 242 linebacker, who watched the draft unfold from his home in Cincinnati, was the seventh Boston College player selected in the first round in the last 12 years and the fifth Eagle chosen in the first round in the the last seven years.

He ran all the drills, went through all the workouts. But this time it was different for Luke Kuechly, and it drove him to distraction. The Butkus Award winner and two-time All-American from Boston College couldn't control his football future - at least not yet. Kuechly, like the rest of the NFL draft class of 2012, had to wait to find out where he would be going about his business next season. The only certainty was that the 6-foot-3-inch, 242-pound linebacker knew he would be playing somewhere, probably with the notoriety of being a high first-round pick.

New York Giants placekicker Lawrence Tynes has tested his injured right leg and has proclaimed himself ready for the start of the season. Tynes attempted 25 field goals and kicked off eight times in a workout at the Giants training facility Friday in his first major test of the leg he hurt in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 13. The 33-year-old who is entering his fifth season with the Giants has no doubt that he...

Veteran nose guard Ma'ake Kemoeatu has rejoined the Baltimore Ravens six years after leaving as a free agent. The 33-year-old Kemoeatu last played for the Ravens in 2005 before joining the Carolina Panthers. He signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Washington Redskins in 2010 and started 12 games and recorded 29 tackles. Kemoeatu didn't play last season after being released by the Redskins on July 28, 2011. He was bothered by Achilles tendon and shoulder injuries.

HOUSTON -- Moments before Super Bowl XXXVIII, in the privacy of the Patriots' locker room at Reliant Stadium, Bill Belichick finally released his tongue from the captivity of his teeth. The reserved coach, whose every public uttering is calculated, lit a fire under his team by lighting into the Carolina Panthers during a stirring pregame speech. "I always believe he saves the best for last," tight end Christian Fauria said. "The speech was basically like, 'We kept our mouths shut, we didn't say anything, now it's time to get to business.' I don't want to go...

Tom Coughlin was rewarded for the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory, agreeing to a four-year, $21 million contract yesterday that will make him one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches. He will earn about $5.25 million annually, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity. The person said the team will announce the deal today. The sides had the outline of the deal in place for weeks. His new contract represents a $2 million increase over last season and what he was to have earned this year.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Brett Favre showed he still has some Monday night magic -- just not enough to prevent the Green Bay Packers from their worst start in 17 years. Favre threw four touchdown passes but couldn't overcome two early turnovers that the Carolina Panthers used to build a big lead and then held on for a 32-29 victory last night. The Packers fell to 0-4 for the first time since 1988. Rallying Green Bay from a 19-point deficit, Favre threw two touchdown passes and two 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter and had the Packers in position to possibly win...

He ran all the drills, went through all the workouts. But this time it was different for Luke Kuechly, and it drove him to distraction. The Butkus Award winner and two-time All-American from Boston College couldn't control his football future - at least not yet. Kuechly, like the rest of the NFL draft class of 2012, had to wait to find out where he would be going about his business next season. The only certainty was that the 6-foot-3-inch, 242-pound linebacker knew he would be playing somewhere, probably with the notoriety of being a high first-round pick.

The Florida Panthers clinched the first division title in franchise history, getting first-period goals from Marcel Goc and John Madden and 33 saves from Scott Clemmensen to beat the Carolina Panthers 4-1 and wrap up the Southeast crown on Saturday night. Stephen Weiss — who's headed to the playoffs for the first time after making his NHL debut with the Panthers 10 years ago — also scored for Florida, which clinched the No. 3 seed and will play sixth-seeded New Jersey in the opening round.

HOUSTON -- This team genuflects to nobody. Not if there's still time on the clock and a championship trophy waiting at the other end of the field. The Patriots did not take a knee, did not play for overtime when they shocked the Rams to win their first Super Bowl two years ago. They were not going to take a knee here last night, not with 68 seconds left to them, not with only a few stripes to cover to get Adam Vinatieri within range. And the Carolina Panthers knew it. "Play to win," said Carolina defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, after Vinatieri's magic right foot...

HOUSTON -- Moments before Super Bowl XXXVIII, in the privacy of the Patriots' locker room at Reliant Stadium, Bill Belichick finally released his tongue from the captivity of his teeth. The reserved coach, whose every public uttering is calculated, lit a fire under his team by lighting into the Carolina Panthers during a stirring pregame speech. "I always believe he saves the best for last," tight end Christian Fauria said. "The speech was basically like, 'We kept our mouths shut, we didn't say anything, now it's time to get to business.' I don't want to go...

HOUSTON -- It is now OK to place the New England Patriots in a historical sentence that few teams are able to utter. You can call them one of the greatest teams of all time, and you can say it without apologizing or blinking or giving a monologue on this era of free agency. The Patriots are great. Swallow it straight, with no chaser. A few things became obvious when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII last night, 32-29 over the Carolina Panthers: Adam Vinatieri is one of the best clutch athletes New England sports fans have ever seen.

Despite a record-setting rookie season, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was not selected to the Pro Bowl. He certainly isn't pouting over it. "Who am I to be mad at the fact that I'm the first alternate?" Newton said with a wide smile Wednesday. Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Eli Manning were selected over Newton, even though Manning has seven fewer total touchdowns. Newton says he was "honored" to be selected as a first alternate and knows there's a good chance he might wind up replacing one of the guys ahead of him if he pulls out of the...

Carolina Panthers rookie linebacker Lawrence Wilson was cited with speeding and marijuana possession. Wilson, a member of the team's practice squad, was pulled over Wednesday on Interstate-85 in Salisbury, N.C., for driving 76 mph in a 65 mph zone. David Ramsey, chief deputy of the Rowan County Sherriff's Department, said deputies smelled marijuana on Wilson and searched his car and found 11 grams. Ramsey said Wilson initially resisted arrest and refused to be handcuffed. Ramsey said when other officers arrived Wilson began to comply with their instructions.

Cam Newton had no shortage of doubters coming into the NFL. They're much harder to find now. The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft added to his remarkable season by breaking Peyton Manning's rookie record for yards passing and setting a franchise mark with a 91-yard touchdown toss to Brandon LaFell as the Carolina Panthers handed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their ninth straight defeat, 48-16 on Saturday. Newton threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns and scored on an amazing 49-yard run up the middle in which he showed his speed by outracing smaller defensive backs to the end...