SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -Ken Lucas doesn't mess around when setting goals.

Upset with his Pro Bowl snub and the loss to his former team in last season's NFC championship game, the Carolina Panthers cornerback set the bar high this season: He's intent on becoming the best defensive player in the NFL.

The Panthers signed Lucas to a six-year, $36.5 million free-agent deal before last season in hopes he would become the shutdown corner they've been missing. He delivered. Going up against the opposition's best receiver each week, Lucas had six interceptions, second to fellow corner Chris Gamble's seven.

It wasn't good enough to make the NFC Pro Bowl roster.

``I was kind of angry the week they came out with it,'' Lucas said. ``I just wanted to show people that, man, I should have been there. But this year, the Pro Bowl is the fifth or sixth thing on my list of goals. If I do everything else that I want to do, the Pro Bowl will take care of itself.''

The Panthers' season ended when they were trounced by Seattle, Lucas' former team, in the NFC title game. Lucas left the Seahawks feeling he was unappreciated, and he had to stew over the loss all offseason.

``I asked him about his summer break and he said, 'I didn't have one,''' defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac said. ``He said he just worked hard this summer. He's got a lot of pride in his position and this defense.''

The 27-year-old Lucas, who has lost weight and added strength, is hard on himself. Two days into training camp, he complained he wasn't making enough plays.

``Things are coming around, I just need to be patient,'' Lucas said. ``I expect to be in season form like I was in the Chicago game, but that's not human nature. I just have to be patient and work every day until I get in that form.''

It was against the Bears in last year's divisional playoffs when Lucas made perhaps the biggest play of his career, picking off quarterback Rex Grossman at the Carolina 22-yard line with 2:33 remaining to preserve a 29-21 win.

A week later, the Seahawks beat Carolina 34-14. The 23-year-old Gamble, who with Lucas gives Carolina one of the top cornerback duos in the NFL, senses Lucas is carrying around extra motivation.

``Every time he goes on the field, he's playing hard,'' Gamble said. ``Ken has his technique down and I'm still trying to work on that. I just watch him to see how he plays and learn from him.''

Before last season, Lucas and Gamble publicly talked about each having double-digit interceptions, and Gamble acknowledges they might have jinxed themselves.

``With somebody like Gamble on the other side, he pushes you,'' Lucas said. ``When he makes a play, I'll be happy for him as a teammate, but at the same time I've got to keep up with him. I can't let him outdo me. That's just the competitive nature everyone should have on this team. It's not a jealously thing, it's a matter of going out there and matching the intensity of your teammates.''

Lucas isn't afraid to clash with the best in the league. He's gotten into practice scuffles with All-Pro teammate Steve Smith in the past, although the two called a truce before the start of camp.

``I don't want anybody catching a pass on me,'' Lucas said. ``You have to have high expectations.''

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