Lombardi think Rivera will be gone Monday.

[footballisasport]

Winning meaningless games at the end of the season doesn't impress me. I like Rivera and I think he might figure it out one day, but I've seen him lose virtually every close game we've been in. I've seen us lose some unthinkable games by going way conservative at the end allowing our opponent to pull off a miracle.

The bottom line is that there is way too much talent on this team for us to be playing for 7-9 and to have been out of the playoff picture weeks ago. We didn't start winning games until we were already playing for nothing.

Maybe he should have called Fox and asked him what was the real problem with this team? It's clearly not his fault alone.

[carolina-chuck]

I hope it's true. Lombardi is a pretty legit man.

[LiQuiD]

I think RR is done in Carolina. One of the rumors as to why Hurley was fired was that JR did not agree with the RR hiring. Why JR did not fire RR at the same time as Hurley is a mystery, but my guess is that he did not have a better alternative than RR at the time.

If JR was convinced the Panthers were on the right path, he would not have fired Hurley. Winning one more game in New Orleans is not going to make a difference one way or the other for RR. He is a very good DC, but not a HC and is probably the reason why so many other teams 'passed' on RR after they interviewed him. When fired by the Panthers, he will have another job waiting for him as a DC or LB coach but not as a HC.

Who's this Hurley guy? Is it Rosario Dawson's cousin or Gordell's nephew?

[MHS831]

If I am Rivera, I argue for my job this way:

We have talent, but we have holes that Hurney never successfully addressed--DT, WR, CB, and OL are pretty significant aspects. Who is the last good linemen we brought in--Ryan Kalil? When did we last sign a qualitiy CB? Gamble? When did Marty Hurney EVER bring in a top WR? NEVER (Smith was here when he came aboard). DT? Corvey Irvin? Sione Fua? Terrell McLain? Ron Edwards? Louis Leonard? Tank Tyler? Frank Kearse? Undrafted FAs Neblett? Chandler?

I would add this: When the team sees the GM rewarding players with top contracts after underperforming and losing seasons, what motivates the others?

If I were RR, I would argue that Hurney's mess will take years to fix. Bad contracts that strapped the cap (DWill, Godfrey, Johnson, Beason, etc.) were all overpaid.

[LiQuiD]

If I am Rivera, I argue for my job this way:

We have talent, but we have holes that Hurney never successfully addressed--DT, WR, CB, and OL are pretty significant aspects. Who is the last good linemen we brought in--Ryan Kalil? When did we last sign a qualitiy CB? Gamble? When did Marty Hurney EVER bring in a top WR? NEVER (Smith was here when he came aboard). DT? Corvey Irvin? Sione Fua? Terrell McLain? Ron Edwards? Louis Leonard? Tank Tyler? Frank Kearse? Undrafted FAs Neblett? Chandler?

I would add this: When the team sees the GM rewarding players with top contracts after underperforming and losing seasons, what motivates the others?

If I were RR, I would argue that Hurney's mess will take years to fix. Bad contracts that strapped the cap (DWill, Godfrey, Johnson, Beason, etc.) were all overpaid.

Honestly, Rivera needs to defend HIS decisions in the past two seasons with regards to managing the team and the game. Hurney's decision, however valid, should only be a small part of the Rivera story.

[footballisasport]

RIvera has some good qualities. This team is still playing hard--that is huge. However, his game management sucks and I am not sure that he is the best coach for Cam. I think Cam needs to have his attitude adjusted, but I see nobody on this staff willing to do it. Since QB is the most common denominator for winning in the NFL, more common that coaches, we need to get a coach who knows how to handle prima donnas.

For example: I do not care who started it or how bad the call was, Cam needs to know that his head must always be in the game. During the last game, we underperformed. Cam kicked another player, bumped a ref, and blew off his position coach on the sideline. If I were the coach, Derek Anderson would have finished the game. Period. End of story. Especially considering the fact that the game was meaningless. Especially if I knew Richardson was watching me.

Defend Cam all you want. I saw the game and think for myself. The leader of the team rises above that crap.

I have to keep reminding myself that Cam is in the South and there are those who still see a confident kid like him as a threat and needs to be "kept in check." There is simply no other excuse for this sort of unwarranted atttitude towards this young man.

I would love to see how you would have handled yourself in the same situation. I'm sure you'd be the type who would not only go after the Ref but sue the NFL Organization because in your mind, the Refs weren't doing their jobs. Clearly, freedom to be and act human doesn't apply to everyone in some folks minds.

[dugbug]

I have to keep reminding myself that Cam is in the South and there are those who still see a confident kid like him as a threat and needs to be "kept in check." There is simply no other excuse for this sort of unwarranted atttitude towards this young man.

Ill defend cam till the cows come home but shut up please. Accusing someone of racism because he doesn't like that the qb was costing us the game with stupid emotional on field tantrums.

[2jakefansinva]

I have to keep reminding myself that Cam is in the South and there are those who still see a confident kid like him as a threat and needs to be "kept in check." There is simply no other excuse for this sort of unwarranted atttitude towards this young man.

I would love to see how you would have handled yourself in the same situation. I'm sure you'd be the type who would not only go after the Ref but sue the NFL Organization because in your mind, the Refs weren't doing their jobs. Clearly, freedom to be and act human doesn't apply to everyone in some folks minds.

this is the second post you've made charging racism towards someone criticizing Cam.

I think you need to move on.

[PantherTrain84]

Today's press conference with RR should be intresting. Joe Person in his usual Office Space Lumberg voice.. "Soo Ron, Michael Lombardi said lastnight You will be fired Monday. Have you heard anything inside on that?" Thats going to be awkward

[2jakefansinva]

Today's press conference with RR should be intresting. Joe Person in his usual Office Space Lumberg voice.. "Soo Ron, Michael Lombardi said lastnight You will be fired Monday. Have you heard anything inside on that?" Thats going to be awkward

It's not going to be awkward.....He's answered this question for a month now.

He has stated that he speaks with JR every week (unless something unusual happens) to discuss the goings on with the team.

and that they will meet at seasons end to discuss his future with the team.

end of discussion.

[footballisasport]

If I am Rivera, I argue for my job this way:

We have talent, but we have holes that Hurney never successfully addressed--DT, WR, CB, and OL are pretty significant aspects. Who is the last good linemen we brought in--Ryan Kalil? When did we last sign a qualitiy CB? Gamble? When did Marty Hurney EVER bring in a top WR? NEVER (Smith was here when he came aboard). DT? Corvey Irvin? Sione Fua? Terrell McLain? Ron Edwards? Louis Leonard? Tank Tyler? Frank Kearse? Undrafted FAs Neblett? Chandler?

I would add this: When the team sees the GM rewarding players with top contracts after underperforming and losing seasons, what motivates the others?

If I were RR, I would argue that Hurney's mess will take years to fix. Bad contracts that strapped the cap (DWill, Godfrey, Johnson, Beason, etc.) were all overpaid.

I will still go out on a limb and say this team problem has more to do with the underlinging lack of discipline. Nothing makes a team play hard then when folks seriously realize their job is on the line. Especially when there seems to be an attitude of complacency with the team to begin with.

From the time I came to this site, it seem the only postion with the most pressure to play well is the QB position. Everyone else gets to simply play decent and keep their day jobs. Vets are never asked to step up like on other teams and more pressure is place on rookies than anyone else. That attitude needs to change.

Maybe Rivera is a bit too laid back for a team whose problem is I've been on this team for years, so my job is safe and I only have to concern myself with padding my stats. That attitude doesn't bode well for a new coach to come and demand things from those who have been there for years. Set an attitude of, no one's job is safe and complacency will not be tolerated, and you will see a different team.

[Bj-Monster23]

It's not going to be awkward.....He's answered this question for a month now.

He has stated that he speaks with JR every week (unless something unusual happens) to discuss the goings on with the team.

and that they will meet at seasons end to discuss his future with the team.

end of discussion.

That's not true. Rivera has said numerous times that he hasn't spoke to JR every since he was told the team needs to be trending upward. But he has also said Rivera has been supportive of the team so far.

[ladypanther]

If I am Rivera, I argue for my job this way:

We have talent, but we have holes that Hurney never successfully addressed--DT, WR, CB, and OL are pretty significant aspects. Who is the last good linemen we brought in--Ryan Kalil? When did we last sign a qualitiy CB? Gamble? When did Marty Hurney EVER bring in a top WR? NEVER (Smith was here when he came aboard). DT? Corvey Irvin? Sione Fua? Terrell McLain? Ron Edwards? Louis Leonard? Tank Tyler? Frank Kearse? Undrafted FAs Neblett? Chandler?

I would add this: When the team sees the GM rewarding players with top contracts after underperforming and losing seasons, what motivates the others?

If I were RR, I would argue that Hurney's mess will take years to fix. Bad contracts that strapped the cap (DWill, Godfrey, Johnson, Beason, etc.) were all overpaid.

So, then I think JR asks, "How did those holes affect your ability to game manage, manage the clock, develop something that looks like and NFL 2 min drill, provide some discipline for the team, or win close games?

Hurney likely gone because he is responsible for RR. Wanted to see how Ron responded. No real change, this year looks like last year. I was hoping for more too.

[panthers55]

Here is the thing. Unless the new GM is merely a figurehead, you don't have a major player on board who has a big stake in who is the coach going forward. It is really two decisions which is to fire Rivera and then find someone who is better. So you wouldn't be in haste to dump someone. They seem to be taking their time with the GM search and when that happens I suspect he will review all options and figure out what to do. Unless that has already been decided, which is also important for the GM to know. Who makes the personnel decisions and charts the course.