It was another unpredictable week. Let’s take a look at the weird, wild and the unexpected (and expected) from Week 7.

We here at NFL Network and NFL.com are getting around. Just check where I’ve been the last few days. To that end, we’re hitting 32 training camps and offering reports on each of them. These training camp reports, kinda like postcards, will all be the same format. A relaxed, kinda cool way to keep you informed on what’s going on in training camp. The first one I did came from the first place I was… even if I actually covered a pre-training camp workout at the Panthers facility. They move into Wofford College today. What did I see from the Panthers? Lots of optimism, and lots of reason to be optimistic. Check out my NFL.com training camp report.

Most people in the Charlotte area — and those who get the Interwebs — were probably checking their vision when they opened the Charlotte Observer this morning. In the paper, Panthers center Ryan Kalil took out an ad making a Super Bowl guarantee. Seriously. For the team that went 6-10 last year, even with superstar QB Cam Newton, it’s a bold statement. Well, it’s bold for any team. So, I just finished up watching the Panthers work out and interestingly, they didn’t mind. Actually, they embraced Kalil’s thoughts. “You can’t put the carriage before the horse,” linebacker Jon Beason told me. “But I love it. I’ve been saying that for a while now. The first step to reality is kinda […]

The comparison has been made far too often, just as it was at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, when a reporter asked Panthers coach Ron Rivera if he could draw a parallel between this year’s Heisman Trophy winner (Robert Griffin III) and last year’s winner (Cam Newton).

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Thursday he expects Jeremy Shockey to return in 2012. Earlier in the day, coach Ron Rivera said it was possible Shockey could retire.

The signs pointing out Steve Smith’s future seem to be angled in every direction.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo could be one of the biggest steals in fantasy football drafts this season. Find out why.

All player movement is on hold during the NFL lockout, but that hasn’t stopped speculation about Panthers WR Steve Smith, who reportedly wants to be traded. It’s also believed that the team is interested in parting ways with Smith.

While it may not be the end-all, be-all, strength of schedule is a major reason why some good teams might go 8-8. Conversely, 5-win teams of last year can ride a creampuff schedule to doubling their win total.

As the whispers of Patrick Peterson being worth the No. 1 overall draft pick get louder, teams are definitely taking notice of LSU’s standout cornerback — beginning with, who else, but the Carolina Panthers.

Consider Cam Newton a man of his word. And if I’m the Carolina Panthers, I would take this quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick.

They still talk about Miami’s pro day in 2004 when an estimated 125 NFL coaches, GMs and scouts showed up to see one of the best draft classes a school has ever assembled — six prospects who went on to get selected among the top 19 picks. It might get topped here today when Auburn holds its pro day.

Jeremy Shockey isn’t about to re-emerge into an elite fantasy tight end, but his value does rise as a member of the Panthers.

As we wrap up Day 1 of the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, we’ll leave you with a few thoughts (some random), observations and highlights from what we’ve heard.

If the Panthers let DeAngelo Williams walk this offseason, Jonathan Stewart’s fantasy appeal will explode.