CHARLOTTE http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/jaylon-ferguson-jersey-authentic , N.C. (AP) — A smiling David Tepper jogged down a small makeshift runway at a crowded gymnasium, crouching as he went to slap hands with wildly cheering elementary school children clad in blue Carolina Panthers T-shirts while music blared.After finishing his short jog, the Panthers owner smiled back at the crowd and seemed to soak in the moment.Tepper made his first charitable donation to the Carolinas on Tuesday through his foundation, giving away 12,000 new backpacks and school supplies to 17 elementary schools across the Charlotte, North Carolina, area including those students at Thomasboro Academy.“It’s been great,” said a smiling Tepper of his first seven weeks as owner.The self-made multi-billionaire hedge fund owner is 60, but still remembers his days growing up in Pittsburgh in a lower-income household. His mother worked as a teacher at an inner city school, and he got to see firsthand how difficult it was for her to provide school supplies for her students.He also remembers walking to school with a brown bag because he didn’t have a backpack. In high school he would sometimes hitch rides to school.When he purchased the Panthers for an NFL-record $2.2 billion from Jerry Richardson in July, Tepper said he immediately thought of supporting schoolchildren, calling them “our future.”“I thought it was a great way to start off,” said Tepper Miles Boykin Jersey , who is known for his philanthropy in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.“Every kid needs supplies and there is a shortage of supplies. Teachers don’t have enough money for supplies — and you know the situation in North Carolina and in the Carolinas in general with schools. So whatever we can do to help that out, it’s great.”Said Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis: “He comes in here with that same mindset we have (as players) with giving back to the community.”Tepper is quickly becoming a popular figure in the Charlotte area.Unlike Richardson, who is more stoic and formal and kept out of the spotlight, Tepper exudes the feel of an ordinary guy, often dressing in khaki shorts, a golf shirt and a baseball hat.Prior to the Panthers’ first preseason game, he tailgated with fans and knocked back a few beers.“He’s easy to talk to, he’s approachable and he likes being around the guys,” Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly said.When he bought the Panthers, Tepper vowed to change the culture and make it more of a family atmosphere where people are comfortable in the workplace regardless of race, gender or religion.That came after allegations surfaced of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace by Richardson while owner of the Panthers. He was later fined $2.7 million by the NFL when reports were substantiated following a six-month investigation. The reports ultimately prompted Richardson, the team’s founder, to put the franchise up for sale.Tepper is already shaking it up Deandre Baker Jersey , doing things his way.The Panthers have worn two different uniform combinations in their first two preseason home games and there’s talk of possibly incorporating a black helmet into the mix — a look Richardson would never go for.Tepper is also expected to put the Panthers logo at midfield for the team’s first regular-season home game; Richardson always made sure the NFL shield was at midfield for more than two decades to honor the league.Tepper wants to build an indoor/outdoor practice football facility in South Carolina, just over the border.The Panthers have never had an indoor practice facility under Richardson.Tepper hasn’t talked much about plans for a new stadium, but it’s something he’ll have to consider at some point as Bank of America — completed in 1995 — is now one of the older stadiums in the league.Last week, Tepper hired Tom Glick as the team’s new president, saying he will bring a “new perspective” to the organization — with an eye toward bringing a Major League Soccer team to the Carolinas.Glick has spent the past six years working with developing the City Football Group (CFG), a multi-national soccer organization that includes six clubs including current English Premier League champion Manchester City FC. The Group also owns New York City FC of Major League Soccer.As chief commercial officer of CFG, Glick has experience working with soccer expansion, as well as building new stadiums and training centers.When asked if that experience helped Glick land the job, Tepper replied, “it didn’t hurt.”Tepper deflected other questions about business, saying he wanted this day to be about the kids.“The first thing I did when I came down here is I said we have to do something like this in Charlotte,” Tepper said. “We are thinking something across the two states in the future. … It’s great stuff.”And, he promised http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-oshane-ximines-jersey , only the beginning of his charitable ways in the Carolinas. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck has a one-track mind.With two regular-season games left, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback insists he’s paying no attention to playoff possibilities, scoreboards or other teams’ schedules. Instead, he’s focused on the only thing he considers important this weekend — beating the New York Giants on Sunday.“I’ve been a part of teams where you sit and say, ‘We need this to happen with this.’ It doesn’t work like that,” Luck said. “You’ve got to handle your own business.”Article continues below ...Few teams can match what the Colts (8-6) have done lately. They’ve rebounded from a 1-5 start to win seven of eight and put themselves back in the postseason hunt. After losing their first two home games, they’ve won five straight at Lucas Oil Stadium, and if they can beat the Giants (5-9), they could control their own playoff path.Coach Frank Reich doesn’t do business that way, though.The former NFL quarterback simply asks his players to do their jobs: keep two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and Offensive Rookie of the Year contender Saquon Barkley in check; prepare for the possible return of Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr.; and expose the holes in New York’s defense.New York, meanwhile, hopes it can continue a strong second half after starting 1-7. While winning two of three and four six, the Giants already have knocked off NFC North champion Chicago and playoff hopeful Washington. They will be playing spoiler at Indianapolis.“You’re chasing wins Julian Love Jersey ,” Manning said. “We’re football players and this is what we do. We play football, that’s our passion, that’s our job, and we’re going to go out there and do it well and be able to celebrate some wins.”It won’t be easy.Indy pitched its first shutout in four years while rushing for 178 yards against Dallas’ No. 3-ranked run defense last week. Luck is playing the best football of his career and the defense looks as stout as it has in almost a decade.The combination has made Indy a trendy pick as the team nobody wants to play, and if the Colts can win their last two, they could end a three-year playoff absence. But the Colts know they must stick to the plan.“I am just very convinced there is no other way to approach it,” Reich said. “I have been around a lot of good coaches, a lot of good players (and) that is just what I have come to believe, experience and learn. There can’t be any wavering from that (focal point).”SACK HAPPYIt’s been feast or famine when it comes to sacks for the Giants. They had 14 in the first 11 games, and then picked up five each in the next two weeks against Chicago and Washington.The added pressure resulted in four interceptions, including touchdown returns by linebacker Alec Ogletree against the Bears and Curtis Riley against the Redskins. Things got back to the norm in last week’s shutout loss to Tennessee when New York had one sack and no interceptions.Facing the Colts might not help. Indy has allowed just 16 sacks this season, tied for fewest in the league.TACKLE WATCHRookie linebacker Darius Leonard acknowledged he was “heartbroken” not to make the AFC’s Pro Bowl team this week despite leading the league with 146 tackles.And he hopes to take out his frustration on the Giants this weekend. Leonard says his weekly goal is to get 25 tackles, though he’s upped the ante this week by saying he’s hoping to finish with 40. If he hits either mark http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-darius-slayton-jersey , Leonard will break Jeff Herrod’s 27-year-old franchise record for tackles in one season.Leonard needs 15 tackles to move past Herrod (160).BARKLEY REBOUNDSPro Bowl running back Barkley was held to 31 yards on 14 carries in the loss to the Titans, his second-lowest total this season. The rookie ran for just 28 yards against Dallas in Week 2.The second pick overall in the draft also had 56 yards from scrimmage last week, marking the second time in 14 games he’s been held below 100.Despite the bad game, Barkley is third in the league in rushing with 1,155 yards and he is not looking for a break even though the Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.“I would love my workload to be whatever it can be to help the team win,” Barkley said. “I’ve said multiple times, if that’s 10 carries or if that’s 40 touches. I bumped it up to 40 this time.”THE COMEBACK KIDLuck’s comeback season has been better than expected.His completion percentage (67.3) is at a career high and he’s six completions away from a career best in that category, too.What else? Luck heads into the final two games needing 810 yards and seven TD passes to break his previous career highs.
