Your the GM, how do you fix this train wreck?

[PantherFanOne]

-Fire Ron and Shula tomorrow

-Make McDermott or Rodgers the interim

-Let the season play out 

-Not sure about what coach I want, but either he or his OC better have a firm grasp of the offensive identity.

-Cut DWill, Cotchery, Decoud, Harper, Cason, Silatolu and Chandler. Keep bell as back up RT. Let hardy walk. 

-Get some o-line help in free agency

-Draft some young safeties, receivers and D ends

-Get a return man and some solid special teamers. 

 

That was good summary.I want a HC that is offensive minded,i'm tired of this dull offence we currently have. I also want  one that puts p[layers with  speed in skill positions, as well as defensive positions.

[Marc Anthony]

Knowing our luck, we fire Rivera and hire Rex Ryan as HC. Please no!!

[jfo89]

That was good summary.I want a HC that is offensive minded,i'm tired of this dull offence we currently have. I also want one that puts p[layers with speed in skill positions, as well as defensive positions.

Yea I think receivers and DB's with speed and aggression are exactly what this team is missing, besides competent linemen.

[Captain Obvious]

I actually sleep better knowing that there are vigilante Panther fans that scower the forums late at night, looking for any grammatical error, so they can make themselves feel like there smarter than everyone else.

Scour. 

 

It had to be done. I'm ashamed Dollar store Dave and Rock N Rolla didn't  point it out. The grammar police are slipping.

[panthers55]

In order to stop the wreck I need to look at what resources I have available.

If we assume the cap goes to 140m our cap space for 2015 is 13m. This is only for 41 players though. Also we have about 5m we can rollover. I have to set aside about 4m for practice squad and IR. Adding all of this up gives us about 14m to fill 12 roster spots.

Needless to say 14m for 12 spots isn't really going to give us the kind of upgrades all of us are wanting, so now I have to look at what players we can cut to free up cap space.

If we designate CJ a June 1 cut we can save 10m.

If we designate TD a June 1 cut we can save 7.5m.

If we designate Kalil a June 1 cut we can save 5.6m

If we designate Olsen a June 1 cut we can save 5.5m.

If we designate DWill a June 1 cut we can save 2m.

If we designate Stew a June 1 cut we can save 2m.

From what I understand you can only designate 2 players as June 1st cuts.

So if we cut CJ and Dwill we will now have 26m and 14 empty roster spots.

Still not a tremendous about of money so lets see who else we can cut. Remember that cutting a player making 800k doesn't really save you that much because you have to replace him with someone and at the very least that person will be making around 500k so you really don't save much.

We could cut Tolbert and Decoud and save 2.4m and 1.9m respectively.

Now we have 30.3m and 16 empty roster spots.

If we keep all of our draft picks for next year that will give us 7 players at a cost of around 6m if we draft around the 10th spot.

If they all make the team that means we have 24.3m to fill 9 spots.

I almost forgot I need to cut Harper so the Huddle is happy. That frees up 600k. So now we have 24.9m for 10 spots. We can just call it 25m

Looking at our free agents both Bersin and Fozzy are ERFA so I know I can resign them really cheap (around 500k each). At worst they can be quality backups. That leaves us with 24m for 8 spots.

Now I have to look at the players we are losing and also positions I want to upgrade.

Here are some of the players we are losing:

Starting DE - CJ - if we cut him

Starting DE - Hardy - would have been the starter and I don't think we are sold on his replacements yet.

Starting Safety - Harper - if we cut him

Starting Safety - DeCoud - if we cut him

Starting Corner - Cason - ufa

Starting LT - Bell - ufa

Backup DT - Cole - ufa

Backup DT - Edwards - ufa

Backup TE - Dickson - ufa

I would also love to find a PR and/or a deep threat speed receiver.

The position that I feel like is the hardest to find in the draft or cheaply in FA is LT so I would spend money there. We might be able to find a proven player for around 8m.

At this point I am down to 16m and 7 empty roster spots. With needs at both DE spots, both safety spots, and corner I think it is pretty safe to say we are going to have to look for cheap free agents and hope to draft well.

If the cap doesn't go up we would have 9m for 7 empty roster spots. And people wonder why we didn't resign some of the people we lost last year.

As far as the coaches go it sure seems like there is some change that needs to happen. Personally I would go with an offensive minded coach with a proven record of developing quarterbacks.

At some point this franchise has to decide if they are going to heavily invest in Cam. A new coach and improved line might give us a better idea if Cam is going to be worth the 20m he is going to expect. I hope he is.

Whatever we decide with Cam could potentially shape this franchise for the next 10 years.

You mentioned we would have 13 million in cap space with a 140 cap but it depends on which site you use. Spottrac says our cap for 2015 is 122 which would give us 18 not 13. If you roll over the 6 million we have left over now you are at 24 million.

If we cut Williams and CJ we save 12 million which now gives up 36 million to spend assuming we restructure no one else and have no more dead money. By the way you can designate 2 June 1 cuts before June 1 but after June 1 you can cut as many as you want.

I don't disagree on some of the moves but would note that when you say 8 million for a tackle it depends on how we structure it. If we actually signed a guy long term you can have a very low cap hit in year one so his contract can average 8 million but the cap can be as little as 4 million in year 1 meaning we could have money to sign others. Plus we are going to cut guys like Cotchery and DeCoud which will save us more. So honestly while I applaud the hard work and effort in your post the actual numbers seem to vary and we might have quite a bit of flexibility if we sign Cam long term and his cap goes from 14 million to around 8 for example.

[KillerKat]

Fire everyone. They shouldn't still have their jobs after throwing your QB under the bus.

[AU-panther]

You mentioned we would have 13 million in cap space with a 140 cap but it depends on which site you use. Spottrac says our cap for 2015 is 122 which would give us 18 not 13. If you roll over the 6 million we have left over now you are at 24 million.

If we cut Williams and CJ we save 12 million which now gives up 36 million to spend assuming we restructure no one else and have no more dead money. By the way you can designate 2 June 1 cuts before June 1 but after June 1 you can cut as many as you want.

I don't disagree on some of the moves but would note that when you say 8 million for a tackle it depends on how we structure it. If we actually signed a guy long term you can have a very low cap hit in year one so his contract can average 8 million but the cap can be as little as 4 million in year 1 meaning we could have money to sign others. Plus we are going to cut guys like Cotchery and DeCoud which will save us more. So honestly while I applaud the hard work and effort in your post the actual numbers seem to vary and we might have quite a bit of flexibility if we sign Cam long term and his cap goes from 14 million to around 8 for example.

 

Spotrac is 122.9 million. Overthecap is right around 127 million.  Pretty much 4 million dollar difference.  Overthecap has 3 million dead money for Godfrey, Spotrac does not.  If you add that in they are within a million of each other.  Personally I use overthecap.com but if others want to go by spotrac that is their prerogative.

 

And you are correct, you can cut players after June 1 but the free agency period is before that.  Also teams have to be below the cap for the top 51 before that.  Hence the reason the league allows teams to designate 2 players as June 1 cuts before June 1.  You can cut players anytime, the June 1 cutoff just changes the way you account for dead money.

 

Also you are correct we could back load a contract for a tackle.  Heck we could backload a contract for 2 tackles, 2 safeties, and a defensive end, but that would cause problems the following year.

 

I think I included cutting DeCoud, cutting Cotchery really doesn't save that much but if you want to that's fine.

 

As you said there is a lot of variables that can take place.  We might restructure Kalil or extend Olsen.  We might cut TD and Stew.

 

What I really was trying to illustrate is that fixing a team isn't as easy as saying "we need to add 2 quality tackles, 2 quality safetys, a fast receiver, and a shut down corner."  If people would actually take time to look at sites such as spotrac and overthecap they would realize there are limited resources to fix what seems like unlimited needs. Also by looking at the numbers next year people might actually get a better understanding of why certain decisions were made this past off season.

 

 

[BuffaloBills62]

Resign Dwan Edwards, Colin Cole, Cason, Bersin and Bell.

 

Sign a WLB - Justin Durant

Sign two of the most cost effective OT's I can find.

BOLO for a FA or trade OG.

 

Draft BPA all day.  A RB is bound to show up.

[panthers55]

Spotrac is 122.9 million. Overthecap is right around 127 million. Pretty much 4 million dollar difference. Overthecap has 3 million dead money for Godfrey, Spotrac does not. If you add that in they are within a million of each other. Personally I use overthecap.com but if others want to go by spotrac that is their prerogative.

And you are correct, you can cut players after June 1 but the free agency period is before that. Also teams have to be below the cap for the top 51 before that. Hence the reason the league allows teams to designate 2 players as June 1 cuts before June 1. You can cut players anytime, the June 1 cutoff just changes the way you account for dead money.

Also you are correct we could back load a contract for a tackle. Heck we could backload a contract for 2 tackles, 2 safeties, and a defensive end, but that would cause problems the following year.

I think I included cutting DeCoud, cutting Cotchery really doesn't save that much but if you want to that's fine.

As you said there is a lot of variables that can take place. We might restructure Kalil or extend Olsen. We might cut TD and Stew.

What I really was trying to illustrate is that fixing a team isn't as easy as saying "we need to add 2 quality tackles, 2 quality safetys, a fast receiver, and a shut down corner." If people would actually take time to look at sites such as spotrac and overthecap they would realize there are limited resources to fix what seems like unlimited needs. Also by looking at the numbers next year people might actually get a better understanding of why certain decisions were made this past off season.

I agree that it isn't easy to build a team and it isn't madden. You have to find the guys you want and fit them under the cap and they have to want to play for us. I do think we have the money to sign who we want and while we will have to restructure and put things down the road to try and stay competitive now. But the cap will continue to rise and as our bad contracts fade away we should keep having more money. Now if we could only convince Gettleman that continuity and chemistry were important.

I also think that changing head coaches and OCs is not easy or guaranteed to work either. Look at how Atlanta and Tampa have changed coaches or coordinators and are still struggling even with arguably better talent than we have right now.

[TheMaulClaw]

-Restructure Kalil-

-Restructure CJ

-Take option on Cam and sit him for the rest of the year(this season).  Let him play healthy next year and earn that contract.

-No Harper or Decoud next year

-Resign Dwan Edwards to a modest deal.

-Let Cole walk

-Let Bell walk

-Cut Dwill

-Draft LT in the 1st

-Draft Rt in the 2nd

-Draft slot/speed/WR/PR/KR in the 3rd

-Draft S in the 4th

-Draft G/C in the 5th

-Draft RB in the 6th

-Draft DL/BPA in the 7th.

-Sign vet DE

-Sign CB

-Sign S

-Sign RB

-Sign OL depth/competition.

-Resign Hardy if possible.

 

Notes:  Wouldn't be surprised to see GMAN sign Ahmad Bradshaw RB, Greg Little WR. Ed Dickson might be gone....Tamme or Owen Daniels might be a nice TE addition. JPP might be an option if Hardy departs. Chris Culliver is a nice cb option.  We could go vet at S and Ryan Clark or Louis Delmas would be my choice out of FAs.

[LinvilleGorge]

1. Fire Shula now and let either Dorsey or Ramsdell take over play calling for the rest of the season.

2. Put Rivera on notice. If we get blown out this next game it'll be his last as in Carolina. I need to see immediate and considerable improvement.

3. Make DeAngelo a post-June 1st cut saving a shade over $1M in cap space next year and the year after. This is a shitty contract. It's alost worth keeping him as a backup simply because there's little savings.

4. Cut CJ. If we do it straight up we'll save about $6M in cap space next season (while carrying about $14M in dead money) and then be done with his dead money. If we do it post-June 1st, we'll save $13M in cap space next year, but still carry over $7M in dead money the next season as well. My decision here is somewhat determined by who I think is likely to be available in FA. If I think there's a play to be made for an elite OT and I need the room, make him a post-June 1st cut, if not, just take the hit now and cut him outright.

5. Try to sign Hardy to a team friendly long-term deal with limited guaranteed money but heavy in incentives. Probably won't work, but I'm not going to let a young DE of his talent simply walk away without at least trying to keep him for a good contract for us.

6. I'm not going to mention specific names as you never know who will actually be available, but I'm looking to make a move at any and all OL positions, potentially add an OLB, looking to make a move at any and all secondary positions, looking to add 1-2 WRs, and looking for a starting caliber DE. If I think there's an OC out there to plug and play for Kalil with no significant drop off, Kalil becomes a cap casualty as a post June-1st cut saving roughly $5M in cap space in each of the next two seasons.

7. Harper, DeCoud, Bell, and Avant are gone. Cotchery stays as the #4 WR. Chandler stays to compete for a roster spot in camp.

8. In the draft, I'm taking BPA for our roster, meaning I'm placing a priority on OL, WR, DE, and secondary based on our current roster with that potentially being revised after free agency.

9. I'm hiring an energetic, offensive minded coach and I'm ensurin that he hires a strong DC and allows him to work. I feel that Rivera's biggest weakness is that he's loyal to "his" guys and allows them to work with great autonomy but little accountability. While I feel the autonomy is great, it only works if you're also holding them accountable.

[AU-panther]

I agree that it isn't easy to build a team and it isn't madden. You have to find the guys you want and fit them under the cap and they have to want to play for us. I do think we have the money to sign who we want and while we will have to restructure and put things down the road to try and stay competitive now. But the cap will continue to rise and as our bad contracts fade away we should keep having more money. Now if we could only convince Gettleman that continuity and chemistry were important.

I also think that changing head coaches and OCs is not easy or guaranteed to work either. Look at how Atlanta and Tampa have changed coaches or coordinators and are still struggling even with arguably better talent than we have right now.

 

I'm not a big fan of a bunch of restructures.  That is what has got us into this position to start with. 

 

I would prefer future cap increases to cover the cost of young talent that we have drafted and developed instead of covering the cost of a bunch of back loaded contracts for aging declining vets. At some point we have to break the cycle.

 

[panthers55]

I'm not a big fan of a bunch of restructures. That is what has got us into this position to start with.

I would prefer future cap increases to cover the cost of young talent that we have drafted and developed instead of covering the cost of a bunch of back loaded contracts for aging declining vets. At some point we have to break the cycle.

I don't know anyone who likes restructuring besides the players if they get more money up front. Still it is a necessary evil until we can dig out of our current cap,issues. But restructures were not what got us into this. It was huge guaranteed contracts which we couldn't unload because of huge dead money cap hits if we did. Restructures are what we have to do to manage the cap while these contracts go away.

[panthers55]

1. Fire Shula now and let either Dorsey or Ramsdell take over play calling for the rest of the season.

2. Put Rivera on notice. If we get blown out this next game it'll be his last as in Carolina. I need to see immediate and considerable improvement.

3. Make DeAngelo a post-June 1st cut saving a shade over $1M in cap space next year and the year after. This is a shitty contract. It's alost worth keeping him as a backup simply because there's little savings.

4. Cut CJ. If we do it straight up we'll save about $6M in cap space next season (while carrying about $14M in dead money) and then be done with his dead money. If we do it post-June 1st, we'll save $13M in cap space next year, but still carry over $7M in dead money the next season as well. My decision here is somewhat determined by who I think is likely to be available in FA. If I think there's a play to be made for an elite OT and I need the room, make him a post-June 1st cut, if not, just take the hit now and cut him outright.

5. Try to sign Hardy to a team friendly long-term deal with limited guaranteed money but heavy in incentives. Probably won't work, but I'm not going to let a young DE of his talent simply walk away without at least trying to keep him for a good contract for us.

6. I'm not going to mention specific names as you never know who will actually be available, but I'm looking to make a move at any and all OL positions, potentially add an OLB, looking to make a move at any and all secondary positions, looking to add 1-2 WRs, and looking for a starting caliber DE. If I think there's an OC out there to plug and play for Kalil with no significant drop off, Kalil becomes a cap casualty as a post June-1st cut saving roughly $5M in cap space in each of the next two seasons.

7. Harper, DeCoud, Bell, and Avant are gone. Cotchery stays as the #4 WR. Chandler stays to compete for a roster spot in camp.

8. In the draft, I'm taking BPA for our roster, meaning I'm placing a priority on OL, WR, DE, and secondary based on our current roster with that potentially being revised after free agency.

9. I'm hiring an energetic, offensive minded coach and I'm ensurin that he hires a strong DC and allows him to work. I feel that Rivera's biggest weakness is that he's loyal to "his" guys and allows them to work with great autono

my but little accountability. While I feel the autonomy is great, it only works if you're also holding them accountable.

One question? Why would you put Ramsdell or Dorsey in as OC when they have never called a game in their life. You bring in a new guy and give him an offseason to develop and design an offense and get ready to assume the role. You don't put in a guy with no experience in the middle of the season. That is idiotic.