Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has been hired as the new defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, league sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton told The Associated Press he could not confirm McDermott's hiring.

In addition, new Panthers coach Ron Rivera has hired San Diego Chargers tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski, 42, as Carolina's offensive coordinator, the Charlotte Observer reported.

The 36-year-old McDermott, who was fired by the Eagles after the season, came under heavy criticism in a season in which the Eagles allowed a franchise-high 31 touchdown passes and had the worst red-zone defense in the NFL.

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The Carolina Panthers have entrusted Ron Rivera with turning around the NFL's worst team, making the San Diego defensive coordinator the second Latino head coach in NFL history.

Rivera was introduced on Tuesday. He replaces John Fox, who was let go earlier this month after Carolina went 2-14 in his ninth season. Rivera's deal is worth $11.2 million over four years, a source close to the situation told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

It's the first head-coaching job for the 49-year-old Rivera, who is of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage. He joins ex-Raiders and Seahawks boss Tom Flores as the only Latino head coaches.

Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6011884

The Carolina Panthers announced Friday that coach John Fox will not return next season and that the contracts of his assistant coaches will not be renewed.

"I told John today that I appreciate everything he has done for us over the last nine years, but as happens in this business, it is time for both sides to move in different directions," Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said in a statement.

Fox's departure has been no secret, and his last full practice at the Panthers' complex was an odd scene with the Meineke Car Care Bowl about to kick off just a few steps away. Fox gathered the players around him shortly before noon, with a burst of laughter heard from players as they broke toward the locker room.

"It's been a lot of great memories, a lot of fond memories, a lot of great relationships and something I'll cherish forever," Fox said. "Now [I'll] just embark on the next chapter."

Fox was first denied a contract extension after the 2008 season. He entered the last year of his deal this fall after the Panthers began a youth movement that's left them an NFL-worst 2-13 and the league's worst offense, but they will have the No. 1 overall draft pick in April.

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"Dunta Robinson is still waiting for his first interception with the Falcons.

That doesn't mean he isn't making big plays, though.

Robinson's fumble recovery on the first play from scrimmage set the Falcons up for their first touchdown in a 31-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Then he continued to play well as part of a secondary that held the Panthers' always-dangerous Steve Smith to just two catches, both in the second half.

"It's all about working and grinding and taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves," Robinson said. "We got some opportunities today and we took advantage of them."

Robinson signed a 6-year, $57-million contract with the Falcons last spring after spending seven seasons with the Houston Texans.

He was in the right place at the right time on what arguably was the biggest play of the game.

The Panthers started from their 26 after taking the opening kickoff, and on the first play Jonathan Stewart ran up the middle. Middle linebacker Mike Peterson knocked the ball loose as Stewart was piled up, and the ball popped directly to Robinson.

The Falcons took over at the Carolina 29, and three plays later Matt Ryan hit Tony Gonzalez with a 4-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead with 13 minutes and 41 seconds left in the first quarter.

"I think it kind of set the tone for the rest of the game," Robinson said. "The offense went down and put seven points on the board real quick and we just kept going from there."

The Falcons are big on playing to the echo of the whistle, and Robinson - and Peterson -- for sure kept going even when it seemed that Stewart had been stopped."

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-fa...ig-774171.html

"The Carolina Panthers have lost yet another linebacker for the season as two-game starter Jason Williams suffered a torn ACL in his knee and will need surgery, according to a league source. The Panthers plan to put Williams on injured reserve today and sign another linebacker.

Williams actually tore his ACL in the third quarter of Carolina's loss to the Seattle Seahawks but continued to play. Oddly enough, he even practiced with the team Wednesday, but later complained of some knee pain. He was limited in practice Thursday and the Panthers checked him out with an MRI, which surprisingly revealed a torn ACL."

Read more: http://reederstake.freedomblogging.c...torn-acl/7766/

"Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson not only has the solution, but a corporate sponsorship idea for the team as well.

Asked what single thing he could do to fix the Panthers' league-worst offense, the beleaguered coach cracked a grin.

"Staples sells them," Davidson said, affording himself a rare laugh. "It's red and it says 'easy' across the top."

Asked how many he had on his desk, he shook his head, saying "None. Not one."

It's almost hard to do more than expect a miracle, such is the complete and systemic failure of the Panthers' offense this season.

They can't run because they've missed key players, but also because they can't throw the ball enough to make defenses honor play-action.

And they can't throw because of turnover-prone quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen and an untested group of receivers."

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...-panthers.html

Sam Bradford is learning quickly, and these St. Louis Rams are far from the same team that won only one game last season.

The rookie quarterback threw two touchdown passes Sunday, the defense forced four turnovers and St. Louis reached the season's midway point at 4-4 and in contention in the NFC West after beating the Carolina Panthers 20-10.

Bradford threw a 2-yard scoring pass to Danny Amendola in the second quarter and a 23-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Fells in the fourth quarter. He was 25 for 32 for 191 yards and no interceptions, with a season-best quarterback rating of 112.4.

"I felt very comfortable out there today, probably the most comfortable I've felt," said Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. "I think the game is really slowing down for me."

St. Louis goes into its bye week with more wins than the previous two seasons combined -- the Rams were 2-14 in 2008 before last season's NFL-worst 1-15 record.

Read more: http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=301031014