Voth's sources: Panthers have no intentions of signing second wave free agents

[AceBoogie]

wish you would.

Isn't there like a block button or ignore button or something? Utilize it.

[TheNewStandard]

Prodiddy_

injuries played more if a role to our record than whatever the heck it is that you claim the problem to be.

[Panthro]

I do think that if Gettlemen did not think there would be weapons available in the draft we would be pursuing FAs more.

[the butch]

It's a slow process, guys. Every--EVERY--team in the NFL has holes to fill. We are nothing unique in that regard. DG is doing an admiral job of filling holes with pieces that are necessary though they may not be the flashy choice. Draft your marquee players through the draft, and get your role players in free agency. With our money situation, that's the best way to go about it anyway.

[Darth Biscuit]

I think that Gman is saving the FA money he could be spending so that we can sign Cam and Luke and has his eye on players in the draft to fill the holes we have.  

 

Look at what Tampa did last year and what the Saints did the past 4-5 years and now they're in cap hell.

[TheMaulClaw]

If DG comes across a FA that he likes, we can use, and will come at a fair price.....he'll pull the trigger.  It's pretty simple.

[PanthersUnited]

Our team was 7-8-1.

Once again, our fanbase's failure to comprehend that the status quo is not acceptable is rearing its ugly head. Just re-signing role players from a team with that record is not how you get better, it's how you maintain. The reason we struggled early and eventually lost in the playoffs was due to glaring holes that have yet to be addressed appropriately. Ginn is not a #2 WR. Oher shouldn't be the only move we make at tackle.

But, seeing what cheapasses we planned on being after Voth's first report, luckily, I decided to check the huddle every 12 hours or so instead of wasting every waking minute checking if we signed anyone, because we won't.

I agree with this. People are excited that we re signed guys like Dickson, Bersin, Dwan Edwards etc but I'm sorry, those aren't impact players that have the potential of possibly getting you more wins.

Ed Dickson had 178 red yds and like 1 TD last year, but "because he really started to flash," He gets a 3 year deal. Dwan is ok I suppose but he's on the wrong side of 34 and KK is a better and younger version.

Then we extend Bersin who hasn't done anything. Extending Olsen was a great move. Here's a thought, everyone on here is all about saving cap money and committing to young players.. How about instead of wasting money on players like Dickson, Teddy Williams, Dwan and Bersin, we put that toward extending a REAL player like Norman?!

Is there really not another TE out there like Dickson who can't manage 178 red yds and 1 TD?

[Proudiddy]

Prodiddy_

injuries played more if a role to our record than whatever the heck it is that you claim the problem to be.

So, the blazing speed of our WR corps has nothing to do with our losses and offensive ineptitude. If Oher pans out, awesome... But historically, this is why we have never had back to back winning seasons. We don't IMPROVE and we don't address areas of weakness following a "successful" season. Oher was rated worse than Bell... Like I said, if he pans out, GREAT! BUT, why not address it further and give us a better chance of having the right guy when the season starts? At the very least, we'd have outstanding depth.

And I love Ginn, but HE IS NOT A QUALITY WR. And he's definitely not a #2. This is the same poo we did last year and we ended up picking up Cotchery and Avant, expecting them to step in as the #2/3 WR. It was laughable when we did it and then people wanted to act surprised when Cam was getting demolished and receivers couldn't get open.

That had nothing to do with injuries, it was a result of horrible decisions made in the off-season. Injuries are actually what saved our season because it put those poo players where they belonged... On the fuging bench.

[Growl]

Remember there are always post draft cuts as well, usually vets with something left in the tank to give but are cap casualties/victims of some young bloods taking their jerbs.

We can probably find a backup CB/DE/OT there if we don't address the need in the draft.

Please tell me we haven't resorted to this already

Oh, and we already find a backup OT, his name is michael Oher. What we need is a starter.

[PanthersUnited]

So, the blazing speed of our WR corps has nothing to do with our losses and offensive ineptitude. If Oher pans out, awesome... But historically, this is why we have never had back to back winning seasons. We don't IMPROVE and we don't address areas of weakness following a "successful" season. Oher was rated worse than Bell... Like I said, if he pans out, GREAT! BUT, why not address it further and give us a better chance of having the right guy when the season starts? At the very least, we'd have outstanding depth.

And I love Ginn, but HE IS NOT A QUALITY WR. And he's definitely not a #2. This is the same poo we did last year and we ended up picking up Cotchery and Avant, expecting them to step in as the #2/3 WR. It was laughable when we did it and then people wanted to act surprised when Cam was getting demolished and receivers couldn't get open.

That had nothing to do with injuries, it was a result of horrible decisions made in the off-season. Injuries are actually what saved our season because it put those poo players where they belonged... On the fuging bench.

I am going to get bashed into eternity for saying this, but I am really starting to wonder if maybe Gman isn't entitely 100% sold on Rivera yet and he's standing pat one more season to make his decision, think about it.. Why go out and sign real players in FA this year when A. I'm not totally sold on the HC and B. If we end up firing Rivera, next season when I start over with a new HC, we will have 70 mill in cap space to sign better players to fit the kind of team the new HC wants to build.

It sounds crazy a little but look at the absolute dog crap of players he has given Rivera to work with.. Avant, Cotchery, Underwood, Decoud, Harper etc

[Panthers8969]

Well everyone knows hardy won't be a second wave FA

[tondi]

I think most agree our two biggest needs right now are for a OT and WR and when you look at whats left to choose from I'm not seeing anybody who is going to come in here and be a huge difference maker versus what we already have or what we can draft, especially when you consider we are going to be paying them a premium to sign here.  Initially, I did expect more of a splash than we got, but now that the real difference makers are gone why waste money on guys just to look busy.  We still might end up signing a couple of players if we think they are priced appropriately but we aren't getting caught up in the overpaying for guys who aren't worth it cycle, which is part of why we've been broke for years, and I am OK with that.

[Kakarot]

Hmmmm...

We were 7-8 last year, and our plan is to do the same as last year: resign our role players, and bring in players the caliber of Decoud and Cason again?

I hope Gettleman is spot on in the draft this year again; otherwise, another season like last year is on the horizon.

[MHS831]

"How We Misread Dave Gettleman’s “Dollar Store” Comment ... Gettleman didn’t say he was staying out of the dollar store

...

According to league sources with knowledge of the teams’ plans, the Panthers accomplished much of what they wanted before free agency kicked off Tuesday afternoon. They currently have no intentions to sign second wave unrestricted free agents, so, sources say, potential targets like Cecil Shorts , or Derrick Morgan aren’t options. ... It may not be the kind of shopping many hoped for, and there’s still work to be done, but the Panthers got what they wanted.

...

But there’s no question there are still holes on the roster. Ted Ginn ticks off the speedy wideout and returner boxes, but the Panthers are still without a No. 2 receiver. Michael Oher could fit in...but they still need at least one tackle who could be the future on the left side. Each of those worries could be taken care of in a draft loaded at both positions, but that still leaves needs at cornerback, defensive end, safety and running back. That’s not much of an improvement from the end of last season"

http://blackandbluereview.com/we-misread-dave-gettleman-dollar-store-comment/

First of all, there is opportunity to create more cap space rather easily, so I really do not think a GM would say this.  If a deal comes along, Gettlemen will sign him.  Not much of an improvement, but whoever said that, wasn't thinking special teams.  Our special teams are going to be better.

 

Yes, the team was 7-8-1 last year.  Let's take a look at the roster that pretty much led the team to a record of 3-8-1:  Cason, DeCoud, Bersin (PR), Cotchery (#2 WR), Bell, Chandler, Silatolu, Scott/Velasco, D. Williams, and Avant (#3 WR).  THAT IS 10 PLAYERS WHO WERE NOT PLAYING DURING THE SEASON-ENDING WINNING STREAK. (except Bersin, and you know that story)

 

So, for those of you thinking we have not improved, we have.  Philly Brown, Andrew Norwell, Trai Turner, Tre Boston, Bene Benwikere, Mike Remmers, Adarius Glanton, Fozzy Whitaker, and Kony Ealy were either injured or not playing much during the first half of the season.  Remmers and Glanton weren't even on the roster.  THAT IS NINE PLAYERS WHO STEPPED UP AT THE END OF 2014. Are we not going to account for the development of our youth?  Are we cleaning house because players no longer on the roster or in the lineup sucked?

 

Were we expecting an overhaul?  This team played very well vs. Seattle IN SEATTLE, except for a mistake in their endzone, it is a close game.  Use that game to measure our squad--not the record.

 

After signing Ginn and Oher, we address 2 needs--returner and LT.  That is not to suggest that Oher is more than a stopgap, but he is at LEAST a minor upgrade--I think he will be more.   Ginn gives us another deep threat at WR and can score a TD in special teams on any given play.  Not the #2 we needed, but an enormous upgrade in special teams at least.

 

So what are our actual needs?  To me, in this order:

 

#2 WR.  Expect one early in the draft

DE-we are still OK in this area, but I think Gettlemen sees Johnson's contract as a thorn. 

LOT--All of the tackles in this draft are developmental.  Look Tackle mid-rounds

S-Mid round talent is there

CB-The draft has a lot of CBs.  Few (1) elite CB, but a ton are going to make rosters

RB--We should add one in the draft, which is very rich at the position

ROT--I expect him to peek at 2 OTs in the draft

 

Don't forget, we could get a conditional pick and we could find a player or two in the undrafted pile.

.

So where are the needs now?  This team, if Gettlemen has a strong draft, will be ready to be good for a long time.