"Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you wanted. One moment. Would you capture it, or let it slip?"
—Eminem, "Lose Yourself"

For Carolina Panthers fourth-year wide receiver Drew Carter the one shot, that one opportunity is now.

After missing all of his rookie season in 2004 with a knee injury, Carter has shown steady improve-ment over the last two seasons leaving Carolina’s front office, not to mention its fan base, buzzing with optimism over his long-term potential.

The 6-foot-3 Carter has uncommon speed for a man his size and can outrun just about any cornerback in the league on a "go route." Few realize this, but he’s actually faster than superstar teammate Steve Smith.

So the general feeling is this: If Carter can improve his route running, add a few pounds and become a more consistent cog in the Panthers offense, then the sky’s the limit.

And if there’s ever a time for Carter to breakout, this is the year.

He’s entering his contract year with the Panthers, meaning he’ll become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

It’s this simple: Big season equals big paycheck.
But the numbers Carter puts up this year will largely depend on whether or not he starts. If he starts, he probably gets 50 to 60 snaps per game. If not, it’s more like 15 to 30. More opportunities often equate to more catches.

Most fans are under the assumption second-round draft pick Dwayne Jarrett, the kid who made Key-shawn Johnson expendable, will be the starter opposite Smith.
Not so fast.

Remember, Carter has worked with the first team in both minicamps thus far and enters training camp ahead of Dwayne Jarrett on the depth chart. So if Carter is to lose the starting job, it will be because Dwayne Jarrett will have done something to earn it.

And that’s not a given.

While Dwayne Jarrett made three fantastic catches during the June minicamp, it’s not guaranteed he’ll be ready to step in and start right away.

Keep this in mind: If there’s one position where rookies tend to struggle in the NFL it’s definitely wide receiver (New Orleans’ Marques Colston being the notable exception in 2006).

But how would a Smith-Carter alignment mesh?
Most believe the Panthers need a possession receiver to balance out a speed receiver like Smith, right?

Carter isn’t buying that, saying he thinks he and Smith would be a "real dangerous" tandem.

"And I think Smitty is a possession receiver just as much as he is a speed receiver," Carter said, refer-ring to Smith’s 100-plus catch season two years ago. "So I’m out there trying to help him out. He gets a lot of double coverage and I’m trying to take the pressure off his back."

There will be plenty written and discussed this preseason as to who should start at receiver.

Carter said he has no plans to get caught up in it, refusing to look at the situation as a competition be-tween him, Dwayne Jarrett, Keary Colbert and another rookie, fourth-round draft pick Ryne Robinson.

"I mean, yeah, we’re all competing, but the real goal is to push each other to get better," Carter said. "Obviously everyone wants to start, but more than that we want this team to get better."

Still, Carter acknowledges the opportunity in front of him to provide financial stability for the rest of his life.

One chance. One opportunity.
But he shouldn’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen.
Even if he winds up being the team’s No. 3 receiver it doesn’t necessarily mean his chances of cashing in next year are over.

Just ask Kevin Curtis.
He was the St. Louis’ No. 3 receiver for years behind Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, but still parlayed some part-time success with the Rams into a six-year, $32 million contract with Philadelphia this past off-season.

Carter can do the same, but he must produce.
And he must produce this year.

"It is a huge year, but I can’t take it as that. I have to go out and work hard," Carter said. "Hopefully things will work out and I will be here. I love being here. But we’ll see. But right now I hope to make a big year out of it and hope for the best."

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