Panthers Sign K Graham Gano to Four-Year Deal

[PantherBoy95]

To me this is one of the best signings that we could have made this offseason.

[Clicheking]

Are you fuggers really bitching about a million dollars. Do you want us to go back to Mare, is that what you really want?? Reliable kickers cost money and Gano is trending up. The deal is appropriate for his skill set.

[KillerKat]

Good god, you're an idiot.

He has a point. Kickers are like goalies in the NHL. They can go up and down like a roller coaster through out their careers. Only the good ones can sustain their production. I would've liked to see Gano have another great year, but what's done is done.

[El Chingon]

His league leading 78 % kickoff percentage had a lot to do with us re-signing him.

[Gin and Juice]

Good kickers are so undervalued! If the good/great ones held out then they could be among the highest paid on the team! Great kickers don't grow on trees

[Catalyst]

We also don't know the structure of this deal. It might not be as expensive as advertised if it's back-loaded and he's cut after 3 years.

[El Chingon]

[TheRed]

There are actually people upset about this?

[El Chingon]

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DeAngelo WilliamsVerified account ‏@DeAngeloRB Feb 28

@Panthers @GrahamGano congrats draino now you can pay me that 10 bucks you owe me!

 

 

[Cj72]

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

Kickers aren't consistent from year to year. That's just math, and you can view the evidence in the chart in this link. Since kickers aren't consistent from year to year, it's almost impossible for a kicker to live up to a long-term contract that pays above the league average. So now we're locked into a four year contract that will probably only be worth it for two of those years, and the Panthers current cap situation is a case study for how those deals can screw teams over.

Kasay wasn't consistent for the 15 or so years he was a panther?

[SteveSmithTD89]

Agreed bro, if Gano sucks next year it's gonna be hard to swallow the $20 cap hit we'll have to absorb if we cut him on that monster $12 million deal.

 

Hard?  It'll be impossible.  With our current cap situation plus Cam's contract next year and Lukes the following... They've invested in Gano for the future.  Hopefully his success with us was the norm and not the anomaly.

[CelticCat]

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

 

Kickers aren't consistent from year to year. That's just math, and you can view the evidence in the chart in this link. Since kickers aren't consistent from year to year, it's almost impossible for a kicker to live up to a long-term contract that pays above the league average. So now we're locked into a four year contract that will probably only be worth it for two of those years, and the Panthers current cap situation is a case study for how those deals can screw teams over.

 

Horrible article, I get the idea and all but some of the examples given run contrary to the point he's trying to make.

 

For starters with the RB's, Marshawn Lynch has had two excellent years after 2011, Seattle are getting their moneys worth.

 

And then with the Prater example where he in fact kicked 4 game winners during the The Golden Calf of Bristol wins, not just a pair. He then went on to have two even better statistical years after that hitting 81% and 96% last year. Not to mention he doesn't seem to factor in blocked kicks which aren't always the kickers fault. Its more important that a kicker be clutch with the game on the line, early missed field goals can be forgiven if they nail the game winner when it counts, Prater and Vinateri do that.

 

We got Gano on the cheap like the article suggests, but do you let a kicker that excelled for you walk out the door? Sure he struggled in Wash some as a young kicker, but for us he has been a different guy altogether, 6 for 6 from 50+ when we paid similar for an aging Mare who could barely hit from 45. Not to mention his ability on kickoffs that previously killed our special teams in the past.

 

You can disagree with what kickers are making but when the game is on the line its a different story.

[jungleking]

Kasay wasn't consistent for the 15 or so years he was a panther?

No, he wasn't. There were four seasons where his field goal percentage went up or down by 10% from the previous year. Almost five--2008 to 2009 barely missed the cut. Kasay had some great years, but he still dealt with the variance that every other kicker does.

[Leo]

It's a great point but remember one thing, we have to use the franchise tag for Greg Hardy.

Big fan of hardy but I was ready to move on from him ......( once somewhere I read he wanted more money then Charles Johnson )...... but more I look at it geno and panthers had a fair deal once the new tag number came out on kickers ... It's a win-win now .. Great sign ;)