QUICK UPDATE: Julius Peppers spoke with the media for the first time on Monday. I hope to have that up on the podcast soon. Peppers said he isn't concerned with getting a new contract extension and believes owner Jerry Richardson's comments about him stepping up were blown out of proportion. He said he's been a leader on the team for some time. Catch all of Julius' remarks soon on the podcast.

 Here's some notes from Monday morning's practice:

   1. The Panthers began preparing for life without Jeremy Bridges on Monday and made an interesting move with the first team. Rookie center Ryan Kalil worked with the first team at center and Justin Hartwig moved out to left guard which is Bridges' spot. That could be the direction the Panthers go for the first two games of the regular season with Bridges serving a two-game suspension. Once Bridges returns, he's expected to return to the starting lineup at left guard and Hartwig is likely to move back to center.

   2. Na'il Diggs was back with the first team at outside linebacker working ahead of Jon Beason, the team's first-round draft pick.

   3. The Panthers appear to have settled on Richard Marshall and Brandon Jamison as their gunners on punt return coverage.

   4. Jeff King is not the fastest tight end in the world, but he continues to find ways to get open under the coverage and in tight spots. He made several nice catches Monday morning.

   5. After getting torched a few times early in practice by Steve Smith, cornerback Kevin Garrett made a nice play in the end zone breaking up a pass intended for Smith. Even Smith seemed to appreciate the fine play, smacking Garrett on the back of the helmet after the play.

   6. Running back DeAngelo Williams and receiver Dwayne Jarrett did not practice. Coach John Fox said Wiliams didn't hurt the ankle last week in practice. He said it was just a matter of the foot tightening up on the flight to Newark.

   7. Nate Salley has now missed almost two weeks of practice with a knee injury. Also sitting out were receiver Justin McCullum, cornerback Curtis DeLoatch and running back Alex Haynes.

   8. Veterans Jake Delhomme and Mike Rucker exchanged some friendly pushing after Delhomme met up with Rucker on a reverse. The two laughed as the pushed at each other.

   9. The Panthers worked on running out of the clock on Monday. The offense was given this scenario -- they had 1:12 left on the clock and needed to get one first down. The defense had three timeouts. Both the first-team and second-team offenses managed to pick up first downs and run out the clock.

   10. The Panthers practice again tonight.

    Have to get to the Peppers' tape now -- talk to you soon...