Dear Mr. Accorsi...

[bigdog10]

The comment about investing and upgrading the scouting department is spot on.

I would also suggest that the new GM not completely rule out free agency as an option. Obviously, it has burned JR in the past by going out and spending big on guys who weren't worth it, however you can't completely stay away from FA. If there is a player that the organization fills good about, go get him.

[rayzor]

Anytime leadership gets discussed on this board I just roll my eyes and wonder just what the hell people here know about the subject.

i've got my MBA concentration in it for starters.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

the accorsi hire was far and away the thing that has excited me most this season.

if he gets to do his thing we have some solid hires to look forward to at the very least.

[Jackofalltrades]

Have Cam go to one the military bases nearby for leadership/training program?

I thought about this some time back, Id love to see him go to Quantico thru USMC OCS.

[rayzor]

I asked bill rosinski about this last night on twitter this is what he said:

@RosinskiBill: talked with Savage a few times and I asked if he was interested in Panthers. Seemed to think Acorsi had own list if go to guys.

so that probably means that savage isn't on the list.

good to know. not a fan of that idea either.

this is kind of what i thought, though. accorsi's got his own group of people that he feels comfortable with and it's probably guys he's worked with before. that's a good starting point, but that's still a huge pool to draw from.

[rayzor]

As a guy who has attended many of these and led more than a few, they are typically designed to teach people how to get along in a large organization. They are great for the bottom 60% of the organization, but often have the effect of neutering top performers. It just doesn't seem like a good fit when talking about football players.

One exception, and perhaps this is what you intended, would be team building excursions when the intent is just to let them build bonds by having fun together. Whether paintballing, white water rafting or some equivalent activity, these can be used effectively to bring an organization closer together.

i don't know. i think it could work and it wouldn't be just any leadership conference. it would be more tailored to team sports, i would think. and it would benefit a lot of the roster to help get their minds on straight.

for the guys at the top, though, i think something like this is very much needed. they need some kind of in depth leadership training and workshop just to let them know what is expected of them as leaders and help them find better ways to motivate others on the team.

[rayzor]

my suggestions fill holes with vet players (thru FA and/or trades) and draft BPA.

[thefuzz]

Look league wide at the last 4 drafts and combine that with free agency spending, and cap space available for the next 3 years.

See which teams rise to the top.

Start interviewing key guys on those teams.

Don't hire anyone from the Browns, Raiders, Bengals, or Jags.

[bigdog10]

my suggestions fill holes with vet players (thru FA and/or trades) and draft BPA.

I think it is as simple as that, however this offseason and draft may be a little different simply due to the cap. This offseason will be a clean up period. We will likely unload some pretty familiar names. If I were a 3rd year or greater player on this team and my name wasn't Ryan Kalil, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, Charles Johnson, or Greg Hardy; I would seriously be worried about my future here. There could be a mass exodous of familiar faces. Obviously, the new GM won't unload all the vets, but i'm guessing there will be some 20+ page threads on the huddle when a couple of these guys tweet that they are no longer Panthers.

In the draft, If we end up with a top 3 pick, I would ideally like to see them slide down (even into the teens and pick up an additional second and a fourth).

Draft a first round O-Lineman and then BPA from there on out. There is no margin for error in missing in this next draft. Each player from the first three rounds will need to be solid contributors. The panthers cannot afford another Claussen, Armanti, Otah, or Everette Brown.

[Gabeking]

so that probably means that savage isn't on the list.

good to know. not a fan of that idea either.

this is kind of what i thought, though. accorsi's got his own group of people that he feels comfortable with and it's probably guys he's worked with before. that's a good starting point, but that's still a huge pool to draw from.

Or we might just hire a fuggin sports agent! *rolls eyes*

[fieryprophet]

Probably more than you realize.

Mmmhmm. I'd wager not a goddamn thing, myself.

[fieryprophet]

Football is a game. The media uses the term "leadership" as shorthand for "LOL, I'M AN EFFING MORON WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND FUTBOL, LEMME JUST PIN IT ON LEADERSHIP AND CALL IT A DAY!"

Leadership in football boils down to three things: 1) Do want to win? 2) Are you going to do what the coaches tell you? 3) Will you avoid killing any teammates?

That's it. These guys aren't out there thinking to themselves, "Geez, it's 4th and 1, let me be a leader by not blowing my blocking assignment."

Championship teams have won all the time with open rifts among players, ownership, coaching, etc. and won when everyone was kumbayaing. It's irrelevant, it's lazy, and it leads to placing unneeded burdens on players just because they don't fit the preconceived mold of what a leader acts like. Everyone blames the Cowboy's troubles on lack of leadership when the fact is they just plain-out suck, and much of their talent is overrated due to their market. Half of Tom Brady's teammates never speak to him and Aaron Rodgers made it a point to stay away from his teammates during the lockout. Stop attributing this crap to a lack of leadership and wanting Cam to turn into Ray Lewis, when the reality is that we need better coaching and that's where real leadership has to originate form in order for this franchise to get anywhere.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Invest in high defensive line draft picks.

[PhillyB]

I thought about this some time back, Id love to see him go to Quantico thru USMC OCS.

i'd be in favor of sending all of them for the sole purpose of seeing steve smith square off against somebody with pugil sticks.

and to see tolbert try to chug up danang hill.

and to see cam run across the logs like a drunken giant on the obstacle course and try to fit through the tunnels on the timed course.

yup, that could be entertaining.