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Panthers GM dismisses concerns over Kelvin Benjamin's weight gain

Jeremy Brevard / USA TODAY Sports

Some of the biggest talking points during any offseason are the athletes who show up to workouts overweight.

Carolina Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin found himself in that predicament recently when he showed up to OTAs eight or nine pounds above his playing weight, according to Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer.

While it created a minor stir among reporters around the facility, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman didn't seem concerned.

"It really is much ado about nothing. Right now he's only five pounds off his playing weight. That's it," Gettleman said. "This is what frustrates me sometimes, people want to create news. There's no news. He's a few pounds over, that's all. He'll be fine. He'll stay here in July and he'll be ready to rock and roll."

It probably is nothing, but the same can't be said of the two hamstring injuries Benjamin suffered this offseason. Whether they were related to his weight is anyone's guess, but regardless of the reason, the ailments cost him a significant portion of practice time this spring.

The Panthers will hope their go-to receiver is at full strength come training camp, so he and Cam Newton can continue to develop the chemistry that made them such a formidable combination in 2014.

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