CPcavedweller

I'm fine with giving Rhule 5 or 6 of his seven years. There is no guarantee that we have a bad record this year either. Why did the Panthers go so hard after Baker? Teams don't go hard after QB's if they feel like a losing season is coming; they roll with who they have (e.g. Atlanta, Seattle). The Panthers feel like they are one player away and that's QB. Baker has won everywhere he's gone.

Baker handled losing fine. What was 2018 and 2019? Two head coaches, dysfunction, front office changes, etc. The Browns just Browned, all over the place. Anyone bringing in Watson was going to have an issue and I feel as if the Browns have cursed themselves.

1. Whats very telling to me here is when Lincoln Riley says that Baker can do more than most other QB's and it allowed him to make weekly adjustments. Look at how Oklahoma performed with Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler, both more ideal in terms of physical traits. They have the talent around them, yet they still struggle. Then you get OU with Baker who is a late score away from the National Championship and they almost hang 50 on Kirby Smart in a playoff game. That's a big deal. I will reiterate this, the more I read and watch, the more I feel like the Browns just Browned. Bad organizations will do what bad organizations do and the Browns are a bad organization. They let OBJ divide the locker room, then Stefanski misses a meeting and rides Baker hard for pointing it out. The coaching staff put the onus of leadership on other positions then sent a QB out there with a torn labrum and then crucified him in the media. It's the Browns, y'all. 2. “He came in believing he was the guy,” says linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who was a Sooners sophomore when Mayfield arrived in 2015. “At first people were like, Huh? But he earned the respect so fast. . . . On the first day, it looked like he’d played with those receivers for 10 years. When we got back in the locker room, all the receivers were like, That’s the guy I want.” All I know is Darnold better watch out because you know Baker is working day in and day out leading up to camp. Don't be surprised if camp reports say something like "it looks like Baker has been in this offense all off-season". I believe this type of commitment is why the Panthers weren't in a rush to get him before OTA's. An angry Baker is good Baker. 3. The Browns went 0-16 in 2017. In 2018 Baker had Hue and broke the rookie record for TD passes and won 7 games. In 2019 he had Freddie Kitchens who was promptly fired after the whole team regressed somehow. In 2020 the Browns go to the playoffs and are a poor Baker decision from continuing a drive for a potential ticket to the AFC Championship game, that after besting Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh. The Browns, beating Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh? Ever? Yes, Baker led that. Then in 2021 the whole team regressed yet again as leadership cracks develop because some players misguided loyalty to a guy like OBJ who believes he IS the team. He destroyed the Giants and left the Browns in ashes as well. I've hyped myself up sufficiently now.

Whats very telling to me here is when Lincoln Riley says that Baker can do more than most other QB's and it allowed him to make weekly adjustments. Look at how Oklahoma performed with Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler, both more ideal in terms of physical traits. They have the talent around them, yet they still struggle. Then you get OU with Baker who is a late score away from the National Championship and they almost hang 50 on Kirby Smart in a playoff game. That's a big deal. I will reiterate this, the more I read and watch, the more I feel like the Browns just Browned. Bad organizations will do what bad organizations do and the Browns are a bad organization. They let OBJ divide the locker room, then Stefanski misses a meeting and rides Baker hard for pointing it out. The coaching staff put the onus of leadership on other positions then sent a QB out there with a torn labrum and then crucified him in the media. It's the Browns, y'all. “He came in believing he was the guy,” says linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who was a Sooners sophomore when Mayfield arrived in 2015. “At first people were like, Huh? But he earned the respect so fast. . . . On the first day, it looked like he’d played with those receivers for 10 years. When we got back in the locker room, all the receivers were like, That’s the guy I want.” All I know is Darnold better watch out because you know Baker is working day in and day out leading up to camp. Don't be surprised if camp reports say something like "it looks like Baker has been in this offense all off-season". I believe this type of commitment is why the Panthers weren't in a rush to get him before OTA's. An angry Baker is good Baker.

No, that's not how these things work. The accusation is bad regardless of guilt so then the Texans have to go and try the cases in public, in front of the NFL, and in court. They couldn't just say "fug off" and it be free. Litigation isn't cheap, the PR hit isn't cheap, and the NFL could and very well may conduct their own investigation and fine McNair directly. So there is nothing cheap about the accusation whether it has merrit or not.

This is what I've said. The Browns issues that lead to Baker's departure were Browns issues. Only the Browns could bring in someone who may get a full year suspension, leaving them two years out of football, and give them the biggest guaranteed contract ever. Then they blame Baker for OBJ leaving? Everywhere OBJ has gone has turned into a an eventual shitshow.

Better than the Solar Panels or Windmills.

Are you a lawyer? The sooner they settle, the sooner it blows over for them. It's not like they are hurting for the type of cash they had to pay out.

What dysfunction? He took the Browns to the AFC Divisional Round. The fugging Browns. Set the NFL Rookie Record for touchdown passes in 12 starts. What happened in Cleveland was a Cleveland problem, not Baker. They will be, forever and always, the epitome of dysfunction in the league.

Bu..bu...but Baker is too arrogant for his own good. The media portrayal of this dude is as bad as it was with Cam. Couldn't be more wrong.

It won't matter who the QB is if we are running with Chubba and whomever our 3rd running back is at this point. CMC is the X-Factor for wins here. Baker and CMC in this west coast offense has me excited though. Ironically I think Baker is much better suited to this offense while Darnold is probably better suited to the Stefanski/Shanahan tree. Baker is a winner, has a photographic memory, and absent the power struggle in Cleveland, should come in and be a good leader for a Panthers team that has been lacking true player leadership since Cam, Luke, and Thomas Davis left.

Who was CTE related? Demarious (sp?) Thomas had seizures that may or may not have been related but that's the only one. Out of thousands of former players and hundreds of thousands of former football players, the amount is less than statistically significant to make the claim. Sorry if that sounds insensitive but I'm a logical person who stays grounded despite media coverage through understanding statistics. If it happens once, and a few other guys are questionable, within a few years it seems like a lot. But in reality you have hundreds if not thousands of guys who leave the NFL and college football each year. So the reality isn't aligning with media coverage, as is the usual now. Yellow journalism has returned. If you don't know the term, Google it.

24/7 news cycle. I highly doubt it's more than usual. Marion Barber actually died of heat stroke, Jaylon Ferguson took fake xanax pressed Chinese pills that were cut with fentanyl (available on the dark web en masse), and a few older dudes who lived long, natural lives.

McCall won't be a project. He's probably a late 1st rounder at this point. Much of that will hinge on how the offense plays after losing Isaiah Likely to the NFL. He was a huge safety valve for Coastal that led to several big plays in the passing game throughout the season, including once against App State. He reminds me a lot of Zac Wilson but I like McCall as a more fluid athlete and he has elevated the status of that entire team from a 3-9 type squad to 11-1 being realistic each year (losing to App State of course) On topic, I'd love Star back. Short was never the same after Star left and I think Star and Brown could be another magic duo. The drafting of Star and Short was a revelation, even if the Huddle melted down after that draft. Say what you will about Rivera but his ability to scout and draft quality guys on defense cannot be questioned.

Malik Willis was the WORST passer against pressure in this draft class and he wasn't even close. I watched Coastal several times (App fan) including how he played at App despite constant pressure and a bum ankle. McCall is twice the quarterback that Malik Willis is and it will show with where he gets drafted next year. My hate of Willis had nothing to do with the fact that he was at Liberty but rather the fact that he is terrible when faced with pressure. He also can't hit anticipatory throws and if you listen to Steve Young, that is either something you have or don't have. Willis ain't it. McCall on the other hand obliterated the FBS Passer Efficiency mark set by Tua, while having nearly 13 yards per Attempt, and running what I'd imagine to be a 4.6 40 at 6'3 and 210. There is nothing to not like about him.

Huddle - in perpetual meltdown since 2018. This is worse than Twitter at this point.

Baker has a photographic memory, Matt does not.

We don't need all three guys on the roster, that's for sure. Someone will be cut in August and it won't be Corral.

Grayson McCall set the record for Passer Efficiency in 2021 and was Sun Belt Freshman and Player of the year in 2020. I've watched him a lot and I think he has the potential to be a great NFL QB. Apparently Tom Brady's brand thinks so as well as they've already hitched the TB12 wagon to him.

Give me McCall in Round 2, if he makes it that far. Keep home talent home.

I didn't mean to say we should guarantee anything. Offer him a two year deal with the ability to extend or cut bait after one. It's the ultimate prove it deal and Baker is the type of guy who can be challenged. But I'm of the mindset to trade both Robby and Sam because Robby without Sam is going to be a sulky SOB if the Panthers lose even one game because of a turnover by Baker. He seems to lack the ability to think critically about his role and that of "his QB". The Bears need receivers.

Panthers fans have been garbage, especially on this board, since 2018 or so. If we can tailor and offense to what Baker does well, and the team will allow him to lead, we will be fine. The OBJ situation in Cleveland divided the locker room and people blamed Magfield but the reality of the situation is that wherever OBJ has gone, chaos has followed. Then you add the Browns cultural issues as a whole and you have a recipe for what happened. Baker took the Browns to the playoffs and won in Pittsburgh. Let that sink in for a moment. I'd prefer it if we traded Darnold now and extended Baker for two years, even if he isn't what we thought, he's cheap now and if he sucks, we can draft Grayson McCall next year.

Baker went from walk on to Heisman Winner and 1st Round Draft Pick. I don't think he's cocky, I think he's confident in his ability to overcome based on his history. He isn't a Johnny Manziel. He didn't get to where he is by being quiet and humble because when you're his size and a walk on, you can't. You have to be charismatic and be a leader, which he was. But the Browns are so dysfunctional that of course they would squander that. Baker apparently has a photographic memory as well, for what it's worth. He's already better than Darnold who can't see the field at 6'5. Baker can remember offensive and defensive plays by sight and when healthy, he's good. I'll be interested to see if Mcadoo actually adjusts the offense to his strengths.

It's never "the" fan base. It's a portion. Most leve headed people (e.g. not those on The Huddle), would've understood keeping Teddy Two Gloves and drafting a guy. Most would've preferred Teddy to what they saw in 2021 because of his ability to get the ball out quick, unlike Darnold. So no, I as a fan, do not require we make a trade every single off-season for a guy unless it's a guy like Mayfield who has had some success. Nothing Darnold showed in NY justified the trade. Baker on the other hand broke the rookie record for TD passes, took the Browns to the playoffs and won a playoff game. Years 2 and 4 weren't spectacular but he was severely injured in 2021 and the Browns started doing what the Browns do. The culmination of thT being the signing of a QB who may never play a down with them. At this point, I wonder if they Browns owners make more money from losing than from winning, based on their decisions.

I am a Panthers fan and am completely reasonable. I don't dislike Rhule, Fitterer, Darnold, or Tepper. I think Rhule came in to a project, Tepper gave him the leash to build a foundation from which success would be sustained, Fitterer was brought in to facilitate the front office portion of that, and Darnold was the product of the 2nd worst Panthers offensive line I've ever seen. Zac Taylor of the Bengels won like 3 games his first two years and they went to the Super Bowl in year 3. The Panthers are now in year 3 of Rhule and while I don't think a Super Bowl is expected, the pieces are in place for a Wild Card. I'm not optimistic or pessimistic. The margins are SLIM in the NFL and 10 yards across five games could be the difference between playoffs and Top 6 pick.