There is way too much talk of FA signings and trades on the Huddle

[Sam Mills Fan]

I can't tell if it's wishful thinking or people just being confused about things, but Jerry Richardson has flat-out said that he's not signing any free agents or resigning anyone until after the CBA situation is resolved. That's likely to be over 6 months from now. And you can't trade for anyone either until that time.

So why do people keep talking about Vince Young/Donovan McNabb/Asomugha/Orton? 2011 is almost certainly going to be yet another season where we lose more players through free agency than gain because the opportunity to acquire new players is going to be extremely, extremely limited.

Believe me, I hate to say this, but the 2011 Carolina Panthers are likely to be very similar to the 2010 Carolina Panthers. Only real differences will be a new head coach and a #1 draft pick and the probable loss of some core free agents. If you're looking for big free agent signings, you still have another full calendar year to go and then some.

[Squirrel]

Because once the CBA is done we will. If it is before the draft dont be surprised if we trade down for a player. There will be a FA period before we play again so it is a reasonable to talk about signing players.

[Sam Mills Fan]

I have heard absolutely no one say they believe the CBA will be done before the draft. Everyone is saying this summer. So let's say it's done in August and there's a 3 week window to sign free agents before the season starts. You expect me to think Jerry Richardson is going to want to sign a big name or names and that these big name or names are going to want to play here and that this will all be able to get done in that short of a time frame while you have a new head coach installing a completely new system on offense and defense? Not happening. Wait until 2012.

[rodeo]

i've only really heard Richardson and Jones trying to delay the CBA. they're the ones pushing for the lock out. most people want it done immediately.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Oh yeah and I'm glad you mentioned trading down Squirrel. Everybody realizes it takes two to trade down right? If you want to trade down, you're going to have to find a trade partner willing to give up a TON just to draft a guy like Fairley at #1 who's not even in the same league as Suh was last season who went #2. It's going to be extremely difficult to trade down. This is a very weak draft at #1 now without Luck.

[Squirrel]

I have heard absolutely no one say they believe the CBA will be done before the draft. Everyone is saying this summer. So let's say it's done in August and there's a 3 week window to sign free agents before the season starts. You expect me to think Jerry Richardson is going to want to sign a big name or names and that these big name or names are going to want to play here and that this will all be able to get done in that short of a time frame while you have a new head coach installing a completely new system on offense and defense? Not happening. Wait until 2012.

So you expect us to not sign any free agents at all?

Not going to happen. What you speak of is what every team will face when the CBA is done. Except your part of a new coach. Which wont have a effect.

I give it a 50% chance the CBA will be done before the draft. But most likely it will get done a couple weeks before TC. But we will sign free agents.

[Sam Mills Fan]

We'll sign some, but I expect them to be like last offseason where our top free agent acquisition was The Marcus Hudson.

[Squirrel]

Oh yeah and I'm glad you mentioned trading down Squirrel. Everybody realizes it takes two to trade down right? If you want to trade down, you're going to have to find a trade partner willing to give up a TON just to draft a guy like Fairley at #1 who's not even in the same league as Suh was last season who went #2. It's going to be extremely difficult to trade down. This is a very weak draft at #1 now without Luck.

Denver is only one spot behind us in the trade so them trading Orton and the 2nd pick is very likely. CBA BS not included.

[Squirrel]

We'll sign some, but I expect them to be like last offseason where our top free agent acquisition was The Marcus Hudson.

Richardson will open the pocketbook this year. Last year was all about the CBA. Get a good veteran QB first and other players will be willing to sign here. Most likely we will go as we usually do and not sign expensive FA's but I expect us to get some good mid tier players and rising players.

[Cat'sGrowl]

We'll sign Free Agents.

We'll sign good ones.

We aren't the only team in the league that can't sign FA's until after the CBA is in place.

Your falling for the national media's "Panthers R TeH CHeepz!" smear campaign.

Cover everything?

[Sam Mills Fan]

"Very likely"? There have been no indications of any whispers of this at all. It's very UNlikely that John Fox would want to trade us anything. It's very unlikely that Denver would want to be the first team in ages to trade up for the #1 pick (especially since that rookie scale doesn't look like it will be in place by draft time). And it's very unlikely that Denver is going to want to give up all of these things for a player like Fairley that probably would have gone #4 overall last season.

People that keep imagining this Denver trade is going to happen are thinking like Madden GMs, not NFL GMs. It reminds me of people that always suggest former players for top coordinator positions and assume that those players would want to do it.

[Mr. Scot]

We don't really have control over the CBA. Few people even understand jack about it.

Me? I have a fair understanding. I just don't care.

If it happens, we'll deal with it. Hopefully it doesn't.

In the meantime, I'd rather spend the majority of my time talking about players and strategy than lawyers and clauses.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Richardson will open the pocketbook this year. Last year was all about the CBA. Get a good veteran QB first and other players will be willing to sign here. Most likely we will go as we usually do and not sign expensive FA's but I expect us to get some good mid tier players and rising players.

We haven't signed a good veteran quarterback since Rodney Peete. CBA or no CBA, I don't see that changing. People that think Orton/VY/McNabb are going to be in Panthers uniforms next season are smoking crack. It'll be another Josh McCown-type quarterback.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I could swear this is a Not-Awesomeness thread.