What is really behind all these cuts????

[Delhommey]

Based on what? I haven't seen anything.

Lewis said the Panthers did not bring up the possibility of bringing him back at a reduced rate, so he’s planning to look for work elsewhere.

“I feel like I played well enough last year, that I should be able to find something.

From Gantt's blog

[MadHatter]

From Gantt's blog

thanks....had not seen that this morning.

[panthers55]

Unless we bring in some free agent talent and spend the money, It is all about saving dollars this year and going on the cheap. If we were thinking about the future we would have paid jake the signing bonus to escalate all of his future guaranteed money to this year. And we would have kept Lewis who was our best and most productive DT. By cutting jake we save nothing and although we spread out his payments over a few years, we just created almost 10 million dollars of dead cap space assuming there is a CBA and a cap next year moving forward. Lewis wasn't going to get the 9.3 million option but we are cutting him to save around 3.7 million in a roster bonus. Kemo I can see as his injuries seem slow to recover and Johnson hasn't been productive. Still letting guys like Brayton walk make no sense given he was productive and cheap. It looks like a wholesale dumping of veterans to go after unexperienced young guys and rookies.

Maybe Richardson wants to dump Fox as well and he knows by going to rebuilding mode he can ensure a losing season and get rid of him so he has no salary issues next year if we have a lockout. I am being facetious, at least to a point.

[MadHatter]

Unless we bring in some gree agent talent and spend the money, It is albout saving dollars this year and going on the cheap. If we thinking about the future we would have paid jake the signing bonus to escalate all of his future guaranteed money to this year. And we would have kept Lewis who was our best and most productive DT. By cutting jake we save nothing and although we spread out his payments over a few years, we just created almost 10 million dollars of dead cap space assuming there is a CBA and cap next year moving forward. Lewis wasn't going to get the 9.3 million option but we are cutting him to save around 3.7 million in a roster bonus. Kemo I can see as his injuries seem slow to recover and Johnson hasn't been productive. Stil letting guys like Brayton walk make no sense given he was productive and cheap. It looks like a wholesale dumping of veterans to go after unexperienced young guys and rookies.

Maybe Richardson wants to dump Fox as well and he knows by going to rebuilding mode he can ensure a losing season and get rid of him so he has no salary issues next year if we have a lockout. I am being facetious, at least to a point.

I don't think this is the Panthers going cheap. They are taking this opportunity to dump large contracts held by aging players.

This is a young man's game...and we needed to get younger and more athletic.

[carolinanimal]

I don't think this is the Panthers going cheap. They are taking this opportunity to dump large contracts held by aging players.

This is a young man's game...and we needed to get younger and more athletic.

i understand that part but you just dont switch to that automatically in one year. that is usually a process. the youth is fine but the experience is where i am worried. most of our dline hasnt started for a full season. we released johnson and diggs. almost complete remake of d. how are we getting better for next year? show me where.

[GRWatcher]

I don't think this is the Panthers going cheap. They are taking this opportunity to dump large contracts held by aging players.

This is a young man's game...and we needed to get younger and more athletic.

No, it's much more than that. It is about the money at this point.

Maybe JR is trying to send a message to the players' union? "See, this is what could happen to your players if you don't accept the owners' changes to the CBA and we stay with uncapped years."

i understand that part but you just dont switch to that automatically in one year. that is usually a process. the youth is fine but the experience is where i am worried. most of our dline hasnt started for a full season. we released johnson and diggs. almost complete remake of d. how are we getting better for next year? show me where.

Thank you! That's what I've been trying to say all morning.

[unicar15]

How are we rebuilding? By letting older, inconsistent, injured, expensive players go

Yeah we need to realize that we aren't rebuilding by letting guys go. We are going to fill those positions with guys that are better that who we cut. Here are the reasons I think we cut some of these guys.

Delhomme - Let Moore know its his team now. He doesn't need die-hard Delhomme fans on the team and in the stands screaming for their favorite player to come off the bench. The cap situation had something to do with it as well.

Kemo - Expensive NT that doesn't fit the Tampa 2. Coming off injury to a bonus is never a good thing

Lewis - Is he really better than Leonard or Tyler? Guess not...

Diggs - Anderson showed he was capable of starting and excelling.

Johnson - Does this really need an explanation?

So to those of you that think we are "rebuilding" and won't sniff the playoffs without these guys you need to remember a few things:

1. Jake is essentially the reason we didn't make the playoffs.

2. Kemo didn't play all year and who knows about his achilles.

3. Anderson is better than Diggs in the Tampa 2...end of story.

4. Johnson was a waste of money.

So what player exactly is going to hold us back from being better next year?

[Mr. Scot]

What is is? Hard to say. There's a lot of viable theories to that.

I can tell you what it's not.

It's not rebuilding, because no coach with only one year left on his contract is going to go into rebuilding mode.

It's also not getting ready for the next coach either. Do you seriously think John Fox is going to lay a foundation knowing it'll be someone else's job to build on it?

The idea that seems most logical to me is that Fox and Hurney know they need to win now, so they're going radical. That, plus they're clearing some past mistakes so that if they succeed, they'll be in a prime spot to pick up where they left off next season.

[carolinanimal]

Yeah we need to realize that we aren't rebuilding by letting guys go. We are going to fill those positions with guys that are better that who we cut. Here are the reasons I think we cut some of these guys.

Delhomme - Let Moore know its his team now. He doesn't need die-hard Delhomme fans on the team and in the stands screaming for their favorite player to come off the bench. The cap situation had something to do with it as well.

Kemo - Expensive NT that doesn't fit the Tampa 2. Coming off injury to a bonus is never a good thing

Lewis - Is he really better than Leonard or Tyler? Guess not...

Diggs - Anderson showed he was capable of starting and excelling.

Johnson - Does this really need an explanation?

So to those of you that think we are "rebuilding" and won't sniff the playoffs without these guys you need to remember a few things:

1. Jake is essentially the reason we didn't make the playoffs.

2. Kemo didn't play all year and who knows about his achilles.

3. Anderson is better than Diggs in the Tampa 2...end of story.

4. Johnson was a waste of money.

So what player exactly is going to hold us back from being better next year?

the better question is what players are we going to get that will make us better than last year? you dont cut people with no idea of how to get better. we better hope they have plan. the fa market looks real weak for our positions of need.

so agian how do we get better? did we have breakout players (realistically) in the wings? aging vet who were awful holding great rookies back? no, we didnt. in fact our defense wasnt the reason we were 8-8 last year yet we completely over hauled it.

[carolinanimal]

Unless we bring in some gree agent talent and spend the money, It is albout saving dollars this year and going on the cheap. If we thinking about the future we would have paid jake the signing bonus to escalate all of his future guaranteed money to this year. And we would have kept Lewis who was our best and most productive DT. By cutting jake we save nothing and although we spread out his payments over a few years, we just created almost 10 million dollars of dead cap space assuming there is a CBA and cap next year moving forward. Lewis wasn't going to get the 9.3 million option but we are cutting him to save around 3.7 million in a roster bonus. Kemo I can see as his injuries seem slow to recover and Johnson hasn't been productive. Stil letting guys like Brayton walk make no sense given he was productive and cheap. It looks like a wholesale dumping of veterans to go after unexperienced young guys and rookies.

Maybe Richardson wants to dump Fox as well and he knows by going to rebuilding mode he can ensure a losing season and get rid of him so he has no salary issues next year if we have a lockout. I am being facetious, at least to a point.

i agree!

[carpanfan96]

What is is? Hard to say. There's a lot of viable theories to that.

I can tell you what it's not.

It's not rebuilding, because no coach with only one year left on his contract is going to go into rebuilding mode.

It's also not getting ready for the next coach either. Do you seriously think John Fox is going to lay a foundation knowing it'll be someone else's job to build on it?

The idea that seems most logical to me is that Fox and Hurney know they need to win now, so they're going radical. That, plus they're clearing some past mistakes so that if they succeed, they'll be in a prime spot to pick up where they left off next season.

Which also makes me think you see them trade the first from 2011 for a 1st or a 2nd and 4th or something along those lines...More ammunition to replace the players let go. Also look for them to pick up a bunch of FA's with small contracts and let everyone battle it out in camp.

[Mr. Scot]

If they were to trade Steve Smith, then we can talk rebuilding.

Until then, can't buy it. Makes no sense with only a year left for Fox.

[carpanfan96]

John Fox and Marty Hurney just met with the Carolina media to discuss the release of quarterback Jake Delhomme. We’ll have more on what they had to say in a bit.

It’s already been reported the Panthers also were cutting defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis. But Fox and Hurney revealed that linebackers Na’il Diggs and Landon Johnson also were part of the purge.

Suddenly, Carolina’s roster looks a lot younger and a lot cheaper. It also doesn’t look very good, but we’ll have to see what the flip side to all these moves turns out to be.

link

I remember now why I don't like Pat.

[The Question]

Sinking into rebuilding mode while able to do it saving cash. You can kiss the playoffs goodbye for years.

I think Morrison is having a gigantic influence on JR. We'll see if the college model can work here.

I disagree.