CRA

I think I want the hardest road game week 1. Week 1 is so weird I'd rather get the game we have the smallest odds of winning then.

I mean, we know from reporting there were people on staff that wanted Fields. So Tepper likely has people he pays telling him Fields is the guy. You think all the offensive staff in Carolina has agreed about the drafts that have gone down with Rhule as the HC?

so Joe Brady and the offensive staff would be the logical conclusion there.

and if that is the case, more people than Tepper were on the Fields side of the argument. I mean, if Tepper leaves the football stuff to Rhule/Fitterer.....we have enough reporting to logically conclude Fields was being debated with Horn. GM makes the call. But we don't know who Joe Brady wanted with that. We don't know who Rhule even preferred. We just know the final decision.

Drafting a QB top 10, in Carolina's position, is going to generate a lot of excitement around the franchise. Acknowledging something extremely obvious doesn't mean that is the only reason Tepper wanted him.

Brady has a stacked roster going against Rodgers. Both sides of the ball. GB overachieved IMO.

just this offseason we have seen Watson, Wilson and now Rodgers try to flex some power on their franchises. That's a trend. a trend I think Brady likely helped influence. Yeah, Brady didn't flex to get out....but he took his talents to somewhere that wanted to win right now. And that team on top of that gave Brady a pretty big say in roster acquisitions.

decent odds this is GB just trying to make Rodgers look bad. I don't think Rodgers was calling folks up and going out of his way to do anything. Someone asks him? I'm sure he was pretty blunt about how he saw things. Sure looked to most like GB was trying to plan for life after him and wasn't doing much for him. What is he suppose to say? I just think if Rodgers appeared to be nice and likeable guy....his public support would be better.

I mean, I get Rodgers being done with Green Bay, Green Bay is flat out wasting a HOF QB. There 2020 draft of going QB in the first, RB in the 2nd....is inexcusable. I think that was the nail in the coffin. Then he still goes and puts up a MVP season and comes up short. It was said, when Watson was making his attempted move out that it was always just a matter of time before that mentality made it's way to the NFL. I mean, Rodgers isn't a likable guy. But a likeable guy would be making a fair stand IMO in this scenario. Rodgers gonna catch some flack because he is a jerky in general.

Well, I tired to word it carefully. How do most teams find their guy. Multiple answers can work. To me, most have successfully found their QB via the draft and acquiring established QBs that have proven they can play at a certain high level. I don't think many found it going the Panthers current route under Rhule. But anything can happen in sports. I admit there is intrigue about going the Darnold route and kicking those tires. Much more so than Teddy. The model of building a team first and then drafting a QB has it's flaws too. By the team your drafted QB is up and ready to win....the team you built likely starts to fade.

I guess the question is....how do most teams successfully find their guy?

Optimism is Panthers kryptonite. The grouch crowd knows this.

They also played with a poo ton of Hall of Famers on the field with them

based on my scientific study....the more doubt that is created the better the Panthers perform. It is all the overly optimistic people that keep dooming seasons.

What was the context of bringing up him opting out? the context was explaining to someone why Surtain despite having more targets on the year....was actually targeted the same amount per game. Surtain played 13 total games. Horn played 7. and since it had to be brought up, I made sure to note that it wasn’t a knock on Jaycee. * the person I was talking to was admittedly unaware of it. I also noted pre-draft I would love Horn....the issue was just taking him at 8 for me given who would be there. Again my preference is BPA in the top 10. You can have a different one. Everyone is bragging about Daniel Jermemiah's top 150. He had Horn as the 14th BPA in the draft. Fields, Smith, Surtain and others were there at the pick. Which backs the preference I had at the time. as stated, I get why they made the Horn move. Which was ceiling and attitude/edge (that he wants to inject).

I mean, if you have read my thoughts on Horn....then you know I have discussed the shitty situation he was in and defended him opting out after the Ole Miss game. If you think Horn is a better present day corner than Surtain and Farley (if he were healthy)....have at it. Draft weekend is over. I think we drafted him because his ceiling and attitude gave him a bump up and over those two. My preference is always pure BPA in the top 10. Which meant you didn't pick any of the corners. You don't have to have my preference.

I mean...there is evidence.

I mean the boss the is the boss. I mean, at work here we all can have 3 different solid opinions on a problem. Boss takes it all and makes the call. That's just life. I mean reports are Fields was in the mix until the end for example? That means clearly someone had to think that was the right call. Same with pick 2. Different takes. Same with probably most picks. I'm not implying not agreeing in real time has to be confrontational. I can disagree with my boss and then go to work on what he thinks is best. That's just how it works.

I mean, I doubt Rhule and the new GM even agree on every decision in real time. Then you have the natural O and D splits.

I don't even know who was in the "war room". But I doubt after going all defense last year, if Joe Brady was there, I doubt he had his feet up and was like... first round corner? Whatever ya'll think. Trade down 20 spots in the 2nd? cool. I don't care what they told me...at some point I would be like, you mofos are never going to draft an offensive player are you? I would imagine Joe and Phil would prefer two very different drafts.

Gantt is also employed by the Panthers now. I think we get a somewhat toned down version of Gantt these days. Which I guess might make fans like him more than they use to. Not exactly claiming he is doing it here....but in the big picture I always think people that work for the Panthers put a little extra Panther spin on anything they report.

Saints seem very high. Gotta think wiith film on him and starting a full season....Hill is going to take some lumps. I wouldn't be surprised if both Belichick and Payton have a distinct line drawn in their coaching careers. The day their HOFers left. *but I'm also a full time Saints hater.

I'm still trying to figure this crypto stuff out. But picture,I mean, Dogecoin is a joke/scam....isn't? I don't think crypto as a whole is a scam. Some good things will clearly evolve out of what is going on. But take Bitcoin and Dogecoin? I don't see how they aren't just a short term bubble. I mean in a world dealing with the problems of climate change ahead.....how is Bitcoin the future of anything?

I think they will be a good bit better. Not number 1 or top 5. But 10-15 range. Von Miller is still a very good player. He makes them better. If we think Horn is going to make us better than Surtain is going to make them better. The offense also has a lot to do with how a defense ranks. I think the O will do a better job this year playing to the D.