Are Hurney and Fox delerious or are we lurking

[carolinaAl]

Ok, question of the day. Are Hurney and Fox frigging delerious thinking we can sit on what we have and be a winner this upcoming year. It would seem so with the COMPLETE quiteness and lack of even entertaining visits from any free agents.

Or, are they being quite and holding there cards close to the vest intentionally. Nobody. and I mean nobody, including Kiper and all the gurus, had us trading our 1st this year to Philly last year and taking such a huge risk. That just wasn't our M.O. But we did it, and at the time everyone said we were crazy to give up so much. Well after the emergence of the Road Grader Otah and the birth of Double Trouble, 2400+ rushing yards later, we look like geniuses.

I just ask myself if maybe the sly dogs don't have something up there sleeve that nobody has picked up on. Maybe a big draft day trade with Pep, or something else.

I just find it hard to believe after there ballsy move last year and seeing the results from it, that they would think we can go into this season exactly as we were last season with no defensive improvements and win this year. And they have to feel like after the ass kicking in Arizona -if we go back to 7-9 again this year they are gone? Even after 12-4 last year.

Thoughts???

[Badbak]

They had better be looking for depth on both lines if nothing else! The cupboard is bare once you get past the starters.

[CRA]

I just find it hard to believe after there ballsy move last year and seeing the results from it, that they would think we can go into this season exactly as we were last season with no defensive improvements and win this year. And they have to feel like after the ass kicking in Arizona -if we go back to 7-9 again this year they are gone? Even after 12-4 last year.

Thoughts???

With our tough schedule and Fox's conservative coaching and schemes, 8-8 or 9-7 is imo the best Fox can do. Fox would need a much better defense to face the upcoming scheduled teams and win w/ his gameplans imo.

[Brandon]

With our tough schedule and Fox's conservative coaching and schemes, 8-8 or 9-7 is imo the best Fox can do. Fox would need a much better defense to face the upcoming scheduled teams and win w/ his gameplans imo.

People said the eact same thing about last season and how we wouldn't do better than 8-8 or 9-7.

[CRA]

People said the eact same thing about last season and how we wouldn't do better than 8-8 or 9-7.

Not really, we really didn't have that bad of a schedule to work with. Next season's schedule is a legit playoff killer unless you are a very good team. Fox doesn't have the defense or coaching to handle it imo. Fox needs a top 5 DL for his bs to work on D.

[ashehudson]

If you wanna consider it lurking you may but I think the FO is just waiting to sign a fury of FA's once/if Peppers gets handled. I can't tell if this is just a wish or a gut feeling but I wanna say that Peppers actually signs a contract with the Panthers this year along with restructured Lucas/Delhomme contracts.

I think the reason the Peppers situation hasn't been worked out is because the teams he wanted to go to aren't willing to pay him what he wants. I also feel that Lucas is now worried about being shopped and fears getting cut and getting cheap offers or being traded to a bad team. He might be willing to restructure.

If this happens, I'd rather the FO sign a bunch of mid-level talent for cheap and get upgrades with our depth/special teams.

The reason I feel this is going to happen is because I want 2-3 first day draft picks for Peppers/Lucas, and I never get what I want during the offseason.

[Peppers90 NC]

First Al, this has been mentioned dozens of times. WE HAVE NO CAP ROOM. We cant even entertain the thought. We have 22 of 22 starters back right now which may be good or bad, but if youre expecting or looking for a big splash, then thats your fault for being disappointed without even trying to understand the circumstance to begin with. Use common sense please.

As I was leaving Charlotte the other day at the airport, I saw a private Eagles jet parked there. Maybe they were in town meeting with Pep or the Panthers discussing future terms. Once Pep gets handled, then we wont be so handcuffed. I dont know what the holdup is on Jakes contract, which should give us some room.

[jpniner]

the Philly fan base would turn Peppers into a basket case

[mantal]

Not really, we really didn't have that bad of a schedule to work with. Next season's schedule is a legit playoff killer unless you are a very good team. Fox doesn't have the defense or coaching to handle it imo. Fox needs a top 5 DL for his bs to work on D.

People always say that, but let's look at the record:

2002 - Took a 1-15 team the year before to a 7-9 record, some say remarkable.

2003 - Went to the Super Bowl can't get much better than that

2004 - 7-9 with 14 starting players on IR

2005 - NFC Championship game

2006 - 8-8, again, major injuries

2007 - 7-9 Without a starting QB

2008 - 12-4

He's a damn fine coach. Yes, I know he's conservative and it drives you guys nuts when we don't blow every team out be 40 points, but he's a winner. Whenever I get frustrated with him, I take a look back at the Siefort years and I feel a lot better. Back then, we would just be happy to have a winning season. Oh how our expectations have changed, but yet so many fans think him incompetent and call for his removal. Baffles the crap out of me...

[rayzor]

Not really, we really didn't have that bad of a schedule to work with. Next season's schedule is a legit playoff killer unless you are a very good team. Fox doesn't have the defense or coaching to handle it imo. Fox needs a top 5 DL for his bs to work on D.

very few people were saying we would go much beyond 8 wins last year. if the old board hadn't blown up you would have been able to see quite a few threads talking about how we had no/very little chance to have a winning record.

i am under no delusions that we will go 12-4 again but i do think that we have an incredibly solid foundation to build on and with just a bit of tweaking when we actually do get going in the FA market (which shouldn't be until prices come down) we will get the depth we need.

i expect our defense to be better than last years just because of the changes in coaching personnel. we could have that top 5 DL. there's still a lot of time to get things worked out and we have plenty of options available.

i am glad that we are having the schedule that we are next year, though. there is no doubt in my mind that if we can come out f that with a winning record that we will easily be among the top 5 teams in the NFL. the record might not indicate it by the time the regular season ends but if we can get into the playoffs (and we are still the best team in the NFCS) we will be strong enough to make a run all the way to the superbowl.

[Mesmer]

People always say that, but let's look at the record:

2002 - Took a 1-15 team the year before to a 7-9 record, some say remarkable.

2003 - Went to the Super Bowl can't get much better than that

2004 - 7-9 with 14 starting players on IR

2005 - NFC Championship game

2006 - 8-8, again, major injuries

2007 - 7-9 Without a starting QB

2008 - 12-4

He's a damn fine coach. Yes, I know he's conservative and it drives you guys nuts when we don't blow every team out be 40 points, but he's a winner. Whenever I get frustrated with him, I take a look back at the Siefort years and I feel a lot better. Back then, we would just be happy to have a winning season. Oh how our expectations have changed, but yet so many fans think him incompetent and call for his removal. Baffles the crap out of me...

I think it still has to do with the franchise being so young. Also, people around my age and younger are...well we're stupid sometimes.... I mean a lot

[mr beauxjangles]

First Al, this has been mentioned dozens of times. WE HAVE NO CAP ROOM. We cant even entertain the thought. We have 22 of 22 starters back right now which may be good or bad, but if youre expecting or looking for a big splash, then thats your fault for being disappointed without even trying to understand the circumstance to begin with. Use common sense please.

As I was leaving Charlotte the other day at the airport, I saw a private Eagles jet parked there. Maybe they were in town meeting with Pep or the Panthers discussing future terms. Once Pep gets handled, then we wont be so handcuffed. I dont know what the holdup is on Jakes contract, which should give us some room.

This is at least the second time I've seen you mention the sighting of the Eagles plane at the airport. Was it a small private jet, or was it this plane:

http://asp.usatoday.com/_common/_scripts/big_picture.aspx?width=490&height=332&storyURL=/travel/flights/2006-10-06-eagles-plane_x.htm&imageURL=http://images.usatoday.com/travel/_photos/2006/10/06/in-eagles-large.jpg

US Airways has quite a few team-sponsored planes, but they aren't used by the team. They are part the general US Airways fleet. These planes are at the Charlotte airport all the time.

Just curious if this might have been what you saw.

[carolinaAl]

First Al, this has been mentioned dozens of times. WE HAVE NO CAP ROOM. We cant even entertain the thought. We have 22 of 22 starters back right now which may be good or bad, but if youre expecting or looking for a big splash, then thats your fault for being disappointed without even trying to understand the circumstance to begin with. Use common sense please.

Are you always such a smart ass?

I do understand the circumstances.

I also know that the -No Cap Room is BS. If they wanted to sign somebody, and I don't recall saying anything about a BIG SPLASH-I just mean anybody, they could find cap room. It's all juggling and Hurney is good at it.

I don't recall ever saying I was dissappointed. You said that.

My question was - what do ya'll think Hurney and Fox are thinking, are they happy where we are or is there possibly something behind the scenes we don't know about in the works.

I'll use common sense when you learn how to read the thread correctly and not interject your smart assness or speak for other people.

[Squirrel]

This is at least the second time I've seen you mention the sighting of the Eagles plane at the airport. Was it a small private jet, or was it this plane:

http://asp.usatoday.com/_common/_scripts/big_picture.aspx?width=490&height=332&storyURL=/travel/flights/2006-10-06-eagles-plane_x.htm&imageURL=http://images.usatoday.com/travel/_photos/2006/10/06/in-eagles-large.jpg

US Airways has quite a few team-sponsored planes, but they aren't used by the team. They are part the general US Airways fleet. These planes are at the Charlotte airport all the time.

Just curious if this might have been what you saw.

Most likely the US Airways plane since most teams dont have their own airplanes. Plus if they did they wouldnt park at the terminal they would go to the FBO.