THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609230137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ED MILLER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE LENGTH: 50 lines
There will be no quarterback controversy in Carolina, Steve Beuerlein says.
Beuerlein, filling in for the injured Kerry Collins, led the Panthers to the biggest win in club history Sunday, throwing for 290 yards in a 23-7 win over San Francisco.
But as soon as Collins returns - possibly next week - Beuerlein will happily step aside, he said.
``Kerry's the man,'' Beuerlein said. ``This is his team. I was brought in to do what I did today.''
Carolina signed the 31-year-old Beuerlein as an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, and Sunday, he more than fulfilled his role as team insurance policy.
It's a role Beuerlein is comfortable with. In 1991, Beuerlein filled in for Troy Aikman in Dallas and led the Cowboys to five straight wins. He spent two years with the Cardinals and then a year in Jacksonville before signing with the Panthers.
``Obviously I'd like to play, but I'm comfortable with my role,'' Beuerlein said. ``There's nothing worse than having two guys who want to play the same position and make a big deal out of it.'' Brockermeyer gives fans top marks
Tackle Blake Brockermeyer has made it his pet project to educate Panther fans, who are still adapting to NFL football.
In Sunday's Charlotte Observer, Brockermeyer outlined seven commandements for fans, including these: ``Boo the officials every time they call a penalty against the Panthers'' and ``Don't leave the game if it starts raining.''
Fans did pretty well Sunday, erupting when Brockermeyer exhorted them from the sidelines. But they also did the wave once when Carolina had the ball, which Brockermeyer had listed as a no-no.
Brockermeyer didn't mind.
``The crowd was a huge factor today,'' he said. Walls making most of Carolina chance
With Brent Jones ahead of him, Wesley Walls never really got a chance to show what he could do with the San Francisco 49ers.
But Walls has flourished in Carolina, catching 12 passes in three games, including a career-high six Sunday.
``When free agency came I was one of the happiest guys around,'' Walls said. ``I was never gonna play behind Brent Jones.''
Walls said he has no hard feelings, and can even forgive Bay Area fans who said he'd never amount to anything.
``They can say what they want. We beat the 49ers - ha, ha, ha.'' by CNB