My POV: 2012 NFL Draft – Carolina Panthers Draft Party

Last night kicked off the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft!  This has to be one of the most exciting football events each year.  Just like last year, I spent Draft Day (night) at the Carolina Panthers Draft Party at Bank of America Stadium.  The crowd wasn't nearly as large as last year, which is understandable.  Last year, the Panthers had the number 1 pick and everyone was expecting that they would select Cam Newton, so Panthers fans came out in droves to cheer for their new star quarterback.  This year, the Panthers had the 9th pick (plus it looked like it would rain.  I almost didn't go because of the potential storm, but I managed to go and make it back home just as the rain was starting).  There were players, TopCats (cheerleaders), food, a band, and lots of fun for the whole family.  I made my way to the locker room and the weight room to snap a few pictures.  I teased on my personal Facebook page that I may or may not have left my number in Cam Newton's locker.  Well…of course I didn't.  There was a large, scary looking security guy looking at me.  I'm 100% professional when I'm covering events for Blitz And Glam.  *smile*  A couple of interesting things in the locker room–Cam keeps his locker pretty tidy, Steve Smith has a gazillion shoes in his locker, and DeAngelo Williams has a cute picture on the bottom shelf of his locker of him and who I'm assuming is his daughter.  Jimmy Clausen had a lot of paper in his locker (none of which appeared to be a pink slip).  All of them will have to make room for the newest Carolina Panthers linebacker, 1st round draft pick Luke Kuechly.