Carolina Gives Thanks to the Max for Victory

CLEMSON, S.C. — His teammates call him the old man. The New Orleans Saints called him expendable. Brett Maxie calls himself fortunate.

“This year is like a rebirth year for me. This is something really special,” the 33-year-old Maxie said after he helped the Carolina Panthers to a 20-3 victory over New Orleans on Sunday.

The victory gave the expansion Panthers (2-5) their first winning streak, and it gave the Saints their first 1-6 start since 1981.

Carolina ended three consecutive third-quarter possessions by New Orleans with interceptions, including two by Maxie, who has come back from anterior cruciate ligament tears to each knee. Maxie played the first nine seasons of his NFL career for the Saints. But after the 1993 season, they decided he was expendable.

“At first, I was a little bitter,” he said. “But like with all things, you have to let them go. Life goes on, and that’s what I tried to do.”

Maxie spent one year in Atlanta before joining the Panthers, where he has flourished. His interceptions Sunday gave him five this season, giving him the league lead and a single-season high for his 11-year career.

“Brett exemplifies what we’ve tried to do as a team,” Coach Dom Capers said. “He’s one of those character football players, guys that go out and prepare the same way every week whether we’re coming off a loss or a win.”

Carolina rookie quarterback Kerry Collins struggled for the second week in a row, completing eight of 21 passes for 48 yards. But the Panthers used big plays on defense to overcome his performance and win their second in a row.

“I had mixed emotions going into this game. I didn’t know how to feel,” Maxie said. “But the fourth quarter came around, and I started feeling good about myself because I realized we had a chance to do something that this team hadn’t done this year. And that’s not give up a touchdown.”

New Orleans got its first victory last week by forcing five Miami turnovers. This time, it was the Saints who turned it over five times.

“I know right now that I’m not satisfied with our performance,” said quarterback Jim Everett, who was intercepted four times.