CHARLOTTE http://www.tampabaybuccaneersteamonline.com/mike-edwards-jersey , N.C. (AP) the sale of the Carolina Panthers to hedge fund owner David Tepper in Atlanta, his new team was taking the field for the first time together this season 250 miles away in Charlotte.Tepper inherits a team that will have a noticeably new look for 2018.Sure, many of the veteran core players including Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Greg Olsen, Ryan Kalil and Kawann Short are back, but Carolina has an unusually high influx of new players this offseason via free agency, trades and the NFL draft following a year in which they lost in the first round of the playoffs to New Orleans.The Panthers replaced all-time leading rusher Jonathan Stewart with free agent C.J. Anderson from the Broncos and added three wide receivers. They acquired Torrey Smith in a trade with the Super Bowl champion Eagles, signed free agent Jarius Wright and drafted D.J. Moore from Maryland in the first round.Panthers coach Ron Rivera hopes free agent Russ Cockrell and second-round pick Donte Jackson provide long-term stability at cornerback while Da’Norris Searcy can fill the shoes of Kurt Coleman at safety. Carolina also invested $28 million in free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe to replace Star Lotulelei.”We wanted some veteran guys who have a feel for what it takes,” Rivera said Tuesday.That includes Smith and Anderson, who recently won Super Bowls.It’s early yet, but Rivera likes what he’s seen from the newcomers.”I feel very comfortable about the veteran guys that we brought it and now it’s about the young guys,” Rivera said. ”Not just this year’s rookie class but last year’s rookie class. A group of those guys have got to step up.”Tepper stepped up and bought the Panthers last week for an NFL-record $2.2 billion in cash, setting the stage for a new era to begin in Carolina.The hedge fund owner was formerly a minority owner with the Pittsburgh Steelers, although he will have to sell that share now that he is running the Panthers. His agreement to purchase the team ended a five-month search for new ownership after franchise founder Jerry Richardson announced he was selling amid allegations of improper sexual and racial behavior at the team’s headquarters in Charlotte.”For a lot of people I am sure they are ready for some closure and for that transition to start,” Olsen said. ”… I think this transition has been inevitable for a little while since it was announced that the team would be sold. I think for a lot of people in the building http://www.tampabaybuccaneersteamonline.com/matt-gay-jersey , the players, the team, just to put all of this to rest and move forward in the new direction that the team is going with.”Rivera said he’s met Tepper a couple of times in passing and presented a formal presentation to him – and other potential owners – during the bidding process.He likes that Tepper has been around the NFL as a part owner.”He has a sense and a feel for football and he has been around it,” Rivera said. ”… Eventually I know we will sit down and talk some football and talk about this team.”Meanwhile, Newton was the on the field throwing during the first day of OTAs. He missed all of the spring workouts last year because of surgery on his right shoulder.Rivera said having a healthy Newton for these camps is essential because he sets the tone and tempo for the team during practice. He also said it is ”critical” that he has a chance to get on the same page with his new group of receivers.”I am excited about having him out here and throwing the ball and developing that” chemistry, Rivera said.Newton is in the midst of learning a new offensive system.Norv Turner replaced Mike Shula as offensive coordinator this offseason. Shula was Newton’s coordinator since 2013 and had a close relationship with him. Rivera said at first Newton was nervous about the change, but has now started to settle down.The quarterback seemed relaxed Tuesday, running and smiling and trading his normal barbs with linebacker Thomas Davis after big plays.”I think Cam gets that Norv is here to help,” Rivera said.— CHICAGO �? The NFL’s oldest rivalry takes on a different look to open the league’s 100th season.It’s a role reversal for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.More Vikings coveragePreview: Cook, Vikings look to keep rolling vs. PackersTop Tweets: Vikings prepare for Packers with TMNT hype videoBarr, seasoned Vikings defense off to strong startNew offense, same Rodgers: Vikings prep for LaFleur’s PackersVikings re-sign center Jones, waive rookie TE DillonA year after new coach Matt Nagy took quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears to Lambeau Field to kick off the season, the script flipped, with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and new coach Matt LaFleur coming to Soldier Field.“It was always big Chicago against little Green Bay,” Rodgers said. “We’ve held our own over the years and it’s always been a great rivalry.“It’s one of the special ones in the history of professional sports.”In Rodgers’ experience the Packers trust, even using a new offense for the first time since he became starter in 2008.“He’s been there before http://www.tennesseetitansteamonline.com/a.j.-brown-jersey , he’s got a lot of game reps,” LaFleur said of Rodgers. “The one thing you can always find comfort in is that you know the moment won’t be too big for him. He’s played in a lot of big games.”Rodgers has been a particular problem for the Bears, beating them in 16 of 21 starts. Last year Rodgers shook off a 20-point deficit in the second-half and a knee injury to lead a 24-23 win over Khalil Mack and the Bears.Chicago returned the favor in December and ended Green Bay’s five-game series winning streak to clinch the NFC North title en route to a 12-4 record.Now it’s a matter for Rodgers of using an offense emphasizing more running and deception while facing the NFL’s top defense at intercepting passes (27).“It’s so new, it’s so different than what we’ve done in the past,” Rodgers said.The Packers ran less than any team in the NFL last year, and look to get running back Aaron Jones more carries.“Now we’re throwing new things at them with personnel groupings and motions and alignments and movement and adjustments that they haven’t seen from us,” Rodgers said.The Bears have revealed nothing offensively after sitting starters in the preseason, including Trubisky.“He’s mentally grown, he really has,” Nagy said. “That’s what we look for, and now we have to do it on the field.”The defense also sat out preseason, but inactivity failed to slow Mack in last year’s opener. With no training camp and only five practices after his trade from Oakland, Mack decimated Green Bay’s offense with a strip sack, fumble recovery, and a touchdown return after an interception.He’s aching to face Green Bay again as the Bears seek their first season-opening win since 2013.“Oh man, I’m so ready to hit somebody other than my teammate,” Mack said. “You know what I mean?”SAFETY SWITCHThe Packers will start free agent safety acquisition Adrian Amos http://www.tennesseetitansteamonline.com/amani-hooker-jersey , the former Bears safety, while his Bears replacement is former Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.Clinton-Dix was traded by the Packers to Washington last year before signing for one year with the Bears.“He’s come in and he’s been a great pro,” Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said. “All we ask these guys to do every single day �? it doesn’t matter if they were here before or they’re new coming in �? is what coach Nagy’s expectation was. You come in and earn your way. Every single day he’s done it.”Amos is one of eight Packers starters on defense who are different than in last year’s opener.CHESS MATCHElements of surprise are at work in this matchup.The Bears had to watch tape on Tennessee from 2018 to determine how LaFleur’s offense operates. He was Titans offensive coordinator last year. Pagano, the former Colts coach and Ravens assistant, has altered the Bears’ defensive look somewhat.“I’m sure they’re studying all the tape, just like we’re going back and looking at Chuck from all the way back to Baltimore,” LaFleur said. “So yeah, again, it just goes back to having plays that start off looking the same that are different to try and keep them off a little bit.”CHICAGO GUYRodgers disagreed with the notion he has a hatred for Chicago.“I have a lot of respect for the city of Chicago and their fans,” Rodgers said. “I grew up a fan of Michael Jordan and one of the channels we had on our 10-channel TV was WGN. So we got the Cubs games, as well.”100 YEARSTrubisky expressed how little the NFL hype machine about 100 seasons means to players.“It really doesn’t matter, all the hoopla, kicking off the NFL season, the 100th season,” Trubisky said. “If we get caught up in the moment and you let your adrenaline take over and you don’t do what the team needs you to do, then I think you could do things that are out of character and put your team in a bad spot.”INJURY CONCERNSThe availability of Bears tight end Trey Burton will be a game-time decision due to a groin injury suffered last week. A groin injury also kept him out of last season’s playoff loss to Philadelphia.The Packers likely will start rookie Ty Summers at inside linebacker due to a torn pectoral muscle to starter Oren Burks and a knee injury to backup Curtis Bolton.