Panthers-Bills connection? Players, coaches say it goes deeper than swapping sidelines

Mike Tolbert has always been loud, a belly-laugher, rollicking jovially through conversations when some might have backed off.

The fullback’s first NFL game was on the road and against the Carolina Panthers. It was 2008, and Tolbert was a San Diego Charger just starting to get to know linebackers coach Ron Rivera – who would become the Chargers’ defensive coordinator that very October.

The Chargers were hosting the Panthers. Somehow, of course, Tolbert found Thomas Davis, then beginning his fourth season as a bruising linebacker with the Panthers, in the team hotel, and started jawing.

“I was talking so much trash,” Tolbert said. “You know, I was like, ‘man, when I come through there, I’m…