SHORT ON THE LONG END OF THE STICK

     JULIUS PEPPERS.     CHARLES JOHNSON.    GREG HARDY.     KRIS JENKINS.    KEVIN GREENE.      

    There's been quite a few prestigious defensive sack leaders to pass through the Carolina Panthers over the years who made their marks on the NFL. 

Kawann Short

    Since last year, Greg Hardy was released and Charles Johnson was injured.  The Panthers have been known to have a motto called "Next Man Up" which indicates the ability of prior backup or unknown players to rise to the occasion and help the team in times of difficulty.

  This year, one of those players has definitely been DT Kawann Short.   He has come on really strong in the last couple of big games against Seattle and Philadelphia, registering five sacks in those two games and earning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month award for October.

    The third--year player from Purdue becomes the second consecutive Panther player to win the award, with CB Josh Norman winning the September award after returning two interceptions for touchdowns.

    Okay-- this is pretty amazing-- but can we make it three?  I'm thinking maybe-- Luke Kuechly?