ESPN's Pat Yasinskas believes the Panthers will "almost have to cut" LCB Chris Gamble this offseason.

[Kevin Greene]

Williams counts roughly 8 million toward the cap in 2013 (4.75 salary and 3.2 signing bonus).. If we cut him as a June 1st cut the three years of guaranteed money of 3.2 times 3 or 9.9 million will cost roughly 5 million in 2013 and 2014. So we save 3 million in 2013 but have 5 million in dead cap space in 2014. If we take it all in 2013, we actually lose him and his cap hit would go up from 8 million to 9.6 million. Not likely unless we do it as a June 1st cut.

Gross on the other hand counts 11.7 million against the cap. His guaranteed money left is 4 million which if you take it as a June 1st cut it is 2 million in 2013 and 2 million in 2014. So you save 9.7 million in 2013 and have 2 million in dead cap space in 2014 which is very possible. Gross is going to be 33 in July and not the probowl player he was.

Stewart you can't cut realistically or all the rest of that 22.5 million guaranteed money comes due immediately. Not going to happen.

So pretty much we can assume Gamble, Gross and Dwill (Or some combination thereof) are gone and we're stuck with a gimpy Stewart who's contrtact is simply too toxic to touch.

And of course would be losing the production those players would provide and would most likely be replaced with cheap "talent".

Then there is Beason's contarct and his 19 total tackles the last 2 years.

7/29/2011: Signed a six-year, $51.338 million contract. The deal contains $25 million guaranteed, including a $20 million signing bonus. 2012: $1.25 million, 2013: $5.25 million, 2014: $6.5 million, 2015: $7.5 million, 2016: $8.75 million, 2017: Free Agent

[panthers55]

They were good enough to beat Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, cant go anywhere but up. And no matter how good a secondary is its nothing without a pass rush. Some of the best CBs in the league right now were no name/undrafted guys before they got their status.

In 2003 our starting secondary was Mike Minter, Reggie Howard, Deon Grant, and Terry Cousins.

As you say not many big names there outside of Minter.

[carolina-chuck]

Williams counts roughly 8 million toward the cap in 2013 (4.75 salary and 3.2 signing bonus).. If we cut him as a June 1st cut the three years of guaranteed money of 3.2 times 3 or 9.9 million will cost roughly 5 million in 2013 and 2014. So we save 3 million in 2013 but have 5 million in dead cap space in 2014. If we take it all in 2013, we actually lose him and his cap hit would go up from 8 million to 9.6 million. Not likely unless we do it as a June 1st cut.

Gross on the other hand counts 11.7 million against the cap. His guaranteed money left is 4 million which if you take it as a June 1st cut it is 2 million in 2013 and 2 million in 2014. So you save 9.7 million in 2013 and have 2 million in dead cap space in 2014 which is very possible. Gross is going to be 33 in July and not the probowl player he was.

Stewart you can't cut realistically or all the rest of that 22.5 million guaranteed money comes due immediately. Not going to happen.

I was gonna ask if anyone knows how to do their math around here so if you have the time, how much money would we have if say in a scenario that we: Cut Gamble, Cut Dwill, and trade Beason to a team like Baltimore? or in a better scenario that would help us more.

Could we have enough money that we'd be under the cap and still able to go out and sign guys like Chung and McKelvin for next season?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

In 2003 our starting secondary was Mike Minter, Reggie Howard, Deon Grant, and Terry Cousins.

As you say not many big names there outside of Minter.

Grant was a solid player and Reggie Howard and Cousins are better than at least two of the players that are "current starters".

[carolina-chuck]

In 2003 our starting secondary was Mike Minter, Reggie Howard, Deon Grant, and Terry Cousins.

As you say not many big names there outside of Minter.

I'd take Minter, Howard, Grant and Cousins over the guys we have now. $hit

[panthers55]

So pretty much we can assume Gamble, Gross and Dwill (Or some combination thereof) are gone and we're stuck with a gimpy Stewart who's contrtact is simply too toxic to touch.

And of course would be losing the production those players would provide and would most likely be replaced with cheap "talent".

I think Gross would be a candidate as would Gamble but I don't know that we couldn't keep Gamble and still reach our goal. Williams could be a candidate but his dead cap space of almost 5 million in 2014 would be a lot given the cap saving next year would only be around 3 million. I would think guys like Nakamura and Ron Edwards are likely casualties. We might get rid of Tolbert who is due a 1.5 option bonus plus his 1 million salary and the signing bonus proration of 500,000 for a cap hit of 3 million. If we cut him his accelerated guaranteed money of 1.5 million means we save 1.5 million. If we keep him, we convert the 1.5 option into a signing bonus so he costs 2 million in 2013 with a salary of 1 million and a prorated signing bonus of 1 million which is the option spread out over 3 years 500,000 each year and a 500,000 signing bonus from before.

We could keep Gamble and just with these cuts could be below the cap.

[CPF4LIFE]

That's 1/4th of the season and they were also sh*t against Brady Quinn.

The whole defense was poo against Brady Quinn. And it wasnt like we were actually playing better before they stepped in, we got better once they did.

[panthers55]

Grant was a solid player and Reggie Howard and Cousins are better than at least two of the players that are "current starters".

Back in 2003 none of them were that good. Our defensive pressure made them look better than they were. But it is hard to say we have any great ones this year either.

[carpanfan96]

Gross Has 5-6 Million left in guaranteed money on his deal. It would save the team around 8.7 million this season if done as a June 1st cut. If he's cut along with Nak and Edwards the team would save around 13 million, putting the team around 500k under the Cap. Now if the team Cut's dwill and makes it a June 1st cut, then the team is 3.7 million under the Cap. Still not enough to get everything done that's needed in the off season. If you add Tolbert to that total, the team is roughly 5.2 million under. However, the team would be in need of a RB and a FB, either through FA or the draft after cutting 2 of the 3 main ball carriers. With Stewart's health concerns, RB would become a question mark, and absolutely void of talent if Stewart gets injured again.

[panthers55]

I'd take Minter, Howard, Grant and Cousins over the guys we have now. $hit

Lets see what we end up with in 2013 before we decide who is better. Not sure everyone who played due to injuries would start otherwise.

[beastson]

This whole thing is a mess

Ugggh Hurney and JR fail

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Kuechly and TD played well against KC and Chris Gamble only played four games, so you can't really use that as an argument.

Munnerlyn probably won't be back, Norman struggled throughout the season, Dockery and Thomas played well down the stretch but one for half of the season (Bullethead) and the other for a fourth of the season (Dockery)

[Kevin Greene]

The pressure on the incoming GM to have a stellar draft is going to be immense.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

The pressure on the incoming GM to have a stellar draft is going to be immense.

Agree with this 1000%, can't afford a hiccup this offseason.