The Panthers receiver, one of the best the game has ever known, was surprised to be honored Friday. But considering the way this place became home, and what he did when he was here, it seems natural.
First-rounder Xavier Legette will wear his old number 17 from his South Carolina days, and the rest of the draft class has been assigned numbers for this weekend's rookie minicamp.
The NFL may be devaluing the running back position. But as the Panthers took the first one off the board this year, the club made their own statement on how important Jonathon Brooks will be in Carolina.