Aug. 16, 2008

Panthers teammates are looking at CB Ken Lucas in a whole new light, according to sources in Carolina. Prior to his fight with WR Steve Smith, Lucas was not considered much of a leader. He stayed quiet for the most part and was not looked up to as a strong voice in the locker room. Since Smith broke his nose, sidelining him for the final two weeks of training camp and probably beyond, Lucas has gained a new level of respect because he handled the unfortunate situation so well. Lucas forgave Smith and tried to put a positive spin on the brawl, saying it could bring the team closer together. He easily could have held a grudge toward Smith and tried to incite a backlash against him, but Lucas took the high road, and the rest of the team followed his lead. Although some good could come of the fight, it might be outweighed by the cost of Smith’s two-game suspension for hitting Lucas. If the Panthers start out 0-2, the positive vibes could vanish in a hurry.