Panthers Interested In Eric Decker and Hakeem Nicks

[Gin and Juice]

they should ask smith who he would want to sign as a wr, perhaps he would adjust his money willingly if he got a guy that could actually help him reach his "stats" goals. Smith wants a ring, he wants 15,000 yards, he wants records. The guy is still a keeper, but we all know he has been a solo act for a long time. If he had been on a team with a great qb and some help, he would already have his ring and records.

Alright! Not only is Steve above evaluation now......he should also be the general manager?

Yeah, people need to get a grip

[PantherAZ]

wayment! I thought u were on the Smith, Nicks, Benjamin trio train...wat happened? You were flexing then or now?

I'm good with Nicks if he comes cheap. From what I've read, he's looking for a pay day. Not interested if that's the case. I also don't believe Gman has any interest just based on the fact that NY seems ready to run him out of town. I could be wrong though. I usually am. If he signs here, I'll be all in on him. From what I've read, it just doesn't seem likely.

[PantherAZ]

This is just sad. Troll fail.

Difference of opinion does not equal troll.

[NFLFangirl19]

I'm good with Nicks if he comes cheap. From what I've read, he's looking for a pay day. Not interested if that's the case. I also don't believe Gman has any interest just based on the fact that NY seems ready to run him out of town. I could be wrong though. I usually am. If he signs here, I'll be all in on him. From what I've read, it just doesn't seem likely.

well news came out yesterday that he was willing to take a 1 yr prove it deal w/ a team tht has a proven QB. I feel like he's going out of his was to get Gettleman's attention, tbh. But my concern is exactly what u just said he may not even be willing to take a chance on him, which is stupid IMO. No way he comes home & doesn't ball out!

[PantherAZ]

well news came out yesterday that he was willing to take a 1 yr prove it deal w/ a team tht has a proven QB. I feel like he's going out of his was to get Gettleman's attention, tbh. But my concern is exactly what u just said he may not even be willing to take a chance on him, which is stupid IMO. No way he comes home & doesn't ball out!

I didn't see that. If that's the case, I say let's do it. I see Nicks mentioned in every thread on here, but I haven't seen any rationale for signing him beyond "hometown." I just feel like people are blinded by that. Our strategy is clearly to build our core through the draft and fill in holes with the clearance rack. Unless Nicks is willing to play cheap, I don't see how he fits. He'd be a better #2 than we've had since Moose, but he's not a #1

[NFLFangirl19]

I didn't see that. If that's the case, I say let's do it. I see Nicks mentioned in every thread on here, but I haven't seen any rationale for signing him beyond "hometown." I just feel like people are blinded by that. Our strategy is clearly to build our core through the draft and fill in holes with the clearance rack. Unless Nicks is willing to play cheap, I don't see how he fits. He'd be a better #2 than we've had since Moose, but he's not a #1

the rationale is pretty clear to me. We need a wr BADLY. He's a damn good 1 when healthy & he jus so happens to be an FA that has expressed interest in playing here. Signing him would be filling in one of those wholes u speak of while we could take care of the rest in May. But wether he's willing to come play here for little to nothing will remain to be seen. If not we'll jus have to explore other options

[usmcpanthers]

Everyone keeps stating how smitty production has dropped and he isnt a #1 anymore. Well if we ever get a legimate threat opposite of him...ie draft, decker of hicks, I believe he would put up #1 we numbers again.

[Swan]

I didn't see that. If that's the case, I say let's do it. I see Nicks mentioned in every thread on here, but I haven't seen any rationale for signing him beyond "hometown." I just feel like people are blinded by that. Our strategy is clearly to build our core through the draft and fill in holes with the clearance rack. Unless Nicks is willing to play cheap, I don't see how he fits. He'd be a better #2 than we've had since Moose, but he's not a #1

 

He's a #1, let's not miscontrue that fact. He proved it in NY, and had two bad years because of injuries. Also, Eli was his quarterback, and you, as well as I, know that he has a penchant for throwing to the other team. 

 

Let's not underrate this guy, he was crucial to the Giants' super bowl run a few years back. He did it on the big stage, and he has proven his worth. 

 

Nicks wants a 1-yr deal, and he'll be looking to get paid next off-season. He's hungry to show that he's still an elite receiver. What's a better way to do that than aligning yourself with a solid team, with an elite quarterback. (Yes, I just called Cam elite)

[PantherAZ]

the rationale is pretty clear to me. We need a wr BADLY. He's a damn good 1 when healthy & he jus so happens to be an FA that has expressed interest in playing here. Signing him would be filling in one of those wholes u speak of while we could take care of the rest in May. But wether he's willing to come play here for little to nothing will remain to be seen. If not we'll jus have to explore other options

That's fair. To be perfectly honest, I trust Gettleman's assessment here. He's spent a lot of time with Nicks and knows him better than most. I stand by my statement that Smitty, Nicks, Benjamin would be a good (and potentially very inexpensive) line up. My anti-Nicks posts weren't saying we shouldn't look at him, but I doubt we do. I just feel that NY is over him and based on Gettleman's history, he would likely not be interested.

[PantherAZ]

He's a #1, let's not miscontrue that fact. He proved it in NY, and had two bad years because of injuries. Also, Eli was his quarterback, and you, as well as I, know that he has a penchant for throwing to the other team.

Let's not underrate this guy, he was crucial to the Giants' super bowl run a few years back. He did it on the big stage, and he has proven his worth.

Nicks wants a 1-yr deal, and he'll be looking to get paid next off-season. He's hungry to show that he's still an elite receiver. What's a better way to do that than aligning yourself with a solid team, with an elite quarterback. (Yes, I just called Cam elite)

You might be right. I don't see him as a#1. Then again, I'm an awful evaluator of talent. I'll be the first to admit being wrong if he comes here and blows it up. I hated picking Cam and Luke and loved picking AE.... So there's that.

[NFLFangirl19]

That's fair. To be perfectly honest, I trust Gettleman's assessment here. He's spent a lot of time with Nicks and knows him better than most. I stand by my statement that Smitty, Nicks, Benjamin would be a good (and potentially very inexpensive) line up. My anti-Nicks posts weren't saying we shouldn't look at him, but I doubt we do. I just feel that NY is over him and based on Gettleman's history, he would likely not be interested.

hey who knows. Gettleman may very well offer him something & he may just get a better from another team & not end up here anyway. I just wish we could know already lol

[CelticCat]

Everyone keeps stating how smitty production has dropped and he isnt a #1 anymore. Well if we ever get a legimate threat opposite of him...ie draft, decker of hicks, I believe he would put up #1 we numbers again.

 

Smitty still had a very respectable catch percentage of 58%, that's above his career average. But what is noticeable is his yards per target was down to 6.8. He really hasn't hit that low a number since we had Clausen and the Testaverde/Carr years.

 

Now, I have to say that appears to have been by design last year, he seemed to be running shorter routes so the likes of Ginn and LaFell could go deeper in 3WR sets. That seems to jive with the statistics as both LaFell and Ginn had higher yards per target.

[rodeo]

Might be worth noting that last year we addressed most of our holes in free agency, and left only our most glaring one to address in round 1 of the draft.

 

If we're going after a bunch of WR in FA it may mean we won't draft any.

[Rook35200]

Cause it's not like he was putting up big numbers in a run first, ball control offense at any other point in his career. That argument is not a strong one.

 

Steve Smith's value right now is not as a number 1 wide receiver. He will serve himself and the Panthers best when he's in the slot where he can abuse NBs and safetys with his superior route running. He's not going to make a ton of guys miss anymore. He's not going to burn DBs. He's a savvy, fiery vet, a great route runner with good hands, and that's the role he needs to play.

 

 

We rarely took shots down the field this year compared to 2011 and 2012. When we did throw downfield it was usually to Olsen or Ginn. I didn't say Smith is a number 1 receiver anymore. He is the best receiver we have right now and if we were to sign Decker, Smitty would still be our best receiver