Bust out the protractors and rulers https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mike-Adams-Jersey , refs. All your old-school stationery supplies are fair game for measurements in the NFL.Referee Gene Steratore’s decision to use a folded index card for a first-down measurement that went in favor of Dallas against the Raiders will start a new trend. Football is a game of inches. Making the right call is crucial so refs need all the help they can get.Give them calculators, erasers and No. 2 pencils, too. Perhaps the league’s competition committee will change the rules to allow referees to carry these supplies onto the field.After all https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Matt-Kalil-Jersey , it worked so well for Steratore, who saw it one way while cameras suggested he was wrong.Here are more overreactions following Week 15:——OVERREACTION: Spoiling a pity parade will spark the Browns (0-14) to finally win a game.REALISTIC REACTION: Why not? Nothing else worked.——OVERREACTION: Colin Kaepernick will return to the NFL after he teams up with P. Diddy to buy the Panthers.REALISTIC REACTION: He’d have to trade Cam Newton.——OVERREACTION: The Steelers (10-3) can’t win without Antonio Brown.REALISTIC REACTION: They almost beat the Patriots (10-3) with their star receiver missing most of the game.——OVERREACTION: Nate Sudfeld could toss four TD passes throwing in Philadelphia’s offense.REALISTIC REACTION: Carson Wentz and Nick Foles doing it in consecutive weeks doesn’t mean whoever lines up under center for the Eagles (12-2) will have similar success. And, they don’t want to find out.——OVERREACTION: Aaron Rodgers lost his magic touch.REALISTIC REACTION: He was coming back from surgery on a broken collarbone. He’s not Superman.——OVERREACTION: Playoff football will fill the seats in Los Angeles.REALISTIC REACTION: Too many seats to fill in the Coliseum.——OVERREACTION: Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner will settle their differences in locker-room scrap.REALISTIC REACTION: It’s already forgotten.——OVERREACTION: The Vikings are the scariest team in the NFC playoffs.REALISTIC REACTION: Case Keenum is still their quarterback.——OVERREACTION: The Bills will end their 17-year playoff drought.REALISTIC REACTION: They’re not winning in New England and beating the Dolphins twice in three weeks will be a tough task. They could end up 8-8.—— Will 2019 be the season when No. 54 - Shaq Thompson - finally breaks out?" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesCat Scratch Reader homepageHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityFollow Cat Scratch Reader online:Follow Cat Scratch Reader on TwitterFollow Cat Scratch Reader on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchCat Scratch Reader main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 Training CampCSR Film RoomPanthers 2019 season opener countdown: 54 days to goNew https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Captain-Munnerlyn-Jersey ,20commentsWill 2019 be the season when No. 54 - Shaq Thompson - finally breaks out? EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Panthers 2019 season opener countdown: 54 days to goTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesThe No. 54 is currently worn by Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson. Here’s a look at Shaq and his potential contribution in Carolina for the 2019 season.Shaq Thompson, LinebackerBioHeight: 6’0”Weight:230 lbsAge: 25 yearsCollege: WashingtonExperience: 5 yearsShaq Thompson was the Panthers’ first round pick in 2015 (No. 25 overall) and spent his four seasons playing third fiddle to fellow linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis. Shaq is clearly both talented and effective, but with the Panthers abundance of talent at linebacker he has only played in 52 percent of Carolina’s defensive snaps throughout his four year career. That’s about to change. Thomas Davis is (sadly) now a member of the Los Angeles Chargers meaning Shaq should get all the playing time he can handle. The Panthers picked up his fifth-year option at $9.2 million allowing the team to get at least one more year of his services and/or additional time to try to work out a long-term deal.This season could be a breakout year for Thompson where productivity finally meets opportunity. Shaq has been good when he’s been on the field. Last year https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/David-Mayo-Jersey , for example, Pro Football Focus rated Thompson as the No. 31 linebacker in the NFL, which is solid https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Devin-Funchess-Jersey , but it trailed both Luke (No. 2) and TD (No. 17). In 2018 he racked up 79 tackles, a career high, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him approach 100 tackles in 2019 assuming he stays healthy. And the Panthers will need Shaq to stay healthy. After years of having plenty of depth at linebacker https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mario-Addison-Jersey , Carolina goes into 2019 with a suddenly thin linebacker corps outside of Shaq and Luke.The Panthers have taken the long view with Shaq, who is still just 25 years old. He has spent the last four seasons in the equivalent of NFL linebacker graduate school learning at the feet of Nobel laureates in Dr. Kuechly and Dr. Davis. This season will likely be the first since Shaq Thompson donned a Panthers jersey that he will get a full-time starting workload. I’m excited to see what he can do.