As Top Pick, Fairley Could Bring Panthers Some Luck

The following article is written by one of our new writers Bill Voth who is a sports anchor for WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Voth is going to help us cover the Panthers leading up to the NFL Draft. Enjoy.

He’s a dominant force on the interior of the defensive line. He won the Lombardi Award, which recognizes college football’s best lineman.

But he comes with question marks. There’s some controversial stuff in his past. Critics say he’s a “dirty” player. When his mouth gets going, sometimes it doesn’t stop.

So who is it?

It could have been Warren Sapp. The former Hurricane, Buccaneer and Raider was all of those things wrapped into one. Yet all those things eventually unwrapped into a Hall of Fame-worthy career.

But there’s someone else who fits the exact description above: Nick Fairley. The former Auburn defensive tackle blasted onto the scene during the 2010 season, helping the Tigers win the BCS Championship.

As Panthers fans still try to and get over the fact that the Stanford QB won’t be an option with the top pick, perhaps a player with Fairley’s potential would be a nice consolation prize?

While it’s easy to point at quarterback, there’s a good argument to be made that the Panthers’ weakest position is actually at defensive tackle. New coach Ron Rivera isn’t going into his first season with Nick Hayden and Derek Landri as his starters. He needs a guy that can not only take up space, but who also can lead the front four charge in Rivera’s version of the Tampa 2 defense. Fairley can do both.

Of course, Fairley’s resume is fairly thin. Should one big year equal a number one pick? It’s a legit concern, as are Fairley’s actions on the field.

With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell growing stricter as the league’s judge and jury, suspensions for questionable hits could be in the league’s future. If Fairley brings his questionable hits from Auburn to the NFL, that could cost him and the Panthers.

Plus, we’re talking about an organization that prides itself with having players of “character.” Fairley brings a significant deal of baggage, from a grade-changing scandal in high school to his “dirty” hits at Auburn. It would be out of the Panthers recent character to bring on a guy with those types of concerns.

But when you’re so focused on filling your roster with “good guys,” sometimes you can lose a bit of attitude. Besides Steve Smith, who else on the Panthers has an attitude? Sure, Jon Beason plays with a ridiculous motor, but is it really an “I want to rip your throat out” attitude? The Panthers could use a player like that and Fairley could fill that role.

Even though the Panthers won’t get a shot at Luck, they still have a chance to snag an impact player with the top pick. Fairley may not be the safest choice, but sometimes you’ve just got to roll the dice to make your own luck.