run-run-pass-punt

I didn't really love them. I would have much rather seen a silver panther logo rather than the blue that was swallowed up by the black. The silver would have kept that (historical) element and would have really popped against the black. I would have loved that.

One thing that doesn't really resonate with me in regards to modern sporting trends is the idea that everything can be reduced to a formula, to math / analytics. Those things have their place, but instinct and intuition (if well honed) are often superior forms of navigating life's problems. That preference aside, I think a rebuilding team would do well to accumulate as many assets as possible, both in terms of draft potential (picks) as well as cap space (not overpaying for anyone while in a rebuild) to allow for flexibility in said rebuild. I love what Burns and DJ do well, but I'd have unloaded them...if the reported return is accurate. But that's water under the bridge.

But Tepper is so smaert. He have all teh moneis.

I think he's a very good coach and his results speak more to the struggle to find competent QB play than his abilities. He deserved better imho.

I say we just draft Desmond Watson #1 overall and pair him with the largest possible linemen we can find and just run wild-cat straight up the gut on EVERY. SINGLE. PLAY.

Mel Kiper just reveals the truth of the draft in general. No one knows what the hell they're doing. Just a bunch of projections that may or may not translate to the NFL.

Nice to see that the league has contracted and removed the Patriots. (I know it's not the full image in your pic.)

Taken in totality: 1) Panthers not in win-now mode 2) As great as Burns is, you have to consider cap expenditures for a potential re-sign, while retooling the roster in some areas. I think you have to consider the potential / hypothetical cap relief / flexibility by parting company. 3) Rams future firsts could be pretty sweet depending on how things play out, and even if they're not upper half of the draft, 1st rounders are very valuable, whether used to draft or as capital to acquire other assets. Personally, I'd do it if they throw in a 4th next year on the offer.

Oh, I have no doubt. With the amount of money on the line, to think otherwise would be naive imho.

To me PJ seemed over eager in the first half and had too much zip. I think he was excited to get it done and his adrenaline was pumping into overdrive. Regardless, I think he's clearly the best QB on the roster. (talking about Darnold and Baker here - who knows with Corral)

The NFL has WAY too many f'n rules to begin with. Things are micromanaged into oblivion, and even then, they're often not even enforced, or if they are - improperly or utterly arbitrarily.

I don't know how anyone can be a "fan", spend time watching their team while hoping for a loss. People spend *way* too much time worrying about draft hypotheticals in an event that is ultimately little more than a lottery with some educated guessing tossed into the mix...and often incredibly poor guess work at that.

I missed out on replying to some of the tanking conversation. (I tend to lurk without posting most of the time.) But this topic brought that idea back to mind and I wanted to chime in. I know all fans of all teams want their team to win - obviously. It's simply the method of seeing that come to fruition that differs. Personally, I think it's foolish to ever deliberately "tank" for the prospects of *potentially* getting a better player at a marginally higher draft slot. The draft is such an absolutely unpredictable crap-shoot that to lose intentionally - via roster utilization and/or coaching, not only undermines the blood, sweat and tears of the players under your stewardship, but it guarantees you absolutely nothing. You don't have to be a student of draft history to see the obvious uncertainty of every draft that has ever taken place. They're all littered with high-end, "can't miss" busts. And that doesn't even consider the idea that the sport of football and its participants are fueled by an intense competitive spirit. What are you doing to that fire by any "efforts" to undermine that? What are you doing to player morale, to the sense of team and dedication that will ultimately be required to win once you have all the pieces in place? No team is flawless. All teams are, to a certain extent, a continuous work-in-progress. You do the BEST you can with what you've got, let the results tell their own story and hope to get the best players you can with the resources you acquire as a result. Anything else is pathetic imho. Rant aside, and more to the topic at hand, I really like Young, despite his size. His awareness and decision making are the best of the bunch in my view, and while his size is not ideal, he has that *it* factor to my eyes. We may not have the opportunity to consider drafting him, but he'd be my pick if he were available. And I still think we've got to give Corral a real shot as well. He was thrown to the wolves with little preparation by a coaching staff that treated him as an afterthought rather than the 3rd round pick (with trade compensation) that he is. I never understood why he wasn't given more special attention, other than Rhule just doing Rhule things. But I'm still hopeful that this season has some magic in it that makes talk of an early draft pick moot. The guys clearly want to play for Wilks - he's a leader of men, and that goes a long way. The team has some soft spots, but if we see a few more efforts like last Sunday, there's no reason we can't be in the conversation to win this year's poor NFC South. As a fan, I just want to see wins. The draft will sort itself out at draft time.

Preacha gonna preach...

You can only do so much as a single player on the field. What you are surrounded with impacts your performance. Given our putrid O-line and QB play during his tenure *and* his overall performance in *that* setting, I'd say he's more than warranted getting paid. Granted, you've got to think of the big picture when roster building, and contracts factor into who you keep or not, but he's more than worthy of being paid, whether we end up doing so or not.

I've been a proponent of giving him another year, but I do have to say his decision making often seems *frantic* and lacking in clear-headed, long-term thinking. It gives off the air of someone who is desperate and knows that they don't know what they're doing sometimes.

Well, he is the son of a preacher man. (I think I'm remembering right?) And they're known for often laying it on pretty thick. But you can be a bit of a used car salesman at the podium and still be a good coach. They're not necessarily mutually exclusive. I still think he deserves another full season + before rendering any definitive verdict.

I'm always leery of shelling out big cash to guys coming off a contract year.

Energy (emotion) is so important in everything in life. It's the driver of behavior that may embody a passionate expression or even (apparently) intellectual/logical pursuits. We're energetic beings, and the game of football is highly passionate for many who play (and for fans) as well. Having the surge of energy from Cam's homecoming cannot be underestimated. Who knows how long or how intense that fire will burn, but it's certainly a catalyst for change within the team.

You know, this is such a feel good story for Panther fans, obviously. I just hope the clock doesn't strike midnight for a while. Let us dream a while football gods.

Yep, right time, right place matter so much in life/success. I'm not suggesting Brady isn't a very talented QB, but he landed in the perfect spot (in NE with BB), and last year he benefited from a team of mercenaries. He's always had outstanding and very fortunate surroundings. I've always been in the BB>>TB camp. Look at the year without TB in '08. They won 11 games with Matt Cassel. (The following year they won 10 *with* Brady.)

just giving money away to the fat cats, smdh

Yes, I'm in the same position. People think you can redirect a massive ship in the blink of an eye. There are so many moving parts to an NFL organization, and you often can't fix everything in the way that you'd *like* overnight. So sometimes you take some risks/gambles because they are your best/only options, and they might work or they might not. You hope to tread water as best as you are able while you wait for that life preserver (franchise QB) to come to the rescue. If this organization was run the way many on here seem to prefer, we'd have a new coach/front office/QB/everything after every loss. I get it. Fans will be fans. But there are winners and losers every Sunday and every season. Jumping from one leader to another doesn't afford any opportunity to build something successful. I mean look at the league this year. The Chiefs are 6-4...ONE game better than us. And they have Mahomes, for gods sake. The 49ers were only recently in the Super Bowl and they're 3-5. Everyone moans over the fact that we couldn't get Herbert, and they're 1/2 a game better than us. The Bucs just lost to the Redskins. (WFT, excuse me.) The Titans lost to the Jets. Just a few examples. It's a tough league, and every team is scratching and clawing to win/be relevant every.single.year.

I think we could have done better to address the position (Trubisky/Minshew), but realistically the pickings were slim. You can only work with the options available to you. It's hard to fault a staff when there aren't many (or any) legitimate options imho.

Just more evidence against rash, knee-jerk decisions. In life and in sport, people often want results immediately, with no awareness of "process" or any patience. "We lost a game. Fire him!" Having said that, as much as I love having Cam back - however brief it may be, I think the feel good won't last too long, and not entirely because of him, mind you. But seeing him step out onto the field for the Panthers again will be a nostalgic, if bittersweet, moment.