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Article: Del Rio makes Panthers 'D' a passion play.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- September 27, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Jack Del Rio always loved to play ball.
Football, basketball, baseball; whichever was in season. Sports were his passion, but eventually he chose football, and with it an 11-year career as an NFL linebacker. He's 39 and retired now, in his first season as the Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator. But his passion for playing the game remains.
"He's real emotional; sometimes you think he still wants to slide in and put the helmet and the shoulder pads on," said defensive tackle Brentson Buckner. "That's the way the game should be played. When you get emotion from your coach, it carries over to the players and you see the results now."