You want to contend again, right?

[Jeremy Igo]

Letting TD walk signifies the changing of the guard. It also signifies this team is finally willing to do what is necessary to quickly become a contender again.

The bad news: The old look Panthers are no longer a serious contender for the Superbowl. 

The good news: This new look Panthers could be a contender very quickly. 

The Panthers desperately need to get younger, espescially on defense. Everyone loves to complain about how gassed the defense looks all the time. The remedy is finding talented young players who are hungry. You can't do that if you have players in their mid 30s still starting.

TD, Peppers, Adams will be gone.

Shaq will have a year to prove his worth. The Panthers need to really see what he is capable of before they extend him.

Munnerlyn is only 30 but plays in his mid 30s. Panthers can save a couple million if they release him. I suspect that will happen.

This is more than just a roster move. It is a psychological move signifying to up and coming players that real competition will exist on this team.

Younger players will see these positions as job openings. The result will be increased competition resulting in defensive play we can be proud of.

I'm a TD fan, but I am a Panthers fan first and it isn't close. This move and moves to come are completely necessary if we hope to contend again anytime soon.

 

[coralreefer_1]

You are right. But you know...people need some time to get over it. TD is a legend. Losing him is in my opinion worse that S. Smith leaving. He ( 89) was always a diva in drama. TD is like that cool uncle that you know, and needs a few days of mourning in somber. 

[Jangler]

These are the same people who ran Cam into the ground, to save their jobs.

[TN05]

Which younger players, exactly? Shaq? Mayo? Another draft pick? This is, frankly, a bad move given we have so many holes in the secondary and defensive line. 

[Khyber53]

As much as I think the world of TD and what he has done here and with his life, the truth is the defense didn't look better once he came back from the four game suspension. Actually, it looked worse. He wasn't the culprit for that at all, but he didn't prevent it.

I once heard Michael Strahan say about retirement that a coach had once warned him, when you get old in this game, it happens faster than you can imagine. That's a lot for us to gamble on, no matter how much I'd hate to see him in another team's jersey. Maybe we'll see him in a coaching position in a couple of years.

He's been a classy guy, let's hope the break up stays that way.

Pep, dang I hate that the time is there for him, too. The guy is a living legend and it has been great for the fanbase that he's come back and spent some time here with us again. It's just time, though, and even legends come to a close. There's still some fight left in him, but just not quite enough. It's time for him to begin the trip to Canton.

[RoaringRiot]

It’s true 

[top dawg]

Shaq needs to step up his game! Perhaps he will do it as opposed to just seeing his number everywhere this offseason. 

[therealmjl]

5 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Shaq needs to step up his game! Perhaps he will do it as opposed to just seeing his number everywhere this offseason. 

Shaq is not the answer.

He’s a low IQ player and is way too inconsistent to be relied on.

[Pantha-kun]

The only way this move will piss me off is if we end up wasting a 1st or 2nd rounder on a LB 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

I think there is room to lament the loss of TD and realizing it was time to move on.  

 

[SuperBowlBound]

1 hour ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Letting TD walk signifies the changing of the guard. It also signifies this team is finally willing to do what is necessary to quickly become a contender again.

The bad news: The old look Panthers are no longer a serious contender for the Superbowl. 

The good news: This new look Panthers could be a contender very quickly. 

The Panthers desperately need to get younger, espescially on defense. Everyone loves to complain about how gassed the defense looks all the time. The remedy is finding talented young players who are hungry. You can't do that if you have players in their mid 30s still starting.

TD, Peppers, Adams will be gone.

Shaq will have a year to prove his worth. The Panthers need to really see what he is capable of before they extend him.

Munnerlyn is only 30 but plays in his mid 30s. Panthers can save a couple million if they release him. I suspect that will happen.

This is more than just a roster move. It is a psychological move signifying to up and coming players that real competition will exist on this team.

Younger players will see these positions as job openings. The result will be increased competition resulting in defensive play we can be proud of.

I'm a TD fan, but I am a Panthers fan first and it isn't close. This move and moves to come are completely necessary if we hope to contend again anytime soon.

 

Are we sure Shaq will be back though? Ended the year with a shoulder injury. I’m just not sure about Shaq, I don’t recall any big plays he’s made in his short career. I understand opportunities are limited but should Shaq be back? 

[coralreefer_1]

17 hours ago, top dawg said:

Shaq needs to step up his game! Perhaps he will do it as opposed to just seeing his number everywhere this offseason. 

I will 99.9% guarantee Shaq will step up. Not because he couldnt before, but more because the he will now be allowed to take a position he was drafted for. 

How frustrating it must be to be drafted, and be a backup for this many years to a player ( or old head) that is hanging on because he could pull the heart strings of JR,  and otherwise have a story that keeps him in the game as a starter.

I love me some TD. But he should have been a part time player/benched/retired, whatever a season ago. TD is a great guy, but maybe he needs some protection from himself.  Dana White/UFC says it all the time. Some guys just dont know when to stop. They wake up and feel good...and think they can still do this. I would love for TD to wake up and feel like he could play football, but put that energy to his family, or to his foundation, or to his other hobbies. 

It seems however he chooses to play football until he feels he cant play anymore...which likely means he will play until he doesnt' have the energy or pain management to be fully engaged in all the other parts of life. Its like driving a car until it is empty. I hope TD is smarter than this. At this point is seems more like male ego and bravado. 

As a former competitor in a sport myself, I can relate. Its hard for a man ( yes, man because us men are competitive and have ego) to reach a point where age and longevity in the sport has taken a toll. It hurts to know as a competitor at the top of the game that you can no longer compete in top levels. It can break a man apart.

Be well TD. Nothing more to prove. Dont tear your body and family apart chasing glory. 

[BrianS]

As much as I want us to contend . . . I want us to contend.  We only have 6 picks in the draft, and honestly we can only expect to get a couple starters our of those six.  If we get two starters and two contributors, that's a good return on six picks.  We have limited cap available for FA's.  The answer probably isn't on the roster in most cases.

Need a C, LT and probably a G.  Need two DE's, a DT, probably 2 LB, at least one CB, two S.  I don't see how we address all that with the money and picks we have available in this offseason.

2019 is looking like a throw away.

[Khaki Lackey]

I don't see how keeping TD around in a reduced roll for a reasonable salary could hurt this team. Changing of the guard would mean new GM and coaching staff.