When you watch the teams still remaining in the NFL playoffs, you will notice they each boast a nucleus of stars that the rest of the players orbit around.
The Carolina Panthers have their own version of that star system. Quarterback Cam Newton, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, tight end Greg Olsen and a handful of others lead the way.
Let me let you in on a little secret as to who the next breakout Panthers star is going to be: Cornerback James Bradberry.
Yes, the quiet cornerback from the small school is going to make it big. I am convinced of that after watching Bradberry's rookie season, in which he improved dramatically from the start of September to the beginning of January.
Bradberry wears Josh Norman's old No. 24, but the two couldn't have more different personalities. Norman is an irrepressible, quick-fuse ham _ a flamboyant frontman who is the closest thing the Panthers have ever employed to Deion Sanders. Bradberry is a bass player, a sideman happy to allow others to take the spotlight while maintaining his own steady rhythm.
But on the field, I see a lot of similarities. Bradberry has long arms like Norman. He will sacrifice his body to offer run support on sweeps like Norman. And, most importantly, he can cover big-time receivers without help like Norman.
I am not saying Bradberry is as good as Norman _ who signed a monster deal with Washington last April after Carolina controversially rescinded his franchise tag.
But I think one day Bradberry could be.
