{"id":185235,"date":"2024-08-14T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T13:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=185235"},"modified":"2024-08-14T07:04:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T11:04:11","slug":"panthers-eddy-pineiro-kicks-out-competition-seeks-payday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/08\/14\/panthers-eddy-pineiro-kicks-out-competition-seeks-payday\/","title":{"rendered":"Panthers\u2019 Eddy Pineiro Kicks Out Competition, Bids for Big Payday"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the slow times of Carolina Panthers<\/a>\u2019 practices, the past two seasons \u2013 when the offensive and defensive players refined the gameplan for their upcoming NFL matchup \u2013 specialists Eddy Pineiro and Johnny Hekker were often left to fill time creatively. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They made the best of the situation. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2023, before the practice dome behind Bank of America Stadium was leveled this offseason to make way for the new training camp practice facility<\/a>, the duo would attempt to strike a target with a kick or throw.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, with the dome demolished, Pineiro, the newly-anointed kicker, and Hekker, the former Super Bowl punter, have altered their \u201cskills\u201d competition. Before Sunday\u2019s practice, the pair could be seen engaging in an intense, high-stakes, on-field matchup, mano a mano. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Johnny, we get competitive,\u201d Pineiro said with a laugh following Sunday\u2019s practice. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hekker would mark a starting line and the two would throw or roll or kick a football toward a chosen mark on the field. Following a series of attempts, a winner is declared and later receives a free lunch.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe just pick and target and roll it and whoever gets closer, wins that round,\u201d Pineiro explained. \u201cYeah, he gets kind of mad. <\/span>I\u2019ve been getting a lot of free lunches lately.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u2066@Panthers<\/a>\u2069 K Eddy Pineiro (4) says K Johnny Hekker (10) gets \u201ccompetitive\u201d during their pre-practice \u201cskills\u201d games of throwing-rolling-kicking an @NFL<\/a> football closest to a target. The loser buys lunch \u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zjsDg91fEg<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n