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From a 'Duck' car to a ride from mom: How Panthers arrived at camp

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A couple of Panthers players carpooled to training camp, driving the easy 1.5 hours from Charlotte to Wofford College. Veteran defensive end Julius Peppers was dropped off at player check-in by a car service.

But rookie receiver Curtis Samuel? His mom dropped him off, of course.

Just like any other 20-year-old, right?

Samuel’s mom, Nicole, watched from the parking lot, hands on hips as the receiver walked toward dorms, wheeling his suitcase behind him.

The Ohio State product, who later told a Panthers.com reporter that his mom needed the car, is sure to get some ribbing from his new teammates who had slightly more sophisticated arrivals.

Running back Fozzy Whittaker rode up in a car with a fire-breathing dragon painted on the side. It’s a look that might inadvertently coincide with the Panthers’ “Game of Thrones” training camp theme.

Oregon product Jonathan Stewart’s ride was a brilliant emerald green and silver car with yellow detailing — what he called his “Duck” car in honor of his alma mater.

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart called this his “Duck” car when he arrived at training camp. The former Oregon star meant it. Notice all the detail “Duck” detail.

David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer

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Center Ryan Kalil carpooled with his little brother, tackle Matt Kalil, who Carolina signed in the offseason via the Minnesota Vikings.

“It was very telling of his music taste, which wasn’t great,” Ryan Kalil said. “He got fired of being DJ about 20 minutes into the drive. I‘m surprised I let it go that long.

“I don’t even know [what he played]. That’s how bad it was. I have no idea, I’ve never heard of this music before. A lot of weird house stuff. Something he picked up in Minnesota, I’m guessing.”

The 16-year veteran Peppers arrived with little fanfare: He simply strolled out of an enormous, black SUV, a ride acquired via a car service.

Samuel can only watch and learn.

Soccer

Report: Real Madrid on verge of record €180M deal for Mbappe

Armen Bedakian

5h ago

Reuters / Jean-Pierre Amet

Real Madrid is ready to smash the transfer record for AS Monaco star Kylian Mbappe, with Marca reporting that the Spanish giant has agreed in principle to sign the 18-year-old for €180 million.

The deal would see Los Blancos pay an initial €160-million fee for the electrifying teenager, with a further €20 million in add-ons. Though the reigning French champion has denied claims of an agreement, Sid Lowe of the Guardian reports that Madrid is “optimistic” a deal is close.

He adds that Madrid would pay Mbappe around €7 million per year on a six-year contract, a price made easier to pay since Real Madrid has parted ways with Alvaro Morata and Danilo this summer, and loaned out James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich.

The sale of Morata to Chelsea also opens up a need for reinforcements up top in Zinedine Zidane’s squad, with Lowe reporting that Mbappe has been assured playing time such that there would be “departures that would facilitate his involvement.”

For his part, Mbappe has made no secret of his desire to join his favourite club Real Madrid, despite drawing interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Arsenal.

But, as Zidane astutely offered: “Anything can happen between now and 31 August.”