CHARLOTTE, N.C. – “Keep Pounding" has been a symbol of hope for the Carolina Panthers, particularly in home games where a special guest always is invited to bang a “Keep Pounding" drum before kickoff, since former linebacker/assistant coach Sam Mills died of cancer in 2005.
It had an entirely different meaning to the Minnesota Vikings during last year’s 22-10 victory over the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
They kept pounding quarterback Cam Newton, sacking him eight times and hitting him countless others in a game that started a four-game Carolina losing streak in a 1-5 start for the reigning NFC champion.