Organisation » We will go through an evaluation process

Joey Slye spent last season living in his parents' basement without a full-time job.This year https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Daryl-Williams-Jersey , he'll be kicking for the Carolina Panthers — and his late brother A.J.An undrafted rookie in 2018, Slye was thrust into a prominent and potential game-determining role when the Panthers placed veteran kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve on Friday.It wasn't supposed to happen like this.Coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers signed Slye "on a whim" in early August when Gano experienced re-occurring pain in his plant leg during training camp. Slye was brought in as a short-term fill-in while Gano recovered.But Gano never did.Slye took advantage of his opportunity making 7 of 8 field goals during the preseason, including all three attempts from beyond 50 yards. His only miss was a 48-yarder that was blocked due to a protection breakdown."It wasn't what I was expecting coming in here," Slye said, knowing that Gano was an established kicker who'd missed just three field goals for Carolina in the past two seasons.But Slye quickly shied away from any praise.He said all of that should be directed toward his brother A.J., a former Division III linebacker at Salisbury University who passed away in 2014 after a 14-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare form of blood cell cancer, at the age of 20.It was a devastating blow for Joey, who viewed A.J. as his closest friend. They talked sports continuously and dreamed one day of playing together in the NFL.On the field he honors his brother by raising six fingers to the sky after every made field goal and extra point. A.J. wore No. 6 when they played together at North Stafford High School in Virginia."It gives me the understanding that he's still there https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Donte-Jackson-Jersey ," Slye said. "I find comfort in that. I like to do it because I want a lot of my recognition to go to him. I don't need it. I don't want it. I want my brother to be known for how he fought, what he fought for and the type of person he was. I just want to continue his legacy forever."Off the field he helped start the SlyeStrong#6 Foundation , which is devoted to helping find a cure for adult/childhood cancer.Slye has some of his brother's fight in him.He could have easily given up on his dream of playing in the NFL after being unable to land a job last year. But he wouldn't look for a full-time "regular job" because he refused to give up on his dream — and because he promised A.J. he would make it to the NFL.So he kept on kicking."I put all of my eggs in one basket, basically," Slye said. "I knew other (kickers) were working on their skills. For a lot of guys in the special teams realm it's about how long you are willing to keep fighting for that opportunity."Slye is known for having a big leg — he made a 59-yard field goal in the preseason with plenty of room to spare — but his accuracy has always been a concern. He made only 72.2 percent of his field-goal attempts at Virginia Tech.But he's been accurate in games and practice since his arrival in Carolina.Rivera said Slye is a true "feel good story," but said it's now time to see if he can produce amid the pressure of kicking in regular-season games, something Slye has never done before."With everything he has gone through, he has weathered the storm," Rivera said. "He's shown us every reason to be confident in him. But we'll see. That's why you play on Sunday."NOTES: Cam Newton took all of his reps at practice Monday and remains on target to start Sunday's season opener against the Rams. ... Greg Olsen did not practice but Rivera said "he's fine" and that the veteran tight was "taking care of something." ... Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (hamstring) and backup offensive tackle Greg Little (concussion) did not practice. CHARLOTTE Greg Olsen Jersey , N.C. (AP) — Now that the Panthers have lost seven straight games and have been officially eliminated from playoff contention, the biggest question remaining is who’ll be around next season.Carolina (6-9) is expected to undergo some major changes after a season in which it started 6-2 but then appeared to grow old almost overnight.Speculation has swarmed about the future of two-time Coach of the Year Ron Rivera, who said Sunday he had no idea where an NFL Network report came from earlier in the day saying he would be back next season. He said that information hasn’t been communicated to him by owner David Tepper.“I won’t talk for the owner,” Rivera said after Carolina’s 24-10 loss to Atlanta . “You can’t ask me questions that I don’t know those answers to. I don’t know where (they) get that. I can’t talk about whether or not he has or hasn’t (decided). The big thing we all have to understand more than anything else is that it is his decision and Mr. Tepper’s been great about everything.”Tepper did not answer an interview request made through the team’s public relations department on Sunday.The roster will certainly change.Five-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil, whom running back Christian McCaffrey described as the “heart and soul of the team,” has already said he’s retiring after the season.Defensive end Julius Peppers is 38 years old and linebacker Thomas Davis is 33, and the production of both defensive leaders has fallen off this season. Peppers said after the game he wasn’t emotional at all, saying he hasn’t decided on what his future holds.“We will get into that when it’s time,” said Peppers Fozzy Whittaker Color Rush Jersey , who has four sacks this season, the second-fewest of his 17-year career. “We still have a game left to play. I’ll save that answer for a later date.”Safety Mike Adams is 37 and his numbers dropped off as well after a strong start, and the team could be forced to make a salary-cap move with nickel back Captain Munnerlyn. At defensive tackle, Dontari Poe has been a flop with 17 tackles and one sack, while Kawann Short has underperformed since signing a big contract.Devin Funchess failed to take advantage of his new role as Carolina’s No. 1 receiver, and the offensive line remains unsettled. The Panthers gave left tackle Matt Kalil a $50 million contract two years ago, but missed the entire season with a knee injury.And then there is the lingering question of whether quarterback Cam Newton can return to full health after two years of struggles with a right shoulder injury. Newton has two years left on his $118 million contract and could need surgery after the season.The Panthers shut him down last week to give him an early start on rehab and look at some other options at the position.Taylor Heinicke, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound undrafted player from Old Dominion Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , showed some heart, but took an absolute pounding from the Falcons in his first start, leaving questions about whether he can hold up at this level. He played most of the second half with his elbow in a brace. He threw three interceptions and the Panthers managed just 10 points.Rivera said the team has holes to fill on both sides of the ball.“We will go through an evaluation process obviously, once it is all done,” Rivera said. “That will be the biggest thing obviously is we have to take a look at being able to make plays in all three phases of football. That’s the truth of it.”Peppers thinks Rivera should remain as coach. He said this year’s struggles and the players’ lack of execution shouldn’t cost Rivera his job.“He’s a players’ coach,” Peppers said. “Obviously he played the game and he understands the players and everyone loves him. He’s a great leader. He doesn’t deserve this. We could have done a better job to help him out this year by making plays.”