Four months to the day after the Panthers woke up to the reality that their storybook 2015 season didn't produce the happy ending they'd hoped for, players and coaches received their NFC Championship rings.
Exactly seven weeks after receiving the rings, players and coaches reported to training camp for the unofficial opening of the 2016 season. General manager Dave Gettleman arrived at Wofford College wearing his ring.
"I think it's important that we all understand what we accomplished last year and that we didn't quite get it done," Gettleman said. "A little bittersweet. So near, yet so far.