Some Carolina Panthers are so athletic that they could probably play two sports. No, really, it’s been proven to be true . . . well, for at least one player.
That one player is linebacker Shaq Thompson, who actually did play 13 games of minor league baseball in the Boston Red Sox organization. He might’ve went 0-for-39 with 37 strikeouts in the Gulf Coast League almost a decade ago, but fair play to him nonetheless.
Thompson didn’t seem to lose much of his swing on Tuesday evening, when he and a few of his teammates stopped by Truist Field to take some batting practice courtesy of the Charlotte Knights.
Took our talent to the diamond
pic.twitter.com/MxN61YVWmo
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 1, 2021
A little HR Derby action
@KnightsBaseball peep @ShaqThompson_7’s swing tho
pic.twitter.com/JezGwi4Gym
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 31, 2021
And he’s taking hacks in his football britches, too? That’s bold.
Wide receiver Robby Anderson joined in as well and he may be looking for a second contract in as many weeks after his display.
@Yankees
— Robby Anderson (@chosen1ra) August 31, 2021
The most impressive swing, however, belongs to long snapper J.J. Jansen. And that’s because he’s pretty legit, according to a few trustworthy sources in former tight end Greg Olsen and Panthers director of content and broadcasting Bill Voth.
Can confirm J.J. Jansen won the HR Derby this year
pic.twitter.com/kebIqflhYO
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 1, 2021
It’s all there. The back elbow is up, the toe tap is loaded and the hips are exploded.
Jansen must be feeling particularly good, as he just retained his long snapping job into his 13th NFL season. But if he had lost out to rookie Thomas Fletcher and gotten cut, the Knights might’ve had a spot waiting for him right across the street.
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