Looks like the Panthers are ready to try to deal Steve Smith. Should’ve done it last year, when a contending team might’ve overpaid for him.
Now the Panthers will be fortunate to get a 3rd round pick for the Pro Bowl fixture. Has a franchise ever gotten so little in return for so many quality players?
Meanwhile, the Panthers seem intent on ignoring multiple opportunities to trade out of the #1 slot and pick up badly needed bodies to populate a Swiss cheese roster.
For some unknown reason Marty Hurney seems to think the Cam Newton hype will put butts in the seats and save his job for the next two seasons — because no one expects Newton to be ready to play this year, you see. Guess what? The Panthers can’t wait. They need guys who can step on the field and play now — no more Marty-shirts.
Besides, didn’t the Big Cat hold court in front of God and everybody and say he had to cut loose a coaching staff that refused to play young talent? How does that square with deliberately using the most important draft pick in franchise history on a guy who cannot and will not be ready to play from Day One?
Forget the DNC. Charlotte is about to play host to an even bigger circus — the slo-mo implosion of an NFL franchise.
27
2011 At 9:58 am, RickHenderson Said:
Perhaps I haven’t had enough coffee, but I think there’s a nontrivial chance they won’t draft Cam. Why? Because the action in the courts means there’s a nontrivial chance the owners may be forced to keep the current CBA in place for another season until they work out a longer deal.
The Big Cat ain’t paying anybody a $40-50 million bonus. My uninformed guess is that they either draft Dareus, trade the pick, or do both.
27
2011 At 12:18 pm, Jeff A. Taylor Said:
He’ll pay it IF he thinks Newton will shut up PSL holders for the next 2-3 yrs. while increasing his gate. I swear Richardson is morphing into Jerry Shinn before our eyes — pay a big contract to Grand-Cam-ma, let him sell your product, ask the city to go halfsies on upgrading your joint, be cheap everywhere else.
27
2011 At 12:24 pm, RickHenderson Said:
If Richardson thinks it’ll shut ‘em up more than half a season, he is nuts. I see Cam getting killed out there, as you said a few days ago. If you’re a fan of any team that might draft Newton, that interview with Chuckie was frightening.
27
2011 At 2:08 pm, howiezowie Said:
They finished with 1 win in 2001 and went to the Super Bowl two years later. Richardson has proven he can put together a successful team. Give them a chance before declaring an implosion. Hell, at least see how the No. 1 pick does for the team.
27
2011 At 9:26 pm, clayj Said:
Speaking as a PSL owner, I was thisclose (fingers held microns apart) to NOT sending the team my 10% before the deadline and saying to hell with my seats.
If I don’t see a major change in attitude concerning winning (as in, “We WILL do WHATEVER it takes to WIN games”), then next season I *will* give up my PSLs — and use the money I would have spent on tickets on a nice new TV.