Once you're gone, you're gone, as Jeff Otah will find out

[Rare Breed]

It's funny to me why so many people were counting on Otah being here this year. And I don't mean on the team, I mean on the field. I expected him to at least be on the team but he has proven that he wasn't reliable. Never penciled him in as the starter.

Now, it does suck that we probably won't get anything for him but really we only were going to receive a late round pick.

And I am assuming he failed the physical because of conditioning not because of the knee (although they surely go hand and hand). Jets had to have known about his injured knee.

[Leeroy Jenkins PhD]

I'm confused. Is he officially gone? Or is that a bloggers speculation?

[Frizzy350]

This is something that nobody here knows but pretends they do. The fact is, Rivera talked about how hard he worked last season and how good of a job he was doing. Then he got hurt again. The fans have nothing to base this laziness assertion on other than his "fat" o-line body type, which for some reason they attribute to laziness for him but not for Bell, Hangman, Kalil, Amini, or Gross, who all have the same o-line body.

He can't pass a physical. He's not going to these physicals and saying "My knee is fine but I don't waaaaannaaaaa." The doctors are looking at the knee and saying no.

i understand ur point that as an olineman, ur generally a beefy guy but kalil and gross in particular are extremely lean.

honestly even if otah's knee is the problem, he isn't in football playing shape. he wasn't last year and was constantly getting pulled for a breather and puking on the sidelines. yea i know u cant run with a bum knee, but he coulda swam, rode stationary bikes, hell even done upper body cardio. maybe otah could overcome his knee and provide something to the team, but he surely has not been giving 100%.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

you try to put 6'6 360 lbs on a bad knee and see how you feel. remember how hard he worked last season and started the season but got hurt again? He really has a really bad knee. He isn't lazy. But I hope we can get something in return for him.

[Rip Saw]

Id like to know where some of you are getting your insider information.

[Guest Bwood]

I'm confused. Is he officially gone? Or is that a bloggers speculation?

STAFF MEETS WITH OTAH

Rivera confirmed that he and general manager Marty Hurney met with offensive tackle Jeff Otah today after the trade to the Jets was voided.

"We sat down and had a nice discussion," Rivera said. "Everything hinges on him going back and getting that physical."

[TheOracle]

As long as he's still a part of the Panthers he's not gone.

Who cares if he's "accepted"? If he's PHYSICALLY HERE, then he's not gone.

[The Huddler]

Im pulling for Otah man. Idk about you guys but i would love for him to stay and acually contribute to this Oline. Get a freakin prostetic leg!!

[Leeroy Jenkins PhD]

I agree, I think everyone needs to stop pretending they know whats up with Otah. It is in the coaches hands now. They will do what is best for the team

[PantherPhann89]

Sure we did, plenty of disappointment, fat jokes, things to keep us busy when bored, he even gave us the hope that he was gone.

All true statements but of course was referring to something more significant, like a pick to replace the pick we traded.

[Argus Plexus]

Who am I going to cuss about now?

[frash.exe]

This is something that nobody here knows but pretends they do. The fact is, Rivera talked about how hard he worked last season and how good of a job he was doing. Then he got hurt again. The fans have nothing to base this laziness assertion on other than his "fat" o-line body type, which for some reason they attribute to laziness for him but not for Bell, Hangman, Kalil, Amini, or Gross, who all have the same o-line body.

He can't pass a physical. He's not going to these physicals and saying "My knee is fine but I don't waaaaannaaaaa." The doctors are looking at the knee and saying no.

It was never Otah that talked about his rehabbing. Instead the coaches and Hurney were vouching for him. If you're prompted by the press about how a player is doing, you're never going to say, "you know I really wish he'd be making more of an effort", or imply it unless somebody is really being lazy. Thomas Davis was very vocal himself about his recovery, and so was Beason. These are guys that have passion for the game.

Otah has no passion for this game so he doesn't belong here. He was called out by Gross two years ago, and he was called out by Rivera just a few weeks ago. Do you know how unmotivated you have to be as a former first round draft pick to lose your job to a 2nd year UDFA whom overall performed terribly last season?

[Captain Morgan]

it's official...you can change the thread title

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2012/08/panthers-cut-jeff-otah-sign-a-cornerback.html