Does Cam deserve "the contract" based on this season?

[d-dave]

Contract Cam is an interesting issue right now.

 

On one hand, he's played well for us.  He's the face of the franchise.  He's our best player, hands down. 

 

On the other, we're having a down year and how much of that is one him?  Our O line is playing terribly.  Our D is getting raked over the coals.  The talent level is questionable.  The coaching/play calling has been "inconsistent" (to put it nicely).

 

So where does that leave Cam's contract talks?  Ideally, I'd love to see Cam throw the team on his back.  I'd love to see him inspire the best out of the players he has (or are we already seeing their "best").  I'd love to see him making the right plays when we need them.

 

BUT, I keep seeing this as a completely snake bit year.  Just from the get go, things were wrong.  I have a feeling we could do everything right, but there would be that football bounce the wrong way this year.  Was last year an abnormal over achievement?  Was this the team we should have had last year?

 

I'm glad I don't have to make those kinds of decisions.  The deals Dalton and Kaepernick signed also throw a monkey wrench into this.  Cam sees himself as a premier QB in the line of the Rodgers and Brees of the world.  We haven't seen that.  Sure, we've seen a lot of growth from Cam, BUT has he done enough to warrant real deal as opposed to a rental deal?  Dalton and Kaepernick also have multiple trips to the playoffs and varying degrees of success there and in the regular season.

 

It's a hard question.  Good thing he's signed through next season.  I'm not sure the offense here is going to do him any favors.  We need more talent along the line.  We need more speed on the edges.  When the game is on the line, throw the damn ball up to KB.  He's a big play guy, so let him try to make the big play.

 

Cam's contract is not going to be determined this year.  It's going to come down to next year.  We're going to need a new offensive philosophy to go along with a bunch of new players.  If he can't succeed with more talent, then it's just not in the cards for Cam.

 

I say all this as a big Cam fan.  I love what he brings to the team, and I want to see him surrounded by the best talent and coaching.  I want to see him also lead and elevate the play of his teammates the way the greats have done.

[TheMaulClaw]

Two highlights that shows me many of you simply don't know  what u are talking about. U are even contradicting yourself.

 

What do u define as "high level?" And how many of the young QBs would be able to play at a "high level" on this team? 

 

Yeah, don't pay him. Go out and get more talent and surround him with them. This is four seasons in and this team has yet to do that. Now the kid is up for a contract, and has been busting his ASS do far more than he should as a QB, u're suggesting they not pay him but pay other players to continue not helping him. 

 

Yup, U post once again shows how extremely clueless some of u Panthers fans really are. U now make the media's job real easy. They no longer have to undermine Cam. They just read sites like this and FB for the talking points. 

 

Every starting QB in the league bust their ass.  It's not unique to Cam. 

 

Ideally I'd like to give Cam every weapon imaginable while he remain the qb.  That's not the issue.  This issue is can't we put talent around a guy who's going to ask for probably the richest contract in league history.   

 

I'm not contradicting myself.  I'd rather put a lot of talent around a qb (even if it's a different qb) then resign Cam at 20 plus million and have the same talent deficiency. 

 

You'lre looking for something that isn't there bro.

[Davidson Deac II]

I had to do some family stuff yesterday so I wasn't able to watch the game.  Listened to the radio broadcast.  One of the things I found interesting is that several times the announcers mentioned that Avant was open underneath, but Cam threw it long.  And more often than not, the throws failed.

 

So if its true that Avant was open for a shorter but safer gain, and Cam chose to throw it long, is that on the coaches, or the qb, or both?

[Ezrider1423]

After going through kary collins, steve buerlein, brian st pierre, rodney peete, vinny testaverde, jake delhomme, chris weinke and jimmy clausen, we finally have a legit franchise guy. The fact that we aren't building around him and he's getting beat like a drum every sunday makes it hurt that much more.  Seeing that dejected look on Cam's face after those two sacks at the end of the game said it all.  Those take their toll, and it's truly saddening seeing it week after week.  I couldn't be happier that we have Cam. He's the best thing to happen to the panthers in franchise history. I just hope the FO really tries to make some moves when they get out of cap hell because if Cam leaves, the panthers are a dumpster fire for years to come and it would really suck having to face him in the future on a more successful franchise that knows how to successfully utilize him.

[Ezrider1423]

Cam deserves "the contract" and then some. Absolutely no doubt in my mind.  This shouldn't even be up for debate. Just stupid.

[TheRed]

He's going to get paid. You don't let a player of his caliber leave, he's only 25.

 

It's going to hurt a lot of feelings here when he gets his contract, and it shouldn't be that way, but sadly it is.

[jumpman910]

He's going to get paid. You don't let a player of his caliber leave, he's only 25.

It's going to hurt a lot of feelings here when he gets his contract, and it shouldn't be that way, but sadly it is.

Exactly

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[pstall]

Lets say the team and Cam agree to a contract. Nevermind the years but what is the ballpark per year the team can afford at the moment that still allows them to sign others?

[d-dave]

Lets say the team and Cam agree to a contract. Nevermind the years but what is the ballpark per year the team can afford at the moment that still allows them to sign others?

 

I'm not an expert by any stretch, and hopefully they can weigh in on the issue, but if I was putting a big, round approximation on the annual #, it's going to start with a $2_.  That's the going rate for top tier QBs in this league.  6 years, $125 million as a starting point.  Probably somewhere in the $30+ Million guaranteed.

 

Again, I'm just a doufus here.

[pantherclaw]

He is a special talent, and will be paid like it.

[pstall]

We need to view this practically for the sake of the thread.

What dollar amount can the Panthers pay while being able to afford moderately decent if not better talent elsewhere?

The guaranteed money isn't a factor.

12-15 a year possible and affordable?

[TheMaulClaw]

We need to view this practically for the sake of the thread.

What dollar amount can the Panthers pay while being able to afford moderately decent if not better talent elsewhere?

The guaranteed money isn't a factor.

12-15 a year possible and affordable?

 

I wish.  Cutler's contract screwed a lot of teams. 

[pstall]

My Gettleman conspiracy is two fold.

He scraps the wr corps and no smitty makes it easier to get the ball to KB. Thus making his pick look better.

Secondly with that and not upgrading the o line it alters Cams stats down as well as make him avoid a blockbuster year before getting a new contract. Either he is brilliant or a buffoon.

[QueensKing]

Think about this.

 

Has Rivera consistently put Cam/the team in the best possible situation to succeed?  No

 

Has Shula put Cam in the best position to succeed?  No. 

 

Has the GM put Cam in the best position to succeed?  No  (see offensive line, OC)

 

Is Cam good enough to win a superbowl?  Yes. 

 

Cam has accomplished everything that he has in spite of the talent surrounding him.  Yet, the dude is a 2x pro bowler, and is capable of putting the team on his back.

 

Fools question the qb because they aren't able to interpret the failings of his surroundings.  He's done an admirable job.  We really don't know how good he can be since he's constantly surounded by poo. 

 

He's earned his pay in my eyes.  It's almost as if he's being set up to fail and yet he keeps chugging along, doing what is asked, and picking himself up off the ground.  He's the best qb to ever wear the jersey.  (don't anyone dare bring up Delhomme, he was surrounded by talent.. in their prime)

 

This shouldn't even be a question... but yet it is because so many people think our backup is better.  Go Panthers.