There is growing optimism around the Carolina Panthers from fans and the media. And make no mistake, the players sense something special is building, too.
It's been a long time since the Panthers were relevant. They were often discarded as a bottom-feeding afterthought under previous regimes. But slowly but surely, under the leadership of head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan, the tide is turning.
And the bullish outlook offered by offensive lineman Robert Hunt on the eve of Carolina's first training camp practice didn't do anything to diminish the hype.