NFC South

Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore leaped into the stands at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday night to break up an argument at the team's Fan Fest event.

Video of the interaction was posted on social media:

https://twitter.com/Keeppoundingtv/status/1558054228601573376

It's unclear what sparked the heated verbal exchange between the two men.

Fan Fest is an annual preseason practice for the Panthers that includes interactions with supporters and a fireworks show.

"It's all love," safety Jeremy Chinn told reporters. "It's so exciting seeing all these fans out here. It definitely sets the tone heading into the season; we want to protect this place, win games in this place. So seeing these fans out here, it means a lot."

Moore is entering his fifth year with Carolina after being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

The 25-year-old Philadelphia native is coming off a strong 2021 season that saw him record a career-high 93 catches for 1,157 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games.

He's set to operate as the Panthers' No. 1 target once again in 2022, though it remains uncertain whether he'll be catching throws from Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold when the campaign gets underway as the team's quarterback competition rolls on.

Carolina plays the first of three preseason games Saturday afternoon when it visits FedEx Field to take on the Washington Commanders.

Tom Brady is taking time away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to "deal with some personal things," head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Thursday, and the franchise isn't worried about his absence.

"Of course, we were going to let him do what he needs to do. He’s focused as ever. He’ll come back even more focused. It’s the least of our concerns," Bucs general manager Jason Licht told WDAE Radio on Thursday (h/t JoeBucsFan.com).

Brady isn't expected to return to the Bucs until after the team's second preseason game on Aug. 20 against the Tennessee Titans.

Bowles told reporters that Brady's absence was discussed ahead of training camp:

"We allotted this time because he wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys and go through two weeks of training camp, knowing he wasn't going to play the first two games. He didn't want to take away reps from Blaine [Gabbert] and Kyle [Trask], as well as 'Griff' [Ryan Griffin] going into these next two games, knowing it's something he needs to handle."

The only other times Brady has been excused this summer were Aug. 3 to celebrate his 45th birthday and Aug. 5. The team had Aug. 4 off.

The Buccaneers open the 2022 campaign on Sept. 11 against the Dallas Cowboys, and Bowles isn't concerned about the veteran signal-caller potentially missing that matchup.

"Obviously, there's always going to be doubt," Bowles told reporters, "but I have a pretty high level of confidence, yes."

Brady is returning for his third season in Tampa after spending the first 20 years of his career with the New England Patriots. He entered a brief retirement this winter, but decided to return to football, citing "unfinished business."

The Buccaneers certainly have bigger issues than Brady missing training camp, as Licht noted. For one, the team will be without starting center Ryan Jensen indefinitely due to a knee injury, and 24-year-old Robert Hainsey is in line to replace him.

The team's receiving group is also dealing with some injuries. Mike Evans is nursing a hamstring ailment, Russell Gage left practice with a leg injury this week and Breshad Perriman has also been injured for most of training camp.

The good news is the team still has about four weeks to put everything together for the regular season.

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown reposted a graphic on Thursday displaying a seemingly fake quote attributed to him saying his biggest regret from his playing career was that he couldn't watch himself play from a third-party perspective.

Brown tweeted "Sincerely AB" when sharing the made-up quote which then compared that experience to seeing The Beatles or Jesus perform at Colorado's famous Red Rocks music venue:

Sincerely AB pic.twitter.com/O6mjJXOaHQ

— AB (@AB84) August 11, 2022

The graphic outlined a number of Brown's actions that others might have considered regrets, including the alleged battery of a delivery truck driver to which he pleaded no contest and was ordered to serve two years' probation.

But there were a number of other serious accusations and interpersonal issues made against him that weren't included:

• In 2017, he live-streamed the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room on Facebook Live following a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, which included Mike Tomlin's address to his team. He later apologized.
• He was sued by his former live-in chef Steven Ruiz, who said Brown owed him more than $10,000 in unpaid wages. They ultimately settled out of court.
• Ruiz accused Brown of having a fake COVID-19 vaccination card he used to bypass the NFL's health and safety protocols. The NFL suspended him for three games in the 2021 season.
• Brown's former trainer, Britney Taylor, accused him of raping her on three separate occasions in a lawsuit. They settled out of court. 
• A different woman accused Brown of making unwanted sexual advances toward her while he was naked and covering his genitals with a small towel as she worked on a painting in his house. She later said that Brown sent her intimidating texts after the initial story went public.

After Brown left a matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets in the third quarter this January, storming off the field, taking off his pads and jersey and waving to the crowd, it seemed pretty clear that his NFL career was over.

He indicated as much in May:

Just wanna Retire A Steeler

— AB (@AB84) May 16, 2022

Not Play Jus Retire so we Clear

— AB (@AB84) May 16, 2022

At his best, the seven-time Pro Bowler was the most dynamic receiver in football, with six seasons of 100 or more receptions, seven seasons exceeding 1,000 receiving yards and four seasons with double-digit touchdowns.

He was undoubtedly a compelling player to watch. But his legacy likely will be defined as much by his actions off the field as it will be by what happened on it.

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed veteran wide receiver Julio Jones this offseason, he was viewed more as a luxury as opposed to a necessity. But so far, Jones appears to have surpassed that initial impression.

"He’s been more than I expected, to be honest," Bucs general manager Jason Licht said during a radio appearance on WDAE on Thursday (h/t Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times).

After hamstring injuries limited him to 19 games over the last two seasons, Jones seems poised for a bounce-back year in Tampa Bay. He will be a member of a deep, talented receiving corps that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and Breshad Perriman. But through the first two weeks of training camp, Jones has been the standout.

"You know, he looks good," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said of Jones on Monday. "Obviously not being with the team in the offseason, he’s still got to get in a little better shape, but we like what we see in him. He’s explosive, very smart, understands the game and he can help us."

A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Jones was once arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL. Playing in Tampa Bay, he won't have to be the No. 1 option, but rather another reliable offensive weapon for star quarterback Tom Brady to use to his advantage.

"Everything’s coming to me,” Jones said after getting a veteran's day off from practice Thursday. “The game of football, you just don’t want to have to go out there and think. You want it to become second nature to you. But I’m picking it up fairly quickly, and it’s been good."

Jones reportedly isn't expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.

GT Real Estate Holdings LLC, a company led by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, has proposed a settlement of just over $100 million to contractors, creditors and local governments related to failed plans to build a practice facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Erik Spanberg of the Charlotte Business Journal reported Thursday the offer includes an initial $81.7 million payment and $20 million from the future sale of the proposed site.

The plan will require approval from courts and creditors, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.

In June, GT Real Estate filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the $800 million plan to create a new Panthers practice facility along with retail shops, restaurants and a hotel fell through, according to Joseph Person and Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic.

The company has continued to work toward a settlement arrangement while bankruptcy hearings have been delayed until at least September.

GT Real Estate released a statement as part of Thursday's offer, saying the money for the initial payment was made available from DT Sports Holding, another company owned by Tepper, per Spanberg:

This plan reflects GTRE's promise to expeditiously resolve all claims and make payments to its creditors, including to York County and the city of Rock Hill. GTRE now has a clear path to emerge from bankruptcy made possible by substantial commitments from DT Sports Holding, which has made available to GTRE more than $82 million in cash in an effort to bring this process to an orderly and equitable conclusion. GTRE believes that the plan is in the best interests of its creditors and anticipates that a hearing to consider approval of the plan will occur in October of this year.

The site had already undergone 20 months of construction before plans were halted.

Tepper purchased the Panthers in May 2018 for just under $2.3 billion, which at the time was the highest price paid for an NFL franchise. He was previously a stakeholder in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Forbes estimates the 64-year-old Pittsburgh native has a net worth of $16.7 billion, which makes him the 105th-richest person in the world, after founding the Appaloosa Management hedge fund.

Tepper has refused to discuss the failed project, saying in April he'd "respect the city's request not to have a back-and-forth in public about it."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Julio Jones has reportedly impressed the team's staff since signing as a free agent in late July.

ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported Wednesday on Get Up a "very important Bucs source" said Jones has turned back the clock during training camp:

A Bucs source told @JeffDarlington that Julio Jones looks like the 2019 version of himself 👀 pic.twitter.com/6NJedZ3yUy

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 10, 2022

In 2019, Jones recorded 99 catches for 1,394 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tampa added the seven-time Pro Bowl selection as insurance for the passing game amid some injury concerns for Tom Brady's group of targets.

Chris Godwin is recovering from a torn ACL suffered December, while Mike Evans (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (leg) have also missed time during camp. Russell Gage exited Wednesday's practice with a leg or foot injury, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

So it's possible Jones could play quite an important role for the Buccaneers when the regular season gets underway, especially if he's trending toward a return to form.

The 33-year-old University of Alabama product topped 1,300 receiving yards in six consecutive seasons with the Falcons beginning in 2014. He led the NFL in that category twice over the span (2015 and 2018).

He was limited to 19 appearances over the past two years because of injuries and scored just four touchdowns in those games, though.

Jones spent the 2021 campaign with the Tennessee Titans, tallying 31 catches for 434 yards and one score in 10 contests.

After the signing, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said the team would likely use the 6'3'', 220-pound target to help replace tight end Rob Gronkowski in key situations.

"He's still a good football player," Bowles told reporters. "We've got to replace Gronk's catches. We've got an extra weapon, especially in the red zone, out in the open field, we'll put him to use. It gives us a chance to be more creative in some of the things we do."

Given the injuries, however, Jones can probably expect more consistent involvement when the regular season gets underway Sept. 11 with a road game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Early returns from camp suggest he's ready for the return to a prominent role.

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel doesn't have a problem sharing the field with Tom Brady despite the recent revelations on the team's tampering.

"Everyone else is making it awkward. It's not for me," McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. "... Our focus is coordinated."

The Dolphins forfeited two draft picks for tampering after the NFL determined the organization had impermissible contact with Brady, both in 2019 when he was a member of the New England Patriots and in 2021 when he was under contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Though Brady initially retired earlier in the 2022 offseason, the quarterback returned to Tampa Bay for his third season with the team.

The Buccaneers are set to have a joint practice and scrimmage with the Dolphins on Wednesday.

The pairing could make things uncomfortable for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who knows the team was looking to replace him with Brady. The 2020 No. 5 draft pick is Miami's unquestioned starter going into 2022, but he clearly wasn't ownership's first choice after some up-and-down seasons.

The tampering probe also showed the Dolphins attempted to speak to former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton but didn't receive permission before he retired.

It could put McDaniel's job in question, knowing he also was a consolation prize for the team and might be replaced if Payton wants to return to the sidelines.

McDaniel is still looking to keep the team focused heading into his first year in charge.

Despite questions about ownership that have continued since former coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL in February, the Dolphins have an opportunity to be a legitimate playoff contender in 2022. The squad finished 9-8 last year and made significant upgrades in the offseason, including the additions of Tyreek Hill and Chase Edmonds.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston is dealing with a sprained right foot at training camp.

Saints coach Dennis Allen said Jameis Winston sprained his right foot, is “day to day” and they don’t feel it’s anything significant. But he won’t play in the preseason opener.

— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) August 9, 2022

Saints head coach Dennis Allen told reporters that the 28-year-old was being evaluated after he "tweaked" his foot during practice on Aug. 8. He is also working his way back from a torn ACL suffered midway through the 2021 season.

Prior to his season-ending injury, the Saints were 5-2 in games Winston started. He completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,170 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

The 2015 No. 1 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has put up big numbers throughout his NFL career, but his impressive statistics haven't led to success. He has appeared in just one playoff game, and it came in 2020 as a backup for New Orleans.

The Saints have a solid chance to achieve that this season, provided they can stay healthy.

Star wide receiver Michael Thomas is back after missing the entire 2021 season with a foot injury. Running back Alvin Kamara is also set for a hearing on battery charges stemming from an alleged assault in Las Vegas during Pro Bowl weekend. There has been no word so far on whether he will face NFL discipline.

While Winston is out, the Saints will turn to veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.

The 34-year-old was a nine-year starter for the Cincinnati Bengals before spending one season each with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

New Orleans also has second-year signal-caller Ian Book, who appeared in one game as a rookie in 2021.

Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold realize they're battling for a starting position, but they're not about to allow their competition to become contentious.

“It’s not about trying to stab one another in the back,” Mayfield said Monday, per Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer. “It’s about elevating, because the franchise and the team go as the QB room goes.”

The Panthers traded for Mayfield on July 6, which put him behind Darnold in terms of understanding the offensive terminology. Mayfield spent his offseason in a state of limbo while seeking a trade from the Cleveland Browns, meaning he had not been part of any offseason team work until the start of training camp.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule, who said he plans a patient approach in determining the starter, has been impressed with Mayfield's quick uptake in practice.

“He’s definitely improving, as he gets more and more of a feel for what he can do at the line of scrimmage. … What he’s done in 10 days (of training camp practice) is pretty impressive. He’s making really good jumps," Rhule said.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Monday that Mayfield is the favorite to win the starting job, which should come as no surprise.

Darnold is 17-32 as a starter over his four-year NFL career and showed no signs of improvement last season with a change of scenery in Carolina. He threw for 2,527 yards and nine touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 12 games for his second straight season with more picks than touchdowns.

Mayfield, who was widely reviled in Cleveland for his 2021 performance, still outperformed Darnold by every possible metric. The top pick of the 2018 NFL draft has also never thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in a season and is just two years removed from a stellar 2020 campaign.

While Mayfield has clearly established himself as a below-average NFL starter, he is likely one of the 32 best quarterbacks in football. The same cannot be said for Darnold, who has seen his interception rate stick between 2.9 and 3.6 percent his entire career while his touchdown percentage plummeted from 4.1 as a rookie to 2.2 last season.

With Rhule entering the 2022 campaign firmly on the hot seat, it would be shocking if Mayfield wasn't under center in Week 1.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston reportedly suffered an ankle injury during Monday's practice.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 28-year-old "rolled his ankle today and is undergoing further evaluation."

Now in his third year with the Saints, the Florida State product suffered a torn ACL last season that left him sidelined after just seven games. He signed a two-year contract to stay in New Orleans as a free agent after the team failed in its pursuit of a Deshaun Watson trade.

The Saints can move on from Winston after the 2022 season with minimal cap damage if he struggles or is unable to stay healthy, so his injury status is worth monitoring as we get closer to the beginning of the regular season.

Katherine Terrell of ESPN noted veteran Andy Dalton took over for Winston during Monday's practice following the injury.