So... Is Bell the starter now?

[rainwater]

Bell struggled at times, but he showed improvement and wasn't as bad as some here are making him out to be. He was awful at the start of the season, but by the end he was pretty reliable.

If by reliable, you mean the Panthers learned they had to keep a blocker on his side every play and hurt the production of our tight ends, then yes, he was reliable.

[pantherclaw]

Bell will never be mistaken for an all pro.

[pantherclaw]

They have their reasons no doubt...but if Otah could of gotten on the field this one season....Bell isn't even in the ballpark.

Front office also throught extending Delhomme was smart despite their being glaring reasons why it wasn't....as an example. We also tend to lose more than win which is a sign we don't always make the right call

Had to extend delhomme to have money to sign the rookies that year.

[bleys]

They have their reasons no doubt...but if Otah could of gotten on the field this one season....Bell isn't even in the ballpark.

Front office also throught extending Delhomme was smart despite their being glaring reasons why it wasn't....as an example. We also tend to lose more than win which is a sign we don't always make the right call

I would also like to add it was rather obvious John Fox had no other alternative at QB during a time he was about to get fired..

matter of fact, the difference between Fox/Hurney appears to be a drastic difference between Rivera/Hurney... I just can't get on board yet with attributing everything people want to bash Hurney on during the Fox era when so much seems different up until this point...

from 2008-2010 was a cluster fug and a lot of it had to do with a last ditch effort to keep John Fox employed with the Panthers... despite the brief success in 2008, that yet again our coach couldn't expand upon..

[CRA]

I would also like to add it was rather obvious John Fox had no other alternative at QB during a time he was about to get fired..

matter of fact, the difference between Fox/Hurney appears to be a drastic difference between Rivera/Hurney... I just can't get on board yet with attributing everything people want to bash Hurney on during the Fox era when so much seems different up until this point...

from 2008-2010 was a cluster fug and a lot of it had to do with a last ditch effort to keep John Fox employed with the Panthers... despite the brief success in 2008, that yet again our coach couldn't expand upon..

well, I think Hurney is a coach's GM. Gives his coach what that coach wants to a large degree. That is good.

Hurney plays on the high end of the payscale. That is Hurney. That is not good.

[MaineManPanther]

What should be considred is:

Like all 2011 rookies Bell didnt have a full offseason to get properly conditioned and acclimated to the NFL in general, much less be ready to start so early. He has a whole year now of starting and a whole offseason to prepare. Whatever the level of his play may be in 2012 I think its safe to say it wont be nearly as bad 2011.

Also a RT isnt crucial to the success of the offence. We were a top offence in 2011 despite Bell. Add in his improvement along with that of Newton, Lafell ,etc, Im not to worried.