DANGER SIGNS : SUCCESS BRINGS MINOR DISTRACTIONS AS PANTHERS STALK COWBOYS.

Byline: Joe Macenka Associated Press 

They've been hailed as a model for building the ultimate NFL expansion team. Now, as they prepare for their biggest game yet, the Carolina Panthers are showing uncharacteristic signs.

Offensive tackle Blake Brockermeyer and defensive end Shawn King, the third and fourth draft picks in the franchise's history, made news this week for off-field problems.

Carolina suspended King for the rest of the season for repeatedly showing up late at team meetings, and Brockermeyer went public with his frustrations over failing to be put back into the starting lineup while he recovers from a broken thumb.

It's hardly on the same level as the various criminal investigations that seem to constantly hound Carolina's NFC playoff opponent today, the Dallas Cowboys.

But it's a step out of character for a franchise that since its inception has said its cornerstones are unity, maturity and individual sacrifice for the greater good of the team.

Those values have helped the Panthers make NFL history, first in 1995 by more than doubling the record for victories by an expansion team with seven, and again this season when they took it to an even higher level.

A 12-4 record, the NFC West title and a seven-game winning streak earned the Panthers a first-round bye for the playoffs and today's second-round game at Ericsson Stadium, where Carolina is 8-0.

Charlotte was alive with playoff fever, and the Panthers seemingly could do no wrong.

But now this.

``You never want to have distractions. The one thing that I think hurts a team more than anything are distractions,'' quarterback Kerry Collins said Wednesday. ``But if we do have the leaders that I think we do have, we'll be able to push those things aside and deal with them on a different level at a different time.''

Other teammates voiced similar sentiments about Brockermeyer and King.

``Any team's going to face adversity throughout the season. We're one of them,'' safety Pat Terrell said. ``We've had some things happen, but we know where we have to go and the guys in this room are going to rally together and go out and play Panther football.''

Brockermeyer, one of Carolina's three first-round draft choices in 1995, started every game as a rookie at left tackle. But this season, the Panthers began experimenting with Brockermeyer on the right side, citing Mathew Campbell's progress in making the switch from tight end to left tackle.

Brockermeyer fractured his left thumb Nov. 24 against Houston. He has had several alterations made to his cast in recent weeks to allow him to resume practicing, but he has been unable to get back in the starting lineup.

Earlier this week, he told the media his frustration over being relegated to the bench - in favor of Campbell and rookie Norberto Garrido - was not likely to pass in the near future.

``It's something I'll just have to live with,'' Brockermeyer said, ``but I won't forget this.''

King, a second-round draft choice last season, struggled as a rookie and has been unable to unseat starting defensive end Gerald Williams, an 11-year veteran.

King's playing time has gradually increased, however, and he had been replacing Williams on obvious passing downs. King's season totals included three sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and one fumble return for a touchdown.

His suspension Tuesday night came after what team officials described as repeated warnings, and it means Williams likely will stay in on passing downs today against the defending Super Bowl-champion Cowboys.

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Photo

Photo: Panthers coach Dom Capers is surrounded by Mushin Muhammad (87), Howard Griffth (30) and Walter Rasby during a practice.

Associated Press