Even the no-nonsense Coughlin has found a little room to close the gap with his players, particularly Barber, who criticized him for being outcoached in the Giants' 23-0 first-round playoff loss to John Fox and the Carolina Panthers.

``We're on the same page,'' Barber said.

For the veterans that is important. Time is running out for a lot of them.

Barber is entering his 10th season, one less than receiver Amani Toomer. Strahan, who went through a messy offseason split wit

CAROLINA PANTHERS-Released QB Stefan LeFors, QB Brett Basanez, LB Keith Adams, WR Efrem Hill, RB Alex Haynes, RB Jamal Robertson, FB Casey Cramer, DL Jovan Haye, DL Atiyyah Ellison, DL Lorenzo Alexander, OL Chad Beasley, OL Dave Kadella, OL Adam O'Connor, OL Adam Ste

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The Carolina Panthers released 22 players on Saturday, including quarterbacks Stefan LeFors and Brett Basanez, meaning they will enter the season with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

With Jake Delhomme and Chris Weinke the only quarterbacks, tight end Kris Mangum will serve as the team's emergency third quarterback.

``I'm not sure what our two-minute drill would look like, but he could do it,'' joked coach John Fox.

Fox said the Panthers expect to add a quarterback to t

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The Carolina Panthers released linebacker Keith Adams and two quarterbacks among 22 players on Saturday.

Carolina cut quarterbacks Stefan LeFors and Brett Basanez, meaning it will enter the season with only two quarterbacks - Jake Delhomme and Chris Weinke - on the 53-man roster. Tight end Kris Mangum would serve as the team's emergency third quarterback.

Also released were running backs Alex Haynes and Jamal Robertson; fullback Casey Cramer; defensive linemen Jovan Haye, Atiyyah Ell

4. Houston Texas 1,043 57.6

5. Philadelphia Eagles 1,024 54.2

6. Denver Broncos 975 26.9

7. Cleveland Browns 970 47.1

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 955 56.9

9. Baltimore Ravens 946 27.8

10. Chicago Bears 945 51.5

11. Carolina Panthers 936 20.7

12. Miami Dolphins 912 33.4

13. Green Bay Packers 911 22.3

14. Kansas City Chiefs 894 28.2

15. New York Giants 890 26.9

16. Seattle Seahawks 888 5.0

17. Tennessee Titans 886 48.3

18. Pittsburgh Steelers 880 25.5

19. New York

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Steve Smith has two tattoos on his arm. One is of the square-jawed Superman, the other of the force-of-nature Tasmanian Devil.

Fitting for the complex star of the Carolina Panthers, who is perhaps the top receiver in the NFL, but also one of the league's most temperamental players.

While Dallas' Terrell Owens is the league's most talked-about receiver, Smith enters the 2006 season as the most feared. He had 103 catches for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, becoming the first p

This time, Collins doesn't have to worry about keeping warm at Lambeau Field.

``I think it was about four degrees and 20-below wind chill,'' Collins said of the Carolina Panthers' January 1997 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. ``What a great place. I guess they remodeled it. I'm assuming the locker rooms will be little bit better than they were when I was there.''

Unsure of Billy Volek's ability to handle the position

PITTSBURGH (AP) -The Carolina Panthers' starters may play a series or two, but no longer. Some of the Pittsburgh Steelers' regulars may not get on the field.

It's the last exhibition game for both teams Thursday night, but does anyone really care? The Steelers started preparing for their Sept. 7 opener against Miami earlier this week, and coach Bill Cowher never draws up game plans for any preseason game.

The Panthers are treating it as if it's a game week, practicing just as they would during the season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The NFL's drug-testing program is inadequate, warned a doping expert who examined medical records that linked several former Carolina Panthers players to steroids and human growth hormone.

Dr. Gary Wadler, an internist and author who specializes in drugs in sports, prepared a report that federal prosecutors used in their case against James Shortt, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally prescribe steroids to several Carolina Panthers. Last month, the doctor, formerly of West Colu

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Kicker MacKenzie Hoambrecker was among nine players released Saturday by the Carolina Panthers.

Also cut were defensive end Kevin Carberry, cornerback DaShane Dennis, receivers Lynzell Jackson, Terrance Metcalf and Daniel Smith, linebacker Corey Jenkins and tackles Albert Toeaina and Quasim Mitchell.

The moves reduce the roster to 80 players. The team must make five more cuts by Tuesday afternoon's deadline. Carolina must reach the regular-season limit of 53 players by Sept. 2.

Non