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The Carolina Panthers' CFL connections

The Carolina Panthers' CFL connections

Heading into Sunday's Super Bowl between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, one team has a clear edge over the other in one category: CFL connections. The Panthers have the leg up there, with two players, one coach, and three scouts with CFL connections to none from the Broncos. (That piece lists linebacker Chase Vaughn as with the Broncos, but he was actually cut earlier this year and signed with Winnipeg in September.) Here's a breakdown of the CFL connections on the Panthers' squad.

David Foucalt, offensive line: Foucault is notable on several fronts, as he's a Canadian player from the CIS ranks. The LaSalle, Quebec native starred for the Université de Montréal in college and was picked fifth overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2014 CFL draft, but wound up signing with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent a week later (part of what helped lead to moving the CFL draft to later in the year). He's been with Carolina since, making the team's 53-man roster in 2014 and starting at left tackle in October following injuries. It's been a bit up-and-down for Foucault since then, as he only picked up that one start and was cut and then signed to the Panthers' practice squad in September 2015 (and then called up again, cut again and signed to the practice squad again in October), but he's still part of the team's practice squad to date. He won't be on the field Sunday, but may play a role for this team going forward.

Marcus Ball, safety: Ball was a key figure on the Toronto Argonauts' 2012 Grey Cup championship team, typically playing linebacker, and did well for them in 2013 as well. They released him in early 2014 so he could head to the NFL with the Saints, but New Orleans cut him in May 2015. The Panthers picked Ball up later in May, though, and while he was cut in September, they brought him back to their practice squad later that month. He hasn't seen the field in a game yet, but did make headlines for allegedly threatening Giants' receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a baseball bat (which Ball denies). If the Panthers win the Super Bowl, Ball would join the short list of players with Super Bowl and Grey Cup rings.

Ken Dorsey, quarterbacks coach: Dorsey is well known by many football fans for his college career at Miami (including the 2001 national championship) and his NFL stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns, but he also played in the CFL afterwards, finishing his professional career with the Toronto Argonauts in 2010. Dorsey didn't see the field in 2010 (remarkable, as the team's other quarterbacks were Cleo Lemon, Dalton Bell, and Danny Brannagan) and retired after the season. He then spent two years as a scout for the Panthers before taking the QB coach role in 2013.

Don Gregory, director of college scouting:  Gregory has been with the Panthers since 2006, and had previous stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, the XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws, the San Diego Chargers and the National Football Scouting Combine, but he really got his start in the CFL, scouting the U.S. northwest for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1986-90, 92-93) and Edmonton Eskimos (1993). He also worked with the World League of American Football's San Antonio Riders (coached by former Winnipeg coach Mike Riley) from 1990 to 1991.

John Peterson, scout: Peterson has been with the Panthers for eight years, and currently covers Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming and parts of Arkansas and Missouri for them. He previously worked for the Seattle Seahawks, and worked in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders (1989-91) and Toronto Argonauts (1994-96). He was also the GM of those San Antonio Riders from 1991 to 1992, and was a head coach at Bemidji State and Frostburg State.

Jeff Beathard, scout: Beathard comes from a football family, as his father Bobby was a successful GM for the Redskins and Chargers, and his nephew C.J. is currently a star quarterback at Iowa. He's been with the Panthers since 2008. He scouted for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2003-05, and played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for one season. He was also connected to those San Antonio Riders, as tight ends coach and VP of player personnel in 1992, and worked for the WLAF's Orlando Thunder in 1991. In the NFL, he previously worked for the Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers.