Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó The Carolina Panthers will open the 2008 season at defending AFC West champion San Diego.
The 16-game schedule released Tuesday also includes a Monday night home game against Tampa Bay.
The Panthers will open on the road for a second straight year on Sept. 7 at San Diego. The home opener is a week later against Chicago before Carolina travels to Minnesota in Week 3.
The Panthersí lone nationally televised game is Dec. 8 against the Buccaneers. The Panthers host Denver the following Sunday, then close the season with consecutive road games at the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants and New Orleans.
Coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney are under pressure to get Carolina back into the postseason after a two-year absence, and playing on the road late in the season may be a good thing. Under Fox, the Panthers have a better road record (27-21) than at home (24-24).
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones said Tuesday heís delayed filing for reinstatement with the NFL until a possible trade is worked out.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones for the 2007 season for his off-field conduct, which includes six arrests since being drafted. Goodell rejected appeals to let Jones take part in training camp or return after 10 games.
SAN DIEGO ó Chargers inside linebacker Stephen Cooper was suspended for four games by the NFL on Tuesday for testing positive for a banned stimulant.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
LINCOLN, Neb. ó The week of the sold-out Bruce Springsteen concert in Omaha last month, you could call a local ticket broker and pay $39 for a seat.
For Saturdayís sold-out Nebraska spring football game, that broker is getting $95 a ticket.
This, remember, is not a real game. Itís a scrimmage.
Nebraska isnít the only place where football craziness exists in the spring.Alabama had 78,200 folks turn out for its spring game last weekend. .
DURHAM ó Duke offensive tackle Cameron Goldberg has been suspended from the football team for violating team policy.
GREENVILLE ó East Carolinaís 2008 regular season finale against UTEP, originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 29 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, has been moved up to a Friday afternoon kickoff.
GOLF
NEW YORK ó PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem offered his support Tuesday for golf to become an Olympic sport, an endorsement that could give golf its strongest chance since it was dropped from the Olympic program more than 100 years ago.
Because the International Olympic Committee requires seven years for a sport to be added, the earliest golf could be part of the Olympics is 2016. The IOC will meet next year to vote on a host for the 2016 Games and decide whether to include additional sports.