Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kyle Love is disappointed he does not get to face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
In 2013, the Patriots released Love after he had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The 29-year-old is clearly convinced that the timing was not a coincidence, and he made that clear when he promised “pain” before the Panthers played New England in the preseason back in August.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that I accept it because it’s always going to bother me,” Love told Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer on Wednesday. “There’s nights that I have cried about it. It’s something that I’ll probably never get over. But I’ve got to keep moving forward with my life.”
Love is going to have to settle for trying to sack Peyton Manning, but he was looking forward to another shot at Tom Brady.
“I told (reporters in August) I couldn’t wait and there was going to be pain brought,” he said. “So for us to be able to play them in this big game, it’d be even more pain being brought.
“It’s funny. Before the (preseason) game we played them Tom came to me and told me, ‘Hey, take it easy on me.'”
Of course, Brady had nothing to do with the Patriots releasing Love — whether the diabetes diagnosis was a factor in the roster decision or not. Still, you can understand Love feeling bitter toward the organization.
If Love is looking for a little added motivation against the Broncos, we know the perfect person to give it to him. Perhaps the Panthers will get a shot at the Patriots in next year’s championship game.
Photo: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
