Does Greg Hardy get the starting role?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Personally, I think unless Brown comes back beefed up and has worked on his rips and spins rather than relying on his agility then Hardy's got the starting gig. Regarding Brayton, well I'm not even sure Brayton will be back with the team next year.

Hardy just played out of his freaking mind. Just watch him in this video. His drive looks like a "any means necessary" guy to get to the ball wherever it is.

Hardy was all over the place, he racked up 30 tackles, 24 solo tackles, 6 assists, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 5 yards lost on a tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 blocked kick, and 1 pass defended.

Hardy and Johnson will become the new faces on the outside for the Panthers in years to come, if we can just get another DT to stuff the run or penetrate then our D-Line will be looking pretty nasty.

[Swarly]

if the Panthers let Johnson walk I don't know if I'd be able to support them for a while. I can handle DWill walking even though he's one of my favorite Panthers ever... but Johnson, aside from Beason, is the most important part of our defense and is absolutely crucial if we plan to compete soon. If they let him walk without throwing a huge contract at him I will probably take a break from the NFL for a while.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

If you don't think Johnson will be back with the Panthers then you are on Ryan Mallets crack. Johnson and Beason anchored the defense this year and the coaches coming in now that. I can guarantee you that Meeks has already relayed this information to McDermott and Rivera and when the CBA finally gets put in place, Johnson will sign with the Panthers. Finally money is not a factor it's just all depending on how cheap Hurney wants to be.

[Swarly]

If you don't think Johnson will be back with the Panthers then you are on Ryan Mallets crack. Johnson and Beason anchored the defense this year and the coaches coming in now that. I can guarantee you that Meeks has already relayed this information to McDermott and Rivera and when the CBA finally gets put in place, Johnson will sign with the Panthers. Finally money is not a factor it's just all depending on how cheap Hurney wants to be.

Biggest reason I think most of our free agents will be back is the Panthers literally have to spend upwards of $50 million dollars just to reach the salary FLOOR. If they have to overpay Johnson I'm 100% fine with that. The guy is going to be a star in this league.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I agree 100%, He just had to wait his turn and he did, now it is paying off.

[SPANKY]

Hardy>Brown for sure, I'd be picking my jaw up off the floor if anyone but Hardy got the starting job. Only Brayton would have a chance, a slim chance.

[OneBadassCat]

Damn Gettis is going to be good.

[mountainpantherfan]

I really like Johnson and like I said I think he does end up back with the Panthers but I am not on board for over paying for a guy that had one good year. It wasn't even a great year, just good.

He is important to the rebuilding plans of this team, that I have no doubt. But if there is a cap, you can not risk the future for a player like Johnson.

And again let me say I expect him to be back, just not banking on it yet.

[SPANKY]

Johnson outplayed Peppers in 2010, and he had very little help.

[mountainpantherfan]

Biggest reason I think most of our free agents will be back is the Panthers literally have to spend upwards of $50 million dollars just to reach the salary FLOOR. If they have to overpay Johnson I'm 100% fine with that. The guy is going to be a star in this league.

I agree with the number but the thing is that there really is a lot of players on this team that need to be resigned. And then there is the draft picks and even without the 2nd rounder having the 1st pick is really expensive compared to drafting in the teens or 20's. Then we also want to bring in free agents.

$50mm is a lot of money but when you start signing contracts, money starts going pretty damn fast.

Just as a point of reference, I would be okay with a 4-5 year deal worth $30mm and $10mm gaurenteed. And to me that would be pushing close to overpaying for Johnson. I think $36mm would be my absolute limit. Would you go higher than that?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I really like Johnson and like I said I think he does end up back with the Panthers but I am not on board for over paying for a guy that had one good year. It wasn't even a great year, just good.

He is important to the rebuilding plans of this team, that I have no doubt. But if there is a cap, you can not risk the future for a player like Johnson.

And again let me say I expect him to be back, just not banking on it yet.

I agree to some point, I wouldn't give him an outrageous amount of money, but I would overpay him. Like you said, he did not have a "great year (I conisder a great year as: ranked in the top 5 in sacks and tackles among DE's)" but I would go as far in saying that he had a really good year. After all, Johnson did account for about 37% of the Panthers sacks.

[Jackofalltrades]

This is where the CBA really hurts, because if CJ does leave (which I seriously, seriously doubt) then someone like Robert Quinn becomes much more of a need, OR we could have addressed it in FA.

I really think Johnson and Hardy will bookend a dominant DL in Carolina for the next 4-5 years.

[mountainpantherfan]

I agree to some point, I wouldn't give him an outrageous amount of money, but I would overpay him. Like you said, he did not have a "great year (I conisder a great year as: ranked in the top 5 in sacks and tackles among DE's)" but I would go as far in saying that he had a really good year. After all, Johnson did account for about 37% of the Panthers sacks.

I think we are on the same wave length. To me there is a difference in just simply overpaying a little for a player to keep them happy and trying to buy their decission to stay somewhere, which by accounts is what the Panthers were willing to do for Peppers. If Johnson wants to leave, it would take more money than is deserved to keep him. I know when I'm in the job hunt there are jobs I know I will only take if they just absolutely overpay me and then there are jobs that I only want a little more than I'm currently making.

[mountainpantherfan]

This is where the CBA really hurts, because if CJ does leave (which I seriously, seriously doubt) then someone like Robert Quinn becomes much more of a need, OR we could have addressed it in FA.

I really think Johnson and Hardy will bookend a dominant DL in Carolina for the next 4-5 years.

I agree but I think Hardy needed this offseason in order to be ready to start in 2011. At this rate the CBA is going to keep him in rotation for at least one more year.

I think had there been an offseason, Hardy and Johnson would be the starters and Brayton would be released due to his contract structure but now they will have to keep and probably overpay a little for Brayton to keep the experience for 2011 without an offseason.