New Panthers offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker said he dined with members of the Panthers defensive line and said there is no lingering bad blood between him and Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers. Basically, he tried his best to diffuse any hard feelings in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

   "We are professionals here. We play a game of football and it's very competitive. But everyone has families and you don't take nothing off the field," Walker said.

   Although Jenkins trashed Walker in 2003 saying he was a "horrible player," Walker said that was all just a part of the rivarly. Said Walker: "This is a team that I competed against for five years. I looked at it as Florida-Florida State and there was friendly competitiveness."

   More on Walker's interview later today.

   Jenkins declined comment and Peppers was not made available to speak.

   However, defensive end Mike Rucker said this in regards to the Walker signing: "I never really have personal hatred toward anyone. I mean a guy can hit me in the back and I'm going to be mad at that situation at the time, but I'm not going to carry something off the field. I think that is probably most people's take on stuff like that. We're here to work together. You might not like each other but that doesn't still separate what you are doing. I have no personal hatred toward anybody. At the end of the day it's a working relationship."

   We also have to keep in mind that Walker is not a lock to make the team.

   He still has to beat out former third-round pick Rashad Butler and Evan Mathis for a backup job. Keep in mind, he signed a one-year deal worth the league veteran minimum for a player with his NFL experience ($595,000). Basically, that means the Panthers can cut Walker and not take any cap hit if it doesn't work out.