SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Experiencing life with the hometown NFL team was a palpable and unexpected thrill for wide receiver Kenneth Moore, who hadn't banked on wearing Panthers colors when the Detroit Lions drafted him last year.
But as his three-month tenure on the 53-man roster progressed last year, it lacked the most important tenet of being a Panther -- actually getting to put on the team jersey for a game. Sure, he was issued jerseys in the team's colors and had a helmet he wore each day for practice. But actually running through the tunnel in team regalia -- that part of his dream remained deferred.
"Last year, seeing the guys put on their jerseys, to me, it was just like, 'Man, I can't wait,'" Moore said.
Monday night, the waiting stops forever.
"It's going to be exciting," Moore said. "It really doesn't mean anything until a game comes and you can actually put a jersey on. I bought a couple of jerseys at the end of the year, but I still haven't worn it in a game yet. Monday night's going to be very exciting for me, to actually put that jersey on for the first time."
The only game-type jersey Moore wore last year was the blue one issued to players for use at community events. Each bears a patch trumpeting the NFL's volunteerism slogan, "Join the team." But it was difficult for Moore to feel as though he was fully part of it as he watched from the sideline.
Fortunately, teammates reached out to him -- and he reached back. He remained in Charlotte through the offseason, working out diligently. Often, his workout partner was fellow receiver
"Most years, I've worked out by myself with my trainer. (This year) Kenny worked out with me," Smith said. "First time in nine years, probably, that I've worked out with somebody."
The Pro Bowl receiver with with five 1,000-yard seasons and the 24-year-old with no NFL catches quickly found symbiosis. Moore gathered knowledge from Smith, while Smith gained a friend who helped push him through the often-ponderous workouts.
"There were a few times when we were both tired and getting our butts kicked, and I looked at him and I was happy he was there," Smith said.
"He's doing exceptionally well. He asks me a lot of questions and we discuss and talk about things. He's really been a pleasure to work with."
Smith's diligence in practice rubbed off on Moore, who was the last player on the field when organized team activities ended, engaged in solitary time with the JUGS machine near the field, catching one football after another.
"That's very important," Moore said. "You want to get a lot of JUGS work in, catching the ball from different directions and trying to catch it with one hand, just to give yourself different variations."
It's especially crucial to Moore, who has worked on kickoff and punt returns in training camp and knows that the most direct path to a place on the roster -- and playing time with it -- could rest on special teams.
"It's very important for me to show that I can catch the ball well and make plays when the ball's in my hands -- whichever way I have to do it," he said.
But all that work so far has come in plain practice garb. Those jerseys he was issued last year? He doesn't even have them around anymore; he gave them to his mother.
"They're her jerseys now," Moore said, smiling.
Monday night, he gets his own -- and his chance.
