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Panthers coach Ron Rivera is still fuming about his team’s performance Luke Kuechly Color Rush Jersey , saying he won’t tolerate laziness on defense following his team’s 31-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.Carolina’s eighth-year head coach was upset after watching his normally stingy defense allow Matt Ryan and the Falcons to roll up 442 yards on offense Sunday and score on five of their first seven possessions.The Falcons, playing without starting running back Devonta Freeman, ran for 170 yards and Ryan completed 23 of 28 passes for 272 yards and combined for four TDs. Tevin Coleman ran for 107 yards, snapping Carolina’s string of 21 straight games without allowing an opposing running back to run for 100 yards.Rivera described Carolina’s problems as part-mental and part-physical. He said Monday that the team struggled with its run fits on defense and “a couple of times (we were) playing behind and playing a little lazy — and we can’t accept that.”Rivera said the performance was not up to the standard set by former defensive coordinators Sean McDermott and Steve Wilks, both of whom have gone on to become NFL head coaches. The Panthers have consistently been one of the league’s top-ranked defenses since Rivera arrived in 2011.“We are not going to tolerate it Brian Burns Jersey ,” Rivera said. “We are going to put players out on the field that we believe are doing it our way and playing hard and giving us every opportunity to succeed.”Panthers new defensive coordinator Eric Washington, who was promoted from defensive line coach this past offseason, called it a “tough day at the office.”When asked about Rivera’s comments about the defense being a little lazy, Washington replied, “If that is the way coach characterized it then I will follow suit with that. If we need to play faster Graham Gano Jersey , with more effort and more energy than that is what we are going to do.”Washington said the Panthers struggled with the Falcons’ zone-wide blocking scheme.He pointed to the team’s defensive tackles, saying they need to play with better technique and “set the table” for the rest of the defense to make plays.Too often on Sunday, middle linebacker Kuechly’s path to the ball carrier was hindered by blockers getting to the second line of defense.“When we talk about that scheme we emphasize with our defensive tackles they have to play great,” Washington said. “That means they have penetrate and get great edges set and allow our linebackers have to play downhill. A couple of times we weren’t exactly doing that to the degree we’ve done it in the past. It created some indecision with the second level of the defenders. It wasn’t as clean of a look for those guys.”Carolina’s Dontari Poe agreed that he and the team’s other defensive tackles need to be on their game and play more physical against the Falcons, but wouldn’t go as far as to characterize the play of the defense as lazy.“We missed some stuff at times Julius Peppers Jersey , and a couple of times people could have made plays that they didn’t,” Poe said. “It’s just small things we need to fix.”Washington’s job isn’t going to get any easier this week when the Panthers host the Cincinnati Bengals.The Panthers could be without starting cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and safety Da’Norris Searcy (concussion), which means some adjustments in the secondary. Both players left the Atlanta game with injuries.But he’s confident the Panthers defense will bounce back.“We will shore those things up, and we will be ready to go,” Washington said. “You will see the Panthers defense we are all accustomed to seeing.”___ CHARLOTTE DJ Moore Color Rush Jersey , N.C. (AP) Julius Peppers isn’t done playing football just yet.The 38-year-old free agent re-signed with the Panthers on Wednesday, agreeing to a one-year contract.The deal is for $5 million, with $2.5 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team does not release financial terms of contracts.”I am fired up to have him back,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera told The Associated Press. ”It was amazing to have him as part of what we are trying to build and I think he can help us get to the next level.”The Panthers also officially announced acquisition of Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith in exchange for cornerback Daryl Worley James Color Rush Bradberry Jersey , which was reported last week .Peppers had contemplated retirement after the Panthers went 11-5 last season and made the playoffs as a wild card team.Earlier this year Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis and center Ryan Kalil both said this will be their last season. Peppers could also be another player making a farewell tour in 2018.Peppers is entering his 17th NFL season, including his 10th with the Panthers.A nine-time Pro bowl selection, he returned to Carolina last season and had a productive season with 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.Peppers helps provide some depth at defensive end after starter Charles Johnson was released earlier this offseason.Peppers’ 154sacks are the fourth-most in NFL history. He needs six sacks to pass Kevin Greene and move into third place on the NFL’s all-time list.The North Carolina native was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Panthers following a successful college career with the North Carolina Tar Heels.He played his first eight seasons in Carolina before joining the Chicago Bears in 2010. He played four years there and three more for the Green Bay Packers before returning to Carolina last year.Peppers has played in 250 career games, tied for seventh-most of any defensive player in NFL history and has played in 160 straight games Ian Thomas Jersey , the second-longest of any defensive player.He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.Peppers leads all active players with 20 career fumble recoveries and ranks second in forced fumbles (49) in the NFL since 2002. His 11 career interceptions rank second all-time for defensive ends.Smith brings needed speed to the team’s wide receiver position.He said in a conference call Wednesday that he’s thrilled to join the Panthers and have a chance to play with quarterback Cam Newton, whom he has worked out with in the past.”The Eagles were very open about the trade, so I wasn’t blindsided,” said Smith, who had 36 catches for 430 yards and two touchdowns while starting 14 games last year for the Super Bowl champions. ”But this is one of the places I wanted to be and I’m happy that it played out that way.”Smith played one season with former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith in Baltimore and said he’s like a ”legit big brother I can talk to about anything.”The Panthers lost unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to Buffalo on Wednesday after he signed a five-year deal with the Bills.—