top dawg

I love how people downplay the Pro Bowl; all I know is at the end of the day, the only players I have seen in the Pro Bowl are good ones, not "average" ones. We're just gonna have to agree to disagree. Only on the Huddle will you find people saying that Burns "doesn't deserve a raise" or is "average." Come on, Snow, you're being uncharacteristically reactionary.

Burns, just like any other pass rusher needs someone on the other side to maximize one or another's opportunity to get to the passer. We've halfheartedly tried to get one, but we're going to have to make better acquisitions. If we don't, then we will never get our money's worth out of Burns (and we will here constant complaints from Huddlers). We'd be doing ourselves, Burns, and other players on the team a disservice.

Burns is a two-time Pro-Bowler and has been productive relative to his pay just like many good young players in the league, and likewise hasn't even hit his prime. Furthermore, he's had to play in several systems under not so good circumstances. In 2023, like this metric or not, Burns did not get the opportunities to do what he does best, as we didn't have any leads in the fourth quarter and weren't in a position to pin our ears back and go get the passer. Despite a down 2023, any NFL type will tell you that Burns would be a nice piece to have. The biggest problem with Burns is not that he's overrated, (even here on the Huddle), but that he wants to be overpaid. He isn't a superstar but wants to be paid like one. That's a huge problem. He thinks he's worth more than his play has indicated. Those are the facts.

We're rebuilding, and to be honest Ridley is kinda old. I doubt that we'd want to do that. The draft is just too deep at the position to even get a little bit crazy in free agency regarding a "top shelf" receiver this offseason.

Those are strong words. It's an opinion. I don't think Burns lacks effort. He has arguably earned his paycheck, and he deserves a raise. The problem is that he wants to hold us over a barrel.

I still say that Burns to Detroit may just put them over the top. Dealing with him and Hutchinson would be a potential nightmare. Burns to the Ravens would lift their stock as well. Having to deal with him and Odafe Oweh and Justin Madubuike would be a problem. The Rams could still use him as well.

Oh, I fully expect him to look better, but I'm not going to worry about it. Once he's gone, he's someone else's issue. I appreciate Burns strengths and believe that they outweigh his weaknesses , especially in a good scheme surrounded by good talent. That's why I scoff at the notion of him going somewhere else for a second, and even only a first to be honest.

I mean we already know that Luvu has that dawg in him. That's not going to change. But even the best of players need help. I believe Luvu is that help. I don't think that is his best role. He's the role player in my opinion, that's why we're going to have to replace Burns with at least a semblance of a pass rusher if we trade him. Luvu can't do it by himself.

I read the same thing. The break up wasn't exactly "amicable" as the article also states.

But his tape isn't terrible. Some of you seem to be acting like he's some scrub that will be without suitors. He's a two-time Pro-Bowler with good production. Paired with another premier pass rusher and he could be the difference between winning and not.

I wouldn't say he "explicitly" wanted to go...Peppers was content with leaving, but we didn't actually roll out the red carpet for him which essentially made it a much easier decision to spread his wings.

Dude, I already said that in the other thread. That's why Burns needs to be traded very soon, before FA starts, and I hope that our new GM realizes this. It's hard for me to believe that we don't have a semblance of a plan in the works. The tagging may ultimately affect things with Brown as a bonus as well. I mean, I will likely cuss if we lose Luvu, but if this ultimately affects our signing of DB, I won't be speaking of Dan Morgan's GM skills in glowing terms (because it will be too close to Scott Fitterer's). I do have to remember that Fitterer has left everyone between a rock and a hard place however.

That's a reason why I really think that Burns is going to be traded. If he's not, it's going to be a longer season than many think. JAG will be the term of the off-season, and we might have to kiss Luvu goodbye. Moreover, this is the time that we need to really be trying to secure DB, and how in the hell are we going to do that with Burns taking up so much of the cap? If he isn't traded, we're going to have to take our Castor oil and prepare for a tough season. With DB up in the air and still holes to fill in 2025 (including at LB), we may not get real relief until 2026.

Not really.

Easy decision.

Clowney was not even the number one guy. You should also be including pressures and win rate.

I disagree about FA. I see it much more than that. Sure, you want to mainly build through the draft, but if you can pick a piece up in free agency with potential upside, you do it. Every team is a puzzle. You use all your available tools to build your team. Frankie Luvu is a great example of a player that you pick up, develop, and hopefully keep for the long term.

I hope that you're wrong, but keep a spot behind the podium for me to join you when I come to reality.

That is me waiting on another shoe to drop: a trade!

So you've given up on the idea that it's just GM-speak?

"The team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on outside linebacker Brian Burns" --Panthers.com

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39658435/panthers-franchise-tag-pass-rusher-brian-burns-source-says "The Carolina Panthers on Monday placed the franchise tag on edge rusher Brian Burns that guarantees their sack leader $24 million this season, a source told ESPN" "The goal remains to sign Burns to a long-term deal. Carolina also wants to re-sign free agent linebacker Frankie Luvu and sign defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a long-term deal."

Honestly, it's just simply hard to believe that any fan would suggest that we get rid of a quality lineman period, much less when we have a diminutive QB that was sacked 62 times last season. I just don't understand how anyone can purse their lips to suggest such a thing. It is nonsensical. It is worse than saying he played bad last year, and that's pretty damned delusional---out of touch with fúcking reality.

I mean, I'll put it to you this way: out of all the positions that we need---and we arguably need them all---RB might be the lowest on the list IMO, or at least the one which I'm willing to ride with for another year if I had to. As much as people talk about Hubbard's hands, they have improved steadily over his career. I'd be loathe to invest a day two pick on an RB, and I believe that a day three back is more likely to be hit-or-miss in terms of three-down viability. I'm with Dude on this one: the easiest way to fix the incompleteness of the RB room is to get a power back that will move the chains during those third-and-short downs. I'd also add that improving the O-line, scheme and play calling would help tremendously, but we need a power back. And I think that Chuba arguably does a better impression as a pass catcher than he does on third and short, but it's debatable.