This Week In Sports With Charlie Pierce

08:09

September 17, 2011

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton leaps over teammate Travelle Wharton as Arizona Cardinals' Joey Porter and Paris Lenon pursue him during last Sunday's game. Newton threw 24/37 for 422 yards in his professional debut. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton leaps over teammate Travelle Wharton during last Sunday's game. Newton threw for 422 yards in his professional debut. (AP)

The NFL had an offensively explosive first week. Panthers newbie Cam Newton obliterated the record for yards in an NFL debut with 422, New England's Tom Brady threw for 517 yards, and Drew Brees and Chad Henne each had over 400-yard games. Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce predicts when the defense will show up this football season. Also, things are looking up in Pittsburgh, despite the Pirates' 19th consecutive losing season. Charlie weighs in on a flooring reaction to Josh Hamilton's grand slam for the Rangers, the 61-year-old Vietnam veteran who also kicks for Faulkner University's football team, and the impending crash of the entire college athletic system.

This segment aired on September 17, 2011.

Charlie Pierce