Carolina Panthers A Big Bowl of Sanity

[TheNewStandard]

Byron Bell, as terrible as we all thought he was, only gave up 9 more QB hurries, 5 more hits and 3 more sacks than did Gross in the same number of snaps. He did this against LE, who are the top-heavy sack leaders in the league.

If, like he and the staff says, would be better suited at LT because that is his dominant side...it may not be a stretch, based on last season's performance and another off season to improve, that he could be adequate to play LT?

If Wharton comes back for another season and our guards return from injury at 100% (that's a lot of "ifs," i know,) we could be worrying ourselves for little reason. I think it's safe to say that we will draft a lineman that is high on our board with one of our top 3 or 4 picks if he is available and that would give us some competition along the line. Who knows? Gross said he wouldn't leave us in a bad spot if it came down to it. Maybe we're money and don't even know it?

[L-TownCat]

Hard to argue with any of what Zod said.  Our positions of need don't look much different now than they did 2-3 months ago.  Gross and Smitty are extras that we weren't necessarily counting on being gone but now they are.

 

The scary part is that we have missed on the FA's that we have actively pursued.  It's concerning at the very least.  At some point it becomes a fantasy to think a man has planned that far in advance.  There are too many variables to account for and it seems like, at the moment, those variables are breaking against the FO.  How many contingency plans do they reasonably have?

[WOW!!]

If we had handed out those contracts to Ginn, Mitchell and Captain it would have been a clear sign that NOTHING had changed from Hurney.

Huddle- OMG Hurney is an idiot with his blind loyalty, he has doomed us to cap hell for shelling out huge deals to unnecessary players.

Huddle- Dave Gettleman is a soul-less dick who hates the Panthers and is trying to intentionally burn it to the ground.

logic != compute;

The moral of the story boys and girls is we have been a player in free agency, we signed the biggest free agent out there: Greg Hardy

I'd easily rather have Hardy than Ginn, Captain, and Mitchell.

The only thing that has me confused is Charles Godfrey. I thought if he was designated a June 1st cut, we would clear 7 million off the books. I'll take average safety play (a la Roman Harper) and more money to sign Nicks/or an OT than 7 mill for Godfrey.

I agree with most of this but the Harper thing. That dude has sucked for years now. I rather play Lester then have him getting a pay check from us.

[Carolina Crazy V2]

Eh, debatable. He was an average WR and a good #3 WR for us last season. 3.5 million a year sounds about right, especially when you can afford it.

 

It definitely depends on your opinion of his potential. I don't think he was an above-average No.3 receiver, but I can see the argument that he was. 

[TheNewStandard]

Hard to argue with any of what Zod said. Our positions of need don't look much different now than they did 2-3 months ago. Gross and Smitty are extras that we weren't necessarily counting on being gone but now they are.

The scary part is that we have missed on the FA's that we have actively pursued. It's concerning at the very least. At some point it becomes a fantasy to think a man has planned that far in advance. There are too many variables to account for and it seems like, at the moment, those variables are breaking against the FO. How many contingency plans do they reasonably have?

Unless I haven't been paying close enough attention, the only one we missed on was the LT from Cincy, who got a good chunk of change from TB. I don't think we offered him near as much (we just don't have that much room to wiggle,) and it appeared that he was destined for TB from the start.

[RoaringRiot]

http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/5382/the-panthers-really-havent-lost-anything?src=mobile

[L-TownCat]

Unless I haven't been paying close enough attention, the only one we missed on was the LT from Cincy, who got a good chunk of change from TB. I don't think we offered him near as much (we just don't have that much room to wiggle,) and it appeared that he was destined for TB from the start.

 

A few of our own FA's were considered priorities by the FO and by either other teams over paying or sheer stubbornness all of them have walked.  Its not just about other teams guys there were a few of our own that the FO wanted to keep but couldn't get it done.

[TheNewStandard]

It definitely depends on your opinion of his potential. I don't think he was an above-average No.3 receiver, but I can see the argument that he was.

3.5 is still too much. On top of that, we had Hickson, McNutt, King and Pilares behind him. I know the guy was a good returner and could get open downfield, but damn if he could catch'em, most times he didn't even try...maybe he was better in practice but he was only good in the offense for trick plays.

Our #3 has to be better than that. Ginn wasn't cutting it. No way he performed to the tune of 3.5 million.

[MadHatter]

A few of our own FA's were considered priorities by the FO and by either other teams over paying or sheer stubbornness all of them have walked.  Its not just about other teams guys there were a few of our own that the FO wanted to keep but couldn't get it done.

 

Understand....but at the contracts they got, I am glad that we didn't get it done

[Gin and Juice]

You may run this show, but logical reasoning is not welcomed here for 7 weeks

[jptaylor84]

Unless I haven't been paying close enough attention, the only one we missed on was the LT from Cincy, who got a good chunk of change from TB. I don't think we offered him near as much (we just don't have that much room to wiggle,) and it appeared that he was destined for TB from the start.

All I see is why isn't DG doing something or why won't he sign someone anyone!

He makes offers to players he cannot physically make them come here! Collins had his choice and he saw fit that Tampa was his best option, it's not like DG is doing nothing, he's negotiating all day id assume like most GMs but when you have no money there's little leverage you have.

[TheNewStandard]

A few of our own FA's were considered priorities by the FO and by either other teams over paying or sheer stubbornness all of them have walked. Its not just about other teams guys there were a few of our own that the FO wanted to keep but couldn't get it done.

Look at the price tags and then look again. We didn't have the cash to pay that much and it has nothing to do with stubbornness.

[Cary Kollins]

Aside from the Steve Smith release, if you didn't see this offseason coming, you were not paying attention.

 

 

The 2013 team was studded with 1-year deal castaways. These players played their tails off, and benefited from an elite core (which remains with the team). 

 

Had we finished with a record of say 8-8 or 9-7, we might have been able to keep Mitchell or Ginn.  But when you win your division on the way to a 12-4 record, guys are going to get big offers from teams with dreams of the playoffs.

 

Gettleman and Co. are looking to the future.  Why lock up a Ginn or Mitchell or Cap'n when viable replacements can and will be found for cheaper? 

 

The idea is to get out of the cap troubles the team is currently in, all while saving enough dough to retain the superstars on the team.

 

Sustained success.  Sustained success. Sustained success. 

 

We are going through growing pains on the way to becoming a franchise that is relevant year in and year out.  I think we will look back at this period as a major transition for the franchise.  It's not easy, and it ain't pretty...but it's necessary.

[countryboi]

man you sugar coated of the offensive line. williams if god awful, Silotolu just came off a major knee injury and Bell is avg at best. that makes for one piss poor Oline.