CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- New Carolina Panthers edge rusher Pat Jones II was planning a trip to Lake Norman on Wednesday, hoping to catch a big bass like the 8-pounder he landed as a 12-year-old in his uncle's pond not too far from Bank of America Stadium.
The former Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker loves to fish. So much so that the Panthers started counting how many times he mentioned fishing in interviews the first few days after signing a two-year, $20 million deal in March.
Final count: 23.
Jones even incorporated casting a reel and hauling in a fish into his sack celebration after taking down San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy last season,
"I got a whole bunch of fish stories," Jones told ESPN with a laugh.