Ex-Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, who was released by the Carolina Panthers, was on the Minnesota campus with some Cretin-Derham Hall athletes the other day and he is still looking for a job.

Justin Zwick was watching a lot of movies at his parents' house in Ohio, close to giving up his dream. "I'm thinking I've got to start earning some money some time, and I can't live off my parents forever," the former Ohio State quarterback said Monday. "Then all of sudden you get a call." The Panthers wanted to give Zwick a shot to keep his football career alive. Zwick, who had stayed in shape since leaving college, first worked out for the team Thursday and the Panthers signed him over the weekend. He practiced at an optional workout Monday.

What made linebacker Jon Beason so attractive to the Panthers on draft day was his versatility. But learning two positions is tough -- especially if you're a rookie. "He's an instinctive guy and I think he's had some background at both outside backer and inside backer in his career," coach John Fox said. "As far as it relates to our system, we'll bring him along primarily at one spot, but kind of keep it an idea."

For four months, Mike Rucker has spent up to four hours a day rehabbing his knee. Determined to return to the Panthers despite his age and the seriousness of his injury, the 32-year-old is grinding away, hoping to be ready to practice before the end of training camp. "It's been tough because there hasn't been an offseason," Rucker said Friday. "The day it happened, we started rehabbing the next day. That's part of the emotions that you go through when you have an injury like that because you know what is ahead of you."