CHARLOTTE — This week's Panthers Legend of the Game is former cornerback Chris Gamble.
Gamble was the team's first-round pick in 2004, where he joined a team fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and contributed to an already good defense. Although that rookie year got off to a rocky start (a 1-7 record to open the year after star receiver Steve Smith broke his leg in the opener), they quickly bounced back and went on another playoff run to the NFC Championship Game the following season.
Gamble was part of Ohio State's 2002 national championship team, which went 14-0 (so he was unaccustomed to such a streak as he experienced in 2004) and was a versatile contributor there, starting on both offense and defense during his time with the Buckeyes and shining as a returner.
He was even better here, and finished his career here as the team's all-time leader in interceptions with 27.
Panthers.com caught up with Gamble this week to catch up on a number of topics.
Q: For starters, what's it like to come back and be a part of events here, catching up with fans and former teammates?
Gamble: "It's always a blessing, man, to be able to get back and just see my old team play and see a lot of former players that I played with, and I enjoy the atmosphere of the friends, everything, just enjoying that part of it."
Q: We were talking about this with Brentson Buckner the other week; as one of the players who was around to know assistant coach Sam Mills, being able to come in and hit the Keep Pounding drum has to be a cool experience, right?
Gamble: "It's just a great feeling, just to keep doing and keep just persevering, man, no matter what you're facing and going through in life. Just watching him as a rookie coming in, not even knowing what he was going through, it was just crazy to see him going through that and just persevere through that without nobody even knowing that.
"So, Keep Pounding is just really representing Sam Mills and the endurance and the perseverance that he was going through his situation so that we all can take that same spirit and do the same in our own lives, no doubt."
Q: The other thing I was kind of curious about is that it's interesting that it worked out that you're coming in this week. In your rookie year, this team also started 1-7. When you're going through that, after having so much success in college, what was it like?
Gamble: "Oh, man, it's so miserable, man. I've never been through anything like that since Little League or high school or anything or college or nothing like that. I had never been through that, so I was kind of always frustrated.
"It was just about enduring and just Keep Pounding and just keeping it moving because, you know, the season ain't over, but it's just our record is what it is. We still have to go out there and perform, and we're professionals. It was very frustrating to go through something like that before coming from a great school like Ohio State. But it was a learning lesson to go through that because, like I said, I've never been through that.
"So, just to see the team still stay together, and just practice hard, try to get through that season without taking it out on everybody, but just keep it going, just persevering and Keep Pounding no matter what our record was. But I know, after that year, we started getting better, so you never know what can happen through those seasons like that."
Q: Do you remember anything in particular about when the switch flipped, and you guys had a five-game winning streak immediately after that (ultimately finishing 7-9 after that 1-7 start)?
Gamble: "It definitely felt good, man. That's what I liked about that, because, like I said, I've never been through anything like that. I was always used to winning, and when you do win, it feels so good, man. You want to keep winning and winning and winning. So, just bringing that winning spirit to that team, man, you want to keep it going."
Q: The Panthers have another first-round corner these days in Jaycee Horn. What do you think when you watch him and his game?
Gamble: "He's getting better and better each year. I'm glad to see that he's healthy, but I know he's going to be a great corner man. He's just got to keep going, just stay focused on his techniques, and do what he knows how to do best, and it'll come around, man; the interceptions and everything, those come around.
Q: Does he remind you of anybody in particular?
Gamble: (laughs) "Yeah, he puts me in the mind of myself, man. Just the height, the length, the playmaking abilities, and stuff like that. He's got good ball skills, so I just want to see him have a great year each year. Because he's a great corner, and I just don't want him to lose his confidence, man, but just stay, you know, confident and just stay doing what he knows how to do.
"I met him that one time when I came to training camp, but I'm moving back up, so I'll probably be around more often and try to just stay in this area and just try to help him out, man.
Q: So you're coming back to Charlotte?
Gamble: "Yeah, I'm supposed to be moving back sometime this year. I'm just trying to find a place to stay so I can get settled, and once I'm settled, I can come back to this stadium and try to chop it up with those guys and help out where I can.
"My daughter lives here, and then I just miss Charlotte, man. I always loved Charlotte when I was playing. So, I always wanted to come back after I retired. I want to get back up, you know, just to show my face and just be around the team more."
