The Panthers' gritty, never-give-up attitude that has them in position to win the NFC South after a season filled with adversity epitomizes the approach of one of the team's undisputed leaders.
Tight end Greg Olsen, fresh off his first ever Pro Bowl selection, enters Sunday's regular season finale at Atlanta already having posted 82 catches for 981 yards and six touchdowns. The totals for catches and yards represent career highs for the veteran now in his eighth NFL season and fourth with Carolina.
"Greg Olsen, a.k.a. 'Old Faithful.' He's been reliable, dependable. He's been determined," said quarterback Cam Newton, grinning broadly when asked to describe Olsen as a player, teammate and person. "It's funny, because I always get asked what kind of a person Greg is, and this is it in a nutshell: Right before the season we had a team meeting, and Greg stood up and gave a long dissertation on why he's important to this offense. But at the end of it, he said he wants to give everybody in the huddle closure that as long as they've got Greg Olsen on their team, everything is going to be all right. He said you don't ever have to worry about the tight end's responsibility and whether he's going to be able to make a play or not.
"And that's Greg. That's the way he's been every day since I've been here, and everything he said is the absolute truth."
The same was true the previous two seasons as well, even as Olsen battled through adversity off the field while his son, TJ, fought to overcome serious health issues after being born, along with his healthy twin sister, Talbot, on Oct. 9, 2012.
TJ was born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means the left side of his heart is severely underdeveloped and cannot do its job effectively. He already has undergone four surgeries - three open-heart procedures and the installation of a pacemaker - and is now healthy with no other procedures scheduled.
"It's been an interesting couple of years. But sometimes you just have to handle whatever life presents," Olsen said. "This has been one of those cases where it's nothing you foresee happening to you. But once it does, you just have to come to the realization that this is your reality and find the best way to keep moving forward.
"Something like this will snap you back into reality really fast. It shows you what really matters and what true troubles are, what true problems in this world really are. We've been very fortunate to have the support of the organization and the guys on the team. It's made the situation a lot easier."
Head coach Ron Rivera said the way Olsen has handled the situation with his son while continuing to play at a high level has not only been impressive but an inspiration to the entire team. As evidence of how the rest of the players feel about Olsen, he recently was voted by his teammates as the recipient of the Panthers' 2014 Ed Block Courage Award - which each NFL team gives out annually to a player who best exemplifies courage.
Then came Tuesday's announcement that Olsen finally had been named to the Pro Bowl, which pleased Rivera greatly.
"Greg has just been steady," Rivera said. "He's very deserving. He's having a great year, and a lot of it has to do with who he is as a person - considering all of the things he and his family have gone through. It kind of gives an indication as to who he is for this team."
Olsen prides himself on making sure he is thoroughly prepared to perform his job at the highest level every time he steps on the field, whether it's for a practice or game. That approach recently resulted in the 6-foot-5, 253-pound Olsen having consecutive games with 10 catches for 72 yards and one touchdown at New Orleans and then 10 receptions for 110 yards versus Tampa Bay.
"It just seems like things are really coming your way on days like that," Olsen said. "And you feel like no matter what they call or what the look is, you're going to get open. You get into a rhythm like that, and it's just fun. As soon as one play is over, you're already thinking about the next looks and setting up the next route, anticipating what the defense is going to give you and what their answer is going to be. It's fun, trying to anticipate those types of things. You get in a groove like that, and it's just fun."
Olsen appreciated his first Pro Bowl nod but said awards don't define him as a player or person.
"Obviously, I would be lying if I said it didn't mean something to me," Olsen said. "I think it's the sentiment of every player that he would like to be honored for being one of the best at his position in the league for that particular year. But it's not necessarily something I strive for; it's more of a byproduct of trying to do things a certain way. That's the way I look at it.
"Making it this year doesn't discredit any of my other seasons. I take a lot of pride in what I do, and I think that speaks for itself. I don't really need those honors to validate that."
Newton said he didn't need Olsen's Pro Bowl selection to realize how valuable Olsen is as a teammate. In fact, he said that thinking of how Olsen has conducted himself helped him put his own recent automobile accident behind him more quickly.
"I tell you what, man, to put things in perspective, life and health is Alpha to this game," Newton said. "We all want to be great. We only play this game for one reason, and that's for wins, right? You look at Greg Olsen's situation, and he comes in and expects a lot of not only himself, but of his teammates.
"He expects it on the practice field and he expects it on the game field, and I respect that. It's kind of made me look at my situation and say, 'You know what? If he can do it, I can do it. If he's doing what he's doing and not complaining about it, then I can do it, too.'"
View photos of the Panthers from the 2014 season when Carolina became the first team to win the NFC South in consecutive seasons.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoff game at Century Link Field on Saturday, January 10, 2015 in Seattle, WA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Arizona Cardinals during the Wild Card playoff round at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, January 3, 2015, in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
Carolina Panthers play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 5, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 5, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Buffalo Bills in Bank of America Staium on Friday, August 8, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 5, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the New Orleans Saints in Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, December 14, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Carolina Panthers play the final regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, December 28, 2014, in Atlanta, GA.
Carolina Panthers play against the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, August 17, 2014.
