Are We Headed for a Fire Sale?

[cbully]

I think both Dwan and Cole are free agents next year.

I certainly see dwan out as Short/Star confirm the role... so that should save a few pennies which will be the reason

[CRA]

Hardy will be back but CJ is good as gone. When it comes down to the businesses of football that's how it pans out.

CJ could rework his deal.

To date, Johnson > Hardy as a NFL DE. Hardy simply owns the best single season of the two..

[TheRumGone]

CJ could rework his deal.

To date, Johnson > Hardy as a NFL DE. Hardy simply owns the best single season of the two..

Who know how much hardy would have improved this year. He's 25. That's insane

[CRA]

Who know how much hardy would have improved this year. He's 25. That's insane

There are tons of freaky talented guys that could of been great....that never actually were.

At this point, do I think. Hardy could be great? yes. Do I trust Hardy? Do I think he is wired to eat, sleep and breath football? No.

[TheRumGone]

There are tons of freaky talented guys that could of been great....that never actually were.

At this point, do I think. Hardy could be great? yes. Do I trust Hardy? Do I think he is wired to eat, sleep and breath football? No.

Hardy was exceptional last year. He brought an edge that this team seems to be lacking even with the two wins we got without him. I have never once doubted that hardy goes all out and gives it everything he has on the field. I think he genuinely likes this team and his teammates.

With that said hardy will never wear a panthers jersey again

[Marguide]

Coming into the season, it was plain to see who the core of this team was and where our allegiances lie. But five games in we are looking at new additions and subtractions from that core list of players we thought were the core.

Here is the list of the perceived core of players coming into the season from what I have gathered from most accounts.

Cam

Kalil

Olsen

Tolbert

Luke

CJ

Star

Hardy

TD

 

 

Your core list is too big. The only true core players are Cam and Luke. Star and Olsen are likely going to be here for awhile as well. That's about it for the core group. The rest are all at some risk going forward either due to cost or age or performance.

 

But as others have pointed out, this is a discussion for the offseason, not when we are only 30% into the season and leading the NFC South.

[CRA]

Hardy was exceptional last year. He brought an edge that this team seems to be lacking even with the two wins we got without him. I have never once doubted that hardy goes all out and gives it everything he has on the field. I think he genuinely likes this team and his teammates.

With that said hardy will never wear a panthers jersey again

He was exceptional last year. Also think he goes all out when he steps on a football field.

Do I trust his decision making when he isn't on a football field? No. I am not a fan of giving those guys big contracts that handicap teams. Especially when the team that is debating him has a roster full of very young talent his deal could jeopardize their ability to keep.

[pantherj]

Still waiting to hear an explanation on how JRs tearful defense of hardy calling for people to not be so quick to judge him before he's had his due process is the indicator of hardy being completely done with the team. I doubt I'll get that explanation though.

 

JR was crying because he didn't want the media to be too quick to judge him and the franchise for allowing Hardy to practice and play against TB. JR's primary concern is his legacy, not winning, and certainly not Hardy. We will never see Hardy again playing for the Panthers. He's not coming back this season, and next season he will be serving a suspension.

[TheRumGone]

He was exceptional last year. Also think he goes all out when he steps on a football field.

Do I trust his decision making when he isn't on a football field? No. I am not a fan of giving those guys big contracts that handicap teams. Especially when the team that is debating him has a roster full of very young talent his deal could jeopardize their ability to keep.

Definitely and those are things you have to weight out. Because IMO he's gonna get better. Is this an anomaly or has he learned his lesson. The rap stuff seems bad at face value to some ppl but he's been doing it for awhile. We are gonna be so thin at de if we lose hardy and the possibility of losing CJ. I don't think CJ is in a sharp decline as others have mentioned but he's gonna have to take a paycut. Ealy is not gonna be ready to step in next year imo

This isn't a fire sale but there are gonna be tons of things to think about next offseason and for now I'm not gonna because I wanna enjoy the season.

[CarolinaCoolin]

We will never see Hardy again playing for the Panthers. He's not coming back this season, and next season he will be serving a suspension.

You literally have no way to prove that statement. Pure speculation.

[CRA]

Definitely and those are things you have to weight out. Because IMO he's gonna get better. Is this an anomaly or has he learned his lesson. The rap stuff seems bad at face value to some ppl but he's been doing it for awhile. We are gonna be so thin at de if we lose hardy and the possibility of losing CJ. I don't think CJ is in a sharp decline as others have mentioned but he's gonna have to take a paycut. Ealy is not gonna be ready to step in next year imo

This isn't a fire sale but there are gonna be tons of things to think about next offseason and for now I'm not gonna because I wanna enjoy the season.

I think CJ restructures. Hardy walks.

I also think we axe Williams this offseason and Stewart the next.

I also don't think we will be having a firesale. We have never really had one. Even when Fox left we never had one.

[pantherj]

You literally have no way to prove that statement. Pure speculation.

 

Yes I should have added speculation at the end.

[TheRumGone]

I think CJ restructures. Hardy walks.

I also think we axe Williams this offseason and Stewart the next.

I also don't think we will be having a firesale. We have never really had one. Even when Fox left we never had one.

I want a paycut from CJ. Not a restructure.

And I'm not gonna be surprised if we draft a de in the first round next year.

[Mr. Scot]

Coming into the season, it was plain to see who the core of this team was and where our allegiances lie. But five games in we are looking at new additions and subtractions from that core list of players we thought were the core.

Here is the list of the perceived core of players coming into the season from what I have gathered from most accounts.

Cam

Kalil

Olsen

Tolbert

Luke

CJ

Star

Hardy

TD

Now that the season is 1/3 over, Hardy is in the doghouse and possibly on the way out. CJ is injury riddled with a sharp decline in production with a monster salary. Star has bit the sophomore wall and his counterpart Short is surging ahead. Tolbert, even when healthy was looking pedestrian and easily replaceable. Even Kalil is playing like any other center on any other team...albeit he is the leader of our rag-tag, fugitive fleet of molsters so he kinda gets a pass.

Besides Luke, Cam, Olsen and maybe Short, who are the other safe bets to truly build around to keep this team from getting blown up and turned into a dumpster sale?

I'd be more than willing to keep the Kraken, knowing full-well he's learned some mighty tough lessons and a serious bit to his stock as another DV citation will see him out of the league and off the payroll for good. He's simply too valuable to just let walk away.

I truly feel big Frank can replace big money (CJ,) at the other end because Rivera and Gettleman are choosing to stick with him. CJ has a ton to prove he's worth keeping and with injuries mounting and a young Kony Ealy being mentored and developed, CJ could be odd man out with or without the return and possible signing of Hardy.

What's keeping this team from getting gutted aside from the rookie contracts already on the books? Cam and Luke can walk away if they want in a couple years and we only have one franchise tag to issue so there's really no guarantee we can keep them both but I will wager that DG and JR are willing to cut and cheap sale trade any and all other non-rookie contract players to keep these guys paid and on the roster.

In 2016 we could reasonably only have Cam, Luke, Benjamin, Turner, Star, Short, Kalil and Benewikere as hold-over starters from this year's team. Granted, that's a strong core but how much closer to a Super Bowl will that get us and how many more home runs are we gonna need in the draft and via FA is it gonna take?

Are we in danger of losing Cam or Luke and falling off the cliff for the forseeable future?

 

Frank would need to be able to stay away from the weed long enough to play a game before he replaces anybody.