NFL teams
David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Panthers' WR coach Ricky Proehl puts perspective on Kelvin Benjamin's injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Remember the 1999 St. Louis Rams.

That was the message from Carolina Panthers wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl after losing star Kelvin Benjamin for the year with a torn ACL.

Proehl was entering his 10th NFL season and second with the Rams in 1999. Expectations were high with the addition of quarterback Trent Green to an already talented offense that included running back Marshall Faulk and wide receiver Isaac Bruce.

Then in the first half of the third preseason game, San Diego Chargers safety Rodney Harrison blitzed. Faulk missed the block, and Harrison flew into the back of Green’s planted leg.

The ACL shattered. Green’s season was over. Many in St. Louis thought the Rams’ season was over as well.

In stepped Kurt Warner, a little-known Arena Football League player who stocked groceries in Iowa to earn extra money.

“I remember when [coach] Dick Vermeil stood on that podium and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to rally around Kurt Warner,’ ’’ Proehl recalled on Thursday as the Panthers broke training camp in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “You know that story.’’

The Rams won the Super Bowl. Warner went on to become the seventh player in NFL history to win the league’s regular-season and Super Bowl MVP in the same season.

Proehl reminded of that story to put perspective on the gloom and doom surrounding Benjamin’s injury suffered on Wednesday.

While Proehl admitted the loss is huge, he’s confident there is enough talent around quarterback Cam Newton to be successful.

He wouldn’t be surprised if somebody stepped forward like Warner. He wouldn’t be surprised if that player was 6-foot-4, 228-pound rookie Devin Funchess, a second-round pick out of Michigan.

“Anytime you lose your No. 1 guy, it’s going to affect your team; [it's] the initial shock of just moving on,’’ Proehl said. “We’ve just got to. He’s going to be all right. He’s going to be rehabbed and ready for next year. Guys are stepping up.

“Funchess, it puts a little more pressure for him to come on. But the good thing is we’ve got great character guys in our room.’’

Proehl wasn’t predicting the Panthers will win the Super Bowl as his Rams did in 1999 or Funchess would have an MVP season.

He simply was saying that from his experience, there is no reason to panic.

“It sets you back a day or two,’’ Proehl said. “But you’ve got to pick yourself back up and that’s what we’ve done. It’s what we talked about as a group and as a team. It’s part of the game.’’

Proehl not only talked to his receivers about what’s next, he talked to Benjamin. He said it’s important for the 2014 first-round pick to remain a part of the team and help Funchess grow.

“It was tough,’’ Proehl said of his conversation with Benjamin. “It was tough on all of us. He came into camp in great shape, ready to roll. I know what it means to him, and he was very emotional.

“But he’s going to be around. I want him to be around. He’ll be in our room and at practice when he can. He’ll be there to work with Funchess.’’

Proehl can’t say for sure Funchess is ready to step into the No. 1 role like Benjamin did after the Panthers released all-time leading receiver Steve Smith following the 2013 season.

But he’s going to give him that chance.

“He’s got all the physical tools,’’ Proehl said. “The process now has quickened. He’s got to play physical and play to his size and utilize his size and speed to his advantage. That’s what we’re working on every day.’’

Just as the Rams did with Warner in 1999.

“Absolutely,’’ Proehl said.

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