Panthers lay off 20 employees

[guyinchesapeake]

The Panthers laid people off, huh? Damn, I was going to send my resume in!

[Cat Fanboy]

So it's 'wrong' to make too much money? 1 million ok? 9 million isnt? Ever since Arod got that monster deal years ago everyone complains how much athletes make.

They make that money because they bring value to the company. Why dont people yell at the millionaires in companies? I am not even talking about CEO's...but the salesman at BoA who pulls down 30 Million as a BONUS.

Hell yes it sucks to be laid off, but to whine at the 'rich' people...WTF are we socialists now?

Cry about our value system while you dump $80 for that Gross jersey. Snivel at Peppers and his 17 Million pricetag as you drop a hundred to go to the game. The FANS are what dictate the value of our players and to bitch about it just makes a hypocrite.

[Matt Foley]

True, but kind of sad to realize that Landon Whatshisface (the linebacker they signed) made more last year than all 20 people they laid off.

[Brooklyn Bully]

The more we pay players in all three sports, the more insane the numbers will get. Nobody in any profession on this planet deserves to make as much as A-Rod does. It's just silly. Keep it up and you'll have a 10-year $500 million contract before too long.

[MadHatter]

Because they are making money at their job they could be fired from as well ?

Wealth envy for the lose.

No, I understand that. Just at the sheer dollars they are getting to play a game they love. Too many players forget how lucky they really are.

Also, unless they have squandered their millions, they can handle it much more that Joe Worker who raises a family paycheck to paycheck.

[Zod]

The pay of the players has 0 to do with the layoffs.

The fact that people have less to spend on merchandise and beer has 100% to do with the layoffs.

[Matt Foley]

The pay of the players has 0 to do with the layoffs.

The fact that people have less to spend on merchandise and beer has 100% to do with the layoffs.

I think it actually has more to do with Bank of America.

[MadHatter]

The pay of the players has 0 to do with the layoffs.

The fact that people have less to spend on merchandise and beer has 100% to do with the layoffs.

No disrespect intended, but I disagree with your assessment.

Whether it is $1 less coming in from mechandise or beer....or $1 more going out the door for costs (player salaries), they impact the proftability and decision making of the corporation equally.

In a normal corporation, you may have to cut headcount if your sales decline. However, we are also faced with reducing costs (headcount included) when other costs (material, etc.) increase.

Again, it is a Net Sum Game. Both lack of revenue or increased other costs drive the same behavior and issues.

The Panthers are in a situation where revenues are likely to be down (from the overall recession), combined with costs still significantly increasing (salaries and an increasing salary cap). This does not bode well for the little guy.

[BlueHose]

The pay of the players has 0 to do with the layoffs.

The fact that people have less to spend on merchandise and beer has 100% to do with the layoffs.

Which directly ties into my plan on how to stimulate the economy...

DRINK MORE BEER!

[mountainpantherfan]

Team spokesman Charlie Dayton released this statement: "There have been layoffs with the Carolina Panthers as a result of downsizing and restructuring. The NFL is not immune from the current economic conditions and these are very difficult decisions designed to help the organization move forward in the most efficient manner possible.”

I may be wrong but doesn't player salaries under the salary cap come from a profit sharing system? That would mean the amount of money players are making has no impact on the operations of the business/front office end of the team. Any money left under the cap has to be spent forwarded to the next year cap or forfieted. A team can not simpley pocket cap space and then use it in it's day to day operations.

Based on the statement above, especially the portion bolded, these cut were probably an effort to eliminate positions that were not deemed "vital" to the overall operations of the team. From what I am hearing, most of the 20 were "head ushers" who were more of a supervisor and did little hands on work during the games. If my source is correct, then I have no problem with these layoffs and hope that they will allow the team to not raise ticket prices again this year.

[monstercat]

Exactly, good luck with yours my friend...

Thanks. Don't get me wrong though...I have nothing against Gross at all, in fact, if anybody deserves it, he does. The guy works his ass off and you will never read about him testing positive for steroids or doing something stupid off the field. He is a class act all the way.

You just can't get around the fact that fans are going to be more and more bitter about the amount of money these athletes are making nowadays though.

Honestly, I'm not bitter myself, even though I probably came off that way. I was just pointing out how this stuff is gonna be perceived by all those people that are standing in line for every job opening these days.

[mush]

I'm sure some of it also has to do with reduced in house advertising. Advertising revenue is down everywhere and the Panthers are not immune from it.

[mantal]

I'm sure some of it also has to do with reduced in house advertising. Advertising revenue is down everywhere and the Panthers are not immune from it.

So, no more Harris Teeter cards?...