With all the improvements in 2008, the biggest bust is, y'all know...

[top dawg]

...It's got to be D.J. Hackett. I thought very highly of Hackett since he helped me out in a few fantasy games last year. He was an absolute up and coming beast last year with the Hawks when not vieiwing from the sidelines because of injury, but he has pretty much fallen from the face of the earth this year. I vaguely remember one or two key catches to move the chains this year, vaguely. While watching life pass him by on the bench, he must have read the Invisible Man, or perhaps Disappearing Acts and taken the titles to heart because to be one of the most coveted receivers in free agency, but come to this has to make him the most unimpressive impact player that I have seen in years (besides for untested, much ballyhooed rookie quarterbacks, but this is like comparing apples to oranges).

Y'all forty-something types may remember those pretty much dumb shirts that popped up when we were kids asking about a particular geographic location where we lived? Well let me bring back the memories: Where in the hell is D.J. Hackett?

[nosuchthingasapanther]

who?

hackett? he still plays football?

[top dawg]

who?

hackett? he still plays football?

I really did LOL!

[Delhommey]

Johnson is a much bigger bust than Hackett.

DJ was cheap

[HeatCheck]

Johnson is a much bigger bust than Hackett.

DJ was cheap

Yeah I was just going to say Landon Johnson. I actual thought he was going to be a starter.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

Yeah I was just going to say Landon Johnson. I actual thought he was going to be a starter.

at first i thought he was refering to charles johnson.

who the f*ck is landon johnson?

seriously, what position did he play?

...or try to play.

[HeatCheck]

at first i thought he was refering to charles johnson.

who the f*ck is landon johnson?

seriously, what position did he play?

...or try to play.

He plays LB, and was from the Bengals. He lead the Bengals in tackling last year I believe.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

He was a linebacker from Cincinnatti. In fact, he was probably that team's best linebacker.

[pantherfool]

He was a linebacker from Cincinnatti. In fact, he was probably that team's best linebacker.

Speaks volumes about the Bengals, doesn't it?

[SKULL]

Bengals

They still play football ?

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I can’t deny that I wish D.J. Hackett played a more prominent role in the offense this year. He’s only played five games, missing many games to injury. But he's missed many more simply because we don’t need him, and that’s a good problem to have.

Think about it: it’s no secret John Fox prefers to run the football, and the team hasn’t run the football with this much success since their Super Bowl campaign five years ago. This style of play sets up the play action pass, and when we do pass, more often than not it’s going to go to Steve Smith, and for good reason.

In year’s past, we didn’t have viable threats outside of Smith at receiver. Now Moose has returned and stepped up in a big way. But when have the Panthers ever really leaned on a third receiver? Taking away even more from Hackett’s playing time is the fact that Dwayne Jarrett is waiting in the wings. We need to work him in when we can, which is going to be limited due to the two great receivers and backs who are already doing great things with the ball. Don’t forget the occasional throw to a tight end.

Although their stats do not reflect this, both Jarrett and Hackett have made some great, clutch catches when we needed them to the most. Hackett has 11 receptions for 144 yards, whereas Jarrett has 9 for 100. Both have caught nearly everything thrown to them, many at critical downs in the game.

I think too often people dwell on Hackett’s time in Seattle, where, had injuries not gotten in the way, he was on his way to becoming one of the league’s best. We already have a great No. 1 receiver and a solid No. 2 receiver. We should count our blessings that we have Hackett, who if not injured could easily be a No. 1 or 2 on another team, to fill in as our No. 4 receiver behind Jarrett, another budding talent.

Hackett is a great player who will pay off big for us if he can ever get over his injuries. Should any of the receivers go down, I have a feeling he would be a pretty effective replacement. And isn’t that what a team looks for in a No. 3 or 4 wide receiver? Plus it’s not like we gave the guy a ton of money to come here, either.

[top dawg]

at first i thought he was refering to charles johnson.

who the f*ck is landon johnson?

seriously, what position did he play?

...or try to play.

For a fleeting second, I thought he may have been referring to Keyshawn, but I knew I had to be missing someone.

Landon Johnson?

I really can't see him as a bust because we didn't realize that what we had on the field already had more upside. Plus, Hackett was supposed to have more of an impact---not "more of an impact", but an impact period.

[bredy087]

I was so excited about both the Johnson and DJ signings....guess that teaches me for getting my hopes up haha.

Seriously though what happened to these guys, I know DJ got hurt early on...but I cant remember a memorable catch from him at all. Dont remember Johnsons name being called either!

[JungleCat]

Trade them to Detroit for a couple of draft picks.