RFAs, Cuts & Our FO

[Urrymonster]

I personally feel this thread is really needed at the moment as our FO has suddenly made more moves to shaping this team, than they have in the last 3 years. Some people have gotten overwhelmed with the news and some are simply taking the wrong end of the stick. so in chronological order, here is a logical explanation of the moves the Panthers have recently made:

RFAs

Moore & Davis

Obviously their tender was expected, but it was entirely possible that we could of tendered them with just the 1st round tender and seen no team be too interested. However, we made the decision based on two facts.

1. Insurance considering the upcoming cuts

2. Goodwill gesture. You want these guys to know how highly you value them so that when you talk extensions they are happy to play ball. When a RFA is tendered it has HUGE status implications in an ego driven sports. It is as simple as saying to one player that one is more important than another. So tendering them anything other than this, puts question marks over the teams sincereity. Now though, they know that they are going to be talking proper money with out FO and they won't even think about what teams might be offering them if they hit free agency.

Marshall

This guy has talked money ever since he came into the league and had an impressive rookie year. He is the epitomy of a player who is treating this like a job, where no loyalties lie and the money dictates his future. He simply would NOT be here beyond teh 2010 season. Marshall actually had a very good year for us, despite what many on here think. He did very little wrong and did a lot right, however in Meeks scheme the CBs are protected somewhat and rarely left on an island to use their abilities. Realising this, our FO tendered him with the 2nd round for two reasons.

1. Gives him a taste of his true value

2. More importantly it shows the rest of the league how 'meh' we are about him, especially considering the depth behind him and our small amount of draft picks. Look at the Cromartie deal as an indicator of what the going rate is, which is a 3rd that could go higher depending on performance. so, forget Marshall's tender and think purely from other teams perspectives - he IS available and I would not be surprised if he were moved for a similar compensation to Cromartie. RFAs CAN be traded for less than their value, so be prepared for that.

The rest

No real surprises here.

*Lloyd will struggle to get a guarenteed starting spot, however the FO clearly thought he has no future as a FG kicker and thus he may be looking for work come game time. Look for us to bring him back then if we have not sorted out the kickoff spot

*Wilson was tendered as insurance for Marshall

*Leonard was high merely because of him being undrafted and with our planned cuts we could not afford to lose him. The DT FA class is thin at best, so he would have garnered interest.

*King, kinda surprised as I felt 5th round would have been enough. He is by far our best blocker, but I have a feeling we could see a different offense next season. Regardless, our team obviously felt they needed him here as they had so many other positions to address so they did not take a chance.

* Anderson and Tank were no brainers. See if anyone sniffs.

* We retained all our ERFAs - K. Moore, Martin, Hayden, Senn. For those who do not know, these guys will be making the vet minimum, so they are DIRT cheap. No need to cut them before camp.

The Cuts

Jake Delhomme

I said a week or so back that now would be the perfect time to cut him, because it would get us off the hook for future cap implications. P55 shot me down, but sadly for him I am right. Cutting him now was the only logical time to do it, otherwise he would have been ehre for the duration of the deal. Losing him now, next year or beyond would have netted him the same amount of money, HOWEVER losing him now leaves future cap years without any penalty. Doing it any other year would have resulted in cap hits. This is the only reason he has been cut, if the cap were still around he would still be here.

Ma'ake Kemoeato

This had been coming from a while back. His recovery was simply going to slowly, despite the shape he had kept himself in to keep him at anything, let alone the $4mil+ it would have been. No one will sign him until his rehab is more complete and with him knowing our team, I would not be surprised if he is brought back at close to vet minimum if our team is missing DT depth and it's getting close to camp. Considering Holis Thomas is out there, the team obviously felt that they could afford to cut ties with the big man, knowing there were alternatives at much cheaper prices.

Damione Lewis

Apparently this was also clear to happen, however Lewis did the team a favor and kept quiet. After asking for an extension, they politely said no and mentioned nothing about coming back. So, sadly, this is the end of Lewis here. He obviously liked here and offered to restructure to save the team some money, however he declined and did not even say we would be in touch. Unlike Kemo, he is not going to be around come camp and will never be back. Kemo will be 'protected' from other teams signing him due to his rehab. Lewis will be hurt that we did not even want him at a much lower price, so he will actively look for a new team and likely will find one pretty soon considering how poor the DT market is. This also gives a reason for the Leonard tender, as right now we only have Hayden, Leonard, Tyler & practice squaders.

The FO

These last few weeks have been ridiculous, with posters making irrational and emotional statements about how sh*t this FO is. They are cheap, they are incompetant, they can't draft, they can't sign anyone, they let our best players go.

What people need to remember is that we have NEVER had a rebuilding season under Fox, which frankly is quite nice. To have your team always within touch of the playoffs and knowing that next season would be the same. There are very few teams who have won as many games as us and gone as deep in the playoffs as us.

Fans do NOT have the right to demand success. If you feel that is your right then you need to buy some shares in the team and actually have a say in the matter. As it is, you simply are there to support the team you have chosen. I know this will make a few people get butt hurt, but frankly these are the people who make these stupid and random assumptions. Unfortunately buying home tickets does not entitle you to this.

They have done two major things this off season. cut Jake and let Pep walk. The first they recognised teh mistake that everyone is lambasting them about and dealt with it at the first opportunity they could. Secondly Pep clearly is not the person many thought he was, he has spun the media so much that no one really knows what he wants, but what IS clear is that he does NOT want to be here. For money or for success. Anyone wanting the team to franchise him for $21 mil is nuts. That kind of money, dedicated to one player has SERIOUS ramifications in the locker room, as players will start to ask why he is getting that when they aren't. In addition the team simply HAS to be careful with their money at the moment, just like every team.

Our FO is NOT being cheap. Almost every NFL team is doing the same. It is called running a business, which is exactly what these teams are. Entertainment to the fans, business to everyone invovled in the sport.

so everyone needs to realise that we are not in a bad situation and that our FO are playing their cards very well. there is bound to be the mistake or two, but there are being logical and they are being calculated. Our FO IS pretty good, all the things people were angry at them for last year, they have dealt with. I for one am looking forward to seeing where this team gets to.

Oh and I doubt any cuts will be made from now on. Certainly no young cheap players as some are hoping for (Hayden & Jarret) as it achieves absolutely nothing. Asking for this just exposes how little you appreciate how a team is run.

[CanadianCat]

again urry your amazing

[2jakefansinva]

Nice work.

[CanadianCat]

What people need to remember is that we have NEVER had a rebuilding season under Fox, which frankly is quite nice. To have your team always within touch of the playoffs and knowing that next season would be the same. There are very few teams who have won as many games as us and gone as deep in the playoffs as us.

this is amazing considering that every team in our division has had to rebuild (tampa 2x)

[Jangler]

It says a lot about Hurney and Fox. They are trying to put together a winner for this season. And that tells me they want to be here next year. As I said months ago, this is a make or break season for them,(Superbowl or Bust...) so they should be doing anything and everything they can to get new contracts.

[CatMan72]

Nice post, although I would argue that PSL owners are shareholders in this team.

[CatMan72]

It says a lot about Hurney and Fox. They are trying to put together a winner for this season. And that tells me they want to be here next year. As I said months ago, this is a make or break season for them,(Superbowl or Bust...) so they should be doing anything and everything they can to get new contracts.

I wouldn't say "superbowl" or bust, but definitely playoffs or bust.

[Urrymonster]

Nice post, although I would argue that PSL owners are shareholders in this team.

Possibly agree with that. I just wanted to point out the mentality that some have. Just because you buy tickets, does not mean you pay their wages.