Tanking the season

[Mr. Scot]

What exactly do you think he would say if it were happening to him? I'm not convinced one way or the other. He might be just willing to take the high road and if he has any sucess this year he can scream to the rooftops of how ownership was digging a hole under him and he still did well. Like the media did that year all those guys went on IR and we still almost made the playoffs how much credit he got for that coaching job. It'd look pretty good on a resume to turn what most perceive the talent on this team to win 8 or 9 games.

He was given the chance to seek other options, but it didn't happen.

In the end, I think Richardson and Fox probably had their moment of "ready for a change" but ended up just deciding to give it one last run and make the best of it. This may be Fox's last chance, but I believe Richardson is going to be smart and give him a legitimate chance.

That's not to say the team isn't also setting itself up for the future. Any smart team would. I just see the notion that they're willing to sacrifice this season in order to do it as laughable.

If any of the local guys have signed on to that notion, I haven't seen it. The only journalists who seem to take it seriously are the national guys (who generally don't have much insight into how the Panthers work anyway).

[The Saltman]

and the pat kirwan love fest for john fox.

[panther4life]

yeah, if he wins w/ a roster he isn't suppose to win with...... I guess could save his job. Life won't be made easy for Fox to do that.....it is called rebuilding for a reason.

I think your failing to understand the whole John Fox/ Marty Hurney philosphy of building thru the draft and filling in the missing pieces with vets that come at a reasonable enough price for us to keep our core intact. What moves made this offseason lead you to believe that were not focused on winning this year. It is possible to prepare for a sucessful future without tanking a season

[Boltergeist]

National media perception of your 2010 season

[Mr. Scot]

I think your failing to understand the whole John Fox/ Marty Hurney philosphy of building thru the draft and filling in the missing pieces with vets that come at a reasonable enough price for us to keep our core intact. What moves made this offseason lead you to believe that were not focused on winning this year. It is possible to prepare for a sucessful future without tanking a season

Pretty much.

[jramsey4]

He was given the chance to seek other options, but it didn't happen.

In the end, I think Richardson and Fox probably had their moment of "ready for a change" but ended up just deciding to give it one last run and make the best of it. This may be Fox's last chance, but I believe Richardson is going to be smart and give him a legitimate chance.

That's not to say the team isn't also setting itself up for the future. Any smart team would. I just see the notion that they're willing to sacrifice this season in order to do it as laughable.

If any of the local guys have signed on to that notion, I haven't seen it. The only journalists who seem to take it seriously are the national guys (who generally don't have much insight into how the Panthers work anyway).

I guess it depends on what definition of sacrifice. I mean I don't see us trading our 2nd for a 1st next year or anything crazy but I also don't think JR has given them the complete control they used to have. I think Fox would have pursued Alex Brown or some vet more heavily. We haven't heard about a single interview or any real interest even.

I know we are going young and everything but what in Fox's history would suggest he would do something like this? Some people will say that people change but in reality they don't and Fox is even more stubborn then most people. It takes a stubborn man to put up with Jakes play for that long.

[Mr. Scot]

I know we are going young and everything but what in Fox's history would suggest he would do something like this? Some people will say that people change but in reality they don't and Fox is even more stubborn then most people. It takes a stubborn man to put up with Jakes play for that long.

The 2007 offseason. We signed, literally, almost nobody but David Carr. And it wasn't like 2006 was a stellar year.

This offseason approach really isn't that different from prior years. They just have the opportunity to do more at once because there are no cap ramifications.

[Guest silver82blade]

Not franchising Julius Peppers: Done so as not to tie up a boatload of money inone player who didn't want to be here anyway

And seriously, looking at this list, outside of perhaps Peppers, is there really anybody on here that you can look at in their current condition and say with any credibility "boy it sure will be a lot tougher to win without them"?

if i'm not remembering incorrectly, i think chicago's deal with peppers was to pay him a huge chunk next year when there was no salary cap, and pay him a lot less the subsequent years. why couldn't we have structured his deal like that? peppers said he wanted a deal with carolina but carolina never contacted him after the season. are you saying he was lying and didn't want to be here?

i think it may be difficult to win without ma'ake. we only have one defensive tackle big enough to be considered a run stuffer. if he goes down, or under performs, we may have as much trouble stopping the run as last year before we signed hollis thomas.

[CRA]

I think your failing to understand the whole John Fox/ Marty Hurney philosphy of building thru the draft and filling in the missing pieces with vets that come at a reasonable enough price for us to keep our core intact. What moves made this offseason lead you to believe that were not focused on winning this year. It is possible to prepare for a sucessful future without tanking a season

No, I fully understand it and agree with it. I agree w/ everything they are doing.

I think people are failing to see the rebuilding Carolina is doing right now and what they are doing w/ the season prior to the lockout. Carolina doesn't have the one or two holes this season they are looking to patch like in past seasons......

Look at the entire DL and tell me how this is a Panther team looking to win in 2010?

[jramsey4]

The 2007 offseason. We signed, literally, almost nobody but David Carr. And it wasn't like 2006 was a stellar year.

This offseason approach really isn't that different from prior years. They just have the opportunity to do more at once because there are no cap ramifications.

Did we cut or not resign 5 veteran starters that year (I didn't count Jake becuase he shouldn't have been the starter)? Didn't think so. For a man that loves veterans don't you think its odd?

[Frizzy350]

like I said I dont think we are "tanking" this season. I think we are focused on 2011 more than 2010 right now.. these moves are coming from the top

We have young players that could be great or they could be bust.We will find out this year.but with all this youth I think it puts a limit on how much success we can have.

uhhh i think you have that backwarded up good sir. we know what the old vets bring to the table, and it's not enough. the sky is the limit for these young guys being given their chance to shine (granted, they COULD fall flat on their face, but from what i've seen, i doubt that). nobody expected chris johnson to break 2k yards when given the full load of carries, but he did.

another thing, why are we calling for heads for scrapping our Dline? since 06, our Dline has been THE reason our defense is not elite. we have a great wealth of talented DBs, and a sick LB corps, this is undisputed. sure, pep got us some sacks, but he was every bit as responsible for that line to get BLOWN UP on running plays. I'm glad those guys are gone, worst case scenario: we have another bad Dline like we've had.

also please stop using the term rebuilding. we are in no way, shape or form rebuilding. the lions are rebuilding, the rams are rebuilding, the bucs are rebuiliding. we are NOT rebuilding, we are tweaking, like every team does every offseason.

[CRA]

ok since your so sold on the fact that fox is just a lameduck coach along for the ride this year, who's calling the shots in the draft this year, Jerry Richardson??Are they gonna lock him out of the war room? I've noticed your discontent for the defensive line, does that mean they force him to draft a whole new d-line this year? how do you see our draft going this year?

if you don't think Fox is a lame duck coach along for the ride.....then what is he?

I think Jerry has been very upfront about what Fox/Hurney can and can't do this year.......they now have to operate within that. When Carolina is ready to win again....you will see some legit talent brought in to the DL immediately.

Teams that entering a legit rebuilding process....simply aren't trying to win a Superbowl presently....they are trying to do so in the near future. Even the leader of the D claims it is being rebuilt. In addition, there is only one WR threat on this team.....that would be addressed if they were trying to win now.....no rookie is going to provide what they need in 2010.

[panther4life]

No, I fully understand it and agree with it. I agree w/ everything they are doing.

I think people are failing to see the rebuilding Carolina is doing right now and what they are doing w/ the season prior to the lockout. Carolina doesn't have the one or two holes this season they are looking to patch like in past seasons......

Look at the entire DL and tell me how this is a Panther team looking to win in 2010?

Defensive line is a huge question mark on this team. Its a question because we dont know what we've got really.

Louis Leonard only only played in what 2 games? he looked pretty good to me tho.

Everette Brown will certainly see the field more, but he has'nt seen it enough for us to know exactly what we have in him.

Charles Johnson has shown flashes of brilliance but hasnt cracked the starting lineup yet

Tyler Brayton is solid and serviceable but not elite

Corey Irvin who we drafted last year spent the entire season on i.r

Tank Tyler is a big mofo and young, havent seen enough of him yet either to pass judgement.

Theres others as well but we have more questions than we do answers there. We wont know what weve got, good or bad until the season starts.

They have potential but will they live up to it? nobody knows yet but at the same time we cant declare they all suck yet either.

[CRA]

another thing, why are we calling for heads for scrapping our Dline? since 06, our Dline has been THE reason our defense is not elite. we have a great wealth of talented DBs, and a sick LB corps, this is undisputed. sure, pep got us some sacks, but he was every bit as responsible for that line to get BLOWN UP on running plays. I'm glad those guys are gone, worst case scenario: we have another bad Dline like we've had.

also please stop using the term rebuilding. we are in no way, shape or form rebuilding. the lions are rebuilding, the rams are rebuilding, the bucs are rebuiliding. we are NOT rebuilding, we are tweaking, like every team does every offseason.

our DL has gotten worse every season the past couple years......it gets worse in 2010.

If Jon Beason uses the word rebuilding.....we are you asking us to stop? Carolina is rebuilding.....rebuilding doesn't mean you are rebuidling every aspect of a team. This season is the first part of the process. After this year, they will bring the guys that are needed after we find out the areas these young guys can't get the job done.