Why does everyone think JR is so tight all of a sudden?

[jtm]

Granted, this year he has been cutting the fat and it is obvious he is getting ready for the lock-out. Having said that, why do so many think he will hire the best cheapest coach he can find? If you look at the history of JR and the Panthers, he has paid plenty of players top dollar. Additionally, he has always hired good to great coaches and paid them well. Capers is the only one you could question, but Capers had a good run and JR let him go when it was obvious his luck had run out. Look at last year and the $ offered to Pep. Also, JR paid players like Greene and Mills at the end of their careers more than they deserved because of what they had done for this franchise earlier. History is typically an indicator of what people do in the future. Granted, I am not happy with what is going on right now, but I don't think it is fair to all of a sudden forget that past 15 years and start calling him Mr. Tight Azz.

Also, as many of you that remember the days of the Charlotte Hornets. Look what happened to that team when Shinn started cutting and providing the econo team? Hornets went from #1 in attendance to close to last. JR is a smart man and I am sure he is paying attention to this.

I hope he hires Cowher immediately, but that doesn't make business sense. I would rather see Fox let go at the end of the season and let Meeks or one of the fans in the stands run the team next year if we are going to be in a lock-out. Then at the end of 2011 go out and hire Cowher or another well respected NFL coach.

Unfortunately, I think this is how it is going to go down. The only thing I can see changing all of this is if the fans quit coming to games. JR likes to put fans in the stadium and pay the bills. I think Davidson needs to be let go at a minimum immediately!

[The Saltman]

*insert witty sexual response here*

[Jackofalltrades]

Ugh.

[panthers55]

Looking at what richardson did 10 years ago versus in the last 2 or 3 shows a very different philosophy and subsequent spending pattern. Up until 2006 Richardson would spend big money on free agents who were deemed the missing piece to the puzzle or the guy who would get them over the hump. Beginning in 2007 with Carr and continuing through today our free agent acquisitions have been guys who have issues who we are trying to reclaim, give new life, or use them for a stop gap measure. We have gone for the cheaper journeymen.

Instead we went with the draft often mortgaging future picks to try and fix the problems rather than pursue free agents. That has given us mixed results as neither Brown or Edwards have performed that great while Otah and Stewart are both great players who have had injury concerns over their career.

We have been willing to pay to keep our top homegrown talent such as Gross, Smith, and Peppers as well as lesser celebrities like Wharton and Gamble for example. The question is whether than philosophy continues to be the best one or will we embark on a third phase where we emulate New England and trade players whose contracts are expiring rather than continue to pay them once their rookie contract expires or they are due a big paycheck.

With so many contracts expiring in the next year or two can we keep everyone if we wanted to anyway?? And do we want to??

Look at the situation between Davis and Anderson. Both will be free agents or at the least RFAs depending on if there is a new CBA. Can you justify paying them both at this point or do you keep Anderson who is having a career year and let Davis go. The same with Stewart and Williams. Do you sign Williams to a big deal given the struggles Stewart has had this year or do you let williams go and hope to draft a guy in the next draft to replace him and hope Stewart stays healthy.

I think there is no doubt that the free spending ways of the past are over. Richardson is likely to pay for the big stars like he has with Peppers and Smith because that sells tickets. And he will keep some of the core group for sure. In fact the lousy team this year may in fact increase the liklihood he signs more core players next year. If he had been able to dump the veterans with little consequence and this current team had performed well, he could have make a strong case that every year you purge the veterans, go young, and don't suffer a drop off. But because we tanked so far so quickly, it will give the FO pause to continue this again next year since it has turned into a disaster in the wins and losses department so far. If it continues, it is actually more likely that Richardson will spend more money not less to keep veterans in critical positions.

I suspect much of this will depend on the new CBA. Richardson is going to make money and controlling spending will be part of that. Issues like a cap floor will play a big role in determining how much teams spend going forward.

[Panthers128]

They say when people get a heart transplant sometimes they take on some of the personality traits of the person who donated the heart.

JR must have gotten a stingy person's heart.

Also I'm pretty sure the Hornets made it to dead last in the 99-2002 seasons. At one point they were getting barely 10,000 fans if that.

[jtm]

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying I agree with what he is doing, but seems like historically he has a good tract record. Now, if he starts letting our core go, that will be a different story.

[tattoorhino]

He has made the financial end of the business as pleasing as it can be. No debt and a nice profit margin. Things any business man would do right before he sells it. Thats why his kids arent here anymore. Im not saying me are moving anywhere but I dont see JR owning much after this year. Thats just my opinion.

[Jackofalltrades]

He has made the financial end of the business as pleasing as it can be. No debt and a nice profit margin. Things any business man would do right before he sells it. Thats why his kids arent here anymore. Im not saying me are moving anywhere but I dont see JR owning much after this year. Thats just my opinion.

Can't see it.

[Jangler]

*insert witty sexual response here*

anus transplant

[Davidson Deac II]

He is preparing for the unknown. Wants to see what the new contract looks like. I hope he is increasing our cap space in order to be able to spend a bunch after everything is settled.