Let's say you're Jerry Richardson or Michael Jordan pitching Charlotte to a superstar

[Sam Mills Fan]

But back to the original question, how do you sell Charlotte? "Come visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame! Or how about fabulous Concord Mills? Ride the Intimidator at Carowinds! And don't forget about the nightlife: Butter Charlotte! Cosmos Cafe! And how about Jon Beason's favorite place to go after hours: the Uptown Cabaret!"

[transitCATS]

I'd try and see them on the weather (the winters arent to bad). We've got passionate owner and the fact that history really hasnt been made here. You can start it today by signing here!

[AnalyzeThIs#28]

Tell whomever they can have a lifetime supply of Bojangles dank biscuits! Now there's not to many other cities that can offer that, now is there?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

http://www.panthers.com/team/history/free-agency-history.html

All these guys picked Charlotte. Including your boy Sam Mills

[Delhommey]

Sam Mills Fan is an insult to the memory of his name sake. Whereas the player suffered through his body breaking down on him without complaint, the poster whines and whinges about even imagined slights. Whereas the player was happy to have days, the poster throws a tantrum if the team doesn't do things exactly to his liking. Whereas the player looked for positives even when faced with certain, near death, the poster looks for negatives to bitch about even after positive events.

I move that we change his name. Seconded?

[Baschski]

What the hell are you talking about? The Bobcats are an extremely young franchise. How can you make such absolute judgments about a team that's been around for six years? And the Panthers have never been a club that pursues big-name free agents. I'm sure if we actively tried to sign stars we would get one every once in a while. We don't get them because we don't f'ing want them. Besides, since when do big-name free agent signings win championships in the NFL? The best franchises have generally succeeded through excellent drafting and development of players, not signing.

[CarolinaKat]

Jerry Richardson: You know you black fellas love redneck white women....Come on down!!!!

[Carl Spackler]

Well if you go by the David Carr/Keyshawn Johnson model it'll be, "Come here, we'll give you more money than anyone else and if you win, you're a Panther as long as you want but if you don't produce, we'll cut you."

Come to think of it, isn't that the model everyone uses?

[Cat'sGrowl]

The Panthers seldom ever pursue big name free agents. Not the other way around. There has been plenty of big name players declare theyd like to come here over the years, from chad johnson to michael vick and beyond..I think what your not realizing is that 90% of the players in the league aren't looking for a team that has the best panty bars nearby-theyre looking for a team that is consistently competitive in a nice area. Something the Panthers have been able to provide. The other 10% of players however, just go to Cincinatti. Duh.

[panthers55]

Le Bron James isn't going to Miami because it is Miami, he is going there to play with Wade and Bosh to win championships. It doesn't hurt that it is a warm big city with lots going on, but it isn't why he is going. If the same situation was happening in Cleveland or Charlotte he would be there. Players at this level do so for the money and for championships.

So the answer is simple, if you assemble the talent already to the point that he feels that he is the missing piece to a Championship, then he is very likely to play there. If you are not a contender which the Bobcats aren't, then it wouldn't matter where you are located.

As for the Panthers, players like the organization and the FO. The problem hasn't been that we can't land free agents, it is that lately we won't pay them what they can get elsewhere. And we are not enough of a force like New England has been where players will give you a discount.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Sam Mills was obviously one of, if not the best free agent signing in Charlotte history. That doesn't mean he was a notable NFL star at the time. He had gone to some Pro Bowls yes and he was respected around the NFL, but even still, he was a guy in his mid-30s coming from the joke of a team that was the New Orleans Saints back then.

[Sam Mills Fan]

What the hell are you talking about? The Bobcats are an extremely young franchise. How can you make such absolute judgments about a team that's been around for six years? And the Panthers have never been a club that pursues big-name free agents. I'm sure if we actively tried to sign stars we would get one every once in a while. We don't get them because we don't f'ing want them. Besides, since when do big-name free agent signings win championships in the NFL? The best franchises have generally succeeded through excellent drafting and development of players, not signing.

The Hornets were around 15 years or so and did nothing in free agency. Every great player they ever had was acquired through trades or the draft. And they could never sign any of them to long-term deals. Zo bolted as did Grandmama. Glen Rice left. Eddie Jones left. Don't forget that Vlade Divac almost retired rather than have to leave LA for Charlotte.

Bobcats: Nothing that happened under Bob Johnson should count because of how much of a joke he was, but in the biggest free agent summer ever, they've signed no one. They are about to lose their starting point guard to the bright lights of NYC though.

Panthers: Have you ever stopped to wonder if whether the "oh, we don't want to sign top free agents, we prefer to build through the draft" is just an excuse because they can't get people to come play here if they have the option to go play for a team like Dallas or New England instead?

And didn't the Panthers have their own LeBron situation earlier this offseason? Peppers, one of the greatest Panthers ever, a guy born and raised in NC, played ball at UNC, refused to communicate with the ownership/management here and left for the big market city of Chicago. It's a wonder that our only superstar we have on the team in 89 has stayed as long as he has. Although he has a young family he's raising and he's definitely put down roots in the community so that has to be a huge factor.

Notice how the few Charlotte superstars that are born through the draft (Larry Johnson, Mourning, Peppers) all seem to want to bolt as quickly as possible yet we can never sign anyone to replace them?

[rayzor]

why bother?

no point to it all because no charlotte (carolina team at all) will ever amount to anything.

it's all just a waste of money.

burn it all down.

SMF wins.

now he can go find a real team with a real chance of winning a championship instead of those posers we have here.

[Cat'sGrowl]

The Hornets were around 15 years or so and did nothing in free agency. Every great player they ever had was acquired through trades or the draft. And they could never sign any of them to long-term deals. Zo bolted as did Grandmama. Glen Rice left. Eddie Jones left. Don't forget that Vlade Divac almost retired rather than have to leave LA for Charlotte.

Bobcats: Nothing that happened under Bob Johnson should count because of how much of a joke he was, but in the biggest free agent summer ever, they've signed no one. They are about to lose their starting point guard to the bright lights of NYC though.

Panthers: Have you ever stopped to wonder if whether the "oh, we don't want to sign top free agents, we prefer to build through the draft" is just an excuse because they can't get people to come play here if they have the option to go play for a team like Dallas or New England instead?

And didn't the Panthers have their own LeBron situation earlier this offseason? Peppers, one of the greatest Panthers ever, a guy born and raised in NC, played ball at UNC, refused to communicate with the ownership/management here and left for the big market city of Chicago. It's a wonder that our only superstar we have on the team in 89 has stayed as long as he has. Although he has a young family he's raising and he's definitely put down roots in the community so that has to be a huge factor.

Notice how the few Charlotte superstars that are born through the draft (Larry Johnson, Mourning, Peppers) all seem to want to bolt as quickly as possible yet we can never sign anyone to replace them?

You really don't have any idea how the league works, do you?