panthers55

I have to admit that after the first 2 games last year this would have been a steal. Of course then, it wouldn't have been considered a possible deal. The still unbelievable turnaround by seasons end and the possibility of even more with more weapons makes panther fans laugh at the deal now especially at the steep cost. Murray seems to have peaked to me while Bryce hasn't scratched his potential. Besides I have a THE BRYCE IS RIGHT T-shirt I bought before his rookie season that I am finally going to be proudly rocking at some home games this season.

Who gives a crap what our ranking is in July. Now December that is different. Makes for great locker room material for Canales to use to prove em wrong

The problem with these summary stats and rankings is that they flatten out progression and assume an even performance throughout the year. His first 3 or 4 games of the season don't really tell you anything about his current level of capacity but more about where he started and what his floor was last year. Given his last several games were against playoff teams, that gives you an idea of his current ability coming into the season. But it will serve more as a floor than a ceiling given the upgrade in talent on offense. And a better defense should give us more stops which results in shorter fields and more opportunities. And going into his third year there is no reason to suspect he will regress. His success wasn't based on being superhuman but being smart and taking what was the defense was giving him. Distributing to the other guys not trying to do it on his own. He was great at the end when pressured and consistently moved the ball. That makes him a great game manager which is what we need. Something that is easier to do and relies on everyone else rather than having to be a top physical specimen or do it on his own. No one can predict the future but to say we haven't improved much is crazy given just having the Browns anchoring the defensive line will shut down the run and make sure QBs won't be stepping up in the pocket. Assuming Evero got the message to can the prevent defense and bend until you break philosophy.

Sure Bryce will have good and bad games but why think he will come out looking like week 1 and 2 last year versus him picking up where he left off? You could see the progression when he was put back in. He was throwing on time anticipating where the receiver will be instead of holding the ball. Instead of backing up he climbed the pocket and began running and throwing for big gains. Those are now in his repertoire when he needs them. The game has slowed down. He is confident and having fun like he did in college. And he has the same coach with a better cast to expand on what he did last year. Frankly I expect him to be better than last year.

The difference is about how much player input is allowed and encouraged in the decision making process. Top down teams tend to dictate to players how everything is handled. Disagreements are handled by the coach and players are expected to do what they are told regardless of what they think or feel. Players are perceived as commodities to be used until we find better. In player led teams player input is encouraged and valued. Players and especially leaders are expected to settle their own disagreements and be accountable to the team but mostly to each other. Players are family to be appreciated and supported in their growth. Is the reality of football the same in both? Yeah there are limited positions, football is a business and winning is the bottom line. Coaches get final say and run the program because that is their job. But in player led teams they feel valued, appreciated, part of a larger whole. Most people who have worked at multiple jobs know exactly what I am talking about. When players try to run the show and don't value coach input that isn't a player led team, that is a circus which we surely are familiar with in our past.

One of the best decisions in John Fox's career was starting Jake in the second half who was listed as the third string QB at the time. But Fox said he had a feeling at the time that Jake had something.

Hype away..... it is the dead space between mini-camp and training camp. The hype is for fans. Players know that you have put in the work and by all reports they seem ready to do it. After all, the last few years the only hype we got was early as we sucked down the road. It is sad panthers fans can't enjoy the hype for fear it isn't going to work out.

Lets hope he can stay healthy. When he was on the field he was very productive. We passed not because he is old or cant do the job but because of injuries.

Like you said, teams have been accused of tanking for a specific player but why would players or coaches go along when they know every game is a resume that goes with them. Sure like in our case the tanking was getting rid of quality players for peanuts and teams can trade their assets. But players are going to play hard for many reasons. And get out of dodge as soon as they possibly can.

If tanking is such a smart strategy then how many times has it been done in the last 10 years in the NFL and substantially improved the team moving forward? Since this is a copycat league there must be numerous examples with the trend growing each year. Or it is simply a fan concept that the same 4 or 5 huddlers keep bringing up as smart strategies that teams don't employ or consider. I wonder why??

Apparently you must have been on losing teams and it stained you. There is no justification for purposely losing and a wall of justifications or rationalizations don't change the reality. Any GM or coach that would do as you suggest wouldn't have made it to this level if he wasn't all in on winning.

I can only assume you never played sports at any high level or you would know the tiny bump you get moving up the draft is far outweighed by the damage you do to coaches and players whose future relies on sticking in the league and performing. Players see you don't care about them or the team success and will help you tank by giving up. Once that happens your franchise will suffer for years and develop a loser mentality like we have. No that would be crappy advice and saying it repeatedly doesn't make it better.

You look at a signing like Renfro from a risk/ benefit point of view. Cost - 100,000 in bonus and guarantees and a salary of 1.1 million if he sticks. Benefit - a former probowler trying to rehab a serious illness which shortened his career who is motivated to play in his old backyard. He is a winner who can help instill that in the young guys at the cost of a roster spot and provides great insurance in case of injury to other guys.

I am with you but at this point a winning season and 10-7 would double our win total of 2024. I would be glad to get to that point and then contemplate how to get to the next level. The reason we just talk about a winning culture but we don't experience it is because we had peach basket turnover in players and coaches. This is Canales second year. There is actually thought that this might be the guy, a Pete Carroll clone who might be around long enough to actually build a winning tradition. But you got to talk about it and get buy in and actually win more than you lose. Then when you do it for several years you begin to expect it and do whatever it takes to achieve it. That then builds a winning culture

Loser mentality. Glad no football players think tanking is a win and instead compete to win every week. Only fans think like that.