Linebacker 
CHARLOTTE -- Carolina's players have read the stories on Web sites and newspapers, commisserated via phone and text message and generally absorbed the rumbling of personnel moves that saw six players released and another three sign contracts with other teams earlier this month.
But Monday, their eyes saw the changes when the team convened for the first of its offseason workouts.
"It's definitely strange not seeing those familiar faces that you've seen for the last four or five years," said weakside linebacker Thomas Davis. "We're going to miss those guys."
"Yeah, it's strange, but that's kind of the nature of the league," added linebacker
For younger players like third-year defensive end
"This going on my third year, this is my first time seeing the business side of it, seeing that on any given day, anybody can be traded or released," he said. "That's the hard part about it, especially when you have two years with the same family, so to speak. You've built relationships, and then you come back and see different people (near) your locker and different faces.
"But it's a business. I've been told that at the (Rookie) Symposium, I've been told that by other people and to actually see it -- that's the hard part."
Forty percent of the team's captains at the start of 2009 are now elsewhere, with Jake Delhomme in Cleveland and Julius Peppers in Chicago. The leadership structure of the locker room has changed, and the time to begin filling the void isn't in August or September, but now.
"We lost a lot of veteran guys, and I've got to step up and be a leader on this team," said Davis, who heads into his sixth season. "Now is definitely my time.
"Some of the younger guys -- myself,
The expected leaders aren't the only ones working toward larger roles. After two years as a backup -- and one eight-month stretch spent recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament -- Connor hopes he can claim the strongside linebacker position that was handled by Na'il Diggs before his release 10 days ago.
To that end, Connor spent most of the last two months in Charlotte, working out at Bank of America Stadium. While he appreciated having most of his teammates around at the official dawn of workouts Monday, it was just another day in his workout routine.
"I didn't go home, so I've been here for a while," he said. "There were probably about 10 to 15 guys. Guys would shuffle in and out or go on vacation, but you always had 10 or 15 working out or rehabbing.
"But it's nice to see all the guys here. Everybody's ready to get back."
