MHS831

Man of the Year.

I am in the same camp with Teddy and Shaq--I have been promoting a Shaq departure for some time--I did not like the contract. Thomas, still on a rookie deal for a fourth round pick, I would keep for another season but he would be #3--not #1. ALTHOUGH he is slated to count over $2m toward the cap this season. Dang--you are probably onto something.

For those of you who have never transformed an organizational culture. You do not clean house--there are too many procedures and protocols that leave when the employee leaves. You bring in replacements, you watch and observe for a while so you can see the needs and deficiencies. Sure, you want everyone to be axed after year 1, but there is a slow, gradual transition to do it successfully. He is doing this correctly, based on my knowledge and assumptions about his methods.

Forged in the fires of research-based high risk, let the man work. Let's see what he can do.

My theory with Hurney--he had an inferiority complex about the Panthers--maybe he felt that a small market team would not be as attractive for free agents so he had to overpay. I remember when Charles Johnson (coming off his only good season) was a free agent and only Atlanta had a need for a DE enough to compete with the Panthers--they were strapped. CJ got a deal about $20m more than was necessary. When they interviewed CJ, he laughed about it. I will never forget it. Then I saw DWilliams and Stewart get big deals, I saw him pay Delhomme after Tommy John Surgery twice what anyone else might have paid him--then cut him soon afterwards, and I saw him give Charles Godfrey a sweet deal--then let Julius Peppers walk (probably because he was fed up). Hurney has always rewarded his picks, and he has always overpaid certain positions. THAT is why we never had much at DT or OL--he could sign street free agents to play there. DBs? Not his area either. QB? After Cam, nothing much. So glad to see him gone.

OK, here we are on Feb 21--isn't it rather telling that Cam does not seem to be in any conversations--during the offseason of the QB? I hate that for him---if RR had used him correctly, he could still be playing well. Great guy (if you ever met him) but I wanted him out because I have never seen a QB take a beating like he took for 8 years here. I would love to see him come to camp here as #81, trying out for TE job---but that won't happen

Reminds me of an old SNL skit mocking people making fun of Frank Sinatra. He said, "I've got chunks of kids like you in my stool!"

My theory---Jimmy G is going to be cut (his contract is not guaranteed) if not traded. Teddy would give them a QB in the event they need a bridge for 1 season, then he can be cut. I dunno--speculation

It would still be an upgrade, but I am with you.

I missed big time on this guy---thought he was going to be a stud. The Indy GM should have been fired for trading for him after he showed what he was about in the NFL.

If you ask me, I was never impressed with Flacco who won the SB in 2013.

Watson's current contract is about $16m vs. the cap and rises to $40m in 2022. Not sure what Houston would have to eat in a trade, but if this is true, and I am very far from being knowledgeable in this area, why are we clearing cap room NOW? In addition, cutting Bridgewater post June 1 saves the team $8m ($3m pre-june 1 cut). I noticed that we have not used the Post June 1 cut yet--even on Short--are we saving that for Bridgewater? I dunno. So if we make this trade, in 2021 we have as little as $8m invested in QB--so why the moves to make cap room? Well, these were OBVIOUS moves, but if we have to give up picks and players, we will need to be effective in free agency over the next few years. In addition, we need some room to restructure Watson's deal in 2022--where he gets $35-40m. Of course, thanks to KC, he may want that to be his average over the next several years. Funny how these teams (Seattle comes to mind, KC) high on Super Bowl nectar, give these huge deals to players and that sets the market. Remember the Flacco contract? So shoot some holes in my logic because this is how I see it--and I am not a fan from this perspective like some of you, so I am wrong a lot.

To restructure you have to sweeten the pot for the player. It saves the team money now, but restricts their options later. Teddy's deal was front loaded and guaranteed (for the most part) for 2 seasons. If you want him around for 3 or 4, it will cost the team more guaranteed money over the long haul. This is like using your credit cards to pay your car payment. not INTERERSTed (see what I did there?).

You need a QB. a good one. Does that mean sell the farm to buy some magic beans. Here is the way I think of this trade with Watson: The three first rounders (equivalents): 1. Brown, DT 2. Burns DE 3. Moore WR In addition, they will want 2 more starters and probably (hopefully) Bridgewater. Watson played well on a team without much of a supporting cast in Houston this past year. They won 4 games. Will this not be the same situation with a depleted roster here? So this becomes about the difference between Bridgewater with a supporting cast and Watson without a solid supporting cast. Of course, you have to assume Watson cannot have a supporting cast if we make the trade--maybe that is illogical. Can we have a supporting cast for Watson (with the cap, free agency and draft?) That is the challenge. And the Panthers might be banking everything on this unusual year in free agency--can we fill these gaps with quality players AND go after Watson? It is possible.

This is the year that 50% of the teams in the NFL will have a new QB in 2021. If they do not draft a QB at #6, and if Lance is there, they probably trade back. Like #Soja says, and I agree, the QBs (4) could be there at #8 if there were no trades, but there will be trades. Even if they do not trade out, NYJ, Miami, Atlanta, Philly, and Detroit all COULD take a QB. Cincy could trade back. QBs that could be available after the draft: Garrappolo (some say Bill Belichick will have him back in NE) Carr (He somehow posts good numbers and they still hate him in LV--That's Gruden for ya--I don't want Carr either) Tua (Beware any Bama QB--they do not know what it is like to get rushed or have to throw a WR open--or not to have a defense that gives you the ball back when you need it) Darnold (Sure looks like a bust. Could the right system save his career? The Panthers are not currently in the QB rehab business, so this is probably a pass unless NY gives him away.) Hurts (He could not keep his job in Bama, but having said that, I think he may have the most upside of this list)

Tepper is ready to make his move---forget about reading tea leaves---this is going to be a wild ride and nobody knows how this is turning out. Popcorn time.

Tua was a stupid pick. Having said that, I see no team making the moves it may need to trade with Houston--maybe I am not paying attention, but I think the Panthers better start working on Plans B, C, D. etc. as well

I am the famous white rapper from the 70s called "Zero the Hero" (aka "white fudge") Word. Zero Out.

I agree with your concept, but there are literally thousands of ways to go--I would not re-sign Douglas--I would re-sign Corn and go with Pride and Jackson, looking to find a CB early.

Take all posts for what the are worth. There should be no personal attacks initiated--I retaliate, but do not initiate--I am secure in the fact that my mind has drawn a different conclusion. I think for myself--I am not offended when others say things that do not agree with my hopes. This is not a cult. Let me give you an example of how NOT to attack a fellow Huddler: Four Corners is who he is. I asked him why he calls himself that, and he said he likes triangles. He is rarely right, but do I call him out? No. He might have been dropped as a baby or perhaps his parents did not lock the chemical cabinet. Who am I to judge? He might be overachieving for all I know. So don't call people out. I hope my point was made here.

And 5 of the teams above us need a QB

Damn, Marty--if we didn't have such a huge dead cap #....

YGM would replace Watt's physical style of play better than Burns, and they can find a player like PAYE (Michigan) --the draft has some big edge players this year. in other words, we do not need to directly compensate their loss, but it does make the offer more attractive if we can offer pass rush.

Translation: We need a LT, G, and G. Re-sign Paradis (done), tag or give Moton a new deal (hopefully) and re-sign Miller in free agency (cheap, decent G who knows Moton and Paradis--communications are very important for the OL). That leaves a LT and LG. What is up with Daley? We talked about re-signing Scott, who was decent in relief of semi-retired Okung. So we are closer than needing 4 shiny new hogs. And for those who say the OL was good last year, I would like to take this moment to say, "They surpassed expectations because there were none." Reed was terrible at LG, giving up A gap frequently and often whiffing on pass blocking DTs--think about that. Not a speed rusher--a DT. LG was terrible.