Tolbert Provides Options

[Zod]

Mike Tolbert has quickly become a fan favorite on the Panthers roster.

 

The "Human Bowling Ball" as his friends call him has proved to be a reliable back that both gains yards, touchdowns, and even receives passes all while quickly wearing the opposing defenses down.

 

 

During the Rams game we saw what Tolbert was truly capable of late in the game. With the Panthers needing to run the clock and hold on to the lead. The Panthers handed the job to Tolbert, who ran aggressively and with the purpose to administer damage to the defense. The Rams never recovered.

 

So far this season Touchdown Mike has 5 touchdowns, 3 on the ground and 2 in the air. He is averaging 3.6 yards per carry, not bad for a guy whose primary job is to grind out tough yards when needed.

 

Tolbert's performance will give GM David Gettleman plenty of options this offseason when it comes to dealing with the salary cap. I do not expect Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert both to be on the 2014 roster.

 

Releasing Jonathan Stewart would yield a cap savings of 5.75 million through 2015. Releasing Mike Tolbert would save the Panthers 4.7 million against the cap. That difference of 1.05 million is huge when considering lingering extensions of Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly. The decision will come down Stewart's durability and the increased effectiveness of Touchdown Mike in the Shula offense.

 

I believe the decision will be to stick with Tolbert.

 

Whatever the outcome, at least for now, we can all enjoy seeing Tolbert and Stewart on the same field.

[FootballMaestro]

Let's thank Mike Shula for recognizing his talent, unlike (ahem) you know who.  :startle:

[Guest shitposting]

If Stewart does well in the remainder of this season do you think he could be traded? If so what would his worth be?

[RoaringRiot]

If Stewart does well in the remainder of this season do you think he could be traded? If so what would his worth be?

His age, contract, past injuries, and how RB are more dime a dozen in the present NFL makes it seem like it's going to be near impossible to trade him IMO.

[SCP]

If I wasn't such a jinx I'd buy a Tolbert jersey. I love that guy.

[Kurb]

Zod...buddy, I don't think your cap numbers are right.

 

That said, I'm really sleepy and could be wrong.

 

 

When you release someone you accelerate the cap hit and lose the base salary.

 

 

Releasing Stewy next season would be something towards a 17 million dollar dead money cap hit.

What makes it weird, is he has a 9 million "Option Bonus" in 2014. So it makes the math a little fuzzy

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/jonathan-stewart/

 

 

Cutting Tolbert would save like 300K in 2014. Not worth it for the quality he brings IMO.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/mike-tolbert/

[MCC]

How much do we save by getting rid of Williams? I think it's near impossible to get rid of JStew and Tolbert is too valuable and much cheaper than both.  

[tailg8or]

How Stewart performs during the second half of the year will probably have a lot to do with it.  He is a combination of Williams and Tolbert, speed and power.  If he can stay healthy and gets back to form, it will be a tough call.  Dwill has been a workhorse for us. 

 

Hurney made it inevitable when he signed both to big extensions.  That's too much money tied-up in one position. 

 

 It wasn't long ago that the Panthers were rumored to be shopping Williams, but that was under Hurney. 

[Kurb]

The issue is we are likely tied to this trio of running backs and a duo of rough contracts for the next couple of years.

[mbarbour21]

Id pick tolbert hands down. More reliable and versatile. Not easy droppin Stew, but I dnt think there is a doubt who is the better option movin forward. Stewart is one of the best....."WHEN healthy."

[caatfan]

Assuming Stewart comes back OK and the other two stay healthy, none of 'em are gonna get the number of touches they'd like this season. DWill has been tagged the starter and will continue to get most of the carries if he continues to perform. Stewart will have to be game tested to see if his wheels will hold up, and Tolbert is too valuable for the things he can do to get put on the shelf. One of the high priced guys may not be here next season, but it'll be nice to be loaded until then.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

the only way it's that easy to get rid of stewart is if hurney wasn't the cap idiot everyone thought he was.

[Zod]

Zod...buddy, I don't think your cap numbers are right.

 

That said, I'm really sleepy and could be wrong.

 

 

When you release someone you accelerate the cap hit and lose the base salary.

 

 

Releasing Stewy next season would be something towards a 17 million dollar dead money cap hit.

What makes it weird, is he has a 9 million "Option Bonus" in 2014. So it makes the math a little fuzzy

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/jonathan-stewart/

 

 

Cutting Tolbert would save like 300K in 2014. Not worth it for the quality he brings IMO.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/mike-tolbert/

 

I was talking in terms of base salary only. We are going to pay Stewart's crazy signing bonus regardless. It does get accelerated if we release Stewart but its a pay now or pay later kind of thing. No way around it unfortunately.

 

Remember paying Delhomme all that money when he wasn't even on the team? Ugh.

[fieryprophet]

#AfterTheSeasonProblems