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CB/WR Chris Gamble (All B1G, All-American, National Champion)

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Will Chris Gamble be able to return to form in 2011? A fan?s take
By Rodney Southern, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Having been a Carolina Panthers fan for their entire existence, I have been lucky enough to watch Chris Gamble(notes) play his entire career. Last season was like watching a completely different player from years past. With all the uncertainty in the Panther's secondary, Gamble returning to his former self seems to be a vital part of the pie if the Panthers want to win. Though he has never been a superstar, he has been a dependable corner throughout much of the last five or six years. A return to decent would sound just fine for now.

Chris Gamble had the kind of 2010 season that some players never recover from. He only started ten games and was sidelined with injuries for the final five of the season. Rumors swirled around that he and former coach Jon Fox were not seeing eye to eye and that this contributed to the problems. Whatever the case, his numbers were horrid and not only because he missed five games.

For one thing, his tackles dropped to only 35; the lowest of his career. Some might say that this was because he was knocking down passes. Nope. He only had 8 passes defensed. Other than that, he had zeros across the board. He had no interceptions for the first time in his entire career. He had no forced or recovered fumbles. He had zero sacks. He simply was not there all season long.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8840303
 
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GAMBLE?S ROLE CHANGING: The Panthers plan to put added pressure this season on CB Chris Gamble, using him to blanket the opponent?s top receiver.
In the past, Gamble has been sequestered on one side of the field or the other, but now he?ll be lining up against the likes of Andre Johnson, Roddy White and Reggie Wayne.
?They were talking about me being on the elite receivers and I?m looking forward to that challenge,? said Gamble, who has dropped about 10 pounds to get down to 195 because he wanted to get quicker.
Gamble was benched late season by coach John Fox, but said he?s ready for a fresh start with a new coaching staff. He wouldn?t discuss what happened in the past with Fox, saying he?d rather focus on the future.
?It?s like starting over and I feel more comfortable with the defense,? Gamble said. ?It?s more about me making plays and doing what I do.?
Gamble has missed most of training camp with a stomach virus and a hamstring injury, but said he?s better and is ready to return to practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
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http://carolinagrowl.com/index.php?...arting-role-during-preseason&catid=1:articles
 
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Gamble has short memory
By Bryan Strickland

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. - It seemed like a pretty safe assumption that cornerback Chris Gamble would become the Panthers' all-time leader in interceptions by the end of the 2010 season.

Nothing, however, was safe last season - not even Gamble's starting spot.

"That was the second time I've been benched," Gamble said. "But the past is in the past. I'm just focused on this year with the new coaches and the new defense."

Gamble entered last season with 32 consecutive starts - a streak that dated to his one previous benching late in the 2007 season - and with 24 interceptions, second in team history to Eric Davis' 25.

But Gamble didn't pick off any passes in 2010, and after he struggled in the 10th game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens, he found himself in a reserve role for the next game. Gamble then missed the final five games of the season with hamstring and ankle issues, finishing the year without an interception for the first time in his seven-year NFL career and with a career-low 32 tackles.

The last time Gamble was benched, he responded with a career-high 103 tackles in 2008 - the same type of response he plans this season.

"It's a fresh start for me, just like starting over," Gamble said. "I'm confident, ready to go. Thinking about last year and going 2-14, I've got a chip on my shoulder. I just want to show everybody what I can do, make plays and have fun."

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http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Gamble-has-short-memory/817a0493-f927-4a00-b26b-064bfd46559a

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011

Panthers' Gamble excited for a new beginning with Rivera
By JOSEPH PERSON AND RON GREEN JR. - McClatchy Newspapers

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Carolina Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble began training camp the same way he ended the most disappointing season of his career - with a lengthy absence that prompted questions about his future with the club.

Gamble returned to the practice field Wednesday after missing more than a week with a stomach virus and tight hamstrings. Gamble also battled a hamstring issue at the end of 2010, but that was the least of his problems.

Gamble fell out of favor with former coach John Fox. He was benched for his poor play, and stayed on the sideline the final five games due to injury and personal issues. Gamble left a November practice early for what he called personal reasons, although a teammate said Gamble was disciplined for the absence

Gamble, 28, the Panthers' fifth-highest paid player this year with a cap figure of $9.2 million, declined to discuss last season, which he called the most difficult of his 8-year career.

"The past is in the past. I can't really talk about that," Gamble said. "Just focus on this year with the new coaching scheme and the new defense."

Panthers coach Ron Rivera told his players they were starting with a clean slate.

"I believe he heard that," Rivera said of Gamble. "I believe everybody heard that. So that's kind of how I felt. We're coming in and there's no preconceived notions about anybody."

Gamble said he will cover the other team's top receiver in the new scheme, beginning with a Week 1 matchup against Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald. Gamble, who at 195 is 10 pounds lighter than a year ago, said he has something to prove.

"Thinking about last year, going 2-14, it's like I've got a chip on my shoulder," he said. "I just want to show everybody what I can do and make plays and have fun. And get ready to try to make it to the Super Bowl."
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Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/08/10/3340773/panthers-gamble-excited-for-a.html#ixzz1UiiiWmBH
 
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Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011
Rivera believes Gamble could provide a jackpot at corner
By SCOTT FOWLER - McClatchy Newspapers

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Cam Newton looked to his right Wednesday night in a real-time drill with his Carolina Panthers teammates. He had tight end Greg Olsen open on the sideline 15 yards away. Newton fired the ball at Olsen, who put his hands up to snag it.

But suddenly, cornerback Chris Gamble blasted into the play with a blur of speed. Gamble dove toward the ball, grabbed it and held on while falling out of bounds and keeping both his feet just inside the sideline. It was such an athletic play there was a brief hush - a "Did-he-really-just-do-that?" pause - and then Gamble's defensive teammates broke out in applause and high fives.

It was the sort of play Gamble used to occasionally make - the sort of play that made the Panthers draft him in the first round in 2004 out of Ohio State and pay him shutdown corner money with a six-year contract extension in 2008.

It also was the sort of play Gamble never made in a nasty 2010 season, when then-coach John Fox benched him and No. 20 came up with exactly zero interceptions after averaging four a season in his first six years. Instead of playing like the Panthers' No. 1 corner, he played like their No. 3.

But new coach Ron Rivera has repeatedly expressed confidence in Gamble, telling me recently: "I think we have a corner in Chris Gamble who's still got some gas in his tank, and I think it's good gas. I think the young man's got a good solid 3-4 years where he can be your cover corner, your No. 1."

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Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/08/11/3343934/rivera-believes-gamble-could-provide.html#ixzz1UoZ90BRV
 
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Whatever happened to Chris Gamble?
August, 25, 2011
By Pat Yasinskas

I?m not sure if Cincinnati rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are going to be the NFL?s next great quarterback and receiver or if Carolina cornerback Chris Gamble is totally washed up.

I?m leaning toward the latter after watching Gamble get beat badly twice by Green in Carolina's 24-13 loss in Thursday night?s exhibition game. It got so bad that Cincinnati broadcaster Anthony Munoz joked that Gamble was seen being escorted to the locker room to have aloe applied to his burns.

I?m starting to think the Panthers have a big problem on their hands. It actually might have first surfaced last season, when former coach John Fox took Gamble?s starting job away. Fox may have been going through a catastrophic season, but the man always has known what he?s doing when it comes to defense. The Panthers shrugged it off as a conflict with Fox and decided to keep Gamble while not really addressing cornerback early in the draft or free agency.

Green first beat Gamble on a deep ball in the first quarter. Gamble caught a break when officials reviewed the play and decided that Green didn?t make the catch in bounds, but it was still worrisome because the receiver got open with ease.

Gamble wasn?t nearly as lucky the next time around. Dalton threw deep for Green in the second quarter and the rookie caught the pass easily in the end zone. It doesn?t get much worse than that, and I?m wondering what the Panthers are going to do.

For a lot of years, Gamble was a pretty good cornerback, but he was never great. Last season and this preseason have shown that he might be in sharp decline.

Gamble is 28 and scheduled to make $6.24 million in base salary and count $9.24 million against the salary cap. Those are the kind of numbers you associate with a No. 1 cornerback. Gamble doesn?t look like a No. 1 cornerback anymore.

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http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/43920/whatever-happened-to-chris-gamble
 
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It's good to be No. 1, Gamble says positively
Last week, Gamble held Larry Fitzgerald to three catches and 62 yards.
By Joseph Person
[email protected]
Posted: Wednesday, Sep. 14, 2011

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Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis (58) is congratulated by Chris Gamble (20) after recovering a fumble against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter on Sunday, September 11, 2011, at University of Phoenix Stadium. Arizona won, 28-21. David T. Foster [email protected]


Chris Gamble was asked a couple of times Wednesday who he thought the Packers? No. 1 receiver is.

The fact that Gamble is the Panthers? unquestioned No. 1 cornerback shows how far the eight-year veteran has come in his short time with the new coaching staff.

Buried on the bench in the final days of John Fox, Gamble has been given a clean slate by Ron Rivera, who told him in their first meeting that he would be matched up with the opponent?s top wideout each week.

?We wanted him to know we had all the confidence in him,? Rivera said. ?Based on the tape we?d seen, we were looking to establish him as a No. 1 corner. And he?s responded very well.?

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Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/09/14/2608661/gamble-its-good-to-be-no-1.html#ixzz1Y1yWHj5A
 
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Gamble faces tough test vs. Jennings, Packers
After matchup vs. Cards' Fitzgerald, Carolina's CB is ready for Green Bay. Greg Jones
September 18, 2011

Carolina Panthers safety Jordan Pugh wants to follow in the path of Chris Gamble.

When Pugh speaks of Gamble, the second-year pro admires everything about his teammate. He even believes Gamble?s struggles of last season are something to be viewed positively.

?The thing about Chris is the ability has always been there,? Pugh said. ?Everybody goes through their struggles and has ups and downs. That is just how life is, and that is how football is. The thing that is important is to just keep going. Chris is a good player. He is smart. He knows how to play, and he knows how to use his body, and he knows how to work against receivers. You see the progression, and that is how I want to go as my career moves on.?

Gamble.jpg


After finishing last season on the sidelines, Gamble didn?t look like a player who would be admired by a younger teammate.

But he has put his previous season behind him and based on his performance against the Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Gamble seems to be back on track. The new beginning and a new responsibility of covering the No. 1 receiver has Gamble reminiscing about his days at Ohio State when he shadowed the best receiver and was having fun.

?It just felt good playing against the best receiver,? Gamble said about the challenge of covering Fitzgerald. ?I was just trying to do the best I can, and I thought I did well. I gave up the deep ball, but I just have to watch that and get back at it and get ready for Green Bay.?


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http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Panthers-Gamble-faces-tough-test-vs-Jennings-Packers.html
 
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September 29, 2011
Gamble misses practice; could miss Bears game

Cornerback Chris Gamble missed practice again Thursday due to a concussion and head coach Ron Rivera is less optimistic about the Panthers' No. 1 cornerback being able to play Sunday at Chicago.

Rivera said Gamble will be reevaluated Friday before a determination is made about his availability against the Bears.

"I'm disappointed. He was feeling better the other day and we thought he might have turned the corner," Rivera said.

"Unfortunately, he didn't feel well today. So we'll continue to follow protocol. We'll see how it goes."

Already this season, tackle Jeff Otah and safety Charles Godfrey have missed games while dealing with concussions. Rivera had been optimistic neither would miss a game but both were out one game.

"I'm hoping (Gamble) bucks the trend. I really do," Rivera said. "He's having a good season. He's playing very well for us, doing things we need him to do. If there's a chance, I'd love to have him play. If not, I understand."

If he plays, Gamble would likely be matched up against Bears wide receiver Roy Williams.

Should Gamble be unable to play, Rivera said Darius Butler will start in his place. Butler was a waiver claim from New England earlier this season. He was a second-draft pick in 2009.

"Darius is not a young guy that hasn't played," Rivera said. "This guy's played, and he's played some major football, obviously and has been a starter and done some great things and big things. So I'm not concerned at all."
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http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2011/09/gamble-misses-practice-could-miss-bears-game.html
 
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Gamble out vs. Bears; Butler starts
By Joseph Person
[email protected]
Posted: Sunday, Oct. 02, 2011

CHICAGO The Panthers will be without their top cornerback today against the Bears.

Chris Gamble, who did not practice all week after sustaining a concussion last week against Jacksonville, did not make the trip to Chicago.

Darius Butler, claimed off waivers from New England last month, is expected to make his first start for the Panthers in Gamble's spot. Butler, a second-round draft pick in 2009, started eight games in two seasons with the Patriots.

Gamble was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report. He left in the second quarter last week after getting shaken up on a Jaguars' running play.
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Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...out-vs-bears-butler-starts.html#ixzz1ZcxDkwSS
 
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INJURY UPDATE: Chris Gamble said he expects to play Sunday after missing last week?s game with a concussion, but Jeremy Shockey will be questionable with a broken finger and he?s also dealing with a possible concussion.
The Panthers had hoped Gamble would be ready for Sunday?s game against Chicago, but when he came out to practice last Monday he said the sunlight hurt his head and he got dizzy.
He said that was a trigger that something wasn?t quite right.
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http://www.carolinagrowl.com/index....ell-has-been-more-productive&catid=1:articles
 
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