CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid knew something was up in the first half of Sunday's 24-17 loss at Tampa Bay when a play was called in the defensive huddle that hadn't been practiced all week.
"We were like, 'Whoa!'" Reid said. "They told us [coach Ron Rivera] had called that play."
On Monday, there was no doubt something was up. Rivera announced he was taking over the defensive playcalling the rest of the season from coordinator Eric Washington and fired two defensive assistants.
It was an effort to salvage a season -- the Panthers are 6-6 after a 6-2 start -- with four straight losses heading into Sunday's game at Cleveland (1 p.