David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Anderson ready to play after 'brutal' night

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's a good thing Carolina Panthers quarterback Derek Anderson won't play much past the first quarter in tonight's exhibition finale at Pittsburgh.

He needs some rest -- literally.

Anderson caught a commercial flight to Pittsburgh mid-morning on Thursday after becoming a first-time father late Wednesday afternoon to Amelia Anderson, 7.6 pounds and 20.5 inches long.

He is scheduled to start for Cam Newton, who made the trip but will not play because of fractured ribs suffered in Friday night's 30-7 loss at New England.

Anderson needed less than 24 hours to learn babies interrupt the sleep pattern of parents. He tweeted this early Thursday morning:

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Carolina starters aren't expected to play more than a quarter, so perhaps the Panthers can set a cot up for Anderson on the sideline while Joe Webb finishes the game.

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