tukafan21

Clearly Cam Sure, CMC had an unreal game, Reddick set the tone with the sack fumble against his old team. But the energy Cam gave this team by itself is deserving of the game ball, add in the two TDs on his first two snaps, easy call.

Yes, 100% on board to sign him to protect Cam. But having said that, if it costs $1 over vet minimum, that's a very hard pass for me. My ONLY disappointment in the Cam signing is how much of the cap it takes up, and thus less cap rolled over into next year. I'm not sure Okung really has much left, I'd be okay kicking the tires and see if it works, but not at the expense of even more cap to be rolled over into next year.

While I have had concerns about teams being in Vegas, this one doesn't really qualify as an example of why Vegas can be a concerning place to have a team. Saw that he was at a Top Golf drinking before this... that's something that is in every city they have a team in, and if not Top Golf itself, similar night time activities that you can drink at. This wasn't someone out partying on the strip late at night because it's Vegas.

You don't trade ANYTHING for Watson right now, period. To trade for him before his legal situation worked out, is absolutely asinine in itself, when you factor in the cost to get him, it's one of the dumbest ideas in the history of sports, and I'm not embellishing there. Even if the assumption is everything will mostly get cleared away, no jail, at most a 6 game suspension by the league... you still have to consider the possibly downside if it doesn't go that way, you never know what still might be waiting to come out publicly on all that. There is a possible chance, small, but possible, that he never plays another down again. If you trade away 2 star players and 2 First Round picks, for a guy currently under investigation for sexual assault, and then he never plays for you, that's a franchise killer, it would take an unreal amount of time to come back from that both on the field and with the fan base. Now once the situation is cleared up in the summer, I am all on board for doing what it takes to get it done, he's still very young and one of the best QB's in the game, you make that happen. But I can't get on board with giving up anything for him until then, just not worth the risk given the necessary cost.

He wouldn't have left for the NFL if he wanted to be a college head coach, he'd have stayed in college until getting a HC job.

I'd probably rather move Gilmore there and hope it can extend his career of playing at a high level, similar to Charles Woodson when he went to the Packers and moved to Safety

LOVE IT!!!! However, if he comes back healthy and strong, it could be the end of DJax in Carolina. Cause if we decide to re-sign Gilmore at the top dollar he wants, we won't be able to afford DJax on top of that when we'll already have Horn and Henderson locked up, can't pay for a 4th CB at that point when the money is needed elsewhere like the OL.

He won't want to come here, they're working out a trade to get him playing time. If CMC was a Horn situation and basically done for the year, it would be different, but he's looking to get away from a situation where the starter gets the bulk of the work, and CMC gets even more work than Taylor does in Indy.

Any chance Henderson has safety skills? Would be interesting to see if we re-sign Jackson, maybe we are able to move Henderson to Safety and have a starting DB set of Horn/Jackson at CB and Chinn/Henderson at S. That could be really scary if it were to work out.

Dude dropped a pass on a 8 yard curl that hit him directly in the chest. Sorry, but he's just not THAT guy who is going to take over games, I think last year was an anomaly while it took DJ and Teddy 2 Gloves time to get on the same page as the season progressed (if you noticed, Robby had a better first half than second last year). DJ is our #1, CMC was/is our #2, and TMJ is turning into our #3 Robby has speed and that can help our offense, even if it's just opening up holes for DJ to sit into, but to think this guy is going to repeat his numbers last year was just a fools errand, he's just not that guy. I'm a die hard Panthers fan who my friends know is likely to over-bid on Panthers in fantasy drafts (hence why DJ is on my team this year), but I was tuning out the auctions as Robby was up for bidding this year, just never expected much from him.

Yea, I'll be honest, I hate when fans think like this. I'm not stupid, I can look past my fandom to realize what my team is, or isn't. I was the person still calling for Rivera and staff to be fired when we were still 12-0, 13-0, etc, in 2015. Sure, we were winning, but it was in spite of our coaching staff, not because of it, and they proved that in the SB when they couldn't figure out how to make in game adjustments. And yes, we still made the SB that year, but time has clearly told it wasn't because of our coaches, but because of some special players that year and I very honestly believe with better coaches, we win that SB. I'm not a player on the team, they need to be positive, but I'm a fan, I can look at my team and objectively think about what is best for them. My positivity or negativity isn't going to affect them or the outcome of games in the slightest, so I'll look at things how I see them, not how I what or hope them to be.

In my mid-30's and I can only think of one other time I've ever felt this bad as a fan after a "normal" game, as in not counting losing the Super Bowl. And that was when the Arizona Wildcats (I'm an alum) lost to Stanford in 2013 when we were undefeated and also lost a starter to injury in the game and felt our legit championship aspirations disappear in an instant. At least then we still had a 1 loss team that still had a ton of stars and ended up losing in OT in the Elite 8... this Panthers team isn't that team, so yes, this is the worst I've felt after losing a non SB type of game unfortunately.

not even reading thru this thread to see the responses, but it's easy... the Lions aren't trading him for short of a stupid haul. They didn't draft Sewell to be a replacement for him at LT, they drafted him to have 2 stud tackles on each side, period. So they aren't looking to dump him on the cheap, regardless of records, and I don't blame them, if you can get 2 elite OT's in this league, you do it, end of story.

The one thing I liked? My team getting a win against a team that would be embarrassing to lose to The one thing I didn't? EVERYTHING else (losing CMC and Horn by itself eliminates any possibility of me actually being happy tonight, sorry)

(Like I said, kinda drunk and just started typing.... so it is, what it is, lol)

Okay, so I'll start this off by saying I'm a tad bit drunk, so who knows how well this will be received on here, but let's go, LOL........... I'll start this off by saying that I've always been someone who has no problem rooting for the best interests of the Panthers for the LONG term unless the immediate short term realistic goal of the team would be a Super Bowl win. The NFL is the only sport that one bad season and landing the right draft picks can 100% change a franchise's future (see Cam Newton), and it's not even close, particularly since there is no lottery like the NBA, you get the pick you get based on how your season goes, and every draft position has dramatic differences. Next, I'll say that I've NEVER been more depressed after a win or undefeated start by one of my teams (non NFL teams included in that, but the Panthers are my one and only NFL team). To me, there are only 3 things to root for as an NFL fan, and really there isn't anything else..... 1. Winning a Super Bowl 2. Getting the highest possible draft pick in each round 3. Gaining valuable experience for a young up and coming team who has SB potential within 3 years into the future Coming into this season, and even coming into week 3, I never thought #1 was even remotely possible, sorry, love my Panthers, but we weren't winning a SB this year, just wasn't happening. So I was of course shooting for #3, this wasn't a season I wanted us to lose close games to get a better pick, I saw the future, the team that Rhule is building, and knew that winning close games, sneaking into the playoffs, and even losing in the first round would be what was best for this franchise for the future. We have significant young building blocks in place who need that experience of playing in key games and how to manage it. But wow.... after tonight, I'm at a complete loss for the immediate future of this squad this season. Let's start with the best player on the team, CMC going down for any amount of time is killer for this team. He's the best non-QB player in the league in my very honest opinion and him just being on the field itself makes all 10 other players significantly better. Losing him is beyond painful, but as discussed in another thread, it COULD be what is best for Darnold in relation to what he is to our future as we're about to see what the kid is really made of. So no, I wouldn't want CMC to be out, but part of me sees how it could be great for Darnold's growth. But at the same time, losing CMC and that outlet could let defenses focus on Darnold, and if they do that and figure him out, he could struggle and turn into the Jets Darnold and his Panthers career could crash and burn. And after last season, I'm torn on even not rushing CMC back... hamstrings can linger, even if he's ready in 2 weeks, I'm hesitant of brining him back after 4 weeks right now and risk any further injury in a non SB aspiration season. So a very real part of me says to IR him and sit him for 6 weeks minimum, regardless of how healthy he is at any point during that time. If he's ready at that point, okay play him, if he needs one more week after that, shut him down for the seasons and let him come back strong next year. I'm sure that in itself will be very polarizing on here, but I think on a SB contender, a healthy CMC for a full season is the difference between winning a SB and losing in the conference playoffs and I have zero issue sitting him to keep that potential alive, he's that much of a difference maker, ON A LEGIT CONTENDER, serious difference there between that and just a "good team" Then let's get to the defense...... The combo of Burns/Reddick are our best players, they're terrors on the edge so far and completely change the game. Chinn might be our most valuable defender given the various things he can do on any given play and the versatility he brings. But Horn.... man... Horn in my again very honest opinion was out most indispensable defender, even in just his 3rd game of his career. Pass rush can be schemed up and figured out with lesser players, same goes with versatile safeties. But lockdown corners, to me, are the most valuable player a defense can have because it eliminates an entire side of the field and quite possibly takes out the opposing teams best weapon in 90% of games. Before the draft this year I told all my friends that I wanted an OT, CB, or trade everything to get a top QB, as I thought OT and CB are really the two most key positions that are the hardest to fill with elite players, outside of QB. So to lose both Horn, potentially for the season, and CMC for any amount of time, in the same game, and in just week 3 of a promising yet not SB contending season, completely screws up my feelings/desires/wants/etc coming into the season. As now I don't think we're going to be SB contenders to begin with, and I am now also torn on if this is the type of team that will benefit from being in the close games that help a team grow or be bad enough to get a top 10-13 pick in each round. For example, the 13th pick in this years draft was a LEGIT franchise LT, but the 16-20 picks in the draft look to be solid to above average players at random positions... getting a top dozen or so pick in the draft compared to just below that can be a SIGNIFICANT difference in quality of player. So yea, after all that, I'm not even sure where I'm trying to go with this other than saying this is the most conflicting feeling I've ever had after a win before. To get win and move to 3-0, albeit against 2 rookie QB's with rookie coaches and a third against freaking Jameis Winston with no coaching staff and half missing starters, is an awesome feeling, but man, I still just have no idea how to feel about this team and we possibly just lost our most impactful player on each side of the ball, just awesome......................

Ironically, I actually think you're very wrong, but agree with the sentiment you're trying to portray, LOL. I think not having CMC makes it easier to GAMEPLAN against us, however it makes it significantly easier to EXECUTE against us. As the person you're quoting was trying to say, game planning against us is rather easy with CMC in the lineup, as all your prep work is about defending him. Now actually doing it, and doing it effectively isn't easy at all. But now that we don't have him, there really isn't an obvious way to gameplay against our offense, yes there is trying to take away DJ, but that's not the same as CMC. So yes, I get what you're saying, in essence, you're correct, however in actuality, it actually might be "harder" for a DC to gameplan against us now because there are now 25-30 touches a game that you honestly don't know where they're going to go in our offense. Before, you could guarantee CMC was touching it that many times, so it made it "easier" for the defense to gameplay against it, because you know what you go after. Granted, yo couldn't actually defend it o the field, but at least it made it easier in terms of what you wanted to gameplay against, if that makes sense haha. So yes, the post you were quoting was TECHINCALLY correct in a way, it also was very wrong, just depends on how you read/interpret it lol.

Creepy, I was about to start a thread with this exact phrase in the title. As I said in the Horn thread, this isn't a SB team yet, so ironically, losing CMC for a little bit might be the best thing that could happen to this franchise. I entered this year with literally, one and only one goal... to go into the offseason knowing if we want Darnold to be our franchise QB moving forward. Yes, CMC in the game can certainly make him a better player of course, but there is no better way to know what he's got than to see him have to operate without CMC back there. So yes, for the greater good of this franchise's future, I think playing the next month (or more) without CMC will actually be the best thing that could happen to us long term. As I think if we leave this season thinking Darnold is our QB of the future, we'll be able to lock him up for 4-6 years at 20-25 million a year, which is going to be an ABSOLUTE BARGAIN in a year or two when bottom half of the league QB's are making near 30 million a year once the new TV contracts kick in. This team in 2 years, with a bargain price QB could be SCARY dangerous with guys in their prime like DJ, Burns, Chinn, Brown, Horn, and hopefully a healthy CMC.

The severity doesn't matter if it's actually a broken foot... if he broke his foot, it's at minimum a 4 week injury, and even that would be quick. But let's say he was completely out for 4 more weeks, that means a week 8 return to practice and probably a week 9 return to games. Is it really worth rushing back a guy with his potential to play in 7 more games when we're not going to be serious SB contenders, while risking further injury? If he breaks his foot twice in one year because he was rushed back, forget his top 5 CB potential, we're looking at a middling CB at best. I've always been someone who is able to look at the greater and long term good than short term below average wins. Had no problem rooting for us to lose in 2010, a losing season to get a difference maker is totally worth it in my opinion (and should be in any REAL fans minds). If this team was a legit SB contender it would be different, but even with Horn fully healthy, we're just not there yet. It's no knock on this team, they're great, but just very young and there are teams ahead of them for SB contention. So I'm fine just letting him heal up, worst case scenario not having him out there costs us a game or two and helps us in draft positioning in the end.

IR him with no option of return... I don't care if it's a 4 week or a 10+ week injury... this isn't a SB contending team yet and this kid looks like he has legit top 5 CB potential in this league. If we were actual SB contenders, then sure, do what we can to get him back this year, but we're not, so let him heal up 1,000% and come back next year, don't risk his future as he has super high end potential. IR him and it's like we get 2 first rounders to the team next year. Today was the most depressing loss I can remember experiencing.

We might be the worst 2-0 team, it's a battle between us the Broncos, and Raiders, and I think all 3 are about even, not an insult to any of them, but none of them (or us) are to the level of the Bucs, Rams or 49ers right now. Look, I love what we've done so far, Darnold looks solid, CMC is the best RB in the game and showing it, and the defense looks like a definite top 10 unit. But none of that changes how young and unproven we are, having beat a terrible Jets team and a Saints squad missing half a dozen starters, a bunch of backups, and almost their entire offensive coaching staff, who have also been living on the road for the better part of the last month. I was optimistic coming into the season, and it's grown since then, but you still need to keep things in perspective, despite even the expected 3-0 start to the season, making the playoffs will still be questionable and even if we just miss out, it won't be a disappointment of a season as this team looks to be growing under Rhule. I have high hopes for the next few years, but this isn't our year, we're not there yet.

not to be the wet blanket, but has anyone ever watched this segment before? They do ABSURD predictions, I'd be willing to be that not a single one of them from this segment has ever been correct, literally. As in Mooch, ALWAYS predicts some Kurt Warner record to fall, basically all he ever predicts, they're not serious predictions.

Not gonna lie, after he got his INT and as he was going to celebrate, saw him toss the ball away... my first reaction was, "how can you toss away your first INT which will be a ball that has the Saints logo on it, the team your dad played for, such a perfect ball to have on your mantle in the man cave the rest of your life" Was glad to see one of the photographers noticed this too and picked the ball up to hand back to him.

Not kicking it thru the back of the end zone very well could be a strategy the coaches have implemented. Kicking it thru the end zone helps keep your special-teamers healthy, but with touchbacks now being to the 25, a lot of teams ask their kicker to try and have it land right on the goal line so they're forced to return it and start short of the 25 in most instances. Whether we cover the kick well enough to keep them short of the 25 is another question, but I wouldn't necessarily say he couldn't do it, it might have been asked of him.

I thought the offense looked good in the first half, so maybe we can chalk it up to their halftime adjustments, particularly as their HC was an elite level DC for years.