Adam Thielen opens up about the Carolina Panthers' brutal new standard
To change the culture, the Carolina Panthers aren’t settling for second-best.
Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen wants a new standard.
The 33-year-old has seen the NFL transform over the years, and on Wednesday, he lobbied for a tighter schedule, with team workouts being closer to OTAs. His main point of reasoning is that players are working out on their own because if someone comes into camp out of shape, the length of time they will be there won't be long.
“The NFL has gotten so competitive that you can’t not work out,” Thielen said on The Rich Eisen Show. "When guys come back to OTAs and they’re out of shape, they haven’t done anything, they’re getting cut. There were a few guys that aren’t on the Panthers anymore that came back, they were out of shape, you can tell they hadn’t done anything, and they’re not there anymore. That’s just the reality.
For the Panthers, Dave Canales is setting the tone. The first-time head coach wants a team that is willing to play fest, compete and produce every day.
Thielen already had rich praise for the tight ship Canales is running, though he wishes the league would change the offseason calendar.
What stood out imminently to the former Minnesota Vikings pass-catcher was Canales' confidence in his abilities as a head coach. Thielen believes that will make a difference for the Panthers in 2024.
"One of his strengths is just his confidence and his intentionality,” Thielen said of his head coach. "He’s very intentional in everything he does."
And that goes for players who happen to show up to team workouts completely out of shape.
Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen sounds off on recent NFL decision he isn’t a fan of
During the offseason, the NFL decided to penalize the hip drop tackle to the frustration of several players around the NFL.
