Mage

LIS earlier in the thread, learning the playbook isn't quite as difficult as one would think. Yes, for a rookie, no way they would be able to play this quickly. But Newton is a 10-year vet. He's familiar with the vast majority of NFL concepts, formations/alignments, and some verbiage across different playbooks leaguewide are often similar. Obviously there will be some stuff he doesn't know that would take some time and we'd in some ways need to limit the playbook to an extent, but no reason he couldn't play. Ultimately I don't think our approach Sunday would be any more or less limited than if PJ Walker was starting. Likely run-heavy, try and get McCaffrey heavily involved underneath, and call a lot of pass concepts that Cam is most familiar with.

I don't know why people keep trying to push the narrative that Rhule still believes in Darnold. REGARDLESS of what you think about Rhule (not trying to get in that debate here), but it is clearly, so blatantly obvious that Rhule has given up on him. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he never started another game here, even if he's on the roster in 2022, unless we fail miserably in the offseason at finding a potential starter. You don't say what Rhule has said about Sam if you believe in him long-term. Dude didn't even try to use the injury to excuse his behavior, said he didn't see any signs on film that his shoulder was an issue. You'll never see a starting QB thrown under the bus that hard

Playbooks can be complicated, but for veteran players who have been around the league for years and years, it isn't THAT difficult to learn a new playbook. Hardest part will be verbiage depending on how different it is in Brady's system vs others he's been in, but he'll surely be familiar with most concepts and stuff. IIRC Brett Favre signed with the Vikings super, super last minute in 2009 and was able to play immediately. Some stuff might have to be dialed back, but in all likelihood Cam Newton would know enough to play.

Damn. I don't even care if he's good or not. I'd rather have my favorite player of all-time sucking at QB than PJ Walker or Sam Darnold.

Darnold looked no different on Sunday than he did most any other weeks. Even Rhule said at the time he didn't necessarily see anything on film to suggest Darnold's arm looked noticeably weaker. And none of the INTs had anything to do with arm strength as much as they did horrendous decisions. Darnold played because he was healthy enough to play. And if Darnold was any good, then he'd likely still be playing right now in spite of the injury. But he's been bad for multiple weeks and was well on his way to being benched anyway. I mean Matt Rhule made that pretty obvious after the game on Sunday.

Baker Mayfield is literally playing with a torn labrum "But negligent Panthers hurr hurr!!" What Darnold has is something that he can play through. Him sucking has nothing to do with the injury. He just sucks.

Dude, the posters complaining mostly do not care about the facts. I've tried to use facts several times to no avail. Never even acknowledged.

Tepper is rich as hell and Rhule’s contract does not affect the team

This thread reminds me of when Mr. Scot was ADAMANT that the Panthers made a horrible decision letting CJ Anderson go and was trying to convince everyone that he was somehow a difference maker.

Bum

I'm down to put money on it if you want.

We're really complaining about letting Royce Freeman leave? Wow.

Surprised nobody has said Kyle Allen yet

We don't have that many holes. QB and OL are the only two areas we absolutely must improve at. Secondary, LB, DL, RB, WR could all stay the same and we'd be fine. When you consider the money we'll have and what we could add in FA especially, I'd rather see what options we have in the 1st round than committing to trading down. If it turns out trading down is the best option, then yeah. But if a great tackle or guard or QB prospect is there for us in the 1st, I think we have to pull the trigger.

There is nothing abnormal about experiencing soreness in a shoulder in your first game a week after injuring it. Seriously, have none of you played sports before or even worked out in the gym? Rhule has made it clear how he feels about Darnold. Not sure how some of you do not see this.

He's also basically said that Darnold isn't the starter anymore, without saying it. Joe Person asked him if Darnold was healthy would he remain the starter, and Rhule's response was that he would need to see him and talk to him this week before deciding anything. Don't get me wrong, there is PLENTY to complain about right now in regard to Rhule and his QB choices. But let's get rid of the narrative that he's trying to protect Sam or anything like that.

Matt Rhule in the press conference was asked if he felt Darnold's shoulder had anything to do with his lackluster performance and he basically said "no, I didn't see that as being the case." Nobody is trying to put Darnold on IR just to "save their asses." In all likelihood, he probably is really experiencing soreness the day after taking his first contact post-injury. Think people are way too caught up in some conspiracy or whatever. Rhule doesn't care about Darnold anymore. It's pretty blatantly obvious he's given up on him.

Look I'm not trying to defend Rhule but he's so clearly thrown Darnold under the bus. That relationship isn't being repaired. I don't know why you keep trying to push the narrative that Rhule is looking to make an excuse for Darnold or that he's trying to convince people that Darnold can still start. You'll never hear a HC talk as lowly to the media as Rhule did about Darnold yesterday. Dude was straight up asked if the team could win with Darnold and he said he had to watch film. Again, that is him basically saying "no" without saying no. Plenty of things to criticize Rhule for but he's been blunt about Darnold over the last 3 games. I've never heard a HC speak so lowly about his starting QB.

Matt Rhule criticized Sam Darnold about as much as you will ever see any HC criticize their starter. Any chance of a long-term relationship between the sides is over if you read between the lines. Darnold might start again but it is going to end up like the Bridgewater relationship. Fractured.

Darnold's response is even worse. Just puts his hat on and sits down. Doesn't even try to talk to Robby. You can tell he's gutless and isn't a leader.

Welp guess we found out what happens when Sam throws more LMFAO

Now that, that is a hospital ball

Don't get me wrong, this offense is horrible, but worse than 2010? You have no clue what you are talking about if you think that. Clausen's Y/A was 5.2 that season. Terrible

He's cheeks

Sam Darnold is doo doo