Finally - a positive Armanti article

[WVAPPeer]

LANDOVER, Md. Armanti Edwards' moment finally arrived Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field.

The timing could hardly have been better.

With the Carolina Panthers stuck at their own 9-yard line and nursing a 14-6 lead over the Washington Redskins early in the fourth quarter, Edwards found himself split wide on the left side of the line of scrimmage.

He was in the game because starter Brandon LaFell was inactive with a concussion and backup Kealoha Pilares had been knocked out with a shoulder injury. That put Edwards in the receiver group with Steve Smith and Louis Murphy.

Midway through his third NFL season, the former Appalachian State All-American quarterback turned wide receiver had gained a total of 24 yards rushing and receiving in his career. His lone pass reception had come earlier this season, a 12-yard catch at Atlanta. His 12 rushing yards came on two carries, one in 2010, the other last season.

With the Panthers likely to activate injured receiver David Gettis, there have been questions if it might mean the end of the Edwards experiment.

Then quarterback Cam Newton saw Edwards break open on first down, floated a pass that Edwards caught in full stride and by the time he was finally taken down, Edwards had gone from one 9-yard line to the other, an 82-yard reception that set up the touchdown that allowed the Panthers to end a five-game losing streak.

"Man, that was phenomenal for Armanti," said receiver Steve Smith, who threw a crushing downfield block on the play.

"They threw the ball to him and I was running like I had the ball. It's a guy that comes to work every day, he doesn't say hardly anything. He does his job. He's a team player, whether on scout team, throwing the ball or running routes. He's learning his craft. It came to fruition."

It looked natural. It looked easy. But looks, Smith said, can be deceiving.

"He ran a perfect route. The ball was thrown up there. He caught it," Smith said. "That's the hardest catch to ever make. A lot of people think a one-hand catch or this or that. The hardest catch to ever make for a wide receiver is when you're wide open and no one is around."

Edwards said he had been in for three plays before he made the game-changing catch. He's so quiet that offensive tackle Jordan Gross said he didn't realize Edwards had been in the huddle until he saw him catch Newton's pass and sprint downfield.

While talk shows and message boards have been cluttered with chatter about whether the Panthers made a mistake in trading a second-round draft choice in 2011 to draft Edwards in the third round in 2010, he has quietly done his work. When the Panthers drafted punt return specialist Joe Adams last spring, it seemed a signal that Edwards' time was running out.

Instead, Edwards helped deliver a victory to a team desperately in need of one.

"It's great," Edwards said when asked about his long catch. "I've known how to be patient, wait my turn. When my number is called, I've got to do my best to help the team."

It wasn't lost on his teammates.

"Not only is it big for him, it's big for us," Newton said. "That game was right on the cusp of someone making a play. Armanti's number was called. He was not even hesitating. He stepped right in."

Head coach Ron Rivera said he has talked with Edwards about his situation, praising him for his willingness to prepare as he does while knowing he may not play. Edwards had a good week in practice, Rivera said, making a couple of diving catches that caught everyone's attention.

"I've been feeling good about it all season," Edwards said. "It's just a matter of waiting until my number is called. I go to practice every day and practice like I'm starting."

As Edwards was leaving the locker room early Sunday evening, tight end Greg Olsen was talking about what the Appalachian State legend had done.

"It was huge," Olsen said. "That was probably the play of the game. We're backed up. The momentum is teetering a little bit there.

"He runs a great route, Cam delivers it right on point and that was huge. I'm happy for him. He's a hard worker. He doesn't say a lot. He comes each day and keeps preparing and biding his time. That's all you can ask."
Green: 704-358-5118; Twitter: @rongreenjr

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... rylink=cpy

[AppinATL]

Sounds like he has the support and respect of his teammates if not the idiot Panther fans. That's great to hear. Unfortunately, reading between the lines, I get the feeling that he's no closer to getting a real chance with the Panthers any time soon, so I really hope he gets to go somewhere where he really might get to play.

[CVAPP]

I agree with AppinATL.

[WataugaMan]

The Skins could use him, we need a receiver that can actually catch the ball when it's thrown directly in the hands.

[asu24]

You gotta love what the players say about him. Especially what Smitty said.

[WVAPPeer]

You gotta love what the players say about him. Especially what Smitty said.

Agree - Steve Smith doesn't mince words - so it was nice to read what he said about AE ---

[rbarthle17]

Seriously the only good thing about that game. The rest was crap.