Think that AE will become a real NFL receiver next year?

[MHS831]

Lafell, Gettis, Edwards. This is why I think if we are going to go after Green, we trade Smith (which apparently has to happen before the draft?). Otherwise Edwards won't be doing sh**. Might as well trade him then.

Let me extend your theory on speculation based on loosely-tied hearsay:

It is rumored that the Panthers interviewed Ricky Proehl as an ASSISTANT WR coach. If we are drafting Green, developing Lafell, Gettis, and Edwards, then I think 2 WR coaches might be necessary.

The Panthers may want to draft a DT in the first, but their defensive staff could get by with role players while the offense needs some top talent to help a young QB. In addition, Smith may have decided last June (when he put his home up for sale) that he would ask for a trade. He knew then that Moore was the starter and Clausen was the future. He had seen them during OTAs, and realized that the team was rebuilding. So at the end of the year, he walks into Ricardson's office, and asks for a trade. JR tells him he will grant his wish because the two are close, but he needed to wait for the CBA before doing so. Smith agrees to keep it quiet. JR and Rivera know that they will need some 4 WR sets, and they know that Green is the TRUE #1 we never had. '

A great secret, except you have to hire the coaches now. A WR assistant suggests there will be a need for 2 coaches on the payroll. If we have a rookie and 3 second year players--including AE, it would be wise.

[chef17]

Because he had to have a uniform on to actually have a chance to get on the field.

And instead of adding another wrinkle to our pathetic offense (aka Mountaineer package, wildcat, wild hogs, whatever you want to call it) Fox allowed "the vanilla scoop treat complete with 3 and out, 3 and out, 2 and pick, 1 and pick, 3 and out, fumble on the next series" offense that we saw for most of the year to be the circus that it was. Dead last.

Again, it could be possible that he didn't have a uniform because he wasn't ready yet. As hard as that is to believe.

[Edward Teach]

Again, it could be possible that he didn't have a uniform because he wasn't ready yet. As hard as that is to believe.

I see your point. And I don't find it hard to believe. Believe it or not.

However, I know that JR said that Fox was hesitant to play younger players. I think it may be possible that Edwards never had the chance that Hurney may have wanted him to have under Fox.

My point is that Fox never gave the kid a real chance to make any plays, because he was hardly allowed on the field. How could Fox be sure that Edwards wasn't ready if he never had a real chance to prove it outside of practice?

[chef17]

I see your point. And I don't find it hard to believe. Believe it or not.

However, I know that JR said that Fox was hesitant to play younger players. I think it may be possible that Edwards never had the chance that Hurney may have wanted him to have under Fox.

My point is that Fox never gave the kid a real chance to make any plays, because he was hardly allowed on the field. How could Fox be sure that Edwards wasn't ready if he never had a real chance to prove it outside of practice?

Fox didn't like playing younger players. Our WR corp was Smith, Lafell, and Gettis. Lafell and Gettis were both rookies, so the young player excuse doesn't apply here. People say WR takes three years to develop, that goes for guys who have been playing it ALL their lives. AE started this year. It is highly likely he didn't see the field because he was still learning the position. Maybe he didn't show Fox anything in practice to suggest he was ready.

[Edward Teach]

He played LaFell and Gettis because he had no other choice. Muhammad retired and Jarrett drank too much. Every other WR on the roster sucked.

[chef17]

He played LaFell and Gettis because he had no other choice. Muhammad retired and Jarrett drank too much. Every other WR on the roster sucked.

The point was Fox played them over AE. What possible reason did he have? Wait I know this one. They already knew the position and AE didn't.

[panthers55]

Let me extend your theory on speculation based on loosely-tied hearsay:

It is rumored that the Panthers interviewed Ricky Proehl as an ASSISTANT WR coach. If we are drafting Green (and that is far from assured this point given that Smith has 2 years left on his contract), developing Lafell, Gettis, and Edwards, then I think 2 WR coaches might be necessary.

The Panthers will likely want to draft a DT in the first, because they sucked on the line at the tackle position. Smith may have decided last June (when he put his home up for sale) that he wanted to buy something else. Would he ask for a trade? Probably not right away. He would want to know what Richardson had in mind to replace Jimmy or at least teach him. So Richardson met with him and assured him they would do everything they could to fix the offense by bringing in good coaches who were ex-players and teachers to work with the young guys. Said they would be bringing in other guys at the quarterback position. A veteran or two. Smith says he doesn't care as long as they can throw him the ball and wants some new and exciting plays to end all the double teams. Richardson says go talk to Chud and tell him what you want. Smith says he will do that. Jerry invited him to help as well as the best receiver and even is bringing Steve's mentor back in Ricky Proehl. A teacher ex-player who will work with the young guys and improve their film work immensely. He assures Smith that things will be better and they chat about the family.

I like this alternative ending for your story. It was cool though.

[Edward Teach]

The point was Fox played them over AE. What possible reason did he have? Wait I know this one. They already knew the position and AE didn't.

Correct!

But...If you already knew the answer then why did you ask the question? Oh, wait...let me guess this one: Because you are a smart ass.

[bigdog10]

No. The guy has never played WR and i believe it is going to take more than one season and two off-seasons to get him to even be average.

[chef17]

Correct!

But...If you already knew the answer then why did you ask the question? Oh, wait...let me guess this one: Because you are a smart ass.

I was gonna let you answer but you seem to fail to grasp the concept that AE likely didn't play because he wasn't ready. You continued to argue that Fox didn't give him a chance with no evidence at all to support that.

[chef17]

No. The guy has never played WR and i believe it is going to take more than one season and two off-seasons to get him to even be average.

People fail to grasp this concept.

[KJDaniel31]

(I only read the first page) I know it sucks that we gave up so much for him, but fact is that's what we did. We can't demand immediate results in this position, because he can't help that we really overvalued him on draft day. Learning a new position is a very difficult thing, and fans as well as coaches will have to be patient. He's getting paid like a 3rd rounder right now, and I have yet to hear any reports of laziness or problems from him. I don't know if it will work, but as a rule WRs blossom in their 3rd year, so I would expect someone who never played WR before to take at least that long.

[Edward Teach]

I was gonna let you answer but you seem to fail to grasp the concept that AE likely didn't play because he wasn't ready. You continued to argue that Fox didn't give him a chance with no evidence at all to support that.

You know, I am sorry for the comment. Just felt like you were being a little snide there...I shouldn't have said what I did.

But I said I see what you are saying.

I guess my only evidence was that Fox was accused of being reluctant to play younger players, as accused by the owner.

I added to that the assumption (guess maybe I shouldn't try to venture those on a message board for online discussions) that it has probably been something that has happened to certain young players on the team.

On top of that, I recall that the offense really sucked, like super bad, this past year. And also that it really didn't change (for example: there were no real changes, no wrinkles added, no real attempts to jump start the offense, s.o.s.) because Fox thought his formula was the way to do it.

Then, I really just had this idea recently because honestly I didn't really like the draft manuevering to get AE: I thought about why Hurney would have made the decision to move up to get him. Why he would give up a second, to get a project player in the third, and then how he must have felt to see Fox not even give the man a uniform on some Sundays.

So, yes...I see your point. And I understand that he may not have been ready to play on a playoff caliber team with a coach who had a contract. But he was on a terrible team decimated with injuries who were playing for nothing other than draft order. Fox could have tried a few new things with him. More than he did, anyway. In my opinion, that is.

[DaveThePanther2008]

You can bitch and moan about what we should have done. Bottom line A. Edwards is a Panther, He is a WR and we have to hope that over the last year he has developed enough to get some playing time. We all know how electric he was at ASU and being a two time Walter Payton award winner shows he has some talent.

I am one to believe Fox really didn't give a rat ass whether AE progressed or not. Fox was about here and now. Fox was pissed off about having all his veterans taken from him. No need in developing a player when he had 2 other rookies to deal with.

I don't think we will draft a WR at all. I think AE, Charly Martin and a few others on the IR/PS will make this team.

The price tag for AE was steep but it is what it is. Deal with it. Lets hope that R. Proehl and the WR coach can get him to be the player Hurney thought he would be when we traded that pick away.

Go Panthers