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.
#95. Micheal Barrow
Micheal Barrow (yes that’s how you spell it) was one of the earliest members of what has turned into a long lineage of terrific linebackers donning the black and electric blue. After spending the first four years of his career with the Houston Oilers, he signed what was at the time a very lucrative contract to join a Panthers defensive unit that was one of the most dominant units in the league despite it being just the team’s second season. He joined a linebacking corps that included Kevin Greene, Lamar Lathon, and Sam Mills, all of whom will probably show up in this series at some point.
He ended up spending five seasons in Carolina, starting all 48 of the games the team played during that time. In those three seasons, he amassed 324 tackles, 16.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. He never earned a Pro Bowl nomination or any postseason awards, but he hovered in that tier of player that was very good but not quite award-worthy.
Even though Barrow originally signed a five year deal to join the Panthers, he was released after those three seasons for salary cap purposes. Barrow had said he joined the Panthers because of Super Bowl aspirations following the team’s unexpected trip to the NFC Championship game. Instead, the Panthers went 19-29 during his time here and never made the playoffs. He went on to play for the Giants, where he led the league in tackles in 2003.
