CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After a recent practice, a Carolina Panthers equipment manager was about to grab the helmet and pads of running back Cameron Artis-Payne for the long walk from the practice field to the stadium when Jordan Scarlett waved him off.
“Part of rookie duties," Scarlett said with a smile.
Such is life in the NFL, even when the most menial task involves toting the equipment of the player whose job you are trying to take -- and in Scarlett's case, succeeded in taking.
Artis-Payne was released Friday during the Panthers' final cuts.