Vaughn first practice of Panthers
training camp officially in the books.
What's your thoughts on
on Wednesday's practice it
was good guys find around making plays
going out there playing for one another.
But we're playing a fast tempo guys
out there communicating but without
the competing with one another.
All right you made the decision
to come here in free agency
join the Carolina Panthers.
Tell me why this team
a special unit, especially
a group of young guys.
The line and a lot of back end to
like a lot of special attributes on
that and the coaching staff for sure.
All right. You're part of a new
era of the Carolina Panthers.
You mentioned new coaching staff.
A lot of new faces.
You being one of those the number
one overall pick in this year's
draft and quarterback Bryce Young.
A lot of excitement.
A lot of buzz.
A lot of energy.
Everyone's been talking about
it all offseason so how do you
how are you guys channeling
that energy and that buzz that
everyone's talking about.
We're trying blocking it out and now we
just gonna have that one and oh I mean
we got that oh and oh mindset coming
in just resetting and going out there
trying to be one though after practice.
So we always just trying to
build within inside the unit,
inside the building and I'm going
out that challenging one another.
A big topic yesterday and
move in day was expectation.
Bryce kept getting asked
expectation, expectation.
He's like we have our own expectations.
So what is this team's
expectation for itself?
I was going here working,
challenging one another,
competing and just trying to get
better and finding that 1% every
day and just being accountable
to one another and just being
a loving teammate and being a
caring teammate and being able to
have those tough conversations,
hard conversation and good conversation.
So it's a family environment
and now we all in together. NFC
S is up for grabs again this year.
Not your first time playing for a
team in the NFC S, but you're back.
You're with the Panthers just
knowing that you're in a
division where it's attainable.
You guys can win it.
What's the mindset on going out there
and being the team at the end of
the season that is back in playoffs
for the first time in five years?
That is the NFC S champs.
Just doing our job,
doing that 111th and going out
there just playing complimentary
football and just doing your job.
You don't gotta be Superman.
Y'all gonna be superhero.
Make a play. Everybody's talent,
everybody's gifted enough
to go on this this field and
have an opportunity to play.
So just going to plan for
one another and be selfless.
JC Horn talked about you and Xavier Woods.
He said, we already called Xavier
Professor X, but they're both kind of like
professors cuz they're so knowledgeable.
They're vets, they're bringing the skill set.
So what is it like just being with
the defense and knowing that these
younger guys do look up to you
guys as professors, so to speak?
I'm like man, cuz I was wantsing
their shoes and I was like man,
I had an older guy but it's being
one of the older guys in the room,
it's like it reflects it. It reflects
off of you a little bit.
It's like well I got to step back.
I'm the oldest guy in the room now.
But it's honorable because that's that
shows respect and we take our job seriously.
We in our books, we challenge one
another and we just go out up there
trying to make plays and we try to
put those guys in the right plays
and just let them know they got
us and we over communicate. So.
So it slows down the game for everybody
and knowing that you are a vet,
you are one of the older guys now what
has been your message to the team?
What are you trying to come
in and show these guys?
I'm just doing my job showing them pro
and I'm just showing up to work every day,
being consistent and being reliable.
We can hear the fans screaming right now.
I have to say I've been covering
the team for a few years.
Biggest turn out I've seen on
a day one in quite some time.
But what's your message to the fans
and what does it mean to see so many
people get up early to come out here
man we appreciate them
the support for sure.
Showing up like this is a man.
Unconditional love.
And we're going out here work,
they come to show off,
show up and all days off work.
Bringing the kids out here,
we appreciate all the love.
We're going to need it for
the rest of the season.
It's going to be exciting one.
And now we can't wait to get to it.
All right,
before I let you go and do a little
rapid fire, maybe get to Navan
a little bit better, All right.
What is one thing that would
surprise Panthers fans about you?
I like to fish.
I'm an outdoorsy person.
So yeah, like to fish.
I like to shop. I like to travel.
I'm a foodie. A foodie.
I'm a foodie. Yeah.
Have you been in any
restaurants in Charlotte yet?
A couple, but not the ones.
Like, you know that I'll need to go to.
Yeah. So I just need a list.
So everybody should send me a list. I'll work
on that. I'll get to it.
Send on the the Charlotte essentials
of where he has to go. All right.
Speaking of essentials, camp essential.
What's one thing you had to
pack to move into Spartanburg?
Oh, a pack of black teas, white teas,
a pillow and some candles.
Candles has been the hot topic
in recent years. That's Zen.
OK, OK, That's Zen. Was it?
Was it, like, weird to move
back into the dorm rooms?
It was. I had a reality check.
I had a reality
check. I was like, yo, you,
you've been off so much and you've been free.
You come to this room. I like, oh, no.
Oh, no. But it's all good.
And we get another opportunity to come out
here, and that's the time to build that,
that brother, that brotherhood,
that that fellowship with the guys
just going, doing the doing the dorm,
being around the library.
So don't have to.
Hanging out with the guys,
playing cards,
kicking it. Did you have to do a target run?
Did you miss it? Oh, yeah. I did it twice.
Two Target runs in like less than 24 hours.
Like it's back to bed.
Like, oh, I forgot something.
OK All right. What is on the camp
playlist? What gets you going?
You know, Drake, of course.
Young Thug, Don toddler,
some gospel, all types of meditation,
all types of stuff. Other things.
We're waiting on the new drink album. Yeah,
no pressure, but All right.
Most surprising thing about
Charlotte so far. Most surprising.
Well, I would say the hospitality
for sure. I feel like home.
Everybody speak to one.
I'm like, yo, this is great.
I'm back in the South, yeah, but so
always there for sure. Absolutely
great people in the Queen city for sure.
Alright, I know you haven't spent
a lot of time in Charlotte yet,
but do you have a favorite thing so far?
I'm building on that now.
You guys have been home and work,
home and work. So I'm gonna say I
need the list. I need people to
help me out. I get no response.
Work on that.
I'm sure fans will certainly chime in.
And I know you're a fashionable guy.
Fashion is like art to you.
I heard you say, So tell me,
what is like the one thing in
your closet that's a staple?
You have to have
all the like neutral colors,
like the the, the, the topi,
like Browns, the white, blacks,
off whites, bone colors, all types that
so you can bring a neutral colors.
So you could build off that.
OK, I like it.
How do we can build around?
Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
So fashion is such a thing in the league now.
Do you guys, like give each other?
Like do you kind of trash talk what
you're showing up on game day wearing?
Are you giving people advice?
I'm gonna say I can't cuss on him,
but I don't wanna put that.
So I'm gonna step.
I'm gonna be a big step on
the game there for sure.
And everybody normal step.
So they'd be asking why I'd be
shopping there or something like that.
But I give them a little tips.
OK, But it can't get all the juice.
No, gotta say that for you, week one.
Do we have an idea for the fit?
Not yet. It's still,
it's still a brainstorming thoroughly.
OK, alright. I have no doubt
you'll you'll show out, right?
For sure. Von, welcome to Carolina.
Thanks so much for your time.
Thank you. Thanks.