Why does Pat Y say we only have 40mil to spend?

[TruCatzFan]

Let's hope this poo ends today or tomorrow... I'd like to get this show on the rd...

And God said... Amen

[MHS831]

Everyone stop pooting your fuging pants and look at this.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/tag/_/name/2011-salary-cap-room

We will have roughly 47 to 57 Million to throw around. After signing our own FA, that will be down to about 15 to 25 Million for free agents.

Average contract amounts are usually higher than the first year of the contract, this will make it so we do not have a big new contract next year, and if we do not re-sign DW, trade Steve Smith, and cut Tyler Brayton, that would add nearly $18 million to the calculations. Lotta room. Heck, Denver is OVER the cap right now and they need a DT worse than we do (bypassed Dareus in draft). They are still the favorite to sign DW. FIgure that one out.

[CatMan72]

Any FA's we sign are going to be Chris Harris type players, not household names but very solid.

[teeray]

This franchise as a whole doesn't like to dive into the high priced free agency market and I don't expect them to this year. I suspect we will get a DT and sniff around some of the vet QBs (although I won't be shocked if we open camp with Cam, Clausen, and bring Moore back as our "vet").

But generally speaking we are going to do what we always do, and that is step back, let the feeding frenzy take place, allow everyone else to over pay for free agents, and then pluck out some solid players that are either waived or are considered second tier free agents that are good but much less expensive.

And frankly I think that is the best way to go in free agency.

[MadHatter]

This franchise as a whole doesn't like to dive into the high priced free agency market and I don't expect them to this year. I suspect we will get a DT and sniff around some of the vet QBs (although I won't be shocked if we open camp with Cam, Clausen, and bring Moore back as our "vet").

But generally speaking we are going to do what we always do, and that is step back, let the feeding frenzy take place, allow everyone else to over pay for free agents, and then pluck out some solid players that are either waived or are considered second tier free agents that are good but much less expensive.

And frankly I think that is the best way to go in free agency.

The Panthers have dove into the high priced free agency market on several occasions. For you to say that the franchise does not like to do this is merely conjecture on your part....not anywhere in the vacinity of fact.

Personally, I would like to see CJ, Anderson, and Davis re-signed. DWill leave (even though I love him). Then spend on a very good WR, a DT, and a CB (Not Aso...too expensive).

[OneBadassCat]

This franchise as a whole doesn't like to dive into the high priced free agency market and I don't expect them to this year. I suspect we will get a DT and sniff around some of the vet QBs (although I won't be shocked if we open camp with Cam, Clausen, and bring Moore back as our "vet").

But generally speaking we are going to do what we always do, and that is step back, let the feeding frenzy take place, allow everyone else to over pay for free agents, and then pluck out some solid players that are either waived or are considered second tier free agents that are good but much less expensive.

And frankly I think that is the best way to go in free agency.

That works when you are solid across the board and don't have drastic needs.

And although I believe we have good talent at basically every position we must have a probowl caliber DT and some argue that we should bring in a starting WR.

I just don't think we'll get away with that again. If we signed Cofield and maybe brought in a guy like Okoye or even Gabe Watson I would feel so much better about our team. Despite our DT selections in the draft(which I loved) we need to fortify that spot even more.

[teeray]

The Panthers have dove into the high priced free agency market on several occasions. For you to say that the franchise does not like to do this is merely conjecture on your part....not anywhere in the vacinity of fact.

Personally, I would like to see CJ, Anderson, and Davis re-signed. DWill leave (even though I love him). Then spend on a very good WR, a DT, and a CB (Not Aso...too expensive).

Who?? Mike Wahle maybe. Stephen Davis was considered done when the Panthers scooped him up and squeezed another good season out of him. We got Doug Evans way back in 1998. Usually our high priced free agents are our own which is a good thing IMO.

We very smartly stay out of the high priced market. We usually go after old veterans or guys who fall through the cracks because you can sign them for cheap and short term contracts.

Redskins are always players in free agency and they always suck because they are bogged down with these bad contracts to over valued players.

[teeray]

vacinity of fact.

I don't do spelling slams... but if I did :)

[MHS831]

Who?? Mike Wahle maybe. Stephen Davis was considered done when the Panthers scooped him up and squeezed another good season out of him. We got Doug Evans way back in 1998. Usually our high priced free agents are our own which is a good thing IMO.

We very smartly stay out of the high priced market. We usually go after old veterans or guys who fall through the cracks because you can sign them for cheap and short term contracts.

Redskins are always players in free agency and they always suck because they are bogged down with these bad contracts to over valued players.

Recently, you are correct, but this CBA storm has been brewing for a while. Ken Lucas was rather big, along with Wahle, Hartwig and Keyshawn Johnson.

This year is different. The impact of the lockout is magnified in Carolina by the expunging of veterans and their salaries and the 2-14 season. The Panther fans own their seats, making it difficult to walk away from the product. The team has to win people back over. I expect us to go hard after a top DT ($8-10 m) and look for a Josh Wilson ($6-$8 million) at CB .

[teeray]

Recently, you are correct, but this CBA storm has been brewing for a while. Ken Lucas was rather big, along with Wahle, Hartwig and Keyshawn Johnson.

This year is different. The impact of the lockout is magnified in Carolina by the expunging of veterans and their salaries and the 2-14 season. The Panther fans own their seats, making it difficult to walk away from the product. The team has to win people back over. I expect us to go hard after a top DT ($8-10 m) and look for a Josh Wilson ($6-$8 million) at CB .

If Ken Lucas and Justin Hartwig are your examples you are making my point for me. 2 guys who have never made a pro bowl are our big time free agent ventures.

Keyshawn was way past his prime when he came to Carolina and was a bargain.

So I will say again, we tend to find solid guys who fall through the cracks or veterans like Stephen Davis or Keyshawn Johnson who will take less money and a shorter contract.

I am not saying we are cheap. I am saying we are smart and stay out of the free agents feeding frenzy for the most part.

[MHS831]

If Ken Lucas and Justin Hartwig are your examples you are making my point for me. 2 guys who have never made a pro bowl are our big time free agent ventures.

Keyshawn was way past his prime when he came to Carolina and was a bargain.

So I will say again, we tend to find solid guys who fall through the cracks or veterans like Stephen Davis or Keyshawn Johnson who will take less money and a shorter contract.

I am not saying we are cheap. I am saying we are smart and stay out of the free agents feeding frenzy for the most part.

I was simple pointing out free agents along the lines of Wahle, the name you brought up. I agree with you, but the reason we have not done even that recently is due to the dark CBA cloud on the horizon.

I think this year we will make the biggest splash we have made as a franchise, however. Partly out of necessity, but there are other reasons. The most important things we can do are re-sign our core and extend Kalil and Beason. I also agree that getting into bidding wars is not our MO nor do I think it has ever been.

Here comes the radical comment: I think we should let DW walk (actually, we should have traded him last year). I am afraid that we will pay him for the same reasons we paid Jake Delhomme the big contract months before we cut him loose. Everyone who fails to see the business side of the NFL, who doesn't understand about the longevity of a RB, who wants to pay top dollar for current players, go after top free agents without thinking of the cap, scoffs at this. We are 2 years away. second contract RBs usually disappoint. Stephen Davis had a year in him, and was done. DW has not finished a season in 2 years. The math don't lie

But you are correct--we really don't go after the big free agents. Shockey is a lot like Keyshawn and Stephen Davis.

Take a look at Josh Willson CB from Baltimore. He would be nice. Also, do not be surprised if we sit tight while the others run up the bidding on Cofield and Mebane (I want Mebane). We will end up with a player like Mike Patterson (eagles). I hope not, but this is more likely than Cofield/Asomuhga

[Lumps]

Those people that think that all of the sudden we are going to spend big money on free agents are probably going to be really disappointed. Our FO doesn't like to spend big on free agents because

CJ walking away from us not wanting to play here that will pretty much fug up this whole method.

JR needs to learn to pay big in FA if he can't keep his successful drafts happy enough to stay here....I can think of a few. Some players want to win whooda thunk it?

[carpanfan96]

I was simple pointing out free agents along the lines of Wahle, the name you brought up. I agree with you, but the reason we have not done even that recently is due to the dark CBA cloud on the horizon.

I think this year we will make the biggest splash we have made as a franchise, however. Partly out of necessity, but there are other reasons. The most important things we can do are re-sign our core and extend Kalil and Beason. I also agree that getting into bidding wars is not our MO nor do I think it has ever been.

Here comes the radical comment: I think we should let DW walk (actually, we should have traded him last year). I am afraid that we will pay him for the same reasons we paid Jake Delhomme the big contract months before we cut him loose. Everyone who fails to see the business side of the NFL, who doesn't understand about the longevity of a RB, who wants to pay top dollar for current players, go after top free agents without thinking of the cap, scoffs at this. We are 2 years away. second contract RBs usually disappoint. Stephen Davis had a year in him, and was done. DW has not finished a season in 2 years. The math don't lie

But you are correct--we really don't go after the big free agents. Shockey is a lot like Keyshawn and Stephen Davis.

Take a look at Josh Willson CB from Baltimore. He would be nice. Also, do not be surprised if we sit tight while the others run up the bidding on Cofield and Mebane (I want Mebane). We will end up with a player like Mike Patterson (eagles). I hope not, but this is more likely than Cofield/Asomuhga

Dwill wasn't that injured and could have came back and played a few games after getting injured from what I've heard. He will get payed, I think both want Dwill in Charlotte.

Also another thing, I just don't see CJ turning down the massive contract he's about to be offered by Carolina. Plus he wants to stay in Charlotte.

[panthers55]

THe floor is not going to be measured in cap money but real money from what I have read. So the 73 million is real money commited not cap space. So to get to the floor of 120 million we will need to spend roughly 50 million in real salary or sign Kalil and Johnson to long term contracts which based on the signing bonuses will take that much. Add in Williams, Anderson, and Beason and we will be way over the floor so that is really a non issue. Our salary for 2011 if we sign all our core group will likely approach 200 million. But as we all know signing bonuses are counted as salary in the year they are paid which is when the extensions are done but are pro-rated throughout the contract as far as the cap is concerned.

So the truth is we will not have to bring anyone in from another team to far exceed our floor spending amount. We will also be able to manipulate the cap to get under it if there is a hard cap. And we won't need to sign a bunch of free agents from other teams to reach the floor, but simply sign the players who are free agents on the team. The only reason we are at the bottom in salary is because we have also have the fewest players signed of any team. So that low number is really deceiving. Why as Pat said are we at the most risk to lose in free agency?? Just ask Jerry about failing to lock up players last year and if there is no hard cap, his failed policy to save money in the event of a lockout. Without a hard cap, he will have screwed us consistently last year to line his pockets and we are still in no better position than other teams who spend money to be competitive in 2010.

As for the lame duck status, Jerry screwed us again to save a lousy 5 million bucks. If Rivera were hired last year we would be a year further down the road and would have an easier time getting up to speed as most players besides the rookies would already know the system and be ready to jump right in.