'What's that bear doing?' New Carolina Panthers receiver confused over team mascot species
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson clearly is still getting to know his new franchise — and the species of its mascot.
During the Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Anderson can be heard on the Panthers’ bench asking two of his teammates, Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore — who have spent a little more time with the team — what “that bear” was doing at Bank of America Stadium during a break in the action.
Uhh, Robby?
Here’s the amusing clip:
Robby Anderson: What’s that bear doing?
DJ Moore: Bear????
Robby: Panther
DJ: That’s Sir Purr, Bro
Robby: Y’all call him that?
Me: 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/rbU9mN2yns— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) September 16, 2020
We could watch this all day.
Anderson, ever light on his feet, does quickly pivot to “panther” once he realizes his mistake.
But he does bring up a good point about the team’s cat-of-prey mascot: Sir Purr, while amusing to say, would be a funny way to address someone casually.
In the end, though, it was a pretty hilarious exchange. Anderson also gets a pass for his terrific Carolina debut, too, catching six passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
And Sir Purr — who has his own Twitter account, naturally — responded favorably to Anderson’s confusion.
.@chosen1ra 👋 pic.twitter.com/rUwQnsNq9N
— I'M THAT BEAR (@SirPurr) September 16, 2020
You also have to remember that Anderson spent the first four years of his career with the New York Jets, one of four NFL franchises not to have an official mascot. (If they did, we’d wonder what other type of aircraft he might confuse it for.)
Prior to entering the NFL, Anderson attended Temple, where he played for current Panthers head coach Matt Rhule (and was not a zoology major).
Our minds are absolutely flying right now, imagining what avian creature a freshman Anderson thought that school’s mascot might have been.
Looks about right @HOOTER_THEOWL 😆 pic.twitter.com/yPwVJ2kITG
— Temple Owls (@TempleOwls) January 24, 2020
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