Comments from Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox following the team's practice.
On injuries: Out - Jeff Otah (knee) and Jamar Williams (neck). Questionable - Tyler Brayton (ankle) and Greg Hardy (foot). Probable - Mackenzy Bernadeau (shoulder) and Travelle Wharton (ankle).
On what makes Panthers linebacker Jon Beason and Saints quarterback Drew Brees such good leaders: In this league you develop through your career, whether it's way back to Pop Warner, junior high, college, whatever it is. Those types of guys - I know in Drew Brees' case as well as Jon Beason - they were leaders in college. This is a new level, it's different, but some of those same leadership skills definitely are in them, and they carry it on to this level.
On how the Saints are different without running back Reggie Bush: I liken him to Marshall Faulk in his heyday. In that style of offense, it's just one more weapon that you have to defend and it creates matchups. Sometimes one guy (defender) wasn't enough. Like all great players, that's what you do - whether you're on offense, defense or special teams. Those are matchups you try to create and look for on game day. They've got Pierre Thomas, who is an exceptional back. But there are not many Reggie Bushes or Marshall Faulks coming out of the backfield in the National Football League. I liken those guys a lot; that's a compliment.
On if there is anything he can tell rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen to prepare him for the environment in the Louisiana Superdome: I tell our guys it can't get any louder than it does here at practice all week. It's loud. That is why there is a home-field advantage. You get indoors and it's just nosier, because it collects the sound. It's the pressure of the game with the combination of the noise that's tough for any quarterback, whether you're Jimmy Clausen or Matt Ryan.
On what he likes about undrafted rookie free agent defensive tackle Andre Neblett: He played at Temple and he was a shorter guy. But as it went, he started figuring things out. He's a very explosive guy; he's got good quickness and good range. He just kept catching our eye. Being a young player, we thought he was worth investing some time in.
