Panthers pick up option on Torrey Smith

[Navy_football]

1 minute ago, fortyrod said:

Respectfully, and as has been pointed out, we have not agreed to pay him anything. What we have done is limit his agents ability to test the market until a time of our choosing. If there is a negotiation in progress, then we hold all the cards until we need the 5mil for something else. Perhaps we get a reasonable deal and sign him. Or he makes it to camp and we cut him then. Or we need the 5mil for something else and cut him then. Seems like a good move to keep our options open.

Okay that's not what I thought and I can definitely accept as a prudent move for the team. Kind of sucks for Smith though.

[fortyrod]

Just now, Navy_football said:

Okay that's not what I thought and I can definitely accept as a prudent move for the team. Kind of sucks for Smith though.

Yeah, this is a brutal time of the year to be a player.

[Mr. Scot]

16 minutes ago, fortyrod said:

If there is a negotiation in progress, then we hold all the cards until we need the 5mil for something else. Perhaps we get a reasonable deal and sign him. Or he makes it to camp and we cut him then. Or we need the 5mil for something else and cut him then. Seems like a good move to keep our options open.

Do you honestly believe they're actually going to do anything of the sort?

[fortyrod]

Just now, Mr. Scot said:

Do you honestly believe they're actually going to do anything of the sort?

I think if he wants anything above minimum they'll cut him as soon as they need the cap for something else.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, fortyrod said:

I think if he wants anything above minimum they'll cut him as soon as they need the cap for something else.

That'd be out of character for our current leadership team.

[Reebis21]

4 hours ago, Raleigh PF said:

I don't think so. Torrey likely doesn't have much, if any, trade value.

That said, I understand the move, even as I don't like it. They are running short of receivers; Torrey is a known commodity and a vet. He's also a good presence in the locker room and the community. I would hate to go into the year relying on Wright, Moore and Samuel as my only signed receivers while trying to concentrate on filling the void at S, DL and OL. 

Not endorsing, but I get it.

I didn’t mean Torrey himself having value. I literally meant the contract itself having value.

I wasn’t sure how trades worked in NFL. Like in the NBA, contracts have to match up to a certain exctent based on cap space. This would allow a team to trade for Torrey while giving us a guy they want off the books, immediately cut Torrey and save money, while we get our trade target.

[fortyrod]

Just now, Mr. Scot said:

That'd be out of character for our current leadership team.

A fair point. But I reserve the right to be as susceptible to wishful thinking as anyone!

[Toomers]

2 minutes ago, Reebis21 said:

I didn’t mean Torrey himself having value. I literally meant the contract itself having value.

I wasn’t sure how trades worked in NFL. Like in the NBA, contracts have to match up to a certain exctent based on cap space. This would allow a team to trade for Torrey while giving us a guy they want off the books, immediately cut Torrey and save money, while we get our trade target.

It’s not like that.

[Mr. Scot]

6 minutes ago, fortyrod said:

A fair point. But I reserve the right to be as susceptible to wishful thinking as anyone!

If history is any indication, it would be no surprise if they restructured and extended him.

(I'd prefer just paying him 5 million for this year over that scenario)

I'll grant it's possible they could do something smarter down the road, but prior experience with Hurney/Rivera doesn't exactly make me optimistic on that front.

These are the same guys who thought it would be good to give CJ Anderson an opportunity somewhere else even though it weakened our roster and lessened our cap room.

[Khyber53]

Okay, before everyone loses their mind, consider these things:

1) If Cam's arm does heal up perfectly (let's hope this is the case) then there is a legitimate need for a WR with good hands and a good set of downfield jets. Smith provides that AND already has a year in the system and knows the playbook. 

2) If Cam's arm isn't there or if age has caught Smith, then he can be released pretty much at any time during the offseason/training camp. Also, he can be let go IF we find someone at a position of need.

3) $5 million does not go as far in the NFL as it used to. A lot of the names being thrown around have question marks and will still likely command more than $5 mill. For experienced receivers who can still move, this is a middle-of the road to low end contract. Smith is basically available to us at below market IF we need him.

There's no loss in this for us. We either get to keep a guy that is needed or we are allowed to release him and pursue other needs with no cap hit. It was a smart move if you can do the math.

And no, I doubt Crabtree or one of the name-value safeties are going to be available for $5 mill or less on a one year contract.

[heel31ok]

...or he will come back and play well...yeah... I'll go with that.

[heel31ok]

1 minute ago, Thelt said:

Of course they are keeping Smith.  He is a social justice warrior like Eric Reid.  We would rather lose all 16 games than have some one say the team is racist for cutting Smith.

lol...BS

[Toomers]

Just now, Khyber53 said:

Okay, before everyone loses their mind, consider these things:

1) If Cam's arm does heal up perfectly (let's hope this is the case) then there is a legitimate need for a WR with good hands and a good set of downfield jets. Smith provides that AND already has a year in the system and knows the playbook. 

2) If Cam's arm isn't there or if age has caught Smith, then he can be released pretty much at any time during the offseason/training camp. Also, he can be let go IF we find someone at a position of need.

3) $5 million does not go as far in the NFL as it used to. A lot of the names being thrown around have question marks and will still likely command more than $5 mill. For experienced receivers who can still move, this is a middle-of the road to low end contract. Smith is basically available to us at below market IF we need him.

There's no loss in this for us. We either get to keep a guy that is needed or we are allowed to release him and pursue other needs with no cap hit. It was a smart move if you can do the math.

And no, I doubt Crabtree or one of the name-value safeties are going to be available for $5 mill or less on a one year contract.

I stopped reading at “good hands”.

 

[heel31ok]

Just now, Toomers said:

I stopped reading at “good hands”.

 

4-5 long TDs worth the drops and 5 mil...