Bucky Brooks: Panthers are the only team with two players in the Top 10 for cornerstones of a Franchise.

[nctarheel0619]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000673042/article/cam-newton-tom-brady-among-top-100-franchise-cornerstones

10) Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

It's crazy to think a recent Defensive Player of the Year would rank at the bottom of my list, but the evolution of the pro game makes it hard to pick an inside linebacker as a key building block over someone who works at one of the marquee positions (quarterback, pass rusher, wide receiver). That said, Kuechly is certainly a foundational piece on a championship-caliber defense. As a tackling machine with exceptional instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills, Kuechly is an impact player with a knack for making splash plays (11 interceptions, seven sacks and three forced fumbles in four seasons, plus three picks in six playoff games) in critical moments. Most importantly, he's a strong leader with the intelligence and communication skills to act as a player-coach on the field. Although I would prefer to have a pass rusher serve as my building block on the defensive side of the ball, there is no question championship defenses are strong down the middle, and it's hard to find a better option in that area than Kuechly.

 

1) Cam Newton

Traditional franchise builders would likely prefer their cornerstone to be a classic pocket passer, but it's hard to pass on a dual-threat quarterback who complements the kind of arm talent typically reserved for major-league pitchers with the size and athleticism of an NFL tight end. The unique combination of skills helped Newton account for 45 total touchdowns (35 passing, 10 rushing) in 2015 as the director of an offense that creatively blends a power-based option running game with a vertical passing attack to maximize his unique talents. But that's what good coaches do -- they build around the strengths of their best player's game, particularly if he is capable of putting an offense on his back and leading it to a Super Bowl. After watching Newton reach Super Bowl50 without a legitimate WR1 (Kelvin Benjaminmissed the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL) or a 1,000-yard rusher, he is my No. 1 choice off of "The Top 100 Players of 2016" list to build a franchise around

[The Huddler]

Didnt really think about not having a 1000 yard rusher. 

 

Damn. Cam put that poo on his back and was the best in the league. Thats fugin elite dude. Cant wait till he has a great tandom surrounding him. 

[Pox 08]

Us and the Pats (Gronk/Brady)

[SIGCHI222]

2 minutes ago, Pox 08 said:

Us and the Pats (Gronk/Brady)

This is just Bucky's list...not the NFL Channel list.

[Pox 08]

3 minutes ago, SIGCHI222 said:

This is just Bucky's list...not the NFL Channel list.

I know.......  he has Gronk at #7......and Brady at #3.

[CarolinaJami']

Freakin Charley Casserly had Cam at number 8.

[SCP]

16 minutes ago, Hammerin'Cameron34 said:

Are there going to be any naysayers left if Cam has another MVP 

Have you not seen how many morons walk this planet? Cam will always have naysayers because idiots breed.

[Pox 08]

Tom f'n Brady has naysayers.....  if a qb that is arguably the GOAT,  has a ton of naysayers,    It's safe to say that Cam will never be able to escape his.

[Crazydounut]

50 minutes ago, Pox 08 said:

Tom f'n Brady has naysayers.....  if a qb that is arguably the GOAT,  has a ton of naysayers,    It's safe to say that Cam will never be able to escape his.

I don't like to say that cheaters are GOAT's. So Tom Brady is out of that discussion

[LinvilleGorge]

With all due respect to Brady (he's an all-time great no matter what you may think of him), he's 38 years old.  He's no longer a franchise cornerstone player.  You can't build a franchise around a 38 year old player.  You can build a TEAM around that guy, but not a franchise.

The top 4 franchise cornerstones in the league right now are:

Cam, Luck, Wilson, and Rodgers and Rodgers is about to age out of that category himself.  

With all due respect to Watt, Luke and others, sorry... the only true franchise cornerstones are young, elite QBs.  You can't build a franchise around any other player.  The Texans have been flailing around for years despite having one of the most dominating individual defenders the league has ever seen.  Why?  Because they don't have a QB.

[KB_fan]

9 hours ago, The Huddler said:

Didnt really think about not having a 1000 yard rusher. 

Sort of a technicality.  Stew missed it by what, 13 yards or something like that?   If Stew had played a few more snaps in the regular season he would have been there.

[Jangler]

 

Is this the Bucky, Steve Rogers is crushing on?

[nctarheel0619]

44 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Sort of a technicality.  Stew missed it by what, 13 yards or something like that?   If Stew had played a few more snaps in the regular season he would have been there.

Or not have been injured.  

[CWORS]

Wow I remember when Cam was called just a guy nothing special by some of the media types. Even when he signed his deal the media was shooting darts his way, saying he wasn't worth that....but after seeing his 15-16 season and a run to the SB everyone else (media) is seeing what we as Panthers fan saw all along. Just give Cam more that 3 seconds in the pocket and he will produce...#1 ranking for CAM...well deserved!!