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.

Curtis Samuel got dropped off by his mom. Smart rookie move. She’s proudly watching. #panthers #NFLTrainingCamp @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/1Ee9JA0T45

— Tiffany Blackmon (@tiffblackmon) July 25, 2017

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.

Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker appears to have a fire-breathing dragon on the… https://t.co/tkg4P2UxGn pic.twitter.com/JjLOT5dVEV

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) July 25, 2017

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

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.

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers used a car service to come to camp at Wofford… https://t.co/my4ERRpPLG pic.twitter.com/GQq7WkPsZo

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) July 25, 2017

Samuel can only watch and learn.

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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.”

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Monday that middle linebacker Jordan Hicks broke a bone in his hand while on his honeymoon earlier this summer, an injury that required a “minor procedure.” Hicks will be limited to start training camp.

“He’s a veteran player, understands his role, I’m not going to rush him out there and try to reinjure that thing,” said Pederson, who stated that he doesn’t expect his linebacker to miss any time.

Hicks’ injury reportedly occurred while getting out of a pool during his honeymoon in Greece in late June.

Hicks missed half of his rookie season in 2015 with a torn pectoral muscle. He also dealt with significant injuries at the University of Texas, including a torn Achilles, a hip flexor and a fractured foot.

Hicks, 25, was able to play all 16 games last season and established himself as a foundational piece of the Eagles defense. He had 85 tackles, five interceptions, a sack and 11 passes defenses while manning the middle for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. His five interceptions led the team and were the most among NFL linebackers. He now has seven picks in 24 professional games.

Pederson added that wide receiver Jordan Matthews could be limited in the early stages of training camp as well as he continues to deal with knee tendinitis.

“I’m not concerned. I know Jordan’s work ethic, I know the type of person and player that he is, and we’ve just got to stay on top of it, obviously,” Pederson said. “He’s been rehabbing all spring, all summer … just another one that we’ll monitor as we go.”

Matthews, 25, suffered what was termed a bone bruise in his left knee during training camp last August. He was hobbled by various injuries throughout the season, including a sprained ankle that he suffered in late November. He was also sidelined for much of the spring. Nelson Agholor received the bulk of his reps in the slot and really stood out.

Paris Saint-Germain’s triggering of Neymar’s €222-million release clause has left the Brazilian forward with a headache-inducing conundrum over his future, says his former Santos colleague Andre.

Barcelona fans were given faint hope that Neymar had committed to staying in Catalonia when teammate Gerard Pique posted a picture of them together on Instagram, accompanied by the caption: “He stays.”

Related: Pique posts picture with Neymar, claims Brazilian will stay at Barcelona

A source apparently close to Neymar then told ESPN FC that he had “no idea” why Pique shared the image, with recent accounts claiming Neymar’s father had held successful contract negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain on his son’s behalf.

“I cannot speak for him,” Andre told L’Equipe about the possible world-record transfer, with translation from ESPN FC. “It is a complicated negotiation process and there is a lot of money at stake in something like this. In any case, Paris is a great city and if he goes there, he will love it, that is certain.

“I know that he has a massive headache because of this right now. It is not an easy decision. In Paris, he will be surrounded by his friends. That does not mean he is uncomfortable at Barca though. On the contrary, he actually feels very good there. Because of that, his choice has been made even harder.”

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

In addition to the location and potentially monumental pay packet tempting him northwards, Neymar may also be keen on being the face of PSG. Since the club was taken over by a Qatari consortium in 2012, big-name players have arrived in the French capital, but none of the notoriety of Neymar. He’s an undoubted commercial success wherever he lands, and the Brazilian wouldn’t have to out-sparkle the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to put himself in the reckoning for the greatest individual prizes in the game.

“I think it’s absolutely no coincidence that this speculation has emerged shortly after the news that Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona,” South American football expert Tim Vickery mused to BBC Sport last week.

“How will it end? I have my little idea but honestly, you can never be 100 percent sure in modern football,” Andre continued. “We are talking about a potentially historic transfer and negotiations to match with enormous amounts of money in play, so we cannot predict an outcome.

“As for me, I can say nothing. I cannot speak for him. It is up to Neymar to announce whether he will go there (to PSG) or not.”

In what some were touting as his last game for the Blaugrana, Neymar scored twice in his side’s 2-1 defeat of Juventus at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.