Gano might not kick all preseason

[KB_fan]

Yeah, I tend to agree with cutting Torrey, Cox, Seymour. It leaves us with 5 WR, but presumably 1 or 2 on PS. If Ron flinches at cutting Torrey, presume it's either Elliott or Elder on the chopping block. But 3 QBs and 2 kickers (even temporarily) on the 53 leaves us pretty thin at some other positions, especially OL. I would feel happier with 10 guys. Also DT depth and ILB depth is worrying me.

[Carl Spackler]

I would venture a guess that we either cut Slye or cut Gano.

[GoobyPls]

I’m tired of holding my breath every time Gano goes out to kick. Go with the new kicker 

[Black&BlueBubba]

2 hours ago, SBiii said:

It's preseason.

Like the other vets, we already know what Gano can do, no need to risk him in a game that doesn't count.

It’s not that he is not kicking and getting practice reps or other practice like other Vets around the league.  He isn’t kicking bc he is hurt.  He hasn’t kicked in a month. 

 

[SOJA]

very weird storyline tbh 

[panthertime]

Drop Kick Gano and keep Slye. 

At a minimum, put Gano on IR.

[Black&BlueBubba]

Others are on the same thought path I am.  

 

[Toomers]

  The best scenario is to trade Gano. Saves 2.1M this year and still leaves the same 3.1M next year that it would be if we kept him. 

  Just need him to show he’s actually healthy. Thursday night is only shot. 

[Castavar]

27 minutes ago, Toomers said:

  The best scenario is to trade Gano. Saves 2.1M this year and still leaves the same 3.1M next year that it would be if we kept him. 

  Just need him to show he’s actually healthy. Thursday night is only shot. 

Trade him to the Bears. They are still traumatized from last year and will probably fall for it.

[jfra78]

4 hours ago, KB_fan said:

I'm thinking this is the most likely scenario at the moment. It's worrying on several levels. 

1. Gano takes up a space on the initial 53, exposing someone else we want to keep to waivers.

2. We'd use up one of our two short-term IR options on Gano if we brought him back.

I've been supportive of keeping Gano, but this is getting problematic. If Slye shines again, we might have to bite the bullet of cutting Gano. I'd rather swing a trade, but don't feel so hopeful about that.

In playing with a new roster projection, I came up with 56 guys we'd like to keep (including BOTH Gano and Slye for the moment). Here are the bottom 12.  To keep both kickers on the initial 53, you have to cut / expose to waivers 3 of these 12 guys. Who do you axe?

Grier, Hearn, Scarlett, Torrey Smith, Godwin, Butler, Cox, Obada, Miller, Elder, Elliot, Seymour.

You hope to bring 1 of the 3 cut guys back after sending Gano to IR, but still, that is a tough cut list.  Doesn't even count guys like Heinicke, Greene, Bonnafon, Holyfield, Levrone, Mickens, Ross, Vanderlaan, Kunaszyk, Doss, Coke Luke...., who I'd already "cut" thinking that many of them will make the PS.

Keeping 3 QBs and 2 kickers on initial 53 will lead to brutal cuts. At this point I'm not even sure we will start with 3 QBs unless Grier looks a lot better in preseason game 4.

-----

Edit: I suppose for context as to how brutal cutting 3 of the above 12 players is, here's my list of 44 roster "locks"

QBs = 2  Cam, Allen.  (Grier is in my bottom 12 list, Heinicke cut or traded or PS if eligible)

 OL = 8.   Williams, GVR, Paradis, Turner, Moton, Little, Daley, Larson.  (That's not really enough guys. I have Hearn in the bottom 12 list and Greene or other OT on PS.)

RB/FB = 3. CMC, Armah, CAP (Pretty sure we want 4 guys here. Scarlett is in my bottom 12, I have Bonnafon and Holyfield as potential PS guys. Note I'd prefer we keep Scarlett and Bonnafon, but predicting what team will do )

So already, 3 positions, 3 guys you probably don't want to cut/ expose Grier, Hearn, Scarlett.

TE=3. Greg, Thomas, Manhertz

WR=4. Samuel, Moore, Wright, Hogan.  (No way we keep only 4, but Smith and Godwin are in my bottom 12 list. Mickens too might be in consideration for returner..., But I had Godwin ahead of him.)

DT=4. McCoy, Short, Poe, Love. (Again not enough depth. Butler is on my bottom 12 list)

DE/OLB = 4. Addison, Burns, Irvin, Haynes. (Obada, Miller, Cox in my bottom 12)

LB=5. Luke, Shaq, Carter, Smith, Norris.  (I almost had Norris in my bottom 12, but he's important on ST, and our LB depth is shakey).

DBs=7. Bradberry, Donte, Reid, Boston, Cockrell, Jones, Gaulden. (In my bottom 12 are Elliot, Elder and Seymour. Need to keep either Elliot or Elder at Nickel... just not sure who wins. "Already cut" / PS are Doss, Cole Luke).

Specialists 4: JJ, Palardy, Slye, Gano.

I'd prioritize keeping: Grier, Hearn, Scarlett, Godwin, Butler, Obada, Miller, Elder, Elliott.

Cut: Torrey, Cox, Seymour

(also cut, Heinicke, Greene (OT), Bonnafon, Holyfield, Mickens, Levrone, Kunaszyk, Doss, Cole Luke. ... at least some of whom would presumably be on PS)

 

 

 

I think this needs it's own thread

[WCUcats]

Meanwhile Kansas City is set at kicker for the next decade. 

[Castavar]

13 minutes ago, WCUcats said:

Meanwhile Kansas City is set at kicker for the next decade. 

Feels bad man.

[Mr. Scot]

5 hours ago, Carl Spackler said:

I would venture a guess that we either cut Slye or cut Gano.

I hate when the Panthers have a choice between two players because over the years they've had a really unfortunate history of picking the wrong one.

Kerry Collins over Steve McNair...

Tshimanga Biakabutuka over Eddie George...

DeShaun Foster over Clinton Portis...

Jimmy Clausen over... well, anybody

And you could make a pretty good argument that Graham Gano over Harrison Butker falls into that category as well, especially when you look at it long-term and figure in the salary cap implications.

They've gotten saved by others a couple of times. They had David Carr rated higher than Julius Peppers, set Mark Barron higher on the draft board than Luke Kuechly and were prepared to take Laurence Maroney over DeAngelo Williams. Sometimes you just get lucky.

Hope they make the right decision here.

[Mr. Scot]

7 hours ago, SBiii said:

Like the other vets, we already know what Gano can do

Yeah, we do.

That's part of the reason why people are nervous.