Time to make a BOLD move.

[heel31ok]

Do you see him taking a less than generous contract? Or will we have any other money left to sign anybody else after a generous contract.

Incidently, I am going out on a small limb with a huge ASSumption.

I see us overpaying him. What happens after that is just a guess.

[panfanman]

Also, nobody is going to take Jonathan Stewart's contract. Over how many years is he guaranteed money? Until 2018? Nobody would want to take that for a RB that can't stay on the field. Gotta be one of the worst contracts in the NFL. Most teams would probably rather sign Carly Rae Jepsen to play RB than trade for Jonathan Stewart. If Hurney was still here and we could get Carly Rae for less than 1 million, it would be one of the best moves he ever made.

Boy Hurney was a dumbass. Pray Gman can sort it all out, get us out of cap hell and not loose Cam for a lousy 3 rounder.

[Frizzy350]

intended or not it looks like you have hit on where the real focus should be or should I say the main focus.

 But back to the point neither one have won anything yet in the NFL.

 

I wouldn't say Marino didn't win anything the NFL just because he didn't get a ring.  He is still one of the best to ever play the game.

 

The point is that model (elite QB, WRs, Oline) is LESS likely to a win superbowl than a good QB/general offense supplemented by an elite defense.  In the modern era here are some good examples.

 

The Patriots won their 3 superbowls with a clock consuming game managing quarterback named Tom Brady who had a bruising running back in Corey Dillon and an elite defense (most of talent was in the front 7, but they had a great secondary also).

 

Ben Roethlisberger won 2 superbowls for the Steelers, the first of which he posted an abysmal quarterback rating and had Jerome Bettis and an elite defense (most talent was within the front 7).

 

Eli Manning and the Giants won the biggest upset superbowl of all time against the now pass happy Patriots, who had shattered just about every offensive single season statistical category in existence by having a relentless front 4 and an efficient offense (biggest bruiser would be Jacobs).

 

Ravens won their first superbowl with Trent Dilfer as their QB and one of the best defenses of all time (once again, primary player were front 7 players) along with a young and nasty bruising back in Jamaal Lewis.  They won their second with Joe Freakin Flacco playing at an MVP level bolstered by an incredible playoff defensive performance by guys like Ngata, Suggs, and Ray Lewis.

 

The Seahawks absolutely dominated (a team we were 8 yards and a fumble from beating) the Denver Broncos who had beaten all those pretty records the Patriots set.  As much we credit the Seattle secondary (which is elite), their heavy rotational front put Peyton Manning in poor situations nearly every play of the game.  They still have a good front 7 despite most credit going to their secondary and a bruising back in Lynch.

 

Other superbowls have been won by the Packers, Colts, Bucs (once again won by an elite defense, especially along the front 7), Saints, and Rams.

 

11 of the past 15 superbowls have been won by bruising backs, elite defensive front 7s, and timely quarterback play.

 

We have that.  Even if we don't draft or sign another player we fit right in with those 11,  I will take those chances any day.

[panfanman]

Tl; dr, but I suppose signing the top RBs and LBs available to one-year prove it deals would be just fine.

,

Lost you and not sure what your saying. But since you mentioned "prove it deals".

We signed a lot of "prove it deals" last year, right? Well part of the nice things about that is when they do prove it the next year you have some cap space to keep them. I'd like to rather call the ones we signed last year, "We're screwed and this is all we'll have to offer you so you better show out on the field so some other team will $natch you up next year" deal.

[panfanman]

I didn't know FA was over and the draft had ended.

Note that we still have our top receiver and we are likely to bring back our #2 WR.

Our receivers were awful last year as a whole. I love Smitty and liked Ginn's improvements, but from a talent perspective, we can recover that quickly.

You're not going to recover someone like Cam quickly, if ever. You never let him go.

What is left in FA is at best on par with what we had last year and every one of our top 5 draft picks will have go be home runs. Unlikely we will be that luck and field an offense capable of helping Cam.

I suppose your refering to Olsen as the top receiver. He will need a stellar WR #1 to produce like that again and WR#2 Lafell is not that man.

[Proudiddy]

,

Lost you and not sure what your saying. But since you mentioned "prove it deals".

We signed a lot of "prove it deals" last year, right? Well part of the nice things about that is when they do prove it the next year you have some cap space to keep them. I'd like to rather call the ones we signed last year, "We're screwed and this is all we'll have to offer you so you better show out on the field so some other team will ****** you up next year" deal.

 

I wasn't saying anything.  It was sarcasm.

 

[Pantherman]

Here is Madden style. It would be nice if could get trade Cam and Stewart to the Browns for all of the 1st 2nd and 3 round picks to go a long with ours. But reality no Franchise is that stupid to get rid of their star QB without some good reason. Cam is staying unless all of a sudden and out no where the NFL and everyone else reports the Panthers have traded Cam away for picks. Then this Panthers  frachise would be screwed in so many ways. Will Cam walk in the next few years. I doubt it. So long as we pay him top money like any good QB. He want walk. So I'm not worried about Cam walking because he will get paid and we will get the talent to help him sooner or later.

[panfanman]

I wouldn't say Marino didn't win anything the NFL just because he didn't get a ring. He is still one of the best to ever play the game.

The point is that model (elite QB, WRs, Oline) is LESS likely to a win superbowl than a good QB/general offense supplemented by an elite defense. In the modern era here are some good examples.

The Patriots won their 3 superbowls with a clock consuming game managing quarterback named Tom Brady who had a bruising running back in Corey Dillon and an elite defense (most of talent was in the front 7, but they had a great secondary also).

Ben Roethlisberger won 2 superbowls for the Steelers, the first of which he posted an abysmal quarterback rating and had Jerome Bettis and an elite defense (most talent was within the front 7).

Eli Manning and the Giants won the biggest upset superbowl of all time against the now pass happy Patriots, who had shattered just about every offensive single season statistical category in existence by having a relentless front 4 and an efficient offense (biggest bruiser would be Jacobs).

Ravens won their first superbowl with Trent Dilfer as their QB and one of the best defenses of all time (once again, primary player were front 7 players) along with a young and nasty bruising back in Jamaal Lewis. They won their second with Joe Freakin Flacco playing at an MVP level bolstered by an incredible playoff defensive performance by guys like Ngata, Suggs, and Ray Lewis.

The Seahawks absolutely dominated (a team we were 8 yards and a fumble from beating) the Denver Broncos who had beaten all those pretty records the Patriots set. As much we credit the Seattle secondary (which is elite), their heavy rotational front put Peyton Manning in poor situations nearly every play of the game. They still have a good front 7 despite most credit going to their secondary and a bruising back in Lynch.

Other superbowls have been won by the Packers, Colts, Bucs (once again won by an elite defense, especially along the front 7), Saints, and Rams.

11 of the past 15 superbowls have been won by bruising backs, elite defensive front 7s, and timely quarterback play.

We have that. Even if we don't draft or sign another player we fit right in with those 11, I will take those chances any day.

Good thoughts. Thank you.

[mav1234]

What is left in FA is at best on par with what we had last year and every one of our top 5 draft picks will have go be home runs. Unlikely we will be that luck and field an offense capable of helping Cam.

I suppose your refering to Olsen as the top receiver. He will need a stellar WR #1 to produce like that again and WR#2 Lafell is not that man.

 

There is quite a bit left in FA that is better than what we had last year.

 

More importantly, there ism ore left in the FA and the draft.

 

And finally, remember where Mitchell and Ginn were at this time of year last year.

[mav1234]

I wouldn't do it out of fear I already said that. I am saying that 3-4 playmakers trumps one. multiple early round picks  and a large cap space would be a great way to build a winning Franchise. there is not just one way to build a winning team.

But that isn't the only way we could add another playmaker or two.

 

It's basically the old AJ Green & Andy Dalton vs Cam Newton disagreement.  We're unlikely to get anyone close to Cam's ability, but hey, we could get a player at Dalton's level, probably!

 

which do you think is more likely to win a superbowl?  and that's if two of your 3-4 "superstar" draft picks work out.  there is actually a miss rate int he 1st round, we've just not had to experience it since Otah.  I'd rather not test it on a quarterback again.

[carolina-chuck]

Trade Cam?????

How about we trade you to the Browns?

Nvm, trade me. I rather watch the Browns next year.

[Jmac]

Not gonna happen......not the way the new GM does things. He evaluates players,gets the best bang for the buck and takes off from there. Your high hopes will not be realized anytime soon.

[Matthias]

Looking at the prospects so far this year, it doesn't look good.  With all the guys we lost, it certainly feels like a rebuilding year.  In terms of talent, Cam is the best.  It is a stupid idea to trade Cam away based on his talent and how hard it is to find a franchise QB.  Yet entering year 4 of Cam's contract, I still have my concerns about Cam in terms of the mental aspect of the game.  You can't put him in a neat box like you would be able to do with Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck.  He has an explosive character, and is known to sulk a little bit if things go south.  It's for that reason, not being able to put him in a neat box, that scares me about him.  Right now we don't have the weapons to help him out (last year was a struggle in this department, how much more this year), and we don't have the line to keep him upright. (Cam is still working on his foot work, and at times hold on to the ball too long.  He even has that glitch at times where he does a 360 in the pocket, running right into a DE)

 

 

I admit it, I'm a coward in this regard.  Cam has the ability to be a source of nuclear fusion out there on the field, and be the best QB ever to play in the game.  Yet based on everything I said, I would honestly consider trading Cam if the Browns offered both of their 1sts, their 2nd, and next year's 1st (along with possibly another pick in next year's draft)  This would allow us the ability to get Greg Robinson or Jake Matthews, along with two good receivers and extra help.  I believe Derek Anderson could step in and do a fine job with that kind of talent, and our defense would still be great.  With the money we would have spent on Cam the following year, we would continue to build the team up at other positions.  I would honestly take that deal.

[FugginPoo]

We can tag cam