top dawg

Perhaps it is old thinking; a grey beard and receding hairline do belie my age... Mahomes is the one who has been to multiple Super Bowls and the only one who has a ring upon his finger. He probably would've had two had he not had to play injured the second time. And, even though some here seem to be hanging onto mostly old reports, or those referencing sources, we've heard very positive things about Trey Lance's development. Don't be surprised if he becomes the second in recent history that succeeds. I will tell you that every QB that you mentioned probably would have benefitted by sitting a year, but we'll never know. I don't believe that this will happen with Corral, but I also believe that some QBs have also been irreparably damaged by being thrust into situations before they're ready. That's not good either. There is a sweet spot. All that being said, I've already said in this very thread that I'd play Corral when he is ready, whether it be September or December. I wouldn't rush him to play before he's comfortable with the offense just because Darnold can't. Moreover, Rhule recently said in so many words that everything post-snap is good, but pre-snap needs work. Corral even alluded to the fact that thinking (not his mentality) is slowing him down at this point. Treat Corral as though he's beginning a marathon, not a sprint.

Fitterer is the much more polished and slick speaker. He handles criticism much better and is not prone to equivocation.

That's what you're referring to? I didn't see anything from Rhule's demeanor than someone who had obviously let his GM take the lead, as he should have in that instance and done so all along as it pertains to personnel matters. Rhule basically admitted that his kids were taking a hit by stuff they'd been hearing, part of which was Rhule putting his foot in the mouth, so I'm sure that Tepper, the PR team, Fitt or someone, else along with Rhule, came up with a plan to take off some of the heat. This does not mean in any form or fashion that Rhule is no longer in charge. It just doesn't. Until we hear otherwise, the buck stops with Rhule, no matter if Huddlers want to accept it or not.

No, I try and read between the lines and watch what people say and do. When 2+2=4, it doesn't equal 3.

The problem is that "bad season" is relative. What we think is a season worthy of being fired is obviously not what Tepper thinks is a season worthy of being fired. 2021 should have taught everyone that. So, no, I'm not into wishful thinking or the hype train.

Hell, I'd have been more likely to bet Rhule would be fired last January than the coming one. Now, after all the changes, and laying of the foundation, I wouldn't bet sh¡t on Rhule being fired until 2023-2024 depending on the state of the team.

The buck still stops with Rhule. Just deal with it!

And I'll qualify that by saying "forced power shift."

By your logic, it's all a big PR stunt. I don't even particularly like Gantt, but let's not act like he hasn't always told the truth as he sees it. They all have! You'll not convince me that there's some script that he goes by when people ask him questions in his mailbag. And then, you must ask yourself, what does it profit him, Tepper or anyone to say that there hasn't been a power shift if there had been? That would be pretty substantial news that would help placate the masses.

Everyone knows that Rhule has been low profile since season's end. That's not a news flash. I don't even know what you're talking about really, but since you want to acknowledge something, how about acknowledging that Rhule's contract gives him final say. How about acknowledging the fact that Gantt has reported that Rhule is in charge? That is much more worthy than some story about him hiding in the shadows.

See things how you want to see them. Panthers Confidential is a production, yes, but I am talking about body language and deference. Unless you think that Tepper, Rhule, and Fitt are ready for the Academy Award, I don't think that you can be so dismissive of their actions. It's not hard to argue that Rhule is still firmly in charge at all.

The Vegas line makes sense from a macro view. As for a hotter seat, Rhule probably shouldn't even have a seat. He should've been gone.

And yet Rhule is still here. We needed changes. Everyone knew it, even Rhule. I haven't seen anyone but here talk about some mysterious power shift. Rhule knew what he had to do, and he did it. He was in over his head. He knew it. It's all a learning curve, and he did what he had to do. Now Tepper is much more comfortable with the staff. As a fan, I know that I am.

People see what they want to see and connect dots where they want to connect dots. What I see is Tepper giving the man that he believes in a mulligan. The organization is being set up the way it should've been set up from the beginning. And, as far as this seeming shift in power, like I've said in an earlier thread, all you really have to do is watch Panthers Confidential on the draft, and you will see that Rhule is still the man in charge. Fitterer was deferring to him. Sure, Rhule was giving Fitterer latitude and trusting Fitt's expertise, but he was still the man in charge.

OK. For you and anyone that feels that strongly that Rhule will be fired, go put some legit money on it. Make some paper off of this line!

Because he has made no moves to do anything. What he's saying and what he's done in regards to Rhule has been consistent. I even remember the fan who said that Tepper asked the man what he was drinking when he was expressing or intimating that Tepper needs to fire Rhule before one of the last couple of games.

And yet he was ready to overpay for Deshaun Watson (the most divisive figure in football), drafted Matt Corral, and is still trying to obtain Baker Mayfield (or Jimmy G). Come on man, we all knew that was a lie.

To me, the question has never been whether Rhule has to win games, it's been about how many. I suspect that Tepper is going to go more on how we look winning or losing--our competitiveness, and the W-L column will be a factor in that. I just don't see how anyone--Rhule supporter or hater--that's been paying attention would be comfortable betting that Rhule would be fired at all in January (or before) after listening to Tepper's presser. 2023-2024? Yes, that would be a better bet. But 2022-2023? I'm not putting a single dime up.

Oh, that's what you're saying. Well, Marty wasn't Tepper's guy. Tepper didn't give him a huge contract after breaking bread. He also didn't say (and repeat) that he believed in Marty or that he believed that Marty was setting up a good foundation for the franchise to be a consistent winner. He did not give Marty any timeframe, nor did he equivocate about wins not being the only way to judge success while establishing a winner.

Darnold is the ready-made sacrificial offering. It may not fully appease the fans, summate to the numbers used to set the betting line of Vegas prognosticators, or jibe with media narratives, but Tepper's opinion is ultimately the only one that matters. The rest is just hype.

My expectations are relatively low, and as I realize that anything can happen, I'm mentally prepared for another wreck of a season. That being said, I'm guardedly optimistic that we can be better than last season.

Well that actually kinda supports what I'm saying: he'll keep Rhule for as long as he likes, regardless of speculation by pundits and the like.

The draft, FA acquisitions and coaching acquisitions.

There are comparisons, but there are also big differences due to the context of their situations. For example, pretty much everyone believes that the 49ers know what they're doing. Questions abound whether our current FO is simply not over their heads--a joke. We'll see, but I think that the slope gets real slippery by trying to compare Darnold and Lance at this point. Darnold has/had a body of work, and Lance does not.

Nah. You just have to think of David Tepper, look at what he did in January, and listen to what he said in April.