SAN JOSE, Calif – The day after Thanksgiving, Panthers fans were basking in the glow of a dominant victory over the Dallas Cowboys on one of the NFL's biggest stages, a triumph that improved Carolina to 11-0.
But on the practice fields adjacent to Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers were still looking for ways to improve.
Despite the scores of success to that point, the Panthers decided their nickel defense could use a boost, so rather than gorging on Thanksgiving leftovers, they went scavenging for help for their secondary.
The workout that day included Cortland Finnegan and Robert McClain, who in effect will start for the Panthers in Super Bowl 50 come Sunday.