The french connection
Talladega Nights was a hit comedy featuring Will Farrell as a NASCAR driver trying to make it big. It also featured a French rival played by Sacha Baron Cohen.
Live from Panthers training camp, we bring you Spartanburg Nights. Only this is real life, and the Frenchman (played by linebacker Philippe Gardent) is the one with big dreams and aspirations. Farrell isn’t here, but his youtube partner Ryan Kalil is on hand.
"We're all trained to ask, 'Who's that guy? Is he tough? Is he smart? Can he play?"' said Gardent in his unmistakable French accent. "All those questions are answered on the field."
Here is who that guy is…Gardent played American football in France AFTER college. They don’t have college football in his homeland, but they do have downhill skiing and bobsledding, which he excelled at in his formative years.
Gardent got his first football break in the now defunct NFL Europa, where he was named Co-Defensive MVP after recording 70 tackles for the Cologne Centurions in 2006. That got him a shot with the Washington Redskins, who put him on their practice squad last year. Gardent returned to NFL Europa this spring, which earned him valuable playing time, but kept him out of Panthers mini camp and summer school.
Now, the former downhill skier is fighting a major uphill battle trying to catch up on and off the field in Panthers training camp.
"I don't think I'm crazy,” said Gardent. “I think I know what I'm doing."
Head coach John Fox admires Gardent’s persistence, and is impressed with the Frenchman so far.
"He's done a good job," said Fox. "So far we've been pleased with what we've seen."
Gardent, the only non-American in camp this year, speaks fluent English. He’s also fluent in things unspoken, such as how difficult it will be to make an NFL roster as the only player in the entire league without college experience.
"You have to be flexible,” he said about adjusting to that reality. "I'm just trying to keep the dream going. I'm just tying to stay alive in this world. I'll figure out the options afterward if I don't make it here."
source: site internet des carolina panthers