CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rodney Smith was looking for a three-peat. The new Carolina Panthers running back tweaked his recipe for success from the previous two years, knowing you don’t improve without putting in the extra time and practice to get better. He thought he’d spiced things up with just the right blend of new with the old to remain on top.
But he lost. It wasn't on the football field, where the former University of Minnesota running back had overcome two ACL injuries. It was the "Running Backs Top Chef Cook Off" held annually by Gophers running backs coach Kenni Burns.