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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers nickel corner Captain Munnerlyn expected to play a lot in Sunday's game against the pass-happy New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees. He was in for only 11 of 58 snaps. He was so frustrated and unhappy about his playing time that he talked to coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, telling both he signed a four-year, $17.5 million deal to play and not stand on the sideline. He also admitted to missing a couple of plays he "normally makes with my eyes closed" because he was cold coming off the bench. "I also had to let them know football games are about rhythm," Munnerlyn said on Wednesday. "If I'm on the sideline and played three snaps in the first half, and then only going in on third-down, crucial situations and I'm not on the field, then man, I'm cold. "I was just being honest with them. Like coach, I've to feel the game. I never got a feel for the game. I think they heard me." Munnerlyn understands there's a fine line between arguing a point and coming off as a whiner or complainer. "It's hard not to say you're not complaining, because I really kind of was," he said with a laugh. "Cause I was like, 'Man, coach, I know y'all got me for a reason to play.' C'mon man. When it's third-and-8 or something, I go on the field, haven't played since 10 minutes in the second quarter and you want me to go out and defend this, it's tough. "Football is about rhythm." Munnerlyn said he was told his snaps were down because the Panthers wanted to focus on stopping the New Orleans running game even though the Saints rank fifth in the league in passing with 281.7 yards a game. So he lost snaps to outside linebacker Shaq Thompson, who played 91 percent (53 of 58) of the defensive snaps. And the Saints rushed for a season-high 149 yards, eight more than they had combined in the first two games. Thompson played only 46 percent (25 of 54) of the snaps the week before against Buffalo. Munnerlyn went from 54 percent of the snaps (29) against the Bills and 58 percent (33 of 57) against San Francisco to what he said might have been a career low. Rivera said Munnerlyn played less because of the personnel groupings the Saints presented. "The thing we've got to do is when he gets his opportunity he's got to be ready to play," he said. "We talked about that, most certainly." Munnerlyn should get more opportunities to play on Sunday at New England. The Patriots lead the NFL with 340 passing yards a game, so one would suspect Carolina would use a lot of nickel formations. Munnerlyn also could play some outside with starting cornerback Daryl Worley missing Wednesday's practice with a shoulder injury that has his status for the Patriots in question. The Panthers also will take a look at Kevon Seymour, acquired in a trade with Buffalo before the season, if Worley can't go. Munnerlyn just wants to play. "If you had told me we were playing the New Orleans Saints and I only played 10 plays, I probably would have bet everything I owned," he said. "It's a passing league. You know they're going to throw the ball."
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