Joe Person's Weddle Backpedal

[top dawg]

Joe Person seems to have gotten people all worked up a bit last week over the Panthers' interest in Eric Weddle and a possible signing for nothing. Now, his tune is not so optimistic.

"The Panthers, who were about $20 million below the cap as of Friday, could put together an attractive offer. But unless Weddle were to become a bargain, expect the Panthers to focus on other priorities."

Well no poo, Joe!

Looks like all the people who harbor some disdain for Person, saying that he simply speculates (akin to members on a message board), have been given the perfect example.

Now I don't mind speculation as long as it isn't passed off as insider knowledge. I am not even saying that Person explicitly stated that the Panthers were seriously considering adding Weddle to the roster (maybe it was all wishful thinking), but it seems like Person's article was the wind that gave rise to this seeming unsubstantiated rumor.

Well, I guess if nothing else it provided Panthers fans with a little excitement in this normally silent time of free agency that has become a hallmark of the Gettleman era.

 

[The Lobo]

A lot of talented players left. Let's go after one of them for half the price.

[NYPantherFan]

I'm still hoping Gentleman jumps in last minute.

[CWORS]

DG won't overpay anyone. Weddle might get a deal for 2-3 years at 4.5 per from DG. I don't see DG going much higher than that.

 

[Jeremy Igo]

Said it last week, there was never much interest in Weddle. He won't be coming here. 

[Captain Morgan]

nice thread title btw

[frash.exe]

Joe Person was pulling stuff out of his ass this whole time?

what a shocker

[MHS831]

Person is in the dark and it is intentional.  Any 45-year old man who spikes his hair with product (Probably has glitter in it) is probably unreliable.  I do not think he is in the know--in fact, I think he is deliberately kept out of the loop.  Jeremy may know more, but I can tell you as a person who (as a grad student with a degree in English and Journalism) worked weekends in the sports department at the Observer for a while, you know who had their hand on the pulse of their sport and their team.  Rick Bonnell was trusted by the Hornets and he knew stuff that he didn't report--you have to have a trust.  David Poole became that way with NASCAR.  I stay in touch with one well-known columnist there, and he rolls his eyes when you mention Person.

Go back to the "Pie Chart" presser with Richardson. A young, eager Darin Gantt was there.  Something had happened that violated his trust with the Panthers, and RIchardson was rather rude and condescending to him.  Gantt pushed on---a week later he was covering Volleyball for Winthrop.  That is when Person arrived.

I don't know if his hands are ties and lips sealed, but he is intentionally out of the loop.  I think Jeremy has said that he likes Person, but that is not the sentiment (according to my friend) at the Observer. 
 

[Riverboat Ron]

How does this guy have a job?

[janderson20vt]

Why do we even need Weddle anyway? Coleman played well for us. We need a SS and a corner.

[Soul Rebel]

Person is awful, but that's news to any Panther/Charlotte sports fans. 

I do believe though that the Panthers have always had a stranglehold/mafioso like approach to what gets said/published about their team, on a local level. Not saying it's right or wrong, just that the organization and The Observer have always been conservative. 

Never really seen too many question their moves or have an opinion that pisses into the Panthers wind. Even local sports radio is very tight-lipped about the Panthers.

[jdpanther5]

Person has definitely been more clickbait-y this offseason, though that could be the result of an edict from the Observer. 

"Here's a list of free agents the Panthers could target! (Linked with a picture of Bruce Irvin)" - "Panthers not likely to sign any big names."

"Panthers interested in Weddle!" - *Article contains nothing linking Panthers to Weddle*

"Dave Gettleman indicates the Panthers won't spend big on free agents" - While it's probably accurate that he won't, again the article is devoid of anything confirming the title. 

[thefuzz]

1 hour ago, janderson20vt said:

Why do we even need Weddle anyway? Coleman played well for us. We need a SS and a corner.

You don't have many traditional SS/FS combos anymore, you need people who can cover these days, especially when you have a ton of speed at the LB position.

Again, I'm not stumping for Weddle here, but I do think that he could be very valuable to this team....guy has never played with this much talent in front of him.

[4Corners]

To my knowledge there's no info out that the panthers have even talked to him