Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina Panthers’ defensive end Greg Hardy made headlines when he proclaimed that he would rack up 50 sacks this upcoming season. “Fifty. Why shoot low, right? If I’m going to shoot at it, I’m going to shoot at it with a 50 caliber. I’m going to shoot at a little bird with a 50-caliber bullet. That’s the goal for this year, 50 sacks, that’s where I’m at. That’s the goal, 50. You heard it first.”
Sure, his comments are a bit loony, but you have to admire his confidence. It’s very unlikely that he was even the least bit serious with his prediction, and I don’t blame him at all for giving the answer he did. A reporter asked him if he had a goal for sacks this season, and instead of digging himself into a legitimate hole, he just spouted off a random high number. Like he said, why not?
Hardy is right to have high hopes for this season, as the Panthers’ defensive line should be much improved. After adding two key pieces in the draft with Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, the d-line is on the way to becoming a major strength in Carolina. Hardy is coming off an 11-sack season in 2012, and that’s a number that should no doubt increase this year.
Fans should hope that Hardy truly does want to break the record for sacks in a single season. He’s got potential, but he’ll have to more than double his production from a year ago.
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