Tanking the season

[House]

This thread has devolved into carolinanimal and CRA jerking each other off.

[carolinanimal]

This thread has devolved into carolinanimal and CRA jerking each other off.

care to join us?

[Mr. Scot]

"These arn't the moves I feel they should be making, so they must be tanking the season!"

That tells me you don't have much understanding.

Pretty much :nonod:

I wonder how the players on the roster would feel about the idea that going with them equates to "tanking the season".

[MadHatter]

and you are refering to the guys that couldn't land gigs for the Rams and Chiefs....but with a few mintues in a Panther uniform are better than what we had and people are already penciling them in as improving the DL? Those IR guys?

You do realize that we picked D Lewis up when he was cut by the Rams......

thanks for playing.

[MaineManPanther]

If we had been able to run the ball more effectively, I'd say Buffalo and Miami.

Miami? We ran for 165 yards on 25 caries. Dont know how we wouldve been more effective

And Buffalo we had 117 for 25. Not great for our standards, but it that game it was much more to blame on the turnovers.

Regardless the fact that weve averaged 144 yards per game proves that we can effectivley have a great running game without Hoover. So if thats true and then you fator his age and injurys why keep him?

[grateflday]

So here we have folks, buoyed on by national writers who probably couldn't name ten players on the Panthers roster if they were asked, suggesting that the Panthers are tanking this season so that they can start over next year.

The idea is ludicrous.

As has been mentioned, John Fox needs to win this season to save his job (or get a different one). Some suggest it's over his head, but nowhere has he given the slightest indication that he isn't on board with the current plan. And really, do you honestly think Jerry Richardson would throw a whole season down the toilet just to get rid of a coach he could just fire if he so desired? :nonod:

But set that aside for now. Let's look at the decisions that have been made individually.

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

Releasing Jake Delhomme: Does anyone really want to argue this decision had no merit? Delhomme was in obvious decline, had a high salary and could have been the center of locker room contention (on his behalf).

Releasing Ma'ake Kemoeatu: There was speculation from loads of people that this would happen due to age/salary/injury. Should come as a surprise to no one.

Releasing Na'il Diggs: The team had younger, cheaper options in Dan Connor and James Anderson step up in the late season, so again it made sense.

Releasing Damione Lewis: This is one I somewhat disagreed with, but given that he was a rotational player in a starter's role and making starter's money, it can be justified.

Releasing Landon Johnson: Come on

Releasing Brad Hoover: Did it hurt to see Hoover go? Sure, but he's been in decline for a while now. Back problems can do a lot of players in and can be especially tough for a fullback. Yes, we'll miss him, but as much as I hate to say it, the move made sense if you look at it from a business standpoint.

So looking at each one, all the decisions made this offseason can be justified from a football/business standpoint. Each of them would have just made just as much sense any other year, given the same set of circumstances in each individual situation. Throw in that some of them probably would have already been made in prior years had not cap constraints prevented it.

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"?

Please :nonod:

If we're just tanking and don't care about winning, why are guys like Steve Smith and Chris Harris still here? they're older,and they each have some trade value. If you're just rebuilding, why not toss them too? Or for that matter, why re-sign a guy like Tyler Brayton? And why did you bother picking up good special teamers (I mean, outside of the fact that the team needed players like that, because after all we're not interested in winning).

"What about the lack of free agent activity?" you ask. To which I ask, "Have you ever watched a Panthers offseason before?" If you think this is unusual, you've probably not been paying attention.

But if you still want to buy into this line of thinking, go ahead.

While you're at it, commiserate with the Eagle fans, because apparently their owner has decided to tank the season too

I agree and great post. All these moves are not as gloom and doom many beleive. Next years Panther's team can end up being much better than last years. Anything can happen, but I am looking forward to seeing how all these changes pan out.

[Mr. Scot]

Quick challenge for the folks who insist we're tanking.

Which of the moves listed here makes us that much worse?

- Not franchising Julius Peppers

- Releasing Jake Delhomme

- Releasing Ma'ake Kemoeatu

- Releasing Na'il Diggs

- Releasing Damione Lewis

- Releasing Landon Johnson

- Releasing Brad Hoover

(and before you say Peppers, bear in mind that they made him a good offer and tried to keep him; they just didn't use the franchise tag; thus, they didn't just "let him walk" as some have said)

Here's a tip: If you can't show me that at least half of the moves the team has made actually make the team worse, you don't have much of an argument.

[CRA]

Quick challenge for the folks who insist we're tanking.

Which of the moves listed here makes us that much worse?

- Not franchising Julius Peppers

- Releasing Jake Delhomme

- Releasing Ma'ake Kemoeatu

- Releasing Na'il Diggs

- Releasing Damione Lewis

- Releasing Landon Johnson

- Releasing Brad Hoover

(and before you say Peppers, bear in mind that they made him a good offer and tried to keep him; they just didn't use the franchise tag; thus, they didn't just "let him walk" as some have said)

Here's a tip: If you can't show me that at least half of the moves the team has made actually make the team worse, you don't have much of an argument.

take Jake Delhomme off and explain how releasing any of those guys made us better for the 2010 season...which is likely Fox's last.

also, no one is claiming we are "tanking" it...that is going to an extreme. That implies a lot of negative.....they are simply rebuilding and playing time and experience for young guys is the real priority this year as they are looking ahead.

[Punisher]

If we had signed Alex Brown would our weak D-line have been saved CRA??

[Mesmer]

Nobody tanks the season before it starts. The whole argument is silly. But it's pretty obvious the organization is planning on no football in 2011.

[pantherclaw]

CRA, what is up your ass? Seriously dude. How you can think any team in the NFL is going to tank, let alone one owned by Jerry Richardson is beyond me. But go ahead and think that, and while you are thinking it, go ahead and turn in your fan card. Turn over any cherished Panther stuff, and move on. I'm sure the Saints can use more fans like you.

[Mr. Scot]

take Jake Delhomme off and explain how releasing any of those guys made us better for the 2010 season...which is likely Fox's last.

also, no one is claiming we are "tanking" it...that is going to an extreme. That implies a lot of negative.....they are simply rebuilding and playing time and experience for young guys is the real priority this year as they are looking ahead.

You don't consider releasing older players with injury concerns and higher than warranted salaries to be improvement?

[grateflday]

take Jake Delhomme off and explain how releasing any of those guys made us better for the 2010 season...which is likely Fox's last.

also, no one is claiming we are "tanking" it...that is going to an extreme. That implies a lot of negative.....they are simply rebuilding and playing time and experience for young guys is the real priority this year as they are looking ahead.

And how did it make the team any worse? except for maybe Hoover?? Kemo didnt play all season, Johnson has barely seen the field in two years, and when was the last time the Dline has been any good? Its not like they have been world beaters for the past two seasons.

I will also maybe give you Diggs, but that is why you draft players. You have to expect some of all the young LB's picked one/two should be able to fill the void.

[Mesmer]

Didn't we release like Wahle and Hartwig that one offseason and everybody was like "WTF they are losing" and then our line was better the next year.