Khyber53

What was the real reason for kicking Smitty out and sending him off into free agency back in the day?

You know, there's something about this whole JAG thing that really just drives home the idea that to some folks, these players aren't real people, just names and stats. Of course, it goes beyond sports. We're a sad, jaded species, us humans.

Why not? Dude was tough as nails. Came off the field after a vicious hit and showed the coach how his ring finger was knocked out of socket halfway up. You could see the shock on Fox's face. Brad just pulled on the finger, grimaced, got it back in alignment and went back in for the next play and blew up an opposing linebacker or two. Dude is legendary.

Shaq was a fantastic LB, he just happened to have been standing in the shadow of a Panthers great and a Hall of Famer. He was team-lead starter quality for all 32 teams of the NFL. Don't throw shade on him, he was never just a guy.

Grew up there, left as soon as I graduated high school. Just never fit in. Nice city, lot of history and the art scene is good, music scene has had its ups and downs. Live in Greensboro now, seems a better, more relaxed fit. To each, their own, I guess. But honestly, happiness isn't found anywhere but within yourself. You can be happy or miserable anywhere of you put your mind to it.

Jake's elbow, or the Kasay out of bounds kick in the Super Bowl. Luke's first concussion. The dirty hit on Cam in the Super Bowl. If he's going back in time, just pick up Julius Peppers from right before he headed off to Chicago and bring him to this week, and set him back into the Panthers lineup as a young man again.

If only it works out that way. No way of knowing how it will be once we hit the field. Still, it's nice to even be mentioned in the national press for something positive.

Wow, if he does that against the best in college ball, and can bring it to this level... Well, I'd hate to be a center lined up across from him. Especially if I see Brown is crowding in an eating up the guard support.

Just not seeing it. A more likely trade partner is Buffalo (as always). You know what, though? Haven't heard any squawking from inside sources that XL is on his way out. The old adage is that WRs take three years to find their way in the NFL and Canales is a rehabber coach by reputation. I don't think he's ready to give up on XL, yet. Still, this is the Not For Long league and our draft pick this season spent on a WR should be a motivator for XL to play less timidly and compete.

I'm going to be so happy if he can be Jordan Carstens but with a longer career. Carstens was one of the country strong guys to ever play for this team and he was a monster at tying up the center of the field. Injury and illness (I believe it was kidney issues that finally sidelined him). If we can get that guy, we can do a lot. Honestly, though, I just want him to be so good that he becomes the next benchmark for us at the position.

Here we are saying which teams will be tough in May. Last May Seattle would have been third in their division and the Patriots fourth, third at best. And everyone would have said that Kansas City was in the driver's seat for the season again. It's May, very early May.

Cool.

Yeah, back in my original post I clearly said that if he doesn't produce this year, then we have to, HAVE TO, move on. They've made their decision to give him this year and he has all the weapons AND a defense to work with. If he can't do it, then it's next man up and he will have a team that's pretty much ready to roll from day one. Of course, if it is a new rookie QB, even with a great team out there, it can be a rough patch. There ain't an easy way to the top in the NFL.

Was a round number. Say $30 million. $40 million. Whatever. It all really depends on what product he puts out there this season, doesn't it?

Hard to pass up millions for a couple of days work per week for a coaching gig in the NFL that is 60-80 hours each week during the season and a more relaxed 50 hours a week during the off season. Yeah, I'd love to see him as our DC but hard to see him giving up the cushy job there if he gets it. And he's going to be a great commentator for the network.