The good -- or not so good -- thing about still having two weeks to go before the NFL draft is that we can dissect the Carolina Panthers' possible picks in minute detail.

Today, we look at the case for choosing a running back in the first round.

The general consensus for weeks has been that the Panthers will take an offensive tackle. That's still probably the leading option, as you'll see in our mock draft in today's paper.

But think about Carolina's lineup next season if they pick Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall or Oregon's Jonathan Stewart with the 13th overall pick.

Suddenly, they'd have a big, powerful back to pair with DeAngelo Williams. The new tandem could be formidable and provide the balance needed to free receiver Steve Smith in the passing game, especially with D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad already on board to lend depth at receiver.

Mendenhall (5-foot-10, 225 pounds) and Stewart (5-10, 235) both ran the 40-yard dash in less than 4.5 seconds at the NFL combine. They're tough between the tackles and can break long runs.

They're much stronger than the top-rated back in the draft, Arkansas' Darren McFadden. While McFadden had 13 repetitions bench-pressing 225 pounds, Stewart had 28 reps and Mendenhall 26.

If they're as good as advertised, their instant impact could do wonders for the Panthers' offensive production and possibly even propel Carolina back to the top of the NFC South. (Remember how much Stephen Davis meant to the Panthers in their 2003 Super Bowl season?)

Alas, there have been plenty of first-round running back busts throughout the NFL and Carolina has a history of failing to hit big on backs taken in the first two rounds. They've yet to get even a 900-yard season despite choosing Tshimanga Biakabutuka (1996) and Williams (2006) in the first round, and DeShaun Foster ('02) and Eric Shelton ('05) in Round 2.

This could be the year that changes if the Panthers take Mendenhall or Stewart. Colts president Bill Polian, Carolina's former GM, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher have raved about the backs available in this draft.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock -- remember, he nailed the Panthers' pick of Jon Beason last year when virtually no one else expected it -- ranks Mendenhall ahead of McFadden as the best back in the draft.

Mendenhall ran for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

Stewart, rated as the best back in the draft by Pro Football Weekly, has a powerful running style that might make him an even better fit for the Panthers, but is he still a value pick at No. 13 given that he had toe surgery and might not be able to practice until training camp?

He rushed for 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

The Panthers have studied both players closely, as they have the top tackles, defensive ends and quarterback Matt Ryan -- all first-round possibilities.

But as the draft draws near, keep in mind what coach John Fox recently said about the importance of getting a quality back before next season either in the draft or by some other means.

"I think that's a critical spot," he said.

Indeed.

Panthers retrieved notebook on eBay

The Panthers had a security breach last year that resulted in a search for a missing playbook.Fox was asked at the NFL owner's meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., about teams who've had playbooks appear for sale on eBay.

"We've had one float across there," he said.

It was actually a minicamp notebook, but nonetheless created an urgent situation for the Panthers, who retrieved it before it was sold to an outsider.

Asked if the Panthers had to buy back the book, Fox said: "I'm not really sure what happened. I know we got it."

Fox said team officials have a good idea who the culprit was, but aren't positive. He said it's the only time it's happened since he joined the team in 2002. He said the Panthers regularly have someone "troll" eBay.

"You work against it, but theft is part of everything," he said.

Shortt update

Dr. James Shortt, the former West Columbia physician convicted of illegally providing steroids and human growth hormone to former Panthers players, is to be released from federal prison this month. His release date from Taft (Calif.) Correctional Institute is April 27, the second day of the NFL draft. He has been imprisoned there since June 14, according to records.

See more at www.charlotte.com