tukafan21

Yep, even if you put aside any discussion about what you think about him as a player or how good he'll be, the one thing that is a 100% certainty is that he's going to make some plays that just drop your jaw and question how he did what we just saw. This is interesting as it was something I'd never even thought/heard of until he was walking on stage after we took him. One of the analysts on NFL Network brought it up saying something like, "I don't agree with this idea, but I know a lot of college coaches tell the star WRs to purposefully take plays off when they know it's not coming to them" It was interesting because the way he said it, almost sounded like he's heard that it was something the Arizona coaches would tell T-Mac to do. Which on a team like ours last year, actually makes a ton of sense, because we had NOBODY else who the defense had to worry about. So instead of taking him off the field to give him a breather, just throw him out there on the far side of the field as a dummy to keep the defense's attention and then run a play in the other direction. You're right, he isn't "as quick" as Evans, because he's quicker. Sure, Evans does use his body better than T-Mac does, but T-Mac is a better athlete with more wiggle to his game and better at making a defender miss whereas Evans is just more likely to run through you. And your edit here is basically just an add on to my above comment, as personally, I've used the AJ Green comp for him ever since his first game for us at Arizona, it was always who I saw in his game. He has that fluidity that Green had to him, and at their size it stands out. Actually saw another comp last night that I hadn't seen before, and while I'll admit it's been YEARS since I've seen any film of him, my immediate reaction was, "oh wow, that might be a real solid comp for style of play" And that was of Plaxico Burress. I'd like to see T-Mac have a better overall career than Plax had (especially off the field), but from what I remember about his game, the comp for body/style of play actually seems pretty solid

Ugh, I didn't even realize until today that they only versions they have for T-Mac right now are the ones where everything is heat pressed on, not the "fake stitched" versions you guys are talking about here. I've always hated those fully screen pressed ones, they just seem cheat and crappy to me, and even though that next step up is still not the best, they at least feel like more of a real jersey to me and is worth the extra 35 bucks to get them. But of course they don't sell them in that one yet, which is weird, if they're all still "pre-orders" anyways, why aren't they offering the more expensive version to steal even more money from the rubes out there like myself who just can't help themselves?!?!?

Those aint no T-Rex arms......

Also remember that essentially Derrick Brown is an offseason addition to the defense too, that’s not insignificant when we’re talking about improving the defense from last year.

If we win the conference and it's not because of injuries in TB or Penix being a dud, then it means Bryce is in the MVP discussion and if that happens, then T-Mac probably had one of the best rookie seasons for a WR ever. Because this defense has added some nice potential pieces, but it's nowhere near ready to compete at a level to win the South this year unless the offense just goes nuts as one of the highest scoring teams in the league with Bryce doing the Mahomes thing and winning close late games on a weekly basis. So sure, I'm in. I'm proven right and my guy looks like the next big thing and I'm proven wrong and Bryce is also the real deal and we're set up with an elite QB-WR combo for the next decade.

The final spot has to be between Renfrow and Moore and pending how he looks after the year off, I might lean Renfrow. We now have our offense of the future in place if they pan out, this season has one main goal and it's expediting the growth of this very young group of skill position players. Chuba, Rico, and Tremble have each played 4 seasons (all the others are 2 or less) and are the most experienced skill position players on the team other than Dalton, Thielen, Moore, and now Renfrow. With Moore and Renfrow then being cut at the expense of one of those UDFA's if we kept one. Having Dalton and Thielen as the only two skill position players on the active roster with more than 4 years of experience, and only 3 others with more than 2, doesn't seem smart. We don't need more lottery tickets, coaches can only do/teach so much, we need vets for these guys to learn from so we get the best out of them and have our offense for hopefully the next 5-8 years in place pending being able to afford them all.

Exactly, hence the real question in the OP, does anyone know if they've started selling them in Charlotte this weekend or even today, like at the team store? If they have, then the online orders probably would be going out in a few weeks. I'd rather not order it now and it still take a few months and by then I could have got the blue one that I prefer instead. But if the blacks are going out soon, then I want to get that now, I'm too excited still, hahaha. I was going to do the authentic, but saw they're like $400 now (what the hell?!?!), so figure I'll wait on that one for a few years as I do think we'll get new uniforms sooner than later and will do the authentic then.

XL and T-Mac are basically as polar opposite as possible with XL as backwoods southern kid and T-Mac a Hawaii and So Cal kid, but they both have big personalities and neither is remotely shy in front of the camera. The team should have them do some ongoing social media segment together as I think the two of them are going to be a hilarious combo off the field to watch together, it would be gold. If T-Mac is the player I expect him to be and XL can improve, they will make for a very fan friendly WR duo for a while.

Maybe they let some fans do the deal, because it was basically like the type of trades you see the fans do during their mock drafts all the time, just keep adding picks to the deal until the values about balance out, hahaha

The +800 on getting to 10 TD's looks quite tasty, if he plays 17 games I think he gets to double digit TDs. XL was our best Redzone target last year, T-Mac is an insane upgrade in that role next year, he's going to be a target monster in the end zone

For me it's very much situation dependent like I said above, so if anything, I think I'd actually prefer this type of stat line because I think it would bode well for overall team growth and success. Harrison had McBride there to "steal" 111 Rec and 1,146 yards, it's going to be hard for any rookie to put up better stats than he did when that happens, and he was supposed to be the best WR prospect in the last few decades. For me the big stat for T-Mac this year will be TD's, because I can see a scenario where the massive yard totals isn't there because of all the options Bryce will have and he's still a rookie, but he should be the clear top dog in the redzone playbook and hope we use him accordingly.

I'd expect more TD's at a minimum, as I really think he's going to be our go-to redzone option from the first snap of the season. But realistically, if Thielen has 800-1000 yards as a Bryce check down favorite, while Bryce himself has a good season, and XL/Coker both improve because of it, then I don't think that's a bad rookie year if those are the numbers he puts up as that's the type of season that then sets up for him to get 1,200 and 10 the next year once Thielen is gone, which would be a great 2nd season. We're still going to be a run based team with the OL and RBs we have and and Thielen is still going to be a legitimate option this year, so expecting much more than that in the above scenario would be asking for a lot from any rookie. If Thielen only plays 10 games again (or less), our running game can't perform again like last year, and/or XL/Coker don't improve or even take a step back and we then need to rely on T-Mac more and he only puts up those numbers, then yea, I'd say he underperformed on the season.

Well played

Sure, very fair point, but given what this player and draft pick means to me, that rational thinking goes out the window, lol. I obviously don't think he'll be a bust and even if he were and/or we traded him before that 2nd contract, it's still a jersey I'd have to own.

He wanted 11 in high school but it was taken so he went with 4 and then stuck with it in college (actually, his QB he'd played with since 8th grade was 11 at Arizona). And I know he at first said he wanted to go with 11, but seeing as it's an open number and he went with 4 anyways, gotta think he's going to end up sticking with it at this point for at least his rookie year. Especially as it works with both of his nicknames too, as he can do N4LO and T-M4C, which he's done with some of his NIL gear the last couple years. If he changes his number after the season, then I'd still be fine with it, because I need to have his rookie year jersey in my closet

The website says it's still a pre-order and will be shipped 2-4 weeks after the number is officially confirmed, which might not be until the start of the season. But does anyone know if they're already selling these in Charlotte now that he's chosen his number and it's already listed on the team's website? I was going to try and wait and see if they start selling baby/infant stuff with his name/number like they have for other team's top players on fanatics, as if they do, I'm absolutely getting my 1 year old Nephew one, especially as I was hoping to get the blue jersey as most of the ones I have already are black, so was hoping by then you could order his in the other colors. But if they're about to already start shipping them out soon because he's picked his number and I might get it in a few weeks, might have to go and get my order in right now and then just order a blue one later.

I think the "terrible logic" part was about Pittman being a 2nd Rounder. Because yes, I 1,000% expect T-Mac to put up better stats than Pittman has, but where they are drafted is now completely irrelevant and a sunk cost.

It's not about difficulty, it's just not something I'd ever even think about doing or being necessary. And FYI, this is coming from someone with severe OCD issues when it comes to locking things. I'll re-check/re-lock things 5-6 times before leaving sometimes because I can't help it, or even once I've left, turn around and go back to re-confirm (I have a real issue with it lol). But locking my work computer in my own home while I go get something from the kitchen for a few minutes, it has never one time crossed my mind to do that.

So you're saying if you are working at home and decide to go make a sandwich in the kitchen while you have family members are in the house, you lock your computer for those 5 minutes to make sure one of your own family members doesn't go and do something stupid and mess with your job? Unless you work in the highest levels of national security or something, that would just be a bit extreme, as nobody is thinking their own son is going to do something like that (again, unless he's done things in the past to make you think he is that dumb).

Even beyond this place, the entire world was convinced it was Walker. The day of the draft I was listening to a radio show and they were talking about how unpredictable this draft was going to be, that nobody really knew what was going to happen and that anyone betting on the draft was dumb and throwing their money away. At the end of the segment the guy said something like, "well, everything we just talked about is true, but if anyone wants some free money tonight, there is one guaranteed surefire pick, go put your bets in right now, Jalon Walker is 100% going 8th to the Panthers."

I don't see any way the Chiefs or Bills have more skill position talent than we do right now. T-Mac and Thielen are both better than any WR on either of those teams right now and yea, Cook is the best RB of the 3 teams, but I'm taking Chuba over Pacheco, and our OL might be the best of the 3 teams too. Sure KC has Kelce and the Bills have their two TEs, but I still just think we're better suited at the skill positions right now and in the near future. And yes, I realize they're GOAT type talents, but the point is if they'd put up MVP type seasons with our offensive players, then if Bryce is a franchise QB, he should be putting up a pretty good season with them this year, if he can't, it's a bad sign, not that he needs to also have an MVP type of season, that would be beyond the wildest expectations for even the biggest Bryce truthers.

Not that I think you said anything wrong here, but also look at it this way. Outside of QB, I think there is a genuine argument to be made that we have a better offensive starting lineup than even teams like the Chiefs or Bills right now. No, Bryce isn't Mahomes or Allen, but those guys would have MVP caliber seasons with our OL and offensive weapons at their disposal. If Bryce can't have a successful 3rd season with that grouping, then it's not a good sign for his long term outlook, even if yes, some of those weapons are on the younger side and need to gain experience.

Again, yes and no. Mine is also set to an auto lock of like 10 minutes, but that's still more than enough time for a stupid college kid to go do what he did while his dad went to grab a drink from the kitchen. Coaches aren't out in public somewhere that having a quick lock is a necessity, they likely are only using their laptop/tablet in one of 2 places, at the team facility or in their own home, so fear of someone doing this in the 2 minutes they're away from their desk is basically 0% outside of something like this happening where it was his son.

Yep, it's one thing to only want to talk up the guy you drafted by saying he was always you guy. But there also wouldn't have been anything wrong with him saying something like "we were just hoping one of the two was going to fall to us and if both did we'd have a decision to make, so when Graham went we just prayed T-Mac would still be there" If they really wanted Graham first or even just either of the 2, I think we'd have heard them say something along those lines at some point. Sure, I'll admit this one is likely me just wanting to think T-Mac was #1 on our board just because, but it's also a fair and reasonable take I think. But at this point that's just all fun discussion points, because all that matters is Tetairoa McMillan is a fuging Carolina Panther!!!!!!!!