The Problem is Denial

[GoPanthers123]

Is there a stat of “sacks against” in the team category?  I think we would be in top 5.  

[Forty-Eight]

7 hours ago, Ship said:

Cam lovers, Kyle haters. Kyle lovers, Cam haters. It's all meaningless fodder for two sets of people who can't get over the same problem. The delusion and denial the fanbase has with this team as it currently exists. Ever since 2015, many of us- myself included- have believed we can be that team again any season. People have said it before- 2015 was the worst thing to happen to this team. It has created expectations still at work today and contributing to this board's meltdown.

By all means, go back and watch Cam Newton career highlight videos on YouTube. That player will never be back here again. That player has been gone for over a year. I have confidence Cam won't retire, but he won't be a Panther again. He'll probably have some flashes of greatness with another team, and with the right team could even Peyton Manning his way into a Super Bowl win before he retires. But none of that will be happening here. So, before he goes to a new team, soak him up as best you can and be happy for the memories. He's presided over the most successful stretch of team history and deserves tons of accolades and Ring of Honor and one-day contract retirement speeches. He deserves consideration for the Hall of Fame. But that Cam isn't coming back through that door to save any of you. So, take your memories and your expectations for this team and leave them at the door, because we're back to pre-Cam Panthers world here. And we will be until whatever the new plan is begins to unfold in the next few years.

You guys expect playoffs every year and that's great with a guy like Cam running this team. With a franchise QB and good talent around the roster we should expect playoffs. But this team doesn't have a franchise QB anymore. So adjust your expectations accordingly. We're back to looking for growth in young players.

Tepper is going to fire Rivera and Hurney and Cam will either be traded or cut. Enjoy saying good riddance to Rivera and/or Hurney if that's what you want, but also remember that nothing is guaranteed for our future. Tepper surely has a plan, but that doesn't mean it'll ultimately pan out. Every team has some kind of plan. But Tepper has never picked his own GM and head coach, he's never provided input on picking a franchise QB. Tepper is an unknown when it comes to building a football team from scratch. Tepper has seen others do it effectively and he uses the best tech and analytics he can get-- but don't think that makes us safe. Even good GMs make mistakes, good coaches lose, and analytics are never 100%. Best case scenario this team is back in the playoffs in two years. Worst case scenario we're looking for a new QB/coach/GM again. Once something is gone, it's gone. Once the story unfolds it's over. Ron has a winning record and has overseen the greatest stretch of seasons in franchise history. He has kept a great locker room that vets and newcomers have admired. Despite what you see as his faults, those things don't grow on trees. Once Ron is gone, we have to hope the next guy can get a winning season, then the playoffs, then do it again and again, and get us to a Super Bowl. To be better than Ron, our next head coach has to win a Super Bowl. How many current head coaches can say they've even been to the Super Bowl? There are no assurances of a better future for us.

Hurney has drafted great and also horrible, Hurney has been responsible for probably our first Hall of Fame inductee(s). Hurney provided the key pieces of a 15-1 team. Hurney has provided some talented new players and FAs in his second stint here. GMs draft Josh Rosens and Ryan Tannehills in the first round all the time. There's no guarantee we get a guy who can draft a Cam and a Luke (equivalents) back to back. Again, once that is gone, it's gone.

Take some time to have some gratitude for the coaches, GM, QB, and other all star players we have here right now. Because for the majority of them their time with this team is almost over. And our time in uncertainty on a long highway to maybe nowhere is just about to start. If you don't believe it or aren't willing to accept it yet, that's fine. This is the direction of our future and the team and it's fans are marching forward to it regardless of how loud you cry and scream along the way.

Thanks Cam. Thanks Ron. Thanks Marty.

Where’s the Cam and Kyle haters, Joe Burrow, Tua, Herbert, Hurts lovers? Bc thats me

[NanuqoftheNorth]

6 hours ago, ARSEN said:

They are gone.

I'm not sure at this point, but I certainly hope so.

[Darvinsun]

16 hours ago, mc52beast said:

I think Ron and Marty are safe for another year. Tepper gave Ron a chance to revamp the defense and obviously we don’t have the pieces needed for it to work. I think they get another chance to get things right 

I hope not for your sake bc Ron is outdated along with his staff.  Cam has masked so much of his bad decisions that now its a loss cause. These players are not buying Kyle and have quit once Cam went to IR. The locker room is depleted of Cam and no joy can be found. TD was the heart of the defence and when Cam left that was the heart of the team.  Blow it up end of an era.