Panthers receivers still have a chip on the shoulder. The criticism was apparently a good thing.

[top dawg]

By now we are all pretty aware of what Cam Newton said earlier in the week as pointed out by NFL.com's Albert Breer:

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At his Tuesday presser, Newton reviewed the slights, saying Ginn was a "bust," Cotchery was "washed up 10 years ago," Brown has "no hands" and Funchess was "too high of a pick."

Breer has put together a nice piece about the Panthers receiving corps that kind of encapsulates Cam's tone that belies the fuel and the fire of the '15 Panthers receiving corps. It's pretty obvious that they rightfully felt disrespected as unit, and really continue to believe that they have something to prove in tomorrow's game.  Jerricho Cotchery says that the belittling was not the fire starter, but Breer's article correctly insinuates that it a least helped, and some of the comments are indicative of this fact. 

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So the pieces fit together -- and pull for one another. And being put down the way they were earlier in theseason only helped. Cotchery says now that the criticism wasn't the biggest factor, adding that "if that'sthe fire-starter, then when they stop hating on you, what do you have? You don't have a fire."

 

That's Cotchery, the complete pro's pro and wise big brother of the group, but (like Cam) the younger receivers' tones are a little more (how shall I this?) tongue-in-cheek.

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"They still think that, don't they?" said second-year pro Philly Brown, with a broad smile. "I mean, we suck. We know we suck as a wideout group. It's fine. We're just gonna keep winning. We're just gonna keep making plays."

 

 

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Benjamin says now, "They heard that, man. I heard that! It was so disrespectful. You can't do that after one guy gets hurt on the football team. I mean, it's a football team. They showed the world. They showed the world that it's a team sport."

 

 

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"Cam's about to win the MVP -- he wasn't throwing the ball to himself," Funchess said. "I mean, it's funny. Cam doesn't have anybody to throw to, but he's got how many touchdowns? Who is he throwing to? Himself?"

 

Although I didn't believe we'd tank, back in August I never believed that the receiving corps would bring us this far. After September, it was obvious to me as a Panthers fan that our receiving corps would be better than advertised, and by December I really thought that we could go all the way. What bothers me most is that you still have some hacks out here in February questioning the group's quality (i.e., Rodney Harrison). You know that the guys have picked up on this, and the unit will continue tomorrow what they have done all season long, and that's perform when the ball comes their way, and win!

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000632521/article/carolina-panthers-receivers-embrace-the-hate-enjoy-last-laugh

 

[truthjuice]

But in the words of Ricky Proehl, we ain't got no wideouts! Funchess hit the nail on the head. Cam wasn't throwing to himself so this group of no-name receivers have done him well. I do think too it has a lot to do with Cam's growth at the position. A good QB makes everybody better. He has confidence in them and that gives them more. 

[NanuqoftheNorth]

What should be clear by now is most of these pundits don't make the effort to do their homework.

The majority of talking heads just parrot the prevailing popular opinions in the media as gospel.

These experts are actually nothing more than highly compensated cheerleaders.

Just remember that their words are as worthless now that they are Panther fans as they were when they were haters.

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Carolina's solution was, apparently, to stop playing close games.

 

[caatfan]

I never felt like we had a horrible receiving corps without KB. Aside from from our solid gold TE, we had weapons for the short and long passing game. Ginn doesn't have the best hands, and neither does Brown, but when they catch the ball there's the chance they can go all the way every time if they get a little running room. I had faith that Funchess would catch up and help out, and I knew that Cotchery was clutch in the short game.

What kind of help did we have for Smith for most of his Panther career, other than Moose? Not much. We had one draft bust after another, and unlike Gettleman, nobody brought in any veteran pieces to fit the puzzle.

[Frizzy350]

I love that all our guys stepped up the challenge this year.  I still think that even in today's NFL, receivers should be looked at as luxuries, not requirements.

[FootballMaestro]

Yup Love this line:
 

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Up next for these guys is that sport's biggest stage. That's a good sign they've done OK. So is the fact that, the night before, the guy throwing them the ball will (almost certainly) be awarded the game's top individual award, another thing that hasn't gone unnoticed by the group.

"Cam's about to win the MVP -- he wasn't throwing the ball to himself," Funchess said. "I mean, it's funny. Cam doesn't have anybody to throw to, but he's got how many touchdowns? Who is he throwing to? Himself?"

 

Go Funch!! LOL

[Davidson Deac II]

In fairness, it wasn't just the media pundits saying those things.  If anything, some of the posters here were worse.  Cotchery is to old, Funchess is to young,  Ginn is only good for returns, and Brown has bad hands and is trash.  Cotch made a lot of clutch catches,  Funchess got better as the year rolled along, Ginn made numerous game changing plays, and Brown didn't drop a pass until the 14th or 15th game of the season.