Dein erstes Forum » you kind of gave one away, let one go, that

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton turned in an MVP performance last season while leading the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl -- and he didnt even have his favorite wide receiver.So theres plenty of curiosity over what the leagues highest-scoring team can accomplish this year with Kelvin Benjamin returning from a torn ACL.Benjamin caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2014 before surgery. Hes back now, and will start alongside second-year wideout Devin Funchess, who replaces veteran Jerricho Cotchery following an impressive training camp.Along with Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen and deep threat Ted Ginn Jr., who accounted for 10 TD receptions in 2015, Newton has plenty of options in the passing game.Benjis coming back with a vengeance -- and I mean it, Newton said earlier this offseason. And not only that, hes challenged more so from the production that Ted Ginn has had, the production that Fun (Funchess) has had, that Philly (Brown), that Greg (Olsen), everybody.Rivera said Benjamins return is exciting, but he wants to make sure Newton doesnt lock in too much on the big man.Everyone has to understand that last year a lot of guys established who they are in this league, Rivera said. I think those (other) guys really took another step. I think our offense has to continue to grow and take steps. I know a couple years ago we were really heavy at getting the ball at Kelvin and I would love to continue to see us spread it because it will only open things up for everyone else.That includes the running game.Jonathan Stewart returns to anchor a group that has rushed for at least 100 yards in an NFL-best 32 straight games, including the playoffs. Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker will see action in the backfield along with fullback Mike Tolbert.Newton, of course, is a threat all by himself.The Panthers have turned the read-option into a dangerous weapon behind the powerful 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback. With one more rushing touchdown Newton will move past Steve Young for the most ever by a quarterback.Some things to watch this season for the Panthers:ROOKIE CORNERBACKS: The Panthers are expected to start rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley at cornerback after losing All-Pro Josh Norman to free agency and Charles Tillman to retirement. Thats a lot of pressure on young players, considering they will face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston each twice this season.However, its clear the Panthers arent looking back at the decision to remove the franchise tag on Norman with any trepidation.Football is the truest of all team games, Gettleman said. It takes 53 guys. ... I dont subscribe to the one-player-away theory. I dont believe in it. Lets find out.KUECHLY AND COMPANY: Behind middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, the Panthers led the league in takeaways last season with 39, with 24 coming on interceptions. The Panthers scored an NFL-leading 148 points off turnovers in 2015, shattering a franchise record.The takeaways often provided short fields for Newton to work with on the ensuing possession.EALYS TIME TO SHINE: After an incredible Super Bowl in which he had three sacks and forced two turnovers by Peyton Manning, defensive end Kony Ealy is looking to carry that success over to 2016.Ealy had steadily improved throughout his second season in the league, culminating in the big game against the Broncos. But with Jared Allen gone, Carolina will need Ealy to step up and be a pass-rushing force playing opposite Charles Johnson. Johnson has something to prove after missing all of last season with a hamstring and returning to the team after taking a $6 million pay cut to return to the team.RED-ZONE EFFICIENCY: The Panthers started off 14-0 last season in large part due to their red zone offense, converting 68.3 percent of their attempts into touchdowns -- second-best in the league. Newton was near perfect inside the opponents 20-yard line, tossing 24 touchdown passes with no interceptions.That number could go up this season as the 6- 5, 250-pound Benjamin figures to be a big weapon near the goal line given his height advantage over smaller cornerbacks and his jumping ability.NEWTONS MILESTONES: Newton needs 996 yards passing and four touchdown passes to set franchise career records.Nationally, hes the only player in NFL history to record five seasons with at least 3,000 yards passing and 400 yards rushing.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL NEW YORK -- A streak or two of celebration whipped cream was still stuck in Brandon Nimmos hairline as he peeled off his baseball socks in the clubhouse Thursday night.Plenty of time to clean up, the Mets rookie figured. For now, he just wanted to hang onto this feeling.Yoenis Cespedes socked a colossal home run , Jeurys Familia pitched out of a huge jam in the ninth inning and Nimmo keyed a three-run rally in the seventh that sent New York past the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in their first meeting since last years NL Championship Series.Im just ecstatic, Nimmo said after his first big league home game. Im just overjoyed and so thankful right now.Chicago put runners on second and third with no outs against Familia, who got two strikeouts and a bases-loaded popup for his 27th save, most in the majors.He screamed and pumped his arms repeatedly after Javier Baez popped up to end it.I think our last three at-bats were a little bit too anxious, said Kris Bryant, who fanned for the first out in the ninth. But hes supposed to do that. Thats why hes the closer on their team.Baezs throwing error at second base allowed Nimmo to score the go-ahead run, and the Mets overcame a 3-0 deficit to stop their four-game slide.New York, which swept Chicago last October to reach the World Series, had lost nine straight regular-season games to the Cubs dating to August 2014.We made one mistake on defense, but otherwise it was a pretty good game of baseball, Chicago manager Joe Maddon said.Bryant hit a two-run homer for the major league-best Cubs. Baez added a solo shot off rookie Steven Matz before a scuffling Mets lineup finally pushed back in the opener of a four-game series between banged-up teams.Cespedes launched a solo drive off John Lackey in the sixth that soared into the third deck in left field, two or three rows deep. The ball came off the bat at 110 mph and would have traveled 441 feet unimpeded, according to MLBs Statcast. ESPN Stats & Info had it at 466 feet.Either way, it was thought to be the first home run to reach the third deck at Citi Field, which opened in 2009.Thats not unfamiliar territory to Cespedes, though. He sent several shots up there three years ago -- while winning the All-Star Home Run Derby.I think it woke us. I really do, Mets manager Terry Collins said. He hadnt hit one in a while and that was a big one. I really think that got the guys energized.Travis dArnaud singled with one out in the sseventh, chasing Lackey.dddddddddddd Joel Peralta (0-1) walked slumping pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza before Nimmo, starting for injured outfielder Curtis Granderson, singled on the ninth pitch of a gritty at-bat for his first career RBI.Thats a big league at-bat for the kid, teammate Neil Walker said. Those are the at-bats that give you confidence, especially as a young guy. So I cant say enough about how he grinded through that and how big a hit that was.The throw to third allowed Nimmo to reach second, and the Mets had two runners in scoring position. With the Cubs playing their infield in, Walker hit an RBI chopper toward the middle against reliever Pedro Strop.Figuring he had no play at the plate, Baez threw to third in an attempt to get Nimmo. But the wide throw ticked off Bryants glove and rolled into foul territory, letting Nimmo cross the plate with a big smile on his face.He was definitely a sparkplug for us today, Walker said. This is how we have to grind right now.Erik Goeddel (1-0) struck out two in 1 2/3 hitless innings for the win.Getting beats one thing. When you feel like you kind of gave one away, let one go, thats a different kind of loss, Lackey said.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: RF Jason Heyward was rested against the left-hander with Chicago in the middle of playing 24 straight days. He has a little soreness on his left side but certainly could have started, Maddon said. Heyward pinch-hit in the eighth and shattered his bat on a weak grounder back to the mound against lefty Jerry Blevins, stranding two runners.Mets: Granderson was out of the lineup again after an MRI revealed a mild strain of his right calf, general manager Sandy Alderson said. Granderson was unavailable off the bench and is expected to miss at least a couple of games. A reinforcement could arrive Friday in Gold Glove outfielder Juan Lagares (sprained left thumb), nearly ready to come off the 15-day DL. Lagares played his third rehab game with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday night.UP NEXTCubs RHP Jason Hammel (7-4, 2.58 ERA) starts Friday night against RHP Jacob deGrom (3-4, 2.67), who won Game 3 of the NLCS last year at Wrigley Field. The 2015 All-Star is 0-4 in 10 starts since beating San Francisco on April 30. Chicago has lost Hammels last four outings after going 9-2 in his first 11. ' ' '