New Orleans Saints

Panthers coach Ron Rivera changed play calls to keep Saints from stealing info

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:30 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The Carolina Panthers lost a handful of key defenders this offseason after reaching the Super Bowl in February. The biggest name was Josh Norman, of course, but another piece of the secondary went to a division rival – and his former team – in free agency.

Roman Harper signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints in June, bringing him back to the team that he spent the first eight years of his career with. The Panthers were forced to adjust their secondary accordingly, but that’s not the only change they made.

Head coach Ron Rivera addressed another adjustment Carolina will make now that one of their best defenders plays for a division rival.

This comes as no surprise. If Cam Newton uses the same audibles against the Saints as he did in 2015, Harper will be all over it, signaling to his fellow defenders that a run or pass is coming.

For instance, apparently Newton used the call “Even Janitor” in the season finale, according to Panthers center Ryan Kalil. Needless to say, Newton won’t be using that anymore against the Saints – even though it’s funny and ridiculous.