Richardson is not expected to accompany the team to Sunday's game in Oakland, according to Dayton.

This isn't the first time Richardson has had heart problems.

Richardson underwent successful quadruple heart-bypass surgery on Oct. 21, 2002. Dr. Mark Stiegel performed the three-hour operation at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and said at the time Richardson should make a full recovery. Richardson was hospitalized earlier that month with an intestinal infection and the irregular heart rhythm was detected during his stay.

Vice President Dick Cheney had a similar device implanted in his chest back in 2001.

--Quarterback Jake Delhomme expects the Raiders to step up their performance this Sunday after losing 24-0 to the Atlanta Falcons last week.

"We know fully well that we're going to get a good game out of the Raiders this weekend because they didn't play well last week," Delhomme said. "They've got pride and they're going to come back and play hard. Just a few weeks ago we went to Tampa Bay and we didn't play good at all, we got embarrassed, and we came back and answered the bell against New Orleans. So we know we're going to get their best shot, we need to bring our best shot and hopefully we'll fare well enough and be ready to go and have a good game."

--The Panthers spent a lot of time during the bye week self-scouting.

"I think we got a lot out of it," Delhomme said. "The big thing is there's a lot of room for improvement. We saw things we've done well and a bunch of things we need to improve on so that's where we need to focus in on things we can improve on and hopefully get better. We've got a long way to go."

--Panthers tight end Dante Rosario had a big game in the season opener -- 7 catches, 96 yards and the game-winning TD catch -- against San Diego, but has disappeared since.

"On offense, particularly in the passing game, you take what the defense gives you," coach John Fox said. "He's not actually the full-time tight end, so he doesn't get a lot of different looks. But in games where we use multiple tight ends, obviously his role is bigger. Whether he gets the ball or not, a lot depends on what the defense is doing. He's still very capable and has worked very hard. It's not that we think any less of him or anything like that. Sometimes that's how it goes."

--Delhomme believes the Panthers would be successful in a spread offense with all of the weapons they have, but said that philosophy may not win them the most games.

"I think we would embrace that, we would like that," Delhomme said. "But on the flip side, not too many teams are that successful over the long haul doing that. You can do that for a while but you've got to be able to run that football and I think we have two talented backs who we like to put the balls in their hands."

BY THE NUMBERS: 22 - Career forced fumbles by DE Julius Peppers, a franchise record.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's a guy that came into the league as a high pick. He obviously had the athletic ability. I think he played a lot of different positions in his career up until he got here. He played some end; he played some tackle; he actually spent a year at outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. He's a guy that we saw. We liked his motor; we liked the way he played; and we're sure glad we got him." -- Panthers coach John Fox on the addition of free agent DE Tyler Brayton this past off-season.