Let's get it over with and cut EB and AE

[jtnc]

Who would've thought they'd cut Kasay? Hoover? Would have LOLed @ that too.

Both of those players were past their prime.

[panthers55]

I think that AE is a keeper. Maybe as a receiver he still has a long way to go but as a punt returner he really has shown me some flashes. He is quick, shifty and has been pretty fearless on a couple of those returns so far. Been a long time since we had a punt returner who was dangerous (think 89). Johnson was reliable and got the most out of each return, but you never felt he could break one. Edwards has that kind of speed. Mark it down, I think he runs one back this year.

As for Brown, I hope he goes the route of Charles Johnson, getting bigger and stronger each year until in his third year he breaks out and becomes a potential starter. Like Johnson, he was a junior instead of a senior and wasn't fully developed. That has made him a rotational guy who can give you a spark but lacks consistency. He isn't big enough to dominate the position physically, so he does his Dwight Freeney imitation spin but has little else. Where as Freeney has the bull rush, the swim, the chop, the dip and whatever else he wants to do as well.

But the cardinal rule is don't cut someone until you're positive you have replaced him with an upgrade. If we cut him now, who are we replacing him with? We held onto Johnson who was only a third rounder so it makes sense to me that we hold onto our second rounder (which cost us a first) at least until his rookie contract expires. Lets be real, we held onto Jarrett for years and it was the DUIs that did him in, moreso, than his pedestrian production. A team that values theiir draft picks as much as the Panthers are prone to err on the side of excessive patience with Brown. The counter is that Rivera and McDermott didn't draft him and don't feel a strong allegiance to him..

In any event if we keep 5 DEs and Brown is the odd man out, that makes us pretty decent with 5 good DEs in our stable. Right now no matter how you slice it, Brown is no lower than 4th on the depth chart behind Johnson, Hardy,and Norwood. Balmer at 312 was brought in at DT not DE so it must mean we pick up 2 guys better than Brown in final cuts this next week. Here's hoping your right but knowing that brown isn't going anywhere. This year at least.

Unless you suggest that Brown is worse than Kaiser or Tatum. In which event, I am speechless.

[Ruff]

Woah, dude.

Serious Wall o' Text...

[Kevin Greene]

I'm not saying that AE is some sort of miracle player. I don't even think he's that good, at least, right now. He needs a lot more work in the return game to become a reliable return guy, and then tons more work in the receiving game, and then he might be a second receiver on a team.

I'm just saying that he's definitely not worth releasing right now. It would be crazy to release him after last season, and this year's preseason.

See my post below earlier and you can see I agree with you to a point.

UGGHH........

Hurney blew a 1st round pick and the 1st pick in the 2nd round on these 2 players.

We suck either way, keep 'em and hope for a miracle.

This is sure to be a hotly contested topic and top dawg has huge balls for even starting the thread.

[top dawg]

Oh. I thought we were talking about the better of the two Tates...

Golden Tate has only returned 16 kicks in his career (albeit, it's only been one year), for 202 yards, one of which was a 63 yarder. So, he has 15 mediocre returns, and one anomaly return.

(16 returns for 202 yards is only an average of 12 yards per return. If you take away the 63 yard anomaly, his return average is less than 9.3 yards.)

It's kind of a stretch to cherry pick returns, as most are average. Take away big plays at any position, and the numbers drop off a cliff. The fact is is that he will catch the ball. WR is his natural position, so it's not like he'd be a project in the same vein as AE. I am not trying to be ugly but it isn't actually an anomaly for AE to drop a punt. This isn't the definition of an impact player that you want.

[Ruff]

I agree that AE needs to definitely learn how to hold onto the ball.

At this point, I think it's more of a confidence thing, and he's just lacking in confidence in himself.

[Gipetto]

[Jackofalltrades]

You can play WR in college and still be a project WR in the NFL.

I have NO interest in Golden; Brandon is another story.

Way too early to give up on AE and Brown was a second round pick no matter how you try to twist it.

[Jackofalltrades]

Not to mention I'm more worried about Goodson holding onto the ball than I am AE.

[Kevin Greene]

But the cardinal rule is don't cut someone until you're positive you have replaced him with an upgrade. If we cut him now, who are we replacing him with? We held onto Johnson who was only a third rounder so it makes sense to me that we hold onto our second rounder (which cost us a first) at least until his rookie contract expires. Lets be real, we held onto Jarrett for years and it was the DUIs that did him in, moreso, than his pedestrian production. A team that values theiir draft picks as much as the Panthers are prone to err on the side of excessive patience with Brown. The counter is that Rivera and McDermott didn't draft him and don't feel a strong allegiance to him..

.

That's exactly where we are.

All we can do is ponder what a legit 1st rounder and the 33rd pick in last years draft might mean to this roster.

Meanwhile all we can do is wait.

[Guild]

We aint cutting AE, and don't be surprised when he becomes something special in our offense in particular.

Of course I'm just hoping.

[Jackofalltrades]

That's exactly where we are.

All we can do is ponder what a legit 1st rounder and the 33rd pick in last years draft might mean to this roster.

Meanwhile all we can do is wait.

Revisionist history is a waste, we got what we got. (Try to avoid: It is what it is)

[Carolina Fan]

not only has AE shown vast improvement so far this year, but he still has the ability to throw the ball down the field that i think we can make use of later down the road, as long as he keeps on the same path there is no reason for him not to make the team and stay on it.

[Mr ocho nueve]

Let's just cut Cam Newton while we're at it. Then we can cut D.Will and CJ, that will free up space for real quality players.