Article on Munnerlyn

[Smithers]

 

Max Henson wrote this story on Panthers.com.  He points out the obvious about Captain pouting last season and not being happy with his role.  Captain somewhat blames Wilks, and thinks things will be different this year.  I wasn't a fan of Captain before this article, and dislike him even more after reading it.  It is almost like he is only happy right now because he expects to get more playing time now that Wilks is gone.  He did not take accountability at all for his poor play.  I guarantee he will revert back to his old self once he is benched again for a younger, better player.  

 

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“I’m in the best shape I’ve been in in a long time. I’m ready to roll,” said Munnerlyn, who has pleased coaches with a solid start to spring practices ahead of his 10th season. “Not to say I wasn’t in shape last year, but we have a new defensive coordinator and things will probably go a little differently. I wanted to come in this year in tiptop shape for whatever my role is.”

Making excuses here...

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“I came into the situation thinking it was going to be something different. When I signed back here I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to be the nickel, but I’m going to play a whole lot. If 11 personnel or three receivers are in the game, I’m going in,’” Munnerlyn said. “But it didn’t work out like that. We played a lot of big nickel. I didn’t know that was going to happen. I was in a little funk, a little bitter.

“I was all excited about coming back home and playing with TD and Luke and flying around making plays. I wasn’t prepared to come back here and play 12 snaps a game. That’s not me.”

 

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Munnerlyn will get a fresh start of sorts thanks to the aforementioned change at defensive coordinator, with Eric Washington taking over for Steve Wilks, now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

What’s interesting about all that is the fact that Wilks was one of the primary reasons Munnerlyn wanted to come back to Carolina in the first place.

“Nothing against Coach Wilks, who is still probably the best coach I’ve ever had in my life, but I really feel like I’ll play a lot more this year,” Munnerlyn said. “I’m willing to bet my money that if I come out here working like I’ve been working this spring – gaining that trust and proving to the coaches that I can still play some football – that I’ll play a lot more.”

Is he admitting that he didn't put in the work last offseason?  Or is he making more excuses for his poor play? 

Read the full article here:

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Captain-Munnerlyn-back-on-board/54c9faa8-607f-4b95-9d0a-e7bf2b71b100

 

 

[Moo Daeng]

I'm a fan of all Panther players.

[TheCasillas]

I think you are reading into this more than you should. He is being transparent. It's obvious that he had every intention of playing as many snaps as ever when he signed last year, but to his surprise he didn't. That's really what he is saying in this article.

If anything he sounds hungry, and eager to be on the field. Let's just hope his hunger meets his talent, because we need him to perform while on the field. 

Wilks blitzed a lot last year, and played big nickel because he could disguise the blitzes better, but it just did not work as well as he hoped. With Eric at the helm, I am sure we will see some decent blitzes, but more B&R at the line, this is where Cap can help a lot, he may be small but he is feisty. 

I have nothing against what Cap said, he was being upfront and honest - better than the coach speak that we normally we get, that everyone normally gives.

[kungfoodude]

I kind of took it more to mean that he is trying to put his best foot forward to prove himself this offseason that he deserves more burn. Even if he did get pouty last season, I am okay with him being motivated to be better. If it helps us in the end, I am all for it. And if he gets butthurt again, dump his ass.

[Smithers]

Maybe I am reading it differently...I without a doubt hope that he is motivated to be better and help the team any way he cans.  

[mc52beast]

Whatever it takes to get someone more focused and ready for their role

[pantherclaw]

Any player that is use to playing a big role, is going to not like a reduced role. 

Stop making it out to be more than that. 

It's good he's motivated. He should, there is a lot of young competition on the team. He still has the advantage of experience, and he's more than capable.

[SOJA]

This was an underrated story line simply because last year was chocked full of national headline grabbers. 

Reading the tea leaves it sounds like Panthers really wanted to try Shaq at nickel backer last year and that Captian may or may not have been giving it 100%. His playing time got reduced and he pouted. 

Ultimately, it sounds like he's back with a vengeance which almost certainly is going to be a great thing. 

[t96]

If he wins the nickel job he will likely get a ton of playing time at least the first 4 weeks with TD our. Shaq will take his role and we won’t even have anyone else for “big nickel.” Hope he can turn it around this year.

[KillerKat]

He has no room on this team.

[Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D.]

We paid him SO MUCH MONEY.  I don't know who is at fault.  Unless he made the pro bowl, he would have been seen as a waste. 

[shaqattaq]

1 hour ago, stbugs said:

Yeah, I’m reading it less as excuses and more as trying to be honest. Right or wrong, he was solid in Minnesota and felt like the snaps and playing time wasn’t what he expected. He talks about earning trust so maybe he realizes he didn’t handle it well last year and wants to do it right and is motivated to earn more playing time. I hope the same as you.

I'm seeing it as a little bit of both. He came into the season expecting to play a lot more than he did, then got butt-hurt when Shaq got his snaps. Professional athletes are cocky and competitive by nature. At least he is owning up to acting like a little bitch. He'll have the first 4 games of the season to prove himself (while TD is suspended). If he can make plays, I don't care about last season. If he can't, bring in Corn or Seymour.

“It was the first time I was made inactive my whole career,” Munnerlyn said. “Yes, I do regret how I handled the situation. I pouted, I was mad and I showed my frustration instead of just working.

“But I felt like I couldn’t show my potential on the field. I feel like I’ll have that opportunity this year.”

[ladypanther]

Love that he is coming in with a great attitude and ready to put the work in.

[Panthers8969]

Still don’t understand that contract we have him. And then he didn’t even play last year