INDIANAPOLIS — The coach whose team holds the No. 1 overall draft pick always draws a lot of attention at the NFL Scouting Combine. Predictably, reporters open by asking the coach who he’s taking. And, even more predictably, the coach doesn’t bite.

First-year Panthers coach Ron Rivera would only say Thursday that his team has “seven to 10 guys targeted” for the top pick in April’s draft. That includes quarterbacks, naturally linking Carolina to Auburn’s Cam Newton, the Tim Tebow-type media star of this year’s combine.

“We do believe you need to have a franchise quarterback,” Rivera said.

That might be bad news for Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore and Tony Pike.

– Justin Hathaway

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