Deems May: Panthers have 2 untouchable players

[SCP]

It's kinda hard to designate anybody 'untouchable' on a 3 win team that's getting a new GM and maybe a new coach.

Granted there are some guys who'd be highly unlikely to have anything happen to them. Newton and Kuechly would be in that group. Kalil, Olsen , Hardy and LaFell are guys who'd surprise me too.

I wanna put Johnson in there but part of me wonders what a new guy will think of his contract.

Agree. CJ's contract might make him untouchable. He will be very hard to trade and his cap hit has to be huge if we release him.

Hurney has really put us in a bind with these contracts. That tune may change in the summer as the cap always seems to work out, but looking at it now looks scary.

[rayzor]

agreed completely.

doesn't mean they all suck or should be replaced. just that those two should be who the offense and defense should be built or rebuilt around.

[Guest]

Smitty will retire vs. being traded.

[Fiz]

Lol we used to have a lake house by him in euwharrie.

He used to get in trouble for killing deer out of season. He kept a gun by the toilet to shoot them in the morning while he was taking a piss.

[mwright350]

Lol we used to have a lake house by him in euwharrie.

He used to get in trouble for killing deer out of season. He kept a gun by the toilet to shoot them in the morning while he was taking a piss.

...so much lol

[SCP]

Lol we used to have a lake house by him in euwharrie.

He used to get in trouble for killing deer out of season. He kept a gun by the toilet to shoot them in the morning while he was taking a piss.

On one hand this makes me value the guys opinion even more, on the other hand he is a wfnz contributor.

[firstdayfan]

Depends on what you mean by "untouchable"

Yes I think Cam and Kuechly are our premiere players (thanks Hurney) but I feel like we have some young "core" talent throughout the roster that shouldn't be going anywhere under any circumstance, including Johnson, Hardy, Lafell, Olsen, Kalil, Beason (i just have faith in him) and even Godfrey.

Then there is a tier of players that have some skill that need to be developed but not given up on, these are Silatolu, Norman, Alexander, and possibly Josh Thomas. Actually, it's a little disappointing how few young up and coming players we have (thanks Hurney).

We also have some aging veterans that while are still effective/solid players, they may be too expensive to keep around next year. In other words they are sliding out of the position of being "core" players...Gross, Smith (although, IMO he should stay forever), Gamble, Williams, Anderson, and possibly Hangartner (although no one ever considered him a core player).

Then there is the fluff of the roster, kickers, punters, special teamers, and depth that always transitions each year.

My point? I dont think this roster needs a complete overhaul. We can either put together two-three good drafts (don't think the final tier of players will ever see that) or bring in some quality free agents and hit on some high draft picks (how huge is vincent jackson, martin, and barron for the bucs?). Personally I'd rather go the free agent/draft pick route simply bc Cam needs some support. We shouldn't allow him to suffer through two-three more seasons of mediocrity.

I think finding the right GM and coach is huge (look at San Fran) to go along with a great draft (DT, OL, CB) and a few quality free agents (WR, OL, S) and we could make some big things happen as early as next season.

[KJ89]

Smitty will retire vs. being traded.

Yeah, he said it himself, he's retiring as a panther.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

i wish the term "core" was never a part the panthers vocabulary.

being so tied up in keeping a "core" is the reason why the team is in such shambles.

one or two players to build around is all that's needed.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

I think we have as many as some playoff teams. I mean how many do the Colts have? Two. How about Cincinnati? I mean in the NFL "untouchable" needs to be at QB, one on defense, and your coach. Everything else can be riddled with players who will shuffle in and out. When the Giants won their first Super Bowl with Eli they had like 2 untouchables and a good coach. We have mostly what we need to make a run as early as next year but have to get the coach right

[Thorrez]

There is no such thing as an untouchable player.

If New England calls and offer 2 first, 2 second, Brady and Welker for Cam he is packing for Boston.

Will that happen? No. Will any other starter be traded? No, most likely not as trading of starters is a very rare thing in the NFL. So this is like saying Cam will start against KC. It is not actually wrong, he will start, it just does not make sense to state it as there is noone pressing him for the job.

[firstdayfan]

One thing that has depleted our roster over the years is trying to plug holes with draft picks that never pan out. Think of all the receivers that Hurney brought through that could have been solved by going after a big time receiver in free agency? Or the defensive tackles we drafted two years ago that we ended up fixing by having Dwan Edwards fall in our lap. Use free agency to fill those gaping holes and use the draft to develop young players into quality starters.

The few times hurney actually did that he was successful. He just didn't do it enough. Johnson, Kalil, Lafell, Hardy, Godfrey, Munnerlyn, and Anderson all came outside the first round, which is great, just needed more of that.

[KRAKEN]

totally agree,those are probably the only 2 that are untouchable.Some players have had agents already to come in a see what direction team is going next year.If they were not a focal point in there position with another rebuild,they wanted out. Double trouble busted up,big contacts on ir GONE.cut them in offseason not as much of cap hit.

[Mr. Scot]

i wish the term "core" was never a part the panthers vocabulary.

being so tied up in keeping a "core" is the reason why the team is in such shambles.

one or two players to build around is all that's needed.

I have no problem with the 'core player' approach, provided you have someone in charge who's better at determining which players to build around than Marty Hurney was.