The only way this makes sense....

[frash.exe]

it's going to have to be a guy that Richardson trusts to build a winner enough that he doesn't meddle.

as long as Richardson is the one pulling the strings this franchise will never see anything better than sporadic winning interspersed with long drought periods.

[Proudiddy]

Good post Fiz. I agree with everything except for the "Hurney spilling the beans" part.

Most educated/informed fans know Hurney was just a hood ornament but JR pulled all the strings, so we know who was behind the moves that have been made. But, by all accounts, Hurney and JR are really close and will continue to be.

To me, I think Hurney knew it was coming if Rivera didn't get the team on the right track and he was making more appearances and statements to kind of let it be known he was on the chopping block. If he was working without a contract and knew it was coming, I doubt he throws dirt on JR at this point.

But, I've said the same thing as far as everything else. The timing is awkward and it simply comes off as an empty gesture to me. I want to think something else big is coming that would please informed fans, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did it just to appease the many fans who blamed this season on Hurney.

I'm of the mind that we have ENOUGH talent, the coaching staff is where the problem lies.

[grateflday]

.................It's also going to start coming out that the most heavily derided moves over the past few years (Delhomme, Armanti, DeAngelo's contract, etc) were at the behest of Richardson. Gantt has already written the PFT article alluding to it, but I guarantee it's going to start spilling out now.

..........So why do this now? There doesn't necessarily have to be a good reason. Richardson has shown he likes moves just to make the fan base happy (DeAngelo's contract being an example). It's clear from the reactions on here that the base fan is pleased by this.

............I don't want to say Bill Cowher, because I think it's an unfunny meme at this point, but it might be someone like that. Someone established that would like control. Cowher makes perfect sense. He wanted front office control last go around. So does Schottenheimer who has been successful everywhere he's gone.

1) I do agree and think JR has a lot do with the contracts and a good amount of what has been done with many of the current players on this roster.

2) Why do this now?? I am one of those fans who agrees with it. My biggest fear as a fan and PSL owner is this team finishes strong and JR gets that false image and hope that they have turned it around and stays the course for next season, AND then we have another 1-5, 2-4, etc start and suck again. At least now I dont have that concern and can enjoy the rest of the season more knowing this wont be tolerated, etc.

3) I would be fine with Bill Cowher or Gruden or some other former NFL Coach that has had success. I know many are against retreads but the last thing I want is to go the unknown Coorinator route or College HC and hope he is the next "great one" and find out he isnt resulting in another 3-4 wasted season.

[Panfan35]

1) I do agree and think JR has a lot do with the contracts and a good amount of what has been done with many of the current players on this roster.

2) Why do this now?? I am one of those fans who agrees with it. My biggest fear as a fan and PSL owner is this team finishes strong and JR gets that false image and hope that they have turned it around and stays the course for next season, AND then we have another 1-5, 2-4, etc start and suck again. At least now I dont have that concern and can enjoy the rest of the season more knowing this wont be tolerated, etc.

3) I would be fine with Bill Cowher or Gruden or some other former NFL Coach that has had success. I know many are against retreads but the last thing I want is to go the unknown Coorinator route or College HC and hope he is the next "great one" and find out he isnt resulting in another 3-4 wasted season.

You think had problems speaking the plays get gruden in here lol

[grateflday]

You think had problems speaking the plays get gruden in here lol

I was just using him as an example. I will leave my trust in whomever is named the new GM to bring in the right guy. My point, is unlike some, I do not want a cooridinator or college coach, and being the team to test if he is the next great HC. I know the reward if one is correct but I just think the failure rate is just way to high. I could be wrong, despite the recent trend over the years of going in that direction. I just do not want to wast another 3-4 seasons if the pick for HC is wrong again.

[Cyberjag]

Prior to 2008, Hurney traded for or signed the following veteran players:

Mark Fields, Stephen Davis, Ken Lucas, Mike Wahle, Justin Hartwig, Chris Harris, Keyshawn Johnson, Na'il Diggs, Ma'ake Kemoeatu

I'm not counting the fringe players who made good, like Jake Delhomme, or Damione Lewis. All of those players had extensive starting experience, and were well known free agents that other people wanted. And not all of them worked out. But the point is, he went out and got solid veterans.

And then he suddenly stopped. After 2009, he's signed/traded for:

Greg Olsen, Jeremey Shockey, Mike Tolbert

Fox got no one in his last two years, and had his entire roster all but purged of veterans. That's also not characteristic of Hurney, but it's pretty much accepted that he did it because Richardson told him to. And then there's the whole Peppers thing, where Hurney never tried to trade him away, even after it was apparent that he wanted to go. Through it all, he did a great job at cap management, for what that's worth, but it;s almost like he was a completely different GM after Richardson got involved again and fired his kids.

[frash.exe]

i was wondering at what point today was cyberjag going to completely exonerate Hurney of any wrongdoing

[PantherFanOne]

i'd much rather have someone like cowher or schotty than polian again.

that dude was seriously overrated.

True!!!l Plus he was a big jerk to boot!

[SOJA]

Lots of talk about how Hurney was a puppet for JR.....if this is true, will JR hire yet another one or is he committed to trying something different in order to win a superbowl?

Let's assume Hurney was a puppet. From JR's perspective Hurney makes perfect sense. By all accounts, he was one of the nicest people in the NFL. He never caused any drama and ALWAYS took the blame. Did Hurney really want to draft Armanti, or was that a cry from JR to appease the App state fanbase? I contend we will never know, but what we will know by the next hire is whether or not JR's philosophy has fundamentally changed.

Is winning a superbowl more important to him now than having total control over his baby, his Panthers ,or will he maintain with the status quo and hire another 'puppet'?

[Cyberjag]

I think it's going to be very interesting to watch how the next GM operates, and to see just how much autonomy he enjoys.

[Lout]

I don't care who it is...but If we get one more Brown scrub I will go apesh*t

Bill Belichick was a 'brown scrub'.

[Guest Hokebuck]

Those big investors from App State keeping Armanti Edwards on the team! SMH

[Snake]

Prior to 2008, Hurney traded for or signed the following veteran players:

Mark Fields, Stephen Davis, Ken Lucas, Mike Wahle, Justin Hartwig, Chris Harris, Keyshawn Johnson, Na'il Diggs, Ma'ake Kemoeatu

I'm not counting the fringe players who made good, like Jake Delhomme, or Damione Lewis. All of those players had extensive starting experience, and were well known free agents that other people wanted. And not all of them worked out. But the point is, he went out and got solid veterans.

And then he suddenly stopped. After 2009, he's signed/traded for:

Greg Olsen, Jeremey Shockey, Mike Tolbert

Fox got no one in his last two years, and had his entire roster all but purged of veterans. That's also not characteristic of Hurney, but it's pretty much accepted that he did it because Richardson told him to. And then there's the whole Peppers thing, where Hurney never tried to trade him away, even after it was apparent that he wanted to go. Through it all, he did a great job at cap management, for what that's worth, but it;s almost like he was a completely different GM after Richardson got involved again and fired his kids.

The fact that he stopped was because if he didn't he was going to be out of a job just like Fox for his poor performance. JR set goals that Fox nor Hurney met and that's why both got fired. Not because of some half baked scheme.

[YoureWelcome]

Cyberjag defended Jake/Fox to the grave. What a clown.