Beason respects Ward, but ...

Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason is a prideful player and one of those guys who will answer a reporter's question straight-up.

Monday afternoon, still less than 24 hours after Sunday night's 34-28 overtime loss against the New York Giants, Beason was asked about New York's big night running the ball. The Giants rolled up 301 yards on the ground, the most by an opponent in Panthers history. Derrick Ward had 215 of them, an individual record for an opponent.

After blaming the Panthers' inability to stop the Giants' running game on sloppy play and poor communication, Beason was asked if the talents of Ward and backfield mate Brandon Jacobs might have had something to do with it.

“I hate you asked that question,” Beason said. “The politically correct thing to say is they're a great combination of running backs – really good backs. And they are. But based on the film, of the 300 yards, let's say, uh, 250 were on us. That's how I'll answer that question.”

(charlotteobserver.com)