03/28/2024
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By Sonny Jones

Stunned would be a good word to use when the news crossed that the Carolina Panthers reportedly have acquired the top pick in April’s NFL draft.

It took a lot to get the selection from the Chicago Bears. Top receiver D.J. Moore, the No. 9 and No. 61 overall picks in 2023, a first-round pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025 are going to Chicago.

Obviously, the move was made to pick a franchise quarterback. Only time will tell if it was the right move, but time seems right to make such a move. What’s there to lose.

The Panthers have played the quarterback shuffle for the past five years and the team hasn’t made the playoffs. There’s a new offensive-minded head coach with an established NFL background. The draft capital is available after trading away Christian McCaffrey. Go for it.

If the top pick is a bust, then the Panthers are back where they are today searching for a franchise quarterback. If the top pick turns into that much needed franchise quarterback, then it’s like winning the lottery. It’s a risk worth taking based on the current state of the organization.

Whether it’s Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young, Kentucky’s Will Levis or Florida’s Anthony Richardson, it may take some time for one to become a star. However, the team isn’t going anywhere with quarterbacks such as Sam Darnold, who is a free agent and may be able to serve as a bridge to allow the rookie to develop a bit.

The NFC South is winnable and the playoffs are attainable. Hopefully, a new, experienced coaching staff will be able to bring it together in 2023.

The first step was taken Friday with the trade that can’t become official until Wednesday. It was the right move in an effort to get the franchise back to being a winner.

Second-seeded Wingate blew past North Georgia 72-53 on Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional in Salisbury. The Bulldogs are coached by East Bladen graduate Ann Hancock. Wingate plays Georgia Southwestern at 5 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals. The championship game is Monday night.

The UNC Pembroke women’s team lost 57-40 to top-seeded Catawba on Friday in the Southeast Regional. The Braves finished 22-10, won the Conference Carolinas tournament and were making their first NCAA Division II tournament appearance in their 49-year history.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 1979 — St. John’s and Penn post two of the biggest upsets ever in the NCAA tournament in the second round of the East regional in Raleigh, N.C. St. John’s, the 40th and last team selected, beats No. 2 seed Duke 80-78, and Penn comes from behind to beat No. 1 seed North Carolina 72-71.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Czech Republic vs. Japan, 5 a.m., FS1

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Netherlands vs. Chinese Taipei, 6 a.m., FS2

• PREMIER: Liverpool at Bournemouth, 7:30 a.m., USA

• PREMIER: Chelsea at Leicester City, 10 a.m., USA

• BASKETBALL: American East – Massachusetts at Vermont, 11 a.m., ESPN2

• BASKETBALL: Ivy – Cornell vs. Yale, 11 a.m., ESPNU

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mid-American – TBD, 11 a.m., CBSSN

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico, noon, FS2

• MLS: Atlanta at Charlotte, noon, FOX

• PREMIER: Manchester City at Crystal Palace, 12:30 p.m., USA

• NHL: Detroit at Boston, 12:55 p.m., ABC

• BASKETBALL: Big Ten – Ohio St. vs. Purdue, 1 p.m., CBS

• BASKETBALL: Atlantic 10 – Saint Louis vs. VCU, 1 p.m., CBSSN

• BASKETBALL: Southeastern – Missouri vs. Alabama, 1 p.m., ESPN

• BASKETBALL: MEAC – Norfolk St. vs. Howard, 1 p.m., ESPN2

• PGA: Players Championship, 1 p.m., NBC

• MLB: Boston vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m., MLBN

• BASKETBALL: Ivy – Penn vs. Princeton, 1:30 p.m., ESPNU

• TENNIS: BNP Paribas Open, 2 p.m., BALLY SOUTH

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Colombia vs. Mexico, 2:30 p.m., FOX

• BASKETBALL: Southeastern – Vanderbilt vs. Texas A&M, 3 p.m., ESPN

• BASKETBALL: American – Cincinnati vs. Houston, 3 p.m., ESPN2

• BASKETBALL: Big Ten – Penn St. vs. Indiana, 3:30 p.m., CBS

• BASKETBALL: Atlantic 10 – Fordham vs. Dayton, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Metro Atlantic – Manhattan vs. Iona, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU

• NHL: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m., ABC

• NASCAR XFINITY: United Rentals 200, 4:30 p.m., FS1

• BASKETBALL: American – Tulane vs. Memphis, 5 p.m., ESPN2

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Ivy – TBD, 5 p.m., ESPNEWS

• BASKETBALL: SWAC – Texas Southern vs. Grambling, 5:30 p.m., ESPNU

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Conference USA – Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee, 5:30 p.m., CBSSN

• BASKETBALL: Mountain West – Utah St. vs. San Diego St., 6 p.m., CBS

• BASKETBALL: Big 12 – Texas vs. Kansas, 6 p.m., ESPN

• SOFTBALL: Virginia Tech at North Carolina, 6 p.m., ACCN

• BASKETBALL: Big East – Xavier vs. Marquette, 6:30 p.m., FOX

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela, 7 p.m., FS1

• NHL: Vegas at Carolina, 7 p.m., BALLY SOUTH

• NHL: Edmonton at Toronto, 7 p.m., NHLN

• XFL: Houston at Orlando, 7 p.m., FX

• BASKETBALL: Mid-American – Kent St. vs. Toledo, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

• BASKETBALL: Metro Atlantic – Marist vs. Iona, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU

• BASKETBALL: Conference USA – UAB vs. Florida Atlantic, 8:30 p.m., CBSSN

• BASKETBALL: ACC – Duke vs. Virginia, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

• NBA: Milwaukee at Golden State, 8:30 p.m., ABC

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Great Britain vs. United States, 9 p.m., FOX

• BASKETBALL: Big West – Cal State Fullerton vs. UC Santa Barbara, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2

• XFL: San Antonio at Seattle, 10 p.m., FX

• BASKETBALL: Pac-12 – Arizona vs. UCLA, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

• BOXING: Tim Tszyu vs. Tony Harrison, 10:45 p.m., SHO

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Chinese Taipei vs. Cuba, 11 p.m., FS2

• BASKETBALL: Western Athletic – Grand Canyon vs. Southern Utah, 11:30 p.m., ESPN2

• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Japan vs. Australia, 6 a.m. (Sunday), FS1

Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.

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