One of the latest additions by the Carolina Panthers has ties to the owner. Close ones.

Wide receiver Brenton Bersin, an undrafted free agent from Wofford, is already used to playing in front of Jerry Richardson. As Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer explains, Bersin grew up two doors down from Richardson in a gated community in south Charlotte.

“He’s been scouting me out since I was 10,” Bersin joked.

Bersin has played football in Richardson’s backyard during neighborhood cookouts, and he’s attended games in the owner’s box.

“It was a weird feeling,” Bersin said of watching a game in Richardson's suite. “My dad was like, ‘Don’t freak out. It’s a normal game, normal seat. Just have fun.’ It was awesome. Unlimited Cokes and hot dogs, whatever you wanted.”

Bersin was a talented performer at Wofford, which happens to be where Richardson, the only owner in the NFL to have played in the league, was a college star.</p>

According to Person, Bersin had chances to sign with Baltimore and Pittsburgh. He chose the Panthers because he figured it was his best shot. Now, he's got to go out and perform in front of the owner for real.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune