MHS831

By the way, I have dibs on Mima Kimes should she decide to part ways with her husband---she might the perfect woman.

I hate the Saints--hate them more than any other team--but I have always loved Cam Jordan as a player and person.

you all know that the #1 ranked QB in the nation (who happens to be Beck, not Sanders) can change a lot. Some underdog will surface (like Burrow, Nix) and some sure fire #1 overall will drop (Howell, Rattler, e.g.)---About Sanders--can you imagine dealing with his father and him during contract negotiations? Yikes. I like UGA's Beck, and there are about two or three sleepers who could step up this year. Ewers, for example. My dark horses? Donovan Smith, Houston, Will Howard, Ohio State, and my favorite--Jalon Daniels, Kansas (needs to stay healthy). However, any of these QBs could emerge as a top 10 draft pick: Dart (Ole Miss), Milroe (Bama) or Gabriel (Oregon). So many names we just do not know that well due to the transfer portal, but there is some strong potential. I still hope Bryce becomes the guy. Now or never.

Good stuff Frank

Second rounder -- Clemson I think. He played his rookie season a lot and never saw the field much after that+

I think they finished preseason

I had the same thought. And he is a pass catcher, which reduces his hits--they are unlikely to leave him in the backfield to block on pass plays--

definitely cause for concern.

We often make our personnel decisions from the heart based on appearances and "common sense." However, I have learned that what you think you know through observation is not always reliable knowledge. By converting performance-based measurement to statistics and then to visual graphs, you can better understand the big picture, probability and likely outcomes. This is what we do in Education research every day. CMC and RBs peak early, so even though the Niners are getting a ton out of CMC, his age is now becoming significant. I will use fantasy stats / article to demonstrate the point--why trading him and that contract may have been the best decision for the Panthers in the long term--time will tell. CMC is 28--the year before most RBs significantly drop off. Just a different perspective, but this is why I have always said, "never give a RB a second contract." Yes, there are exceptions, but if you base decisions on exceptions or isolated comparisons, you are being stupid--in the research world. https://apexfantasyleagues.com/peak-age-nfl-running-back/#:~:text=The oldest players to accomplish the feat were,place at age 29 – a noticeable drop-off.

In my view--and I know there are other views just as sound or more--you don't lock down oft-injured players until you get the QB situation secure. All moves need to be made with that in mind--if we get an additional 2025 first rounder (he is worth it now because he is cheap--next year, his trade value drops, like Burns) then we can bring is a top CB or move up to get the best QB in the draft. If we pay Horn a ton and he gets injured again, this draft at QB is probably not going to be more than 2 players in the first round. We'd be screwed. I am like everyone else--tired of trading talent, but until you get a QB, you are not going to win. A top CB simply gets avoided. You can't avoid a top QB.

Is he the team's Lamelo Ball? The Hornets gave him the max deal. I would not have--missed 106 games over 2 seasons.

Here is how I see it---if he can bring top value to a team that feels they have all the pieces in place for a run, then his value is high and salary is low---we are not going on a Super Bowl run this year--would a package of picks not serve the rebuild better? Let's say we need to move up for a QB 3-4 spots. We have 2 first round picks....or lets say we don't need to move up for a QB--we can draft a top college CB and a top edge rusher, for example. I can see the team going that direction considering where they are in the developmental process. Horn getting $30m in 2025 could be bad for the whole team development. Like passing on the Burns trade with the Rams, for example.

Tepper Turf has something to do with it--i think Horn's injuries were at home in Charlotte--so I am concerned that this surface may not be conducive to his style of play. Some tennis players (I can't remember who) said they never won certain tournaments because the surface was not conducive to their style of play--some complained of injuries--like groins on clay, ankles on grass--etc. Just curious.

Note that Mason Brooks #71 is at RG. I watched him and he did well. Gonna look more into it, but I think the PFF scholars made a mistake. The score was not Anderson's 90, it was possibly Brooks' score.

what bothers me about this: I watched the replay to see what we have in Jack Anderson---he was OK--and he was playing LG--not RG as PFF states. Did they get the names confused (Mason Brooks, 71, was playing RG and he looked better that Anderson, but my focus was on Anderson). So was the 90 PFF score awarded to our LG or RG? I actually hope the 90 score went to Brooks RG because we have Zavala as LG depth.

Good tip. then the meds gotta go.

In fairness, I could not get the childproof cap off my meds. I am good now.

Here is a question: If the Patriots waive Zappe who is on a rookie contract for this season and next, do you pick him up and cut Dalton, whose contract expires at the end of this season? I go with the younger, experienced QB. To me, Zappe is one of those strong reserve QBs who will always make any roster better--like a Gardner Minshew. Dalton is 37. Save a million in cap room and move in a young QB with starting experience.

Not sure how that works--gotta be honest. However, I am not sure Plummer is thqt guy

While the jury is still out on Young, there are many factors that can help improve him. Good routes (getting open) tends to help the qb--and timing (OL) makes a difference. I was on the second team in college and there were times the starting QB would rep with us at practice--he was horrible--overthrows, pressure moving him off the spot---timing---it was like dancing with someone better than you, but it made him look bad. If we had 3 offenses, 38 combinations of OL, Substandard WRs who weren't separating, I see how Young could have looked bad. Lotta stuff has to happen to make a qb look good. Just my view.

I think we pick one up off waiver wire next week, fwiw

lotta appreciation for you and Ricky for working so hard to keep the preseason info flowing. I'd give you 30 pies and Special Juan's credit card numbers if I could.

I give up. I can't figure out what they are looking for.

I am trying to keep up with what the Panthers might do--and with so many injuries on offense, this has been difficult to gauge. The chart below and the descriptions tell the story so that you can share your opinions--it helps to hear from others. So this is where my thinking is a week from cutdown day-- Offense (25 Active Roster Spots) PURPLE shaded box indicates players in danger of being cut/waived, possibly being placed on the Practice Squad. Names in Italics are not part of roster–competing for a spot. RED–draft Picks; BLUE-Undrafted Free Agents; GREEN–free agents. Left Tackle Left Guard Center Right Guard Right Tackle Ickey Ekwonu Damien Lewis Austin Corbett Robert Hunt Taylor Moton Yosh Nijman Chandler Zavala Andrew Raym Jack Anderson B Christensen Wide Receiver Running Back Quarterback Tight End Diontae Johnson Jonathan Brooks Bryce Young Ja’Tavion Sanders Xavier Leggette Chuba Hubbard Andy Dalton Tommy Tremble Adam Thielen Miles Sanders Waived QB Ian Thomas Jonathan Mingo Dillion Johnson Jordan Matthews T Marshall Jr I Smith-Marsette D. Moore Jalen Coker Offensive Commentary: At the moment, several players would not be active, so this list is fluid. This list is to assume all are healthy, so some players I have earmarked for the Practice Squad or being cut might appear on the opening day active roster. As I consider how this list may play out (there are 29 name on this list–I may have missed a prospect—but if so, we need to put 4 on the PS (again, assuming all are healthy day 1). Offensive Line: Some of this is being hopeful, but if Zavala and Anderson continue to step up in a big way, we could be solid at G for several years. About Zavala sucking last year–did we change the offense 3 times? Wonder if that was confusing for the OL? Anderson played a lot Saturday and earned a 90 PFF score. I watched the replay telecast–he was very good. Raym was better, but if BC continues to work at C, Raym could be stashed on the PS. Tight End: As much as I want Jordan Matthews to make the team, but cutting Thomas gives the Panthers zero cap room and over $3m in dead cap. Still, Matthews’ work ethic is a great example. Sanders and Tremble are probably safe. I do not see carrying 4 TEs. Wide Receiver: Most teams carry 5 or 6 on the active roster. Johnson, Thielen, Legette, and Mingo are safe. Based on the fact that Marshall Jr. took the pads off in the second half Saturday while the others played, I sense that he may have secured a roster spot. He had a great practice vs. the Jets and he caught 2 balls Saturday. I see Coker going to the PS at this point, grooming him for next year when 3 of the top 5 WRs could be gone (Johnson, Thielen, TMJ). That leaves the sixth roster spot for Smith-Marsette or Moore–for now. Watch the waiver wire next week, especially if a KR/PR emerges . Running Back: With Brooks healing for several weeks, I see the future backfield of Brooks, Hubbard, and….Dillon Johnson? Miles Sanders will be active during week 1, but he will probably be on the trading or cut block soon. Blackshear to the PS again this year. Quarterback: Bryce is a lock. However, here is an interesting conspiracy theory. I have predicted that Zappe will be cut by New England. He is on a rookie contract through 2025, He has starting experience and played on a bad team. Dalton (37) is gone after this year. Cutting him saves $2m–signing Dalton costs under $1m. If Bryce does not do well in 2024, do you want three new QBs in 2025? Keeping Dalton is probably what we do, but if we take Zappe, we probably keep 3 on the active roster if we do not cut Dalton. I don’t see anyone on the current roster serving as QB3. Other QBs such as Thompson-Robinson from Cleveland is possible, of course. Prediction: Since we know that Brooks is out for some time, three names need to be cut/waived from this roster if everyone else is healthy. I have no confidence predicting the sixth WR spot, assuming we keep 6. I am going to suggest that David Moore is cut. Coker is waived and put on the PS. Smith-Marsette currently holds the sixth WR spot, but I think they scan the waiver wire next week. I also (and I hate this) predict that Jordan Matthews is cut,but they could release Sanders and take the dead cap hit when Brooks is ready to play.

Or bring in entertainment to appeal to a wider audience base--have some local bands, activities for kids (before the game) fireworks--make it fun and attractive for people who aren't football fans. Might recruit a few fans. I am not sure what they do now--so this could be a mute point.