When Carolina's Christian McCaffrey ripped off a 59-yard run

against the Seattle Seahawks Austin Carr Jersey Salute to Service , there was no tapping his helmet.He wasn't coming out of the game.The second-year running back told Cam Newton in the huddle before the next play "I'm ready to go," then took a handoff on the next play and picked up another 15 yards."Any other average running back would've tapped his head and said, 'I need a blow,'" Newton said.McCaffrey has been the Energizer Bunny of the Panthers' offense, playing in 97 percent of the team's offensive plays through 11 games 鈥?the most in the NFL.And he's showing no signs of letting up.He became the first Carolina player in franchise history to eclipse 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game last Sunday. Despite the loss to the Seahawks, his 237 total yards set a franchise record.Entering Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, McCaffrey is fourth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,365. He has 757 yards rushing and five touchdowns, 608 yards receiving yards on 71 catches and five more TDs.McCaffrey said he never really gets tired 鈥?and if he does, he just ignores it."I don't think of it," McCaffrey said. "When I'm in the game there is so much adrenaline. I never really feel like I'm gasping. You have to push through that.""He doesn't look like it is wearing on him," said Panthers coach Ron Rivera, whose team is looking to snap a three-game losing streak. "He works hard at everything he does and takes care of himself the way you expect a pro to do. Our other young guys can learn from that example."The 5-foot-11, 205-pound McCaffrey is proving to everyone he's not too small to be an every-down 鈥?and basically every-play 鈥?running back.Newton said McCaffrey is always out to prove something and bristles when someone calls him a "small" running back."When they take you at the eighth pick, you have a lot of people counting on you," McCaffrey said. "So I knew it was going to be a pivotal (role). But at the same time, you still have to earn everything. And that's kind of my mindset, how it's always been."Said Newton: "C-Mac has defied all odds. The thing that has always put me at comfort with C-Mac is he's always been a workhorse. He's always been a playmaker. There's no denying that. C-Mac was everything (we thought he could be), and a bag of chips."McCaffrey believes that players like McCaffrey, Le'Veon Bell, Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara are changing the running back position in the NFL."Those guys are all-down backs," Newton said. "And they can take a screen pass, score. They can take a trap Benjamin Watson Jersey , score. They can block in the pass game. They're everything. And they're changing the game. My hat goes off to all of those guys knowing that they're a part of the evolving of the game, just like dual-threat quarterbacks."Standout performers from the Saints shocking season opening loss to Tampa Bay The New Orleans Saints opened their 53rd NFL season with a thud, falling at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-40. The Saints defensive performance was embarrassing, giving up 417 yards passing and 4 scores on just 21 completions to Tampa Bay's backup quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick.The Saints front line did not generate any pressure at all, and allowed Fitzpatrick 36 more yards and another touchdown on the ground. The New Orleans secondary was helpless against the Buccaneer receivers, giving up a combined 293 yards and three scores against Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. The defense didn't fare much better against the run, allowing what was thought to be a pedestrian Tampa rushing game over 100 yards for the game, and keeping the New Orleans defense on their heels with a play action attack. The Saints running game struggled without Pro Bowl back Mark Ingram as well, averaging only 3.6 yards per carry and netting just 48 yards rushing for the game. While it's back to the drawing board for the New Orleans defense for a week two meeting with the Cleveland Browns, there were a few shining stars in yesterday's game. Let's have a look at a couple players for the Saints that did stand out, as they look to rebound from yesterday's disappointing performance. Alvin Kamara Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsKamara was last year's offensive rookie of the year, and looks as if he's only scratched the surface of what he can do. Against a Tampa Bay defense focused on containing him, especially in the absence of Mark Ingram, Kamara had 9 receptions for 112 yards, 29 yards rushing, 3 total touchdowns and a 2-pt. conversion. We didn't get to see much of Kamara's ability as a rusher, with just eight carries on the day, but that could have been a combination of Saints pass-heavy game plan, along with the fact that New Orleans was playing from behind most of the afternoon. With both Mike Gillislee and Jonathan Williams ineffectiveness (four carries, nine yards, and a fumble), we could see Kamara utilized as a runner even more in the upcoming weeks until Ingram's return. Don't expect New Orleans do shy away from his talents as a receiver Eli Apple Jersey , however, but instead giving Kamara an even bigger role in the Saints offense. Michael Thomas Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsThomas broke a team record that had stood since 1978 (Tony Galbreath) by catching 16 passes against the Bucs. He also led all receivers with 180 yards and added a touchdown. Thomas did have a crucial drop that hastened the end of one New Orleans third quarter drive, and a critical fumble on the following possession that halted a Saints scoring drive. Make no mistake though, Thomas has quickly become one of the finest receivers in the NFL, and his assault on the team's record books appears to have just begun. The combination of Thomas and Kamara seems nearly impossible for any defense to contain, and gives the New Orleans offense perhaps the most dangerous 1-2 punch combination in the league. Drew Brees Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty ImagesBrees was, well Brees. While most of his team did little to support him, the 39-yr. old future Hall of Famer was magnificent, completing 82% of his passes for 439 yards and 3 touchdown passes. He moved his offense despite the absence of a running game (just 43 yards on 13 carries), and an abysmal defensive performance. Brees' performance leaves him now just 1,056 passing yards short of Peyton Manning's all-time yardage record, but the Saints hopes for a successful season will likely be dashed if the team cannot again become balanced around their iconic signal caller. Tom Benson Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesFor the first time since 1985, the Saints took the field without their owner. Benson, who has been the team's owner since 1985, passed away in March. He was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor on Sunday. His contributions to the franchise, and the city, will never be forgotten. Under his leadership, New Orleans won the first division championship in their history (1987), established themselves as a perennial playoff contender, first playoff win (2000), and of course a Super Bowl championships in 2009. These were just a few among the many achievements that Mr. Benson and his franchise accomplished in over three decades through the Gulf Coast region who looked at their team as part of the family. The culture that Mr. Benson put in place will continue through his wife Gayle, with his name overlooking the franchise he built that embodies an entire region. Custom New York Jets Jerseys