Richardson has made it through the most difficult part of heart transplant surgery, but still faces an arduous road to recovery.

Dr. Mark Stiegel, one of the surgeons who performed Richardson's transplant according to a release put out by the Panthers, talked about the recovery process for heart transplant patients at a press conference Feb. 3. While Stiegel wouldn't talk specifically about any patient at CMC due to privacy laws, he did say the most stressful time is over once the surgery ends.

"Your most critical time is actually in the operating room," said Stiegel, who has been performing heart surgeries for 23 years. "Once the heart starts working there are very few things that will alter that process."

In all, 428 patients have received heart transplants at CMC from 1986 until Dec. 10 of last year. Of those, 94.7 percent of the patients survived one month, 89.5 percent survived one year and 80.7 percent lived at least three years.

"After surgery, the next thing you worry about is rejection," Stiegel said. "But once the heart is working it's like going downhill. You're on the down slope then. It's a matter of them getting through the surgery period and getting them through the operative period which is normally within five to seven days. But the biggest risk is immediate. Once you're off the heart-lung machine and the heart is working on its own you feel really good about that."

The normal recovery time for patients is three to six months, but age and physical condition also play a factor. Richardson, who is 72, underwent a five-hour surgery Sunday night and is said to be resting comfortably, according to team spokesman Charlie Dayton.

However, he'll be kept under the watchful eye of physicians for a long time, particularly the next 12 months.

After a heart transplant, most patients have a biopsy once a week for the first month. After that they go bi-weekly for the next two months and then about once a month for the rest of the year, according to Dr. Ted Frank, Cardiologist and Medical Director of Heart Transplantation at CMC. They will continue to be monitored twice a year for the next few years.

--Quarterback Brett Basanez is headed home.

Basanez, who spent last season on the Panthers' practice squad, signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday (Feb. 3).

A Chicago native and former Northwestern star, Basanez appeared in one regular-season game during three years with the Panthers, completing 6 of 11 passes for 56 yards with one interception in a 37-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 17, 2006.

"It's been a blast being down in Carolina the past couple years," Basanez told www.chicagobears.com. "But being from Chicago, there's really only one team, and to be able to be a part of the Bears organization is just awesome."

He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006.

He spent the first 12 weeks of his rookie season on Carolina's practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. The Panthers cut Basanez last year and kept Matt Moore and traded for Josh McCown. He was later re-signed to the practice squad.

--Ron Meeks received high praise from his former boss, Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian.

Polian, the Colts team president for the last 11 seasons, made it clear he has the "utmost respect" for Meeks "as a person and as a football coach," and believes the Panthers made an outstanding choice when they hired him as defensive coordinator.

Polian described Meeks as a high-energy guy who is constantly upbeat, whether things are going well or not on the football field.

But he said what impresses him the most is Meeks' work ethic.

"He came from a poor background, but from a terrific family," Polian said. "He's a rugged individualist and has earned everything he's gotten through hard work. And he translates that to his players. He has great work ethic, drive and determination, and you will pick up on that pretty quickly if you're around him. He's just a great, great person."

Meeks, 54, parted ways with the Colts after seven seasons as defensive coordinator shortly after Tony Dungy retired and Jim Caldwell took over as head coach.

But he left on amicable terms.

In Carolina, he replaces Mike Trgovac, who spent the past seven seasons as defensive coordinator.

Although Panthers general manager Marty Hurney has already said the team will stick with a 4-3 defense, it's still unclear at this point exactly what other intricacies Meeks will install, most notably whether or not the Panthers will use the so-called "Tampa 2 defense."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He had a bad game. He didn't have a bad season. He's not a bad quarterback. He had a bad game. It happens." -- Coach John Fox on QB Jake Delhomme after Carolina's 33-13 loss to Arizona.