Picking Panthers: Say it ain’t so! | Our Corner | Covington-Maple Valley Reporter

As Super Bowl 50 looms in the distance, we Seahawk fans are reminded of what happened in the previous two Super Bowls.

Two years ago today (I sit here writing this column on Tuesday, Feb. 2), 12’s everywhere went crazy when we crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8.

But a year ago yesterday is a whole other story.

We are reminded of the decision to pass the ball to Ricardo Lockette from the 1-yard line instead of giving the ball to Beast Mode on second and goal with one timeout and 30 seconds remaining in the game.

The interception at the goal line by Malcolm Butler may very well haunt Seahawks and their fans for many years to come.

And this year, the Hawks, as much as they stressed us fans out in the beginning of the season and throughout many of their close games, made their way back to the playoffs.

This year not the Seahawks did not have the home field advantage they are so used to having.

No one can fault the Hawks for not making it back to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year, the Patriots didn’t return to defend their title either.

But with that said, who should we as Seahawk fans root for on Sunday?

And that is what brings me to the main point of this column… I am rooting for the Carolina Panthers to win Super Bowl 50.

Now, wait… before everyone gets angry with me and my decision, let me explain.

All season, I have liked the Panthers.

I was excited for them to go undefeated, which they fell short by one game when they lost to the Atlanta Falcons in their second to last regular season game.

When the Hawks traveled to Carolina to face the Panthers in the post season, the game was out of control.

The Hawks played an awful first half but came back after halftime.

The Panthers didn’t help themselves by going scoreless in the second half, almost giving up their lead.

But with time ticking down, the Hawks didn’t have enough to win.

A video of Cam Newton grabbing and throwing a 12 flag from a fan was seen by many Hawk fans, and a petition was even started to ban Newton from returning to Century Link Field.

That may not have been the best decision by him to throw a beloved 12 flag but I don’t think we should hold it against him.

Newton is a good quarterback and has led his team to the Super Bowl and a nearly perfect season.

Even Richard Sherman has come to Newton’s defense in an interview with 710 ESPN saying that the criticism of Newton is “unfortunate.”

An article on MyNorthwest said, “Sherman believes the criticism against Newton is unfounded considering he ‘hasn’t done anything wrong to anyone.’ He hasn’t done anything (bad) off the field or hurt anyone or committed a crime or done anything. He plays the game like a young kid, like a kid’s supposed to play it.”

Aside from the Panthers being the National Football Conference champions representing our division, there are some other reasons that make them deserving of the title come Sunday.

Linebacker Thomas Davis is in his 11th season in the NFL and has suffered a number of injuries during his career.

He injured his knee in 2010 and in 2011, he tore his ACL for the third time in three years.

And not to mention, he broke his arm in the NFC championship game and returned to the practice field Monday after having surgery.

Panther fan favorite Luke Kuechly is another reason Carolina deserves the win… He is a tackling machine.

Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. stepped up this year for the Panthers when they lost Kelvin Benjamin in the preseason.

With Benjamin out, the Panthers turned to Ginn Jr. to provide depth to their passing game.

This is Ginn Jr.’s ninth season in the NFL and in that short amount of time he has played for the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Panthers, Arizona Cardinals and back to the Panthers this season.

Timberline High School and University of Oregon graduate Jonathan Stewart is another reason I think the Panthers deserve the W.

Stewart has played all of his eight NFL seasons with the Panthers as a running back.

He also returned to practice Monday after sitting out last week with an ankle injury.

And finally, another player I see on the Panthers that makes them deserving of the Super Bowl ring is Shaq Thompson.

Now, just like Newton, I know there will be Seahawk fans hating me for this opinion, but I am a die hard Husky fan and I think an ex-Dawg and rookie like Thompson is deserving of the ring.

Many Hawk fans know Mr. Thompson posted a video to Snapchat following the Panthers win over Seattle saying “Seahawks fans, I’ve got a message… (bad word), the Seahawks.”

No one will know why he made the video or what prompted him to say those things toward Hawk fans because earlier in the season, he was excited to return to Seattle… a place he called his second home after living here for three years and playing at the University of Washington.

Regardless of this video, I still see Thompson as the stud who played both offense and defense for the Huskies in his final year at the U and I think he, too, is deserving of the Super Bowl 50 title.

So despite how you personally feel about the players or the team, I am still rooting for the Panthers Sunday and I have a strong feeling they are going to be the new world champions.