Smitty meets with Gettleman today

[top dawg]

This really sucks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damn, I finally figured out how to get that .gif on the Huddle.

[TheRed]

This is a total assumption.....but I just can't, under any circumstance, see the Panthers parting ways with Steve without a plan to bring in a serviceable vet (750 yards and 4 TDs isn't that hard to replace) AND a plan to draft one or two WRs.  If releasing Steve happens and it turns into a "the answers is on the roster" scenario, then all hell should break loose because if G-Man believes that we have a serious problem at GM.  But again....if it happens I will give them the benefit of the doubt to see how FA pans out before I overreact.  

 

No one wants to lose Steve and not have a replacement solution in place.  

 

Well I think most of us don't want to be in that situation, except for a few looney tunes around here it seems.

 

I'm all for drafting one or even probably two WR's. But I have little doubt that there will be growing pains for them. The unfortunate truth in all this is, Gettleman shouldn't have even been put in this situation. In a perfect world, Hurney would have drafted a legit WR years ago.

 

I can't stress enough, how we're not just replacing his yards, and touchdowns. He's our go to guy. It's deeper than that.

[Mr. Scot]

This really sucks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damn, I finally figured out how to get that .gif on the Huddle.

 

Raise your hands and step away from the keyboard :lol:

 

[top dawg]

LOL

[RoaringRiot]

Well I think most of us don't want to be in that situation, except for a few looney tunes around here it seems.

 

I'm all for drafting one or even probably two WR's. But I have little doubt that there will be growing pains for them. The unfortunate truth in all this is, Gettleman shouldn't have even been put in this situation. In a perfect world, Hurney would have drafted a legit WR years ago.

 

I can't stress enough, how we're not just replacing his yards, and touchdowns. He's our go to guy. It's deeper than that.

 

 

Yep....not being able to find a 2nd WR EVER in the Hurney-era is absolutely haunting us.  

 

I agree losing Steve is more than losing a WR.  There's no question.  That's why it's up to the big boys to determine if releasing Steve does more good (adding FAs, possible long-term WR solution) or more harm (team morale, fans irate) overall.  

 

There's no easy answer or obvious solution either way....

[TheRed]

Yep....not being able to find a 2nd WR EVER in the Hurney-era is absolutely haunting us.  

 

I agree losing Steve is more than losing a WR.  There's no question.  That's why it's up to the big boys to determine if releasing Steve does more good (adding FAs, possible long-term WR solution) or more harm (team morale, fans irate) overall.  

 

There's no easy answer or obvious solution either way....

 

I agree.

 

Just another point here though, I disagree with those who feel Steve Smith is done. He's only one season removed from 1,000 yards receiving. In the right offense, he'd still be lethal. I know we all want a playmaker in here, but any guy we bring in is going to be hard pressed to put up huge numbers in this Mike Shula offense. He's gotta make some changes to our offense this offseason.

[Mr. Scot]

Just another point here though, I disagree with those who feel Steve Smith is done. He's only one season removed from 1,000 yards receiving. In the right offense, he'd still be lethal. I know we all want a playmaker in here, but any guy we bring in is going to be hard pressed to put up huge numbers in this Mike Shula offense. He's gotta make some changes to our offense this offseason.

 

I don't think he's done, but it'd be pretty tough to argue against the notion that he's not what he once was.  Maybe not even what he was two years ago.

 

Sucks, but if we look at it objectively I think that's a reasonable conclusion.

 

[TheRed]

I don't think he's done, but it'd be pretty tough to argue against the notion that he's not what he once was.  Maybe not even what he was two years ago.

 

Sucks, but if we look at it objectively I think that's a reasonable conclusion.

 

 

Well I guess it depends on which Steve Smith you are talking about. The guy who won the triple crown in 2005? Of course not.

 

I think he's still close to the same guy he was that had his career reinvigorated by a rookie Cam Newton in 2011. In the right offense.

[Panthers111]

I dont think anyone thinks Steve is truly done. I could see him putting up 800 yds next year. The problem is the money he is making. In the salary cap era it is all about the money and if overpay for steve it is going to hurt the rest of the team. No one can deny the talents of Calvin Johnson but if he is making 25 mil a year then he is not worth it. Crippling your team for the sake a great player is not worth it. Would you prefer to go back to a 8-8 season?

 

Just look at other teams

 

Matt ryan

Joe Flacco

 

They overpaid for their QB and now their entire team is suffering. Remember if you push all the money toward 1 player you have to remove the money from another. Not enough money and the guard or tackle that protects Matt ryan leaves and the team falls apart. 

 

You will see a similar effect in New Orleans with the Brees and Graham contract. They really have to clean house to get under the cap. 

[Panthers111]

If steve does go we are basically moving the money from him to Hardy. This is the salary cap era and you have a set amount of money to play with. The best GMs know where to move the money to field the best possible team for next year and the future. 

[Woodie]

Like I've said before, people think the grass is always greener. You want life without Steve Smith, and no viable options outside Greg Olsen. Well, you may just well get your wish, and I think many will be singing quite a different tune come October, if that does indeed happen.

 

The truth is that we will not go into the season without a vet replacement for Smitty (that is assuming we do let him go).  Sure, it's possible he could have a resurgence next year, but that's far from a guarantee, and not what we would be replacing.  We'd only be replacing what he gave us last year, because that is all we can reasonably expect from him (we can hope for more, but not expect it).  And lets be honest, his impact last year can be replaced by a mid-level receiver, who wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. 

 

What we would really be losing if we let Smitty go is someone we all associate with the fabric of the Panthers.  Someone who we have seen grow and is an intimate part of our Panther family.  He's like that prickly uncle that can sometimes get on your nerves, but also is always there when you need him.  He belongs to us, warts and all.  Unfortunately, Gettleman doesn't see him as family, he is only concerned with how much he can help this team.  In other words, he is approaching this pragmatically, not emotionally. 

[MHS831]

Cut pay substanitally=Smitty stays for about what cutting him would cost us (dead money)

Cut Smitty= Smitty leaves and we have $6m of dead money on the books for 2014.

Keep things as they are= Smitty costs this team $23 m over the next 3 seasons that span his mid to late 30s.

Trade Smitty=Eat the guaranteed money and probably get very little for him

 

I can't think of any other options.  The first one is the obvious preference.

[thefuzz]

Well I think most of us don't want to be in that situation, except for a few looney tunes around here it seems.

 

I'm all for drafting one or even probably two WR's. But I have little doubt that there will be growing pains for them. The unfortunate truth in all this is, Gettleman shouldn't have even been put in this situation. In a perfect world, Hurney would have drafted a legit WR years ago.

 

I can't stress enough, how we're not just replacing his yards, and touchdowns. He's our go to guy. It's deeper than that.

 

 

Or, or......instead of signing another RB (Stew) to a stupid contract when you already have Williams (on a stupid contract), and Tolbert under agreement long term, you could have brought in Vincent Jackson.

 

That would have paired Cam with a tall, downfield WR, and allowed SS a few more years without double coverage.

 

Nope....we had a sports writer for a GM who thought that the upcoming season was 1984.

[Fox007]

I will cry like a baby the day SS is no longer a Panther but good lord if it is to NE.....I may have a total mental breakdown.

 

I could handle him going to SD though...give us a 3rd at least though....we better not get rid of Smitty for BS compensation like GMan did with Beason.