Carolina Panthers fan finds a treasure trove at yard sale ... and gives it away

While rooting through someone else's castoffs at a yard sale in Charlotte, N.C., Matt Rowell turned up a most-unexpected find: the Carolina Panthers' playbook from Super Bowl XXXVIII.

According to TV station WCNC, Rowell found it in a bag that was destined for the trash can.

But there was more. The 26-year-old Panthers fan also found financial information about the players, as well as the size 16 cleats and other objects belonging to defensive lineman Kris Jenkins.

The game itself, which was played in Houston's Reliant Stadium on Feb. 1, 2004, might bring back painful memories. New England's Adam Vinatieri kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left to give the Patriots a 32-29 victory over the Panthers. That capped a thrilling fourth quarter in which 37 points were scored, with three lead changes and one tie.

Rowell showed his find to his friends, then returned the playbook and financial documents to the Panthers.

"I enjoyed it for a week," he told the TV station. "I was like, you know what, this really belongs more to the fans than it does to me or for me selling it, because if I were to sell it on Craigslist or eBay or wherever, then that person may then sell it to the Falcons or to the Saints. It's just stuff that you can't, as a die hard fan you just can't do that."

Matt did get to keep a few things, including the nameplate that adorned Jenkins’ locker at the Super Bowl and some Pro Bowl playbooks.

(Photos: Kris Jenkins (77) and the rest of the Panthers take the field for Super Bowl XXXVIII, by Dave Martin | The Associated Press; an image from video of Jenkins' Pro Bowl playbooks, by WCNC TV)

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