Carolina Panthers Hall of Fame

[CRA]

Does everyone really think TD should have his number retired?

His career isn't done.....

He could end up leaving behind quite a legacy when all is said and done.

89 and 90 are the only guys with one field resumes.......TD could get there like Mills did. Newton has the potential to one day bypass 89.

[KendrickPanther]

I don't understand this thread at all. We have a Ring of Honor, isn't a Hall of Fame just semantics? Most of our influential players haven't been retired long or aren't retired at all. Combine that with our lack of sustained team success. This year will mark just the 4th playoff run in Steve Smith's long career.

[KendrickPanther]

i am probably going to get destroyed for this but why is sam held in such high regard with this team? he only played, what, 3 of his last career years here? then he coached. i get the whole "heart" thing but statistically, he has been surpassed by many players that are just as deserving of the honor as he. for the organization to not recognize those players is a travesty. i would agree that his might be only statue we have but to not retire other numbers is just dumb. if the very day smitty retires, we do not retire his number, fans should revolt. banging the drum is not nearly a big enough honor for those guys.

 

I'm not going to destroy you, we all support the Panthers in our own way and time frame.

 

First, Sam Mills was an inspirational leader. He went to a small school in Montclair New Jersey. He graduated and started working as a woodworking teacher. He got a few tryouts but always got cut because he was literally Steve Smith's size playing linebacker in the NFL. He eventually caught on with Jim Mora in the USFL which was short lived. Jim Mora got a job in New Orleans and Sam Mills started his rookie season at 27 years old. He would go on to play in 5 pro bowls before retiring at 39. They called him the field general. The comedians in the locker room called him the field mouse. Lawrence Taylor once said he wished he could hit someone as hard and clean as Sam Mills. Taylor said "I bet it's better than sex". Sam Mills was known as a great hitter, his height gave him natural leverage. So this is a terrific football player that overcame perception that a short guy couldn't play the Mike. He would go to a tryout, whip everyone's tail and the GM would shake his head and cut him because he couldn't comprehend the short guy playing in the NFL.

 

Second, Sam Mills was a great Panther. For years Green Bay was a mediocre franchise. Nobody wanted to sign with them. Nobody wanted to stay with them. Reggie White left the Eagles for the Packers and completely change the image of the Packers organization. Sam Mills was our Reggie White.  As an expansion franchise in a small market we didn't have credibility. Sam Mills made us credible. Despite being 35 when he signed his contract Sam Mills was a respected veteran player and having a guy like that told the rest of the NFL we were a good franchise to come to. We built our franchise with veterans like Eric Davis, Kevin Greene, and Lamar Lathon. Without Sam maybe those guys turn their nose up at Charlotte.

 

Despite being 36 by his first game in Carolina Sam Mills played at a high level. Made Pro Bowls and led us to success above expectations. Our defense in 96 was nasty. We beat the hell out of Dallas and the triplets. Sam Mills ended the game by intercepting Troy Aikmen. We had one of the highest win percentages for an expansion franchise ever. Sam was a guy that mentored younger players. Steve Smith tells anyone that listens, "Sam Mills is the greatest Panther of all time". He didn't play for long in Carolina but he set the tone of being a hard worker and good character.

 

Obviously Sam Mills was a great part of our coaching staff as well but I'm pretty sure he entered the Ring of Honor before the coaching stint.

[Semaj]

Steve Smith

Julius Peppers

Thomas Davis

Sam Mills

Muhsin Muhammad

That's it

No thanks on Peppers who wanted out. Jake Delhomme all day long though.

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[iamhubby1]

yes, they were great Panthers.

But like I said, put them and there career (same success) on any none recent expansion teams and they wouldn't be considered.

Our franchise simply has been around long. Everyone we declare great Panthers however doesn't meet the same mold generally applied bc most teams haven't been around so few years. Our bar is low simply bc of how young we are

Part of me understands what you are trying to say. But...just because we are basically a young franchise does not mean we have not had players deserving of this type of honor.

For all your distain for Jake. Plenty of franchises would give their left hindquarter for a QB that could get them to multiple Championship Games, and even a Super Bowl. Who had one of the best winning percentages in playoff history. You cannot downplay that level of success.

Kasay is probably the only other Panther that really deserves this type honor. An original Panther, with a long and storied career. Who was an inspirational leader the type your franchise needs.

As for other players? I agree we Panther fans tend to overvalue our own. So I would agree there is time to wait on most of them. The Minters, Ruckers, and Walls were good players for us. But only time will tell how they stack up as it comes to this type of honor.

We, as a franchise, have had precious few All Pro type players. Those are the type players that you usually put in your Ring of Honor.

Jake-Smitty-Kasay-Mills. At this point in time those are my choices.

With Gross, and TD, in the next round. And maybe Peppers, if I could get over my displeasure of him. Cuz the guy was a beast for us.

[B.BERSIN]

Delhomme should have a spot, a quarterback led us to 1 Superbowl and 2 NFC Championships don't deserve it?

[RelaxImaPro]

The only numbers that should be retired up to this point is Sams and Smittys the second he hangs 'em up.  I love TD, but I couldn't see retiring his jersey yet... Steve has just done a lot more for this franchise at this point.

 

TD definitely is one of the few that should get into the Panther's HOF/Ring of Honor when the time comes.

 

In fact the only one's I'd list up to this point would be Mills, Smitty, TD, and probably Jake.  fug Peppers.  Let him stay in Chicago.

 

And of course Cam and Kuechly are eventual no-brainers if they live up to their potential.  They both easily have potential to go down as two of the greatest Panthers of all time.

[PghPanther]

Non player HOF inductee............

 

Bill Rosinski

[4Corners]

I've been to the NFL HOF twice in the past 5 years and it's not like the baseball HOF were they put a hat on your plaque/bust. Their accomplishments are mentioned and the teams they played for are located next to the bust.

Imagine Han Solo after Jabba with a nice write up next to his face.

[MechaZain]

Bronze smitty statue needs to be outside Da Bank in the off season following his retirement

[PanthersATL]

What he did with what he had is amazing, but Mills will always be a Saint to me. Sort of like Reggie White.  

 

I got nothing but respect/high fives from Saints fans when I wore my CAR Mills jersey to the Superdome for NOvsCAR a few years back.

 

So that was cool.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

i am probably going to get destroyed for this but why is sam held in such high regard with this team? he only played, what, 3 of his last career years here? then he coached. i get the whole "heart" thing but statistically, he has been surpassed by many players that are just as deserving of the honor as he. for the organization to not recognize those players is a travesty. i would agree that his might be only statue we have but to not retire other numbers is just dumb. if the very day smitty retires, we do not retire his number, fans should revolt. banging the drum is not nearly a big enough honor for those guys.

 

Pie to you for questioning this.  Excellent post. 

 

I think Sam Mills is held in high regards not because of his length of tenure but because of the impact he brought to the organization while he was here.  Plainly stated, the team needed a leader at the time and he took on the role.  From a fan's standpoint he still influences us all (see the keep pounding references).  Not sure if it is still in the locker room but I know there are still some guys on the team linked to Sam so I do think his memory carries over to this day. 

[PanthersATL]

 

And of course Cam and Kuechly are eventual no-brainers if they live up to their potential.  They both easily have potential to go down as two of the greatest Panthers of all time.

 

...and if they decide to re-sign and stick with us for the rest of their careers.  Finishing with who you started with as well as being a huge contributor to the playing field and locker room should be a big deal.

 

Someone who comes in for a season or two then leaves for $$? Can't blame someone for following the money trail, but sometimes there's more to be said for being a one-team player.

[getsome]

this.

 

double this