As much grief as I've given them, I think the Panther FO has been brilliant lately

[Sloth]

I still think people are undervaluing Diggs. Neither Anderson or Connor could beat him out by performance, so makes it easier on them this way I guess.

Lewis was pretty solid. He actually approached us about a restructure so as to avoid that large bonus, but we passed.

Nick Hayden we kept (just lol), along with two reclamation project DTs coming off of IR. Irvin gets a pass, and I guess we can hope the headcase from Indy keeps it together.

Cutting Kemo, Jake and Peppers I absolutely get.

I mean, it's great we're younger and cheaper. I don't see how on Earth you can say better right now. Still, a ways to go in FA and maybe we hit a home run come the draft.

[carolinanimal]

basically this was a salary dump year. lets say it exactly as is. jr is thinking about 2012 not next year. if we fail this year so what? we have free salary cap room for 2012.

the only reason jake was cut was for a salary dump this year.

[Snake]

In an odd way John Fox has always been good at working with young talent. Lets hope he dose it with this very young group.

[SteveSmithStinks01]

Haven't really read this thread but the fact that you guys extended Jake so you could franchise Peppers, now one year later you owe 12.5 million and neither player is on the roster. But that was more of a mistake made last year, with Matt Moore now named the starter I think you guys are taking a step forward.

[Oldschool Leroy]

Bring Brayton back! (please), Diggs was always solid. We are going to need starters and backups.

[Kevin Greene]

I agree. I think these moves were overdue -

- cut a 31-year old, 350 lb guy coming off an Achilles tear who also had complications in recovery that had a big salary.

- cut a 32-year old undersized DT who couldn't get pressure on the QB and was overpaid.

- cut a 32-year old linebacker who was solid, but declining. Arguably would have lost his position to James Anderson anyhow. Wasn't worth what he was being paid.

- cut a 29-year old outside linebacker who had been injured for most of his tenure here and couldn't beat out Na'il Diggs for a starting position. Was overpaid.

- Cut a 35-year old QB who never was the same after Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. Was statistically one of the worst QBs in the NFL last season, and was signed to a terrible contract.

- Let a 30-year old, unmotivated and unhappy defensive end walk after declining to pay him $21 million for one season.

I fail to see how this is negative.

It's not, but dollars aside it would be unreasonable to expect our draft class alone to replace the talent the roster is losing with those 6 players.

[jtmpanthers925]

i diff understand are the moves and why they were made, a lil bit upset about the diggs move cuz he would have made a great mentor and i hope were still fighting for brayton, yes he didnt have that many sacks but diff had alot of heart on the field and played ever down hard and hes versus-ablity from DE/DT worked great in Meeks system!

plz can anyone tell me why do we still have hayden on the roster? he played more in the secondary than he did on the line!

[MemphisGambler]

Outside of the Peppers departure, I think every position will be just as strong...if not stronger next season.

Kemo was average two years ago...now he is coming off a major achille injury that is not healing well.

Brayton was solid, but not spectacular. We can replace him in FA or the draft. Johnson and Brown are both better and more athletic.

Diggs was solid, but was losing a step. Meeks defense is based on speed. Connor or Anderson will outperform his average play.

We are thin at back-ups now, but that can be worked.

Add a WR and we are better than next year....

The loss of Peppers hurts because our opponents had to take him into account in terms of game planning whether he was on his A game or his lazy game. Hopefully, Brown and Johnson step up and diminish the intangibles that Peppers provided when he felt like playing.

[carpanfan96]

But they need to follow it up with some free agent acquisitions, so far Charlotte is a ghost town.

Yep, pretty much have to make a FA splash or two, they can't fill the holes on this team with just the few draft picks they have.

2 WR

1 DE

1 DT

1 OL, maybe 2

2-3 CB's

2 LB's

They really needed to pick up a serious WR threat and that Opportunity is gone unless they make a trade. The team really only has three serious WR's right now that should be on a team and one of those is questionable. The draft isn't going to fix this even if they draft two guys. Smith, Should've been a FA, either Bolden or Walters, Jarrett, Draft pick, let the rest of the guys battle it out for the last 1 or two spots.

DE need to pick up at least one DE and one DT either through the draft or FA. Doesn't matter if they are no names......Just need to fill the positions out and good players through out the rotation.

Back up QB, Should be a vet through FA. Maybe get a late rounder and see what happens with him as well...

Lber - need depth seriously at this position now, maybe a FA pickup and one from the Draft...

CB- even if Marshall doesn't go the team needs to add at least 2 players to the rotation. If he does get grabbed by a team....ehhhhh

Way I look at it is they need at least 10 players that can pay dividends now to fill all the holes on the team. Counting ST's and everything...

Outside of the Peppers departure, I think every position will be just as strong...if not stronger next season.

Kemo was average two years ago...now he is coming off a major achille injury that is not healing well.

Brayton was solid, but not spectacular. We can replace him in FA or the draft. Johnson and Brown are both better and more athletic.

Diggs was solid, but was losing a step. Meeks defense is based on speed. Connor or Anderson will outperform his average play.

We are thin at back-ups now, but that can be worked.

Add a WR and we are better than next year....

Just one WR???????? We only have like 3 on the roster right now, not counting practice squad players.... Need at least 2, also need another impact DE. These moves are good, they can't be great unless the team makes a move and gets better. They can't just do that through the draft, they have to make a play or two in FA for someone who can contribute now. Right now they aren't better.

I agree. I think these moves were overdue -

- cut a 31-year old, 350 lb guy coming off an Achilles tear who also had complications in recovery that had a big salary.

- cut a 32-year old undersized DT who couldn't get pressure on the QB and was overpaid.

- cut a 32-year old linebacker who was solid, but declining. Arguably would have lost his position to James Anderson anyhow. Wasn't worth what he was being paid.

- cut a 29-year old outside linebacker who had been injured for most of his tenure here and couldn't beat out Na'il Diggs for a starting position. Was overpaid.

- Cut a 35-year old QB who never was the same after Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. Was statistically one of the worst QBs in the NFL last season, and was signed to a terrible contract.

- Let a 30-year old, unmotivated and unhappy defensive end walk after declining to pay him $21 million for one season.

I fail to see how this is negative.

Great moves if the FO backs them up and brings in some players to fill the holes, (right now this team has no depth what so ever, also in serious need of a big time player at WR to help out smith....(something the FO has failed at, unless they make a trade for a player, the draft isn't going to cut it at WR for this season.)...if not just decent moves that proved to be for the sole purpose of cutting cost.

[rayzor]

But they need to follow it up with some free agent acquisitions, so far Charlotte is a ghost town.

that isn't the way they do things. they don't go after the high profile player and have success with it. they go after those players who have yet to peak. those teams that are going big right now are going after guys who have peaked.

how the panthers get good players is

1) drafting them

2) go out and get a bunch of guys with potential who may have been around for a while but have never reached what they are capable of. they work these guys and pick the best. how do you think we got diggs and brayton to begin with? how did we get jake? these weren't the guys that would go early in the first day of free agency. how about chris harris? did he come from some blockbuster multi-pick trade? had he accomplished anything before he came here? had he made his mark? nope.

that we haven't picked anyone up yet isn't problem. we aren't going to find the best players that way. we will go cheap and it will work.

at the beginning of the week we had people in here getting nervous and complaining that we haven't heard anything about anyone getting tendered and the fear was we weren't going to do anything. that was pretty far from reality and they, in fact, did a whole lot more than probably anyone thought they would.

why would you think they are going to fall asleep at the wheel now?

you realize that there is a number of players that they have to go into mini camps and training camp. they have to get players. some of these players are going to be diamonds in the rough. they will be instrumental in the success of the team going forward. they will seem to come from nowhere but they will do well here.

we beg for the younger guys to have a chance to prove themselves....well now they have it. you can't give them a chance without taking the opportunity away from others. you can't build for the future when you have old and sentimental favorites whose time has come and gone and who have peaked in the way.

[PhillyB]

no one actually gives a poo who you give grief to

or anything you say for that matter

that said, i agree with you.

[Hairless Cat]

peppers leaving and dumping delhomme and the other guys is/ was the right moves to make.

How can you people seriously say they werent?

and you have no idea what their plans are for filling out the roster for this fall. Remember when Kemo went down last year? All the doom sayers? The FO did a pretty damn fine job finding the guys we needed then ........

[Tank]

Perhaps. I would agree pretty good moves so far. The real grade comes in when the final roster is set going into next year however. But so far some tough moves have been made that had to be made.

[CRA]

Pretty much the opposite here.

We got cheaper, not better. Love that we mix a player purge with an anemic set of draft picks and no interest in free agency.

At least the organization is buffered for a work stoppage I guess.

word. people seem to overlook the purge isn't going to have the other part needed.....the heavy draft and activity in FA. Carolina is just trying to go cheap during Fox's last year to start fresh once Fox's run and lockout are over.