SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Charles Johnson simply couldn’t get past nine seasons of hating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the NFC South rival brought him in for a free-agent visit.
The Carolina Panthers defensive end referred to his March trip through Tampa Bay’s facility as “weird’’ and “awkward.’’
“Don’t get me wrong, because Tampa has a great organization, but it was awkward playing against them so many years,’’ Johnson said on Sunday. “You really have a hate factor for them and it was just really awkward.’’
Johnson had every right to hate the Panthers, who released him to clear $11 million under the salary cap.