Armanti Edwards....

[Zod]

I think Panthro's comment of him playing 8 years of HS ball may be pretty accurate. Its obvious the guy has all the physical tools needed. I just think he is having a really tough time in his own head. Standing there for several seconds waiting on the punt, I wonder what goes through his head. From App St to the NFL at such a cost to the organization, has to be a ton of pressure.

[pstall]

I think he feels the local pressure/connection to be the football savior. His agent or friends need to pull him to the side and help him think right.

[Zod]

I think I will request an interview and go Dr Phil on his ass.

[PantherBrew]

I think Panthro's comment of him playing 8 years of HS ball may be pretty accurate. Its obvious the guy has all the physical tools needed. I just think he is having a really tough time in his own head. Standing there for several seconds waiting on the punt, I wonder what goes through his head. From App St to the NFL at such a cost to the organization, has to be a ton of pressure.

Pressure would be very intense, no doubt about it. But I believe he can handle it.

I guess I am not really surprised about the naysayers.

I am coming off as a huge Armanti Homer, but thats not even the case. I can see things as a realist. At this point, he is nothing more or nothing less than an unknown.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Pressure would be very intense, no doubt about it. But I believe he can handle it.

I guess I am not really surprised about the naysayers.

I am coming off as a huge Armanti Homer, but thats not even the case. I can see things as a realist. At this point, he is nothing more or nothing less than an unknown.

I don't think you're coming off as a homer at all. I wasn't an App or Armanti fan before he was drafted, but I still see the value in the pick and hope he works out. I just understand it'll take some time.

It really wouldn't be a huge deal if he wasn't active most Sundays.

[panthers55]

THis is just another dose of reality for folks who think every talented draft pick will simply take their college skill set and translate it to instant success in the NFL.

With that said though, Edwards will make the 53 player roster and won't be put on IR this year. We have had too many guys in the past several years who were put on IR prematurely who we then wished we had later in the year when injuries occurred.

So he is not playing well? Big deal!! Maybe he won't play well in all 4 preseason games. Maybe it takes him until October to get the punting return duties down. By then we will run through the other guys who are supposed to be the next Steve Smith back there, and it will be his turn. He can still come in and contribute for the last 3 months.

He is definitely going to be there but may ride the pines until he is ready. That should humble him as well and perhaps fire him up as well. Several little guys with chips on their shoulder is a good thing.

[RealisticFan]

I am not being trite here, but I will be honest.

Armanti is a project and maybe good, or maybe not. I am of the belief that you do NOT draft project players in the second round. The second round should be for folks that you feel that could come in a contribute immediately or at worst in a backup role to another established player.

Would he have been available in the fourth or fifth round? Who knows? I do know that there are folks like Gilyard that were WR's and PR's in college and played decent. So, he would not have been a project, and would have been less hands on to coach him up so to play a position that he had not played in high school then now at the NFL level of play.

I do not dislike Armanti, or I deny that he has ability. I just think that the Panthers miscalculated his value in the draft.

[Khyber53]

It's a way, way early to call anyone a bust. One week of training camp isn't enough to learn punt returning from zero. If it was, don't you think we'd have found a good returner over the last few years?

While Smitty and Armanti have a number of similarities, Smitty had been working as a receiver throughout his college and juco careers, that gave him a leg up off of the bat on PR duties.

Now, on comparing Smitty and Armanti... let's lay off of this a bit. Armanti has huge potential and I am a huge fan, but Smitty, well, Smitty is something special isn't he? He's a once in a generation player, an honest to goodness dyed in the wool phenomenon. The drive, the fire, the skills and the competitiveness of Smitty is unparalleled. Case closed.

However, give Armanti, a very young man, a chance to learn and grow. We may be surprised in ways we can't even imagine right now. Let's hope so. And maybe we might get the chance to see two once in a generation players on the same team. But give him some time, he's got enough pressure as it is.

[Zod]

Armanti does appear to be giving full effort and pays close attention to whats happening and what the coaches are saying. Thats a good sign.

[panthers55]

I am not being trite here, but I will be honest.

Armanti is a project and maybe good, or maybe not. I am of the belief that you do NOT draft project players in the second round. The second round should be for folks that you feel that could come in a contribute immediately or at worst in a backup role to another established player.

Would he have been available in the fourth or fifth round? Who knows? I do know that there are folks like Gilyard that were WR's and PR's in college and played decent. So, he would not have been a project and would have been less hands on to coach him up to play a position that he had not played in high school at the NFL level of play.

I do not dislike Armanti, or I deny that he has ability. I just think that the Panthers put miscalculated his value in the draft.

Of course he is a project just like a lot of players are in the NFL. The Golden Calf of Bristol is a project and was a first rounder. Fortunately Hurney can see beyond the immediate and project down the road.

How many first round defensive linemen have even good seasons their first year? How many receivers come in and produce right away? How many quarterbacks sit the bench even as a first or second rounder until they gain the experience needed to compete at this level.

If you think that most first and second rounders come in and either play or contribute right away at skill positions such as wide receiver, quarterback, or defensive line for example, then you need to change your name to highly unrealistic fan.

Most credible scouts says that is takes 3 years to evaluate a draft or a player for a reason. Snap jusgements like you just made are not only unrealistic, they are ridiculous 4 or 5 practices into training camp.

[panthers55]

It's a way, way early to call anyone a bust. One week of training camp isn't enough to learn punt returning from zero. If it was, don't you think we'd have found a good returner over the last few years?

While Smitty and Armanti have a number of similarities, Smitty had been working as a receiver throughout his college and juco careers, that gave him a leg up off of the bat on PR duties.

Now, on comparing Smitty and Armanti... let's lay off of this a bit. Armanti has huge potential and I am a huge fan, but Smitty, well, Smitty is something special isn't he? He's a once in a generation player, an honest to goodness dyed in the wool phenomenon. The drive, the fire, the skills and the competitiveness of Smitty is unparalleled. Case closed.

However, give Armanti, a very young man, a chance to learn and grow. We may be surprised in ways we can't even imagine right now. Let's hope so. And maybe we might get the chance to see two once in a generation players on the same team. But give him some time, he's got enough pressure as it is.

We have a wiiner.

/thread

[thefuzz]

I like AE as a player, and as a Panther.

I do not like the FO giving away a 2nd next year for a project this year. Most likely that pick will be somewhere between the 40th, and the 48th pick next season. In those slots you draft a player that can contribute right away.....or at least try to.

[Zod]

The front office is certain of a lockout next year, which means any of next year's picks will possibly spend a year inactive. May have played into their thinking of trading that pick away.

[Carolina Husker]

Armanti does appear to be giving full effort and pays close attention to whats happening and what the coaches are saying. Thats a good sign.

Now you're just patronizing him.