#141, Gary Brandege TE

Preesh.

#82, I think ya'll be pleasantly surprised with his blocking ability

 

http://community.heraldonline.com/after_all_that_wait_a_te

 

I like his music


http://www.myspace.com/garybarnidge

 

Q and A with Gary Barnidge, the team's fifth-round pick from Louisville


What do you know about the Panthers and how do you see yourself fitting in?


I actually watched them a lot. I know when they came in with Jacksonville, I actually liked the Panthers more than Jacksonville, even though

Jacksonville is my home. I don't know what it was, but I just really liked the Panthers. I followed them the last couple of years and I feel like I

can came in and help stretch the field as a tight end and also be a little H-Back blocker.


Did you have a sense that the Panthers wanted to draft you?

Yes sir. Through me and my agent, I heard a little bit from them because they worked me out on my pro day. The tight end coach came and worked me out. Then they said they were really interested in me, but they didn't know when they were going to pick a tight end. So it was pretty much a waiting game.


What do you bring to the table for them?

I feel like I can stretch the field against safeties and linebackers. I also feel like I am a good blocker.


Do you feel like you can fit into the power style of play that the Panthers are trying for?

Yes sir. Right now I weigh about 247, which is about 10-12 pounds more than I played at in my senior year of college. I think it is going to help me to be a better blocker. I've just got to get stronger and I'll be fine.


At your size, do you think you can go up to 255-260 lbs?

Yes sir, I feel like anywhere between 252-255 would be great for me because I can maintain my speed and still be able to block and run well with that frame.


Must be nice trying to gain weight?

Yes sir. A lot of people always say that. They are trying to lose weight, and I am trying to gain weight. It's tough though.

What have you been doing for your diet?

I just follow a strict diet. I don't eat bread and I don't eat a lot of sugars. I eat a lot of protein. So when I get a sandwich, I just roll up the meat and cheese with no bread. I also take beef liver pills to maintain my weight.


Have you been watching the Panthers over the last couple of years?

Yes sir. They have been really good. They are progressing. They went to the playoffs a couple of years ago and just barely missed it this year.

They had a little problem with injuries this year, which is a little set back, but I think they will be good this year.


Do you think you can help free up some of the receivers?

I think I can. I can stretch the field against linebackers, which I think is a mismatch. I can line up at tight end, or I can split out if they ask me,

because I've done both of them in college.


It¹s in your bio that you had a couple of tackles while playing defense,

what did you play and what was that like?


All my tackles came on punt team. I led my team in tackles my junior year

and I caused two fumbles on punt team. So I¹ve done pretty well in that, but

I¹m also a long snapper too so that will help me in the long run.


What is your fairly consistent 40 time?


I have been running consistently low 4.6¹s.


It has to be a little unusual to watch the Panthers after growing up around

Jacksonville with all of those Jaguars fans. Is it?


It is a little different. But when they first came in, my dad and I made a

bet between Jacksonville and Carolina. I ended up winning because Carolina

won. It was real nice. I don¹t have a problem with it because I was never

that big of a Jacksonville fan, so it was never that big of a deal.


What did you win off your dad in that bet?


He just gave me an extra twenty dollars allowance.

(courtesy of Steve Reed)

 

Yes sir.

 

JRG

 

Another TE taken in the 4th or 6th round. This is getting to be the Fox_Hurney MO...

 

No kidding, the kid was raised right at least.

 

told you -- nobody likes TEs more than the jets or panthers


seriously, though -- how good is it to draft a guy who is actually a fan?