What does Gettleman need to do to make you optimistic for 2013?

[Cyberjag]

There've certainly been a lot of disagreements around here regarding the Panthers' offseason activities to date. Notably, the decision to keep Rivera before hiring a GM, and then the subsequent choices for the OC and ST coach have made for collections of long threads.

Recent news suggests that Gettleman wasn't willing to offer any of the new coaches contracts that extended past next year. And it's almost common knowledge that Rivera's gone then if he doesn't win. Rumors and tweets have also floated around that there's a lame duck atmosphere starting to emerge, similar to that of 2010. Note that I'm not saying there is, but given the actions by the Front Office so far it's understandable how some people may think that. And Gettleman is almost getting a pass on his first year, because of the Rivera decision, so there's no immediate pressure on him.

As another poster has already pointed out, because of cap issues we're likely to lose some talent. So as of now it's likely that we're going into next season with downgrades in talent, in coaching, and with a staff that has no job security. Hardly a winning formula, right?

So here's the real question here. What does Gettleman have to do in the next few months to convince you that he intends to win next year, and isn't just building for 2014 and beyond? And be realistic, ok? We're not signing a zillion high priced free agents, we just don't have the money. So within reason, what can he do to show you he means business?

[Leeroy Jenkins PhD]

I have always believed NFL teams live and die by the lineman. Good offensive and defensive lineman make the difference. We need vast improvement in these areas. DE and C are solid but thin, everywhere needs improvement.

That being said, if this GM can somehow magically fix the mess of a salary cap, and provide us better competition among the big uglies I would be very optomistic

[thefuzz]

I would probably be happy with being able to move some money around with the Beason, Gamble, Gross, and Williams contracts. Not any move that would count negatively toward the cap going forward. If we can't seem to do that, cut some of them, and eat that his this year.

Try your best to trade back in the first, unless a "franchise" type player is sitting there, and pick up a 2nd. Use this to get bigger/better in the trenches. I have been calling for D line forever, but I honestly am considering O line a little more these days. We have our QB, he has to be protected, and we are aging at the LT.

Try to find a real number 1 WR somewhere, if not this year, next year when we clean some of that cap hit off the books.

I would probably be happy with some of these to start things off.

[chef17]

Personally nothing can happen during the offseason to make me optimistic. The team has beat 2 teams with winning records in 2 years. Until the team starts getting quality wins, I see no reason to believe they will be good.

[rayzor]

replace the overpriced, replaceable parts with cheaper but just as effective alternatives and signing them to one year deals would be encouraging to me. i want to esp. see him address the trenches with solid older vets to cheap one - two year deals while we start building there with younger talent.

short term solutions combined with long term acquisitions.

I'd also like to see him hire a coaching consultant for rivera to help with/assume game management decisions...preferably with HC experience and an offensive background.

[Kurb]

Man.

Let see here.

We need improvement in our cap space now and going forward. Its a disaster, its time to go into actual rebuilding mode.

We need quality picks in the later rounds as WELL as hitting on our #1's. We need MORE draft picks as well. Plan for the next draft while participating in this draft.

Our Defensive tackles are a disgrace to professional football. Fix it

Our O-line was a disgrace at the end of last season :Fix it

Hurney's last hurrah of trying the save face through smearing poo contracts on the walls of his likely padded office have basically destroyed our ability to truly compete since Cam was drafted. Fix them. Cut them. Restructure them. Fix it.

Why are the exact same scouts here ? Why has the scouting department not had bodies added ? If the idea is to build from the draft and supplement with FA why do we not heavily invest in scouting ? Fix it.

Basically I have no hope for the coming season.

[bleys]

Personally nothing can happen during the offseason to make me optimistic. The team has beat 2 teams with winning records in 2 years. Until the team starts getting quality wins, I see no reason to believe they will be good.

somewhat agree.. but overall, until wins start accumulating there isn't much else to add. Gettleman, himself, still has to prove he can perform as a GM and turn this franchise around.

[hepcat]

fix the cap situation while not sacrificing too much talent, and bring in a solid draft class that can contribute immediately.

[Kevin Greene]

Everything Kurb said and begin drafting talent and conducting your business as a well run NFL team does. No idiot Hurney type draft trades. Be proactive and in control of your rostsr and contracts.

[Kurb]

Honestly I have never been as down on the Panthers as I am right now.

[thefuzz]

Honestly I have never been as down on the Panthers as I am right now.

That's funny.

For the first time in probably 4 or 5 years, I feel better about them. Not saying that we will win a ton of games, but there are some major changes brewing on the inside, and it has been way past time for some of this to happen.

JR talking about selling the team.

Sons fired.

Fox and Hurney fired.

Ron on a one year leash.

We have a QB.

With a couple of lucky breaks we could be good in a couple of years.

[TheRumGone]

Like everyone else has said. Get the cap straightened out. That means cutting fan favorites. Rebuild O-line and add parts to D-line for the future. Trade back, pick up a lot of picks if possible. Even though we are or should be in rebuilding mode, I still think we have a contender. We just need to be a lot smarter about contracts, so that we can have a sustained successful franchise.

Cut Gamble, Cut DLo/Stewart, eventually cut Gross (If we can't draft a LT, it's impossible to let him go), we can't cut Beason because of the cap hit (restructure or cut when finiancial feasible). Cut Hangman, Cut Naka, Cut Martin, Cut Armanti. And start building a contender from the trenches. Build around Cam and Kuechly they are our future. Sign and draft guys that can make an impact from the bottom, up. Easier said then done though.

[FootballMaestro]

My response is much more simple and basic.

It's when Gettleman tells us he's watched all the game film from 2012 and 2011 (for Cam and Rivera).

Once he does this, we'll know that he has a full understanding of what's going on for himself, when/if he has to make or listen to decisions.

He mentioned on the radio yesterday, he may start watching game film this week, when asked about the Panther Roster regarding the salary Cap. Obviously, he wasn't ready to answer with out doing so.

If/when he does this, it'll let's us know, not only how harder a worker he is. But it let's us know how thorough he is, and how he wants to get it right (can you really trust the Panther staff fully, if you haven't seen the games for yourself)?

We already know he has the background. He just needs the proper understanding of our team.

Once he does/knows this, I feel he'll make the right decisions (regarding the draft, free agency and salary cap).

Let's hope that Gettle and Ron can help each other, in regards to Panther players, The Cap and Free Agency.

[Who Said What?]

Like everyone else has said. Get the cap straightened out. That means cutting fan favorites. Rebuild O-line and add parts to D-line for the future. Trade back, pick up a lot of picks if possible. Even though we are or should be in rebuilding mode, I still think we have a contender. We just need to be a lot smarter about contracts, so that we can have a sustained successful franchise.

Cut Gamble, Cut DLo/Stewart, eventually cut Gross (If we can't draft a LT, it's impossible to let him go), we can't cut Beason because of the cap hit (restructure or cut when finiancial feasible). Cut Hangman, Cut Naka, Cut Martin, Cut Armanti. And start building a contender from the trenches. Build around Cam and Kuechly they are our future. Sign and draft guys that can make an impact from the bottom, up. Easier said then done though.

I agree with alot of this. We need to do something with our running backs. I say it should be Stewart. He is only three and a half years younger and plays like he has more wear and tear than D-Lo. People on the board are starting to come around to the idea a little at a time. I believe we should give Gross one last year too if we cannot draft a tackle. I disagree on Martin though. I believe we should sign him to something cheap and let him play special teams. One of those guys we are familiar with type deals. All we need are a couple of more o-lineman and we need to address DT situation immediately. Inside out is how it should be done. WR, CB, and Safety follow after the trenches. I disagree on Martin though. I believe we should sign him to something cheap and let him play special teams. One of those guys we are familiar with type deals. With last year's run with our "young guys", we should know exactly where to go in FA and the draft.