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Carolina Panthers' preseason game against New England Patriots no dress rehearsal

By The Sports Xchange
Carolina Panthers quarterback Derek Anderson looks downfield during the first half of their NFL preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, August 11, 2016. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
1 of 3 | Carolina Panthers quarterback Derek Anderson looks downfield during the first half of their NFL preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, August 11, 2016. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- When he actually speaks, Bill Belichick sure can have a way with words.

Take what he said Monday when asked about Friday's matchup between the Patriots and Panthers at Carolina (7:30 p.m. ET) and whether the third preseason game truly is a "dress rehearsal" for the regular season.

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"I don't know what that means," he told Boston radio station WEEI. "In terms of playing time it might be a little different, but in terms of game-planning and strategy, what we see in the regular season compared to what we see the in third preseason game I don't even think you're in the same universe.

"I don't see any comparison at all. It's too far away, I don't see how you could compare them, from that standpoint."

Care to chime in, Ron Rivera?

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"I love what coach Belichick said," Rivera, the Panthers head coach, said after Wednesday's practice. "It's a complete world apart. The one thing you can't do is emulate the atmosphere, the intensity level, and quite honestly, even though you do game plan, you don't game plan everything."

This is the third straight year the Panthers and Patriots have met during the third week of the preseason.

In each of the past two seasons, Rivera has kept his starters in through one series of the third quarter, and that's the plan again for Friday. Who the defense will face at quarterback is less clear.

Tom Brady, who is set to serve a suspension during the first four games of the regular season, hasn't even been in the stadium for the Patriots' first two exhibitions. He was attending a family member's memorial service for the first and was sent home before the second after cutting his thumb with a pair of scissors.

But to Rivera, the Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo question doesn't matter much.

"Whether (Brady) plays or not I think is inconsequential in terms of this game," Rivera said. "This is, to a degree, the dress rehearsal, but for the most part, we're going to go out and do what we do. We've looked at what they've done in the preseason and that's what we're game planning against."

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--There hasn't been much said about contract negotiations between the Panthers and defensive tackle Kawann Short because there hasn't been much negotiating.

The sizable impasse became clear as soon as Short's side made it known they're looking for a Fletcher Cox-like $17 million-a-year contract. According to a league source, general manager Dave Gettleman began talks unwilling to go much higher than $15 million per season.

The scenario has been similar to former cornerback Josh Norman's last summer. Short will make a bit over $1 million in the final year of his rookie deal, and the two sides will pick things back up again after the season.

"Somewhere along the line, they'll figure it out. I believe they will," coach Ron Rivera said. "He's too important a player for us, and KK likes where he is. We'll see where it all unfolds."

Like they did with Norman, the Panthers could use the franchise tag on Short. Unlike Norman, it's unlikely the whole thing will suddenly blow up leading to Short leaving next spring.

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