Hoover Released by Panthers

From the Charlotte News Observer
March 9, 2010

After 10 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, fullback Brad Hoover knew the time was approaching when his days with his home-state NFL team would end. He just hoped it would coincide with when he was ready to retire.

But when his agent Tim Irwin called Sunday night to say general manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox wanted to meet with him Monday morning to personally inform him of his release, he knew he wouldn�t reach that goal.

�Reality has set in and it�s here,� said Hoover. �They decided to go with a youth movement and I�m not part of it, and I�m very disappointed that I�m not.�

The new fullback is Tony Fiammetta, a fourth-round draft pick last year who spent most of his rookie season as Hoover�s understudy.