Mr. Scot

NFL executives rank the teams The Panthers rank 10th, making them the second highest team from the NFC South. Only the Saints are higher at 6th. The Falcons and Bucs are 13th and 14th respectively. The top five are the Eagles, 49ers, Lions (yes, Lions) Cowboys () and Seahawks. Rounding out the bottom along with the aforementioned NFC South teams are the Bears (12th) Rams (15th) an dof course, the Cardinals. Ranking just above the Panthers at #9, Ron Rivera and the Commanders

File under "things that could get really interesting"...

Understood

Reich hasn't shirked responsibility for past issues that I've seen. Rivera and Rhule, well...

I saw something about that but it didn't come from a reliable source. Wanted to wait until there was something better...

Football tonight...

Understood, but I doubt that was Gettleman's decision. More likely ownership. (the Maras definitely were smarter owners than Tepper at the time)

Gettleman didn't hire Rhule. It was Marty and the meatballs.

Someone was

Doubt it, but even if we did you can only activate 46 anyway.

The tweets about him not taking part were from the early portion of practice where it's just stretching and conditioning. Once the actual practice drill started, he joined in. Whether he took part in scrimmages and such won't be noted until later because that portion of practice is closed to reporters.

It doesn't have anything to do with him being injured. Reporting changed a few years ago from questionable, doubtful and such to "did not practice, limited participation" etc. If he doesn't take part in practice, that's where it will show up.

Haven't gotten to the scrimmage part yet

Ugh Not entirely. Players talking about trust matters, especially given what they used to have to deal with.

Ah, gotcha...

Basically, by earning his teammates' respect. It's actually a pretty good sign.

I was wondering I'd pin the "Week 1" thread.

For one, he was committed to a DC who was more of an old friend than a good coach. Wilks did a great job in the short term. I'm not convinced he would have worked out long term though, especially after seeing some of those late season games against better teams.

More...

A note to this year's worst teams...

Smith the referee would definitely hate Smith the player, and probably vice versa

For contrast... Granting that Wilson probably needs to take it down a notch, Payton is definitely a "my way or the highway" coach. And well that can work, sometimes it's not the best way to lead grown men.