Some notes from my source

[Paa Langfart]

2 hours ago, uscgamecocks said:

 

At the 24 minute mark.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Five-takeaways-from-pre-draft-press-conference/cfe9bf76-c076-4c39-9b24-c6f0d3ebad36

 I will take the experience of a guy who has been making his living with the picks he makes over the last 30 years and has earned his way to position of GM of an NFL team over an analyst who is trying to sell web site hits any day of the week.

[Toomers]

2 minutes ago, uscgamecocks said:

Right - my assumption may prove wrong, but I assumed when the deal was signed that Stewart would play it out through '18, given that we save only ~$3.75mm by cutting him in '18.  

Even with his health issues, a $5.25mm cap hit for a starting RB of Stewart's caliber seems like a bargain in '18 unless he materially regresses in 2017 (which is possible).

But to your point - if we draft Fournette, very possible we just cut him.

Stewart would be lucky to get 2M on the open market right now. 5.25M is as ridiculous as his entire contract has been for 5 years.

[uscgamecocks]

Just now, Paa Langfart said:

At the 24 minute mark.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Five-takeaways-from-pre-draft-press-conference/cfe9bf76-c076-4c39-9b24-c6f0d3ebad36

 I will take the experience of a guy who has been making his living with the picks he makes over the last 30 years and has earned his way to position of GM of an NFL team over an analyst who is trying to sell web site hits any day of the week.

I heard what Gettleman said but I just don't agree with it.

You have to admit the linked video isn't exactly promising.  But hopefully the team put LF through pass catching drills at the private workout and he looked great.  Admittedly, it's a skill that seemingly could be improved upon with practice (can someone let Benjamin and Funchess know about that?).

[tiger7_88]

9 minutes ago, Toomers said:

 Is there anyone in the draft we should take? At all? First, it's Shula so any offensive player is a waste. Now Rivera, so that encompasses the entire team. You would think that we have been picking top 10 every year with as bad as you make the entire staff sound.

I've been hoping for a player that would force Rivera/Shula out of their damn shell instead of doubling down on what they already do on steroids.

Now don't get me wrong, at this points my hopes are forlorn and likely dashed, but I was hoping nonetheless.

[uscgamecocks]

2 minutes ago, Toomers said:

Stewart would be lucky to get 2M on the open market right now. 5.25M is as ridiculous as his entire contract has been for 5 years.

Yeah RBs are struggling to get any money at all in FA right now.

So why exactly are we going to draft one at #8?

This argument works against Christian McCaffrey as well, I suppose.

[AU-panther]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

He barely broke the 4.0 mark in 2015 when Cam won the MVP and we had the Moscow prolific offense in the NFL. He's just washed up.

Would Fournette had done really that much better?  Do you believe he would have averaged 6 yards a carry?

I agree that Stewart is getting old but when I watch him I don't see many plays where I think to myself that another running back would have got more yards.  At one point wasn't he one of the league leaders in yards after contact during the past 2 seasons?

Fournette might have the potential to be the best back in the league for the next 10 years, but in the short term I'm not sure the difference in production over Stewart will be as great as some people believe given all the other variables are the same.

 

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, Toomers said:

Stewart would be lucky to get 2M on the open market right now. 5.25M is as ridiculous as his entire contract has been for 5 years.

This. I didn't like the restructure at all. We didn't need to lower Stew's cap hit, but we didn't utilize our leverage well at all. Stew had zero leverage in a RB FA market that is virtually nonexistent. Based on production, Stewart has been one of the most overpaid player in the NFL for the majority of his career.

[Toomers]

Just now, tiger7_88 said:

I've been hoping for a player that would force Rivera/Shula out of their damn shell instead of doubling down on what they already do on steroids.

Now don't get me wrong, at this points my hopes are forlorn and likely dashed, but I was hoping nonetheless.

   Then let it play out. This is make-or-break. No excuses. If they fail, they are gone. If they succeed, you should be happy like the rest of us. You are venturing into "Sanjay" territory by just repeating the same thing over and over in every thread. And I say that because I respect you and would expect the same from you if I did so.

[Toomers]

4 minutes ago, uscgamecocks said:

Yeah RBs are struggling to get any money at all in FA right now.

So why exactly are we going to draft one at #8?

This argument works against Christian McCaffrey as well, I suppose.

  Probably because FA RBs suck. Or the cheap ones do. The #8 pick will have a cap hit of 3.1M and 3.8M his first two years. That is a bargain. That's less than our K.

[Toomers]

3 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

This. I didn't like the restructure at all. We didn't need to lower Stew's cap hit, but we didn't utilize our leverage well at all. Stew had zero leverage in a RB FA market that is virtually nonexistent. Based on production, Stewart has been one of the most overpaid player in the NFL for the majority of his career.

 Agreed. I would have waited until after the draft. Could have saved around 4M and his dead money for next year was the same 1.5M as it is now. 

[tiger7_88]

1 minute ago, Toomers said:

Then let it play out. This is make-or-break. No excuses. If they fail, they are gone.

True, but if/when "they are gone", this pick still effects future teams and coaches.

2 minutes ago, Toomers said:

If they succeed, you should be happy like the rest of us.

When have I said I wouldn't be?

2 minutes ago, Toomers said:

You are venturing into "Sanjay" territory by just repeating the same thing over and over in every thread.

I've been quite excited over the past few weeks at the variety of possible draft choices at #8... that the chance of "evolution" was possibly REAL.  Only in the last couple of days, when it has appeared that the organization is all in on doubling-down on Shula Ball, have I even hinted at being negative about the future.  That's not "Sanay" territory, asswipe.

3 minutes ago, Toomers said:

And I say that because I respect you

Really?  Because you show that "respect" in very odd ways.

[uscgamecocks]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

This. I didn't like the restructure at all. We didn't need to lower Stew's cap hit, but we didn't utilize our leverage well at all. Stew had zero leverage in a RB FA market that is virtually nonexistent. Based on production, Stewart has been one of the most overpaid player in the NFL for the majority of his career.

Agree with this completely.  Did not seem like we needed the cap space at all this year, so that's why I've been assuming Stew would make it to '18.

To be honest, that restructure had me thinking they were planning on taking McCaffrey at 8 - regardless of your opinion of the individual value of the draft pick or Stew's contract, that would at least display a cogent strategy.

[LinvilleGorge]

8 minutes ago, AU-panther said:

Would Fournette had done really that much better?  Do you believe he would have averaged 6 yards a carry?

I agree that Stewart is getting old but when I watch him I don't see many plays where I think to myself that another running back would have got more yards.  At one point wasn't he one of the league leaders in yards after contact during the past 2 seasons?

Fournette might have the potential to be the best back in the league for the next 10 years, but in the short term I'm not sure the difference in production over Stewart will be as great as some people believe given all the other variables are the same.

 

CAP averaged 4.0 yards per game when Stew was out and he was essentially filling Stew's role. Virtually identical production out of a player that it seems like we can't wait to replace.

[Toomers]

2 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

True, but if/when "they are gone", this pick still effects future teams and coaches.

When have I said I wouldn't be?

I've been quite excited over the past few weeks at the variety of possible draft choices at #8... that the chance of "evolution" was possibly REAL.  Only in the last couple of days, when it has appeared that the organization is all in on doubling-down on Shula Ball, have I even hinted at being negative about the future.  That's not "Sanay" territory, asswipe.

Really?  Because you show that "respect" in very odd ways.

  Then screw you then if you want to take it that way. Do your thing. I'll stay away and you do the same.