Here at Cat Scratch Reader we have counted down the final 100 days leading up to the Carolina Panthers season opener by for at least the past ten years. We’ve always done this by highlighting the current player on the roster whose jersey number matches the day on the countdown. This year, we decided to change that up a bit by counting down our own list of the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This does not correspond to jersey number, does not need to be somebody who wore a jersey, and will in no way be controversial.
#80. Na’il Diggs
Originally a fourth round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2000, Diggs joined the Panthers in 2006 as a free agent. Unfortunately for Diggs on a team level, his tenure ended smack dab in the middle of the team’s two Super Bowl runs of 2003 and 2015, with the team releasing him after to 2009 season. While he didn’t make it all the way to the Super Bowl, he did still manage to be an important contributor on defense all four years in Carolina. This was especially so in the 2008 season, which saw the team go 12-4 and earn the NFC’s second seed. That year, Diggs started all 16 regular season games at strong side linebacker, netting 54 tackles, three for loss, an interception, a sack, and two passes defended. Diggs was also a stalwart on the core four special teams.
Though Diggs didn’t have the eye popping numbers and insane highlights of the other Panthers players on this list, he was a steady, reliable force for several years during the team’s sustained Super Bowl window. While other players may have gotten the headlines, his presence should not be underestimated and his presence on this list should not be understated.
