The case to release Ryan Kalil, JStew, and CJ

[Toker Smurf]

Definitely agree with cutting CJ and JStew. I'm okay with Kalil either way. He still plays well, WHEN he plays. Maybe give him more rest and try to have him available towards the end of the season.

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm on the fence about Ryan, but IMO cutting CJ, Stew, and Russell Shepard are absolute no brainers.

As far as Ryan goes, our OL is definitely better with him out there, but his durability is a huge issue. He has a big cap hit and has missed roughly half our games in the past two season. If that trend continues then you're looking at paying him elite QB money in terms of cap hit per game played. Not to mention the loss of continuity on the OL.

Honestly, I'd probably sit down with him and his agent and have a nice heart to heart and see if there's a mutually agreeable contract revision we could come to. If not, bye bye.

[CPF4LIFE]

Cut all 3 of them 

[RumHam]

If we wanna win, we gotta make business decisions. Kalil needs to go. Stewart needs to go. CJ needs to go. Coleman needs to go. JR isn't here to force someone's hand for family southern tradition. It's time for this team to act like an NFL team. The window is closing. I'm also hoping to god we don't draft a LB in the first round unless we address corner, safety and WR in FA. Which means letting Norwell and Star go. BTW, that needs to happen too. If Kalil stays, norwell needs to go and Larsen plug in. If you let Kalil go, then Norwell stays Larsen plays center and either way, we have guys to step in for Star. 

[pantherclaw]

Would be a mistake to cut Kalil. The others we could do without.

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, rhyslloyd said:

Cutting CJ and Stew shouldn't even be a question.  Kalil obviously has the injury concerns, but IF he somehow manages to stay healthy for his last season, he's a top center in the league and produces as such.  

Kalil is the tough one.  I used to teach at Brandon Beane's high school in the early  90s (South Stanly High).  While I rarely saw him since (once we got our cars inspected at the same location in Albemarle and chatted--funny story, but  Mike Turgovak came in at the same time--it was a bye week), I know people closer to him.  Kalil has had some concerns because he should (according to someone talking to Bean) carry about 280 lbs. max.  He has had to carry 300 for some time, and it has caused some back/neck concerns.  Maybe nothing and it is hearsay, but it stuck in my head. 

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, pantherclaw said:

Would be a mistake to cut Kalil. The others we could do without.

Honestly, I'm leaning toward it would be a bigger mistake to carry a $10M cap hit for a player who is likely to miss a lot of games.

Gotta think about what we'd be giving up in terms of what else we could use that cap hit for. Re-signing Norwell? Signing a legit FA WR? Signing a legit FA safety?

[rhyslloyd]

6 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Kalil is the tough one.  I used to teach at Brandon Beane's high school in the early  90s (South Stanly High).  While I rarely saw him since (once we got our cars inspected at the same location in Albemarle and chatted--funny story, but  Mike Turgovak came in at the same time--it was a bye week), I know people closer to him.  Kalil has had some concerns because he should (according to someone talking to Bean) carry about 280 lbs. max.  He has had to carry 300 for some time, and it has caused some back/neck concerns.  Maybe nothing and it is hearsay, but it stuck in my head. 

Interesting.  I've always noticed he seems to have a smaller frame than most linemen so that makes sense.  Albemarle is my hometown, but I actually went to West.  It's unreal how Beane has managed to go from Norwood and SSHS to where he is now.

[MHS831]

Let me throw some gas on the Kalil fire raging nearly out of control here....This is a very good draft at the C position.  There are several who could start as rookies--but you know they will not read the blocking assignments like Kalil did.

I would tell Kalil he can play, but he will have to reduce his contract to about 3 million.  If he refuses, he would not be too marketable considering his recent injury history.  If not, I would use the money to sign a free agent S and WR.  Then I would draft a C by the end of day 2.

[PanthersBigD]

I would really like Kalil to be here to mentor whoever we draft to replace him. He's already stated it's his final year, and I doubt he's the Brett Favre type who won't help a rookie. It would be great to get a top prospect at center in the draft and have him learn under one of the top 5 centers in the last 10 years. 

[MHS831]

2 minutes ago, rhyslloyd said:

Interesting.  I've always noticed he seems to have a smaller frame than many linemen so that makes sense.  Albemarle is my hometown, but I actually went to West.  It's unreal how he's managed to go from Norwood and SSHS to where he is now.

I went to West as well,  back in the day..Brandon is a good egg, but how he got in the NFL business is interesting.  He was one of SSHS's top students, but not outstanding.  I live in Albemarle now, fiwiw.

[MHS831]

58 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

If Norwell and Kalil are gone our line turns to horsesh*t. But yeah Stew and CJ should be gone.

AGREED.  Which is why you could not do both.  Release Kalil and pay Norwell. 

[pantherclaw]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Honestly, I'm leaning toward it would be a bigger mistake to carry a $10M cap hit for a player who is likely to miss a lot of games.

Gotta think about what we'd be giving up in terms of what else we could use that cap hit for. Re-signing Norwell? Signing a legit FA WR? Signing a legit FA safety?

I don't play the "He could miss a lot of time" game. 

He's the leader along the line, is still one of the best centers in the league.  

He's more than worth it. 

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Let me throw some gas on the Kalil fire raging nearly out of control here....This is a very good draft at the C position.  There are several who could start as rookies--but you know they will not read the blocking assignments like Kalil did.

I would tell Kalil he can play, but he will have to reduce his contract to about 3 million.  If he refuses, he would not be too marketable considering his recent injury history.  If not, I would use the money to sign a free agent S and WR.  Then I would draft a C by the end of day 2.

Yep, there look to be at least 4 potential NFL starters at C in this coming draft. The guys I'm thinking about are Billy Price, James Daniels, Frank Ragnow, and Mason Cole. There's some other guys who could project as centers too. Guys like Isaiah Wynn, Sean Welsh, Will Clapp, etc. Really good center draft.