Ben Watson picks Panthers to win Super Bowl

In two games against the Carolina Panthers this year, New Orleans Saints’ tight end Benjamin Watson caught eight passes for 81 yards and one touchdown – a respectable showing in two close, but losing, causes.

Watching the games on film confirmed what he had seen on the field: The Carolina defense “is really fast to the football.

“They shut you down.”

Both the Carolina defense and Denver defense are fast, but Watson says “the quarterbacks are the biggest story” of Super Bowl 50.

The first pass Watson caught from a professional quarterback came from ... Peyton Manning. Watson was preparing for the draft with prospects such as Peyton’s brother Eli prior to the 2004 draft. The elder Manning was at the camp, throwing passes.

Watson said he was surprised at the speed the ball came out of Peyton Manning’s hand.

Eli Manning was the first pick in the draft that year, selected by the New York Giants. Watson was the final pick in the first round that year, going to the New England Patriots, where he was a target for quarterback Tom Brady.

Watson’s current quarterback is Drew Brees.

Add Cam Newton and you have a quartet of likely Hall of Famers.

Who would he like to be catching passes from?

“Whoever is throwing,” Watson said.

Loyal to New Orleans, Watson won’t say he’s rooting for Carolina, but the Panthers have his respect for their one-loss regular season and the way they have dismantled two teams in the playoffs.

“The Panthers are performing at the highest level,” Watson said, and are his pick to win the Super Bowl.

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Ben Watson picks Panthers to win Super Bowl."