Carolina Panthers Football Team

Former NFL player Rae Carruth was sentenced Monday to 24 years, four months, in prison, without possibility of parole, on three charges related to the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend. The sentence, handed down in Charlotte, N.C., after the court had heard emotional testimony from the victim's parents, was near the maximum Judge Charles Lamm could have imposed.

Keyshawn Johnson announced Wednesday that he is retiring from football and has signed a multiple-year deal to become an ESPN analyst. "I've lived my dream," said Johnson, the former USC star who was one of two receivers drafted first overall. "Now, I'm going to live another dream." He made the announcement during a news conference at USC's Heritage Hall. Johnson, 34, spent his final season with the Carolina Panthers, catching 70 passes for 815 yards and four touchdowns.

Rae Carruth didn't want this. Not the woman carrying his child to be shot four times and implicate him before enduring a slow, agonizing death. The former NFL receiver surely didn't envision sweating through a 12-week trial on first-degree murder charges that could bring him the death penalty.

The doctor who pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally prescribe steroids to several Carolina Panthers players was sentenced Monday to one year and one day in prison. James Shortt pleaded guilty in March to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Prosecutors have said current and former members of the Panthers were some of Shortt's patients. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped 42 other counts against Shortt. Chief U.S.

It is hard to imagine, watching DeShaun Foster sitting on his makeshift throne at media day, diamond earrings, diamond bracelet, sparkling smile. It is hard to envision, watching him tug at his teal and white Carolina Panther jersey, bursting out of his uniform and into the coolest Sunday in sports. But, you know, this could have happened three years ago. His crown could have been the Heisman Trophy. His championship contender could have been UCLA.

Toi Cook is not the type to flash his Super Bowl ring. "Except when I go to the airport and I'm trying to upgrade," he explained. "Or when I want to get a table at an L.A. restaurant, like the Ivy." But seriously, folks, Cook understands the value of the jewelry. He spent seven years with New Orleans--seven long years when even the Saints' best teams found a way to lose in the playoffs--before taking a pay cut to join San Francisco's 1994-95 title march.

In the small brown frame house a mile from Lambeau Field, a long week is finally ending for Chuck Mathys. On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers are playing for the NFC championship, and he will be there. He will happily climb 30 rows to his seat and joyfully spend four hours in ghastly weather. Unlike last week. When--for a playoff game played in pouring rain and near-freezing temperatures--he was one of three announced no-shows. Three out of 60,790 tickets sold.

KEY PEOPLE IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF FORMER NFL PLAYER RAE CARRUTH RAE CARRUTH A first-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 1997, Carruth signed a four-year, $3.7-million contract and led NFL rookies with 44 catches. He was injured most of the next two seasons until his arrest in November 1999. Carruth, 26, could face the death penalty. CHERICA ADAMS Carruth's pregnant girlfriend was murdered at age 24, but lived long enough to deliver her baby boy, Chancellor Lee Adams.

The differences are apparent at first knock. The security guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars glares and asks for identification. The security guard for the Carolina Panthers smiles and asks if you want a cold drink. The differences are also apparent at introduction. Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville's coach, acknowledges that he doesn't allow his players to sit on their helmets. Or slouch in the huddle. Or show up at the stadium wearing clothes bearing a sports insignia other than a Jaguar.

NEW ENGLAND RUN OFFENSE VS. CAROLINA RUN DEFENSE * If it comes down to the Patriots' running for short yardage, put your money on the Panthers. With an active front four featuring three of the league's best young linemen in Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker and Kris Jenkins, Carolina has fouled up run-blocking schemes all season, leaving linebackers Will Witherspoon and Dan Morgan free to make tackles at the line of scrimmage.

After 27 consecutive days of rain came one glorious night of reign. The Seattle Seahawks, whose future once looked as foreboding as the slate-gray skies, reached their first Super Bowl with a 34-14 throttling of Carolina in Sunday's NFC championship game. Long after the game ended, Qwest Field was still filled to the brim with roaring fans. As player after player hoisted the championship trophy overhead, giant cannons blasted plumes of blue, green and silver confetti into the night air.

The breakaway speed and ever-present big-play capability. The impetuous behavior. The clutch performances. Marshall Jones and Robert Taylor saw it all long ago from Steve Smith, the swift, sure-handed wide receiver who has helped push the Carolina Panthers to within one victory of their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons. They marveled at his ability long before he caught 12 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 29-21 playoff victory over the Chicago Bears.

On the second play from scrimmage, only 55 seconds into the game, Carolina Panther receiver Steve Smith left speed burn marks on the soggy turf of Soldier Field as he sprinted uncovered, converting a pass from Jake Delhomme into a 58-yard touchdown. And there was the play where the 5-foot-9 Smith out-jumped 6-foot-1 cornerback Charles Tillman and 6-foot safety Chris Harris to snare what seemed to be a certain interception and make it a 46-yard gain to the Bear two-yard-line.

If they're still dreaming of a once-in-a-lifetime experience next month in Detroit, the Carolina Panthers had better have a once-in-a-decade experience today in Atlanta. The Panthers, who are 1-9 at the Georgia Dome and haven't won there since 1997, can clinch a playoff berth by beating or tying the Falcons in their regular-season finale. "If we win, we go on to bigger and better things," defensive tackle Brentson Buckner told reporters last week. "If we don't, it's up in the air.

More than a landmark moment for a downtrodden NFL franchise, the New Orleans Saints' 23-20 victory at Carolina on Sunday was a morsel of hope for a football team without a home. "We all need something to hang onto right now," the owner said. "We wanted to give those people in the shelters something to cheer about," the tackle said. "We're resilient," the kicker said.

Carolina Panthers Todd Sauerbrun and Jeff Mitchell and former Panther Todd Steussie had steroid prescriptions filled by a West Columbia, S.C., doctor under investigation by federal authorities, according to a "60 Minutes Wednesday" report. In a release Tuesday, the CBS News program said the players all had prescriptions for testosterone cream filled within two weeks of the Panthers' appearance in the 2004 Super Bowl at Houston.

Nine days after his pregnant girlfriend was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting, wide receiver Rae Carruth of the Carolina Panthers was arrested Thursday and charged with taking part in the crime. Carruth, 25, was being held at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg jail on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted murder and shooting in an occupied vehicle. Early Thursday evening, William E.

More than a landmark moment for a downtrodden NFL franchise, the New Orleans Saints' 23-20 victory at Carolina on Sunday was a morsel of hope for a football team without a home. "We all need something to hang onto right now," the owner said. "We wanted to give those people in the shelters something to cheer about," the tackle said. "We're resilient," the kicker said.

Some of Keary Colbert's more humbling responsibilities as a first-year NFL receiver include going on food runs for his Carolina Panther teammates, delivering bottles of sports drinks to thirsty souls in the locker room, even toting muddy shoes and sweaty laundry. He doesn't complain. "I guess it's something everybody's got to do if you're a rookie in this league," Colbert said.

Tom Brady has reached incredible heights in part because he has kept his feet on the ground. The New England quarterback, who won his second Super Bowl most-valuable-player award in the Patriots' victory over Carolina, has put a priority on maintaining his humility throughout his dizzying ascent to the top of the NFL.