Luke Combs for President… of the Carolina Panthers.
A couple days ago, the country superstar absolutely (and rightfully) tore into the Carolina Panthers and the leadership of the team (I use that word very loosely when it comes to owners David and Nicole Tepper), after they traded away star, two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Brian Burns to the New York Giants earlier this week.
In a move that was part of the free agency period in the NFL, according to The Athletic, the Panthers will receive the “No. 39 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a 2025 fifth-round pick, addition to an additional fifth-round pick swap.”
So yeah… we’re still without a first round draft pick in 2024, because last year, the Panthers traded stud wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a bunch of picks, including this year’s first overall pick for the chance to draft quartberack Bryce Young, which they did and is a story for a whole separate post.
Oh, and they traded Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2nd, 3rd and 4th-round pick in 2023 and a 5th rounder in 2024. Their NFC South rival the Atlanta Falcons had some fun with it, too, but Luke explained that he had to wear that jersey after losing a bet…
And today, he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to give his thoughts on it all, and I think he was absolutely right about everything he said and nailed every point. From the horrific ownership to the new hires, like our questionable offensive coordinator, he kinda popped off and I am HERE for it.
But he also talked about why it means so much to him, as Luke grew up near Charlotte (in Huntersville), and has been a fan of the team since day one. He even recalled meeting legendary linebacker Sam Mills at a Burger King in the mid-90’s.
Mostly, though, Luke recalled being around 10 years old and crying when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots beat the Panthers in the Super Bowl in 2004… which is really funny and certainly not the only time Brady made opposing fans cry.
Though I maintain that there may have been some alleged, salacious activity going on with the Pats behind closed doors that we still need to get to the bottom of…
“I grew up in Charlotte. I mean, I was meeting Sam Mills at Burger King when I was five years old, you know. First season we were ever a team. Literally, to say born being into being a fan of this team is pretty close.
It may be almost more than that, right, because some of my first memories are going to Panthers games, watching Panthers games with my dad.
I cried when Brady beat us in the Super Bowl, I was probably 10 years old. Just brutalized us. Stayed up past my bedtime, (John) Kasay kicks it out of bounds, we bozoed that. That was brutal.”
“I grew up in Charlotte and some of my first memories are going to Panthers games”@lukecombs #PMSLive https://t.co/CngInOFFNN pic.twitter.com/GEKRgT59c8
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 13, 2024
But this clip… this might just be the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Go ahead and preach, Luke:
Cut it up:
