SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson says center Ryan Kalil’s prediction of a Super Bowl victory this season was “pretty cool.”
Kalil took out a full-page advertisement in The Charlotte Observer last week guaranteeing Carolina fans would be rewarded for their unwavering support with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Richardson made a similar prediction when the Panthers received an NFL franchise in 1993, guaranteeing a Super Bowl win within 10 years — although it didn’t happen.
Richardson says Kalil is “a man of conviction” and “he didn’t say anything detrimental about anybody else.”
Richardson was honored Monday at the start of practice by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who proclaimed this “Carolina Panthers Day” throughout the state.
Richardson says he’s more excited about this year than any of Carolina’s previous 17 seasons.
