What if the Panthers drafted Chris Johnson instead of Johnathan Stewart?

[jramsey4]

At the time of the draft our needs were OL, WR, and RB. A lot of people seem to forget that Williams didn't really explode until well into the 2008 season. He was largely seen as a change-of-pace back like Norwood in Atlanta. That offseason was the one where he took Testaverde's advice and really worked his ass off, making himself into the star he is today.

A lot of good running backs came out of that class, but not a ton were viewed as surefire stars in the making at the time. Stewart would have been considered near or at the top of the list had he not had foot problems. The consensus was that if his foot was going to be ok, then the pick was great. After he was taken, a LOT of people, both around here and in the media, thought he would be our starter before long.

Forte would have been a good pick had we taken him in the second round and Otah in the first. But that's a really easy game to play. We really should have taken Tom Brady in the fourth, right?

I think the answer to the question that the OP is asking is that Stewart, if healthy, was a top-3 running back in the Stephen Davis mold, we felt that we needed a running back, and he was a steal, if healthy, with the 13th pick. If we hadn't had our shot at Stewart, I'm betting it would have been Forte in the second and not Johnson in the first, both because of his size and style and because we really, really needed a tackle and none of the backs outside Stewart were worth the 13th pick.

That scenario right there is the one I wanted before the draft. I actually liked Forte more then Stewart and I knew our biggest need was T. Even if Forte had of been gone in the 2nd (he was picked by the bears one pick after our original 2nd rounder) there were other backs later in the draft that could have came in and starred with the Line we had. But whats done is done not a damn thing any of us can do about it. I just would like to point out that some of us would have rather had that happen even without knowing how it would turn out.

[Swarly]

J-Stew is one of the best power backs in the NFL, and fits in PERFECTLY with D-Will. While Chris Johnson is without a doubt an elite back, I 100% think J-Stewart is just as good, but his stats don't compare because he's 2nd string.

I'm glad we picked Stewart, he fits in perfectly with D-Will.

[GSO_Pantherz]

Does Chris Johnson even know how to speak english? He sounds retarded when he talks. Give me Stewart any day.

[DaCityKats]

cj is a stud, you cant teach 4.2 speed. but i like having stewie here...... yall need to layoff the thug comment. being outspoken does not make you thug dipshits...i could understand if he was getting into trouble off the field but he is not......

[Mesmer]

Does Chris Johnson even know how to speak english? He sounds retarded when he talks. Give me Stewart any day.

So does Forrest Gump, but the dude can run. Same applies here.

Watching him play at ECU, I was interested to see how he'd do, and I'd have loved for the Panthers to have picked him... but they didn't and Stewart is a beast... so I don't care.

Glad to see him doing well in Tennessee though.

[OneBadassCat]

I'd take JStew any day of the week. He can do more of what CJ does than he can do what Stewart does. ( If CJ can at all) Stewart has some jets folks, he's got more top end than Deangelo. Physically he is the perfect RB.

[Mesmer]

Physically he is the perfect RB.

Except for his achillies

[Udogg]

cj is a stud, you cant teach 4.2 speed. but i like having stewie here...... yall need to layoff the thug comment. being outspoken does not make you thug dipshits...i could understand if he was getting into trouble off the field but he is not......

You have to consider the err."demographics" here. They like to use the Thug word. It kind of substitutes for another word.

Chris Johnson is a stud. He is a threat to go the distance everytime he touches the ball. That being said. Hindsight is always great. However I was very pleased with the draft with the Otah/Stewart Combo. Stewart is like Steven Davis 2.0.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

You have to consider the err."demographics" here. They like to use the Thug word. It kind of substitutes for another word.

I'm glad someone else notices this.

I just love how that word is never thrown out when a white player or coach is in trouble, but let a black guy do something wrong and here it comes.

I'm not one to play the race card, but I've noticed this so many times on this forum.

[DaCityKats]

yeah i do realize that, and im feed up with the good ol boy mentality.....most of the guys on here are ingnorant. if you want to call him a n than go ahead at least you will get more respect from me.......+ an ass whooping if i ever see you.!

bb your correct as well, soon as you say the race card here comes some ass wipe saying " i have a lot of black friends" lol right.

[jramsey4]

"I love Black People!"

[jramsey4]

I'm glad someone else notices this.

I just love how that word is never thrown out when a white player or coach is in trouble, but let a black guy do something wrong and here it comes.

I'm not one to play the race card, but I've noticed this so many times on this forum.

They still have those in the NFL. I don't use the word thug and I hate people using the N word (especially Black people I think any Black person that uses that word is the biggest Hypocrite in the world). We live in the 21st century its time to start living like it.

[DaCityKats]

They still have those in the NFL. I don't use the word thug and I hate people using the N word (especially Black people I think any Black person that uses that word is the biggest Hypocrite in the world). We live in the 21st century its time to start living like it.

The way black people use the word ends in an a.the other way is er. it sounds different when said as well.

[jramsey4]

The way black people use the word ends in an a.the other way is er. it sounds different when said as well.

I am assuming you yourself are Black. I am white and I guarantee if I went up to you and said that word in the exact same way you use it I would get punched in the face. Its not just bad in a certain context. That is the definition of hypocrisy.