By By MIKE CRANSTON, AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and two other assistants Monday, two weeks after finishing a disappointing 8-8 season.
Offensive line coach Mike Maser and secondary coach Rod Perry were also let go, the first major moves by the Panthers after they failed to make the playoffs despite preseason Super Bowl hopes.
The Panthers were hurt in part by numerous injuries on the offensive line, but Henning’s play calling also came under fire as being too conservative as Carolina struggled to run and get the ball to receiver Steve Smith.
The 65-year-old Henning, a former head coach with the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers, was one of coach John Fox’s first hires shortly after he took over in 2002.
After going 7-9 in Fox’s first season, the Panthers reached the Super Bowl a year later and lost on a last-second field goal to New England as quarterback Jake Delhomme, running back Stephen Davis and Smith emerged under Henning’s offense.
The Panthers lost to Seattle in the NFC championship game last season as Smith led the league in catches, yards receiving and touchdowns.
But the Panthers, who have tried to build their offense around their running game under Fox, struggled to score points. They ranked 25th in total offense and had the worst third-down conversion rate in the NFL despite signing Keyshawn Johnson in the offseason to give Smith more help.
Critics and fans got louder in questioning Henning’s decisions, but Fox gave him a clear vote of confidence less than a month ago, saying that the coaching staff ‘‘didn’t become village idiots’’ overnight.
But Fox changed his tune Monday.
Henning’s firing leaves Johnson’s future with the team in doubt. The 34-year-old receiver said after the final game that if Henning was fired, he would not return next season — although he backed off that stance a day later.
Johnson had little to say on the subject Monday.
Maser joined the Panthers in 2003 and the Panthers had allowed either zero or one sack in 27 games. But this year, the Panthers lost offensive line starters Travelle Wharton, Justin Hartwig and Mike Wahle to season-ending injuries, and the replacements struggled. The Panthers ranked 22nd in rushing and Carolina gave up 32 sacks.
Perry was also on Fox’s staff for the entire five seasons. Starting cornerbacks Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble struggled this season, with Lucas slowed by several injuries.
The Panthers have several other big decisions to make in the offseason, including whether to bring back aging defensive players Mike Minter and Mike Rucker and linebacker Dan Morgan, who missed all but one game with lingering problems from numerous concussions.