Could the Panthers have used Jason Taylor? You better believe it, but some things are not meant to be. Washington's move helped better establish them as a playoff contender and Carolina? Well, the Panthers are pinning their hopes, for now at least, on Tyler Brayton. The Carolina Panthers have made various moves this offeason to get back in a winning grove in Charlotte. They have made, arguably, the most dramatic changes in the franchise's history.
Most of the "meat" of these changes were made on the offensive side of the ball. A few bigger named players were brought in and they seem to look great so far, but the big move was trading away next season's 1st round draft pick for the chance to select 2, much needed, players in the 1st rounds of the 2008 draft.
Amazingly the Panthers did not sign a proven defensive end this offseason. They did take Rookie, Hilee Taylor from UNC. Taylor is probably better suited to play outside linebacker given his overall size, speed and style of play. But coach Fox likes Taylor's speed and feels that is what his team needs. The Panthers also signed undrafted rookie defensive end, Casper Brinkley, from USC. Brinkley is at best a work in progress and like Hilee Taylor, he could be in a bit over his head if he was plugged into the defense too quickly
The other defensive end signed is former Raider, Tyler Brayton. The former Raider had no sacks last year and I believe that is the problem the Panthers are now trying to correct this offseason (to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks). Brayton may be a decent backup, but his numbers do not seem to support a starting position. He may wind up having a great season but all we have to go from is his past history and he does not look like the quarterback chasing "bookend" to play opposite Julius Peppers.
It almost looks as if coach John Fox knows that one of his new defensive ends, may just wind up going on to be a 15 sack pro-bowler. He may also feel that Julius Peppers will return to get his annual 10-12 sacks this season. If those scenarios played out then Carolina will once again be able to pressure opposing quarterbacks. However, if any part of this equation (a 12 sack year for Peppers and a pro-bowl type of year for one of the newly drafted or newly signed defensive ends) happens to break down then it could spell trouble.
I just find it hard to believe that Brayton, Brinkley and Taylor are going to be super productive defensive ends this season. I think there is a good chance Julius Peppers may return and be somewhat of the player he was before last season. It would cost him too much to have a lackluster season (unless he know longer cares about landing a $70,000,000 contract).
16 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Walter Bigsby about 1 year ago
Nice in depth account of what is going on in Charlotte.
I think JT would be excellent opposite Pep!
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frANK WALLS about 1 year ago
Wow...sounds like carolina has to be a player in the nfc this year...nice look at the injury
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Jaxon CatScratchReader about 1 year ago
What are you talking about? Taylor is not a free agent at this point so how could the Panthers sign him? You spent two pages recapping the Panthers past 12 months before you even addressed the title of the post. Then you didn't even discuss the real possibility (via trade) to get Taylor. Add to that he has stated he's only good for one more year which happens to coincide with the last year of his Dolphins contract. Dude, try doing a little research.
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Rick Weaver about 1 year ago
Thanks "Jaxon" (I take it you are a disgruntled Jag's fan?)
Jaxon, Jaxon, Jaxon.....
The last time I checked, Wayne Huizenga, owned the Dolphins and also he owned the checking account that issues checks to ALL members of the Dolphins organization. It has never been reported that Bill Parcells purchased the team from Mr. Huizenga.
Now, before you get too far into this read...Remember, we are talking about H. Wayne Huizenga here
(the Sports and entertainment mogul H. Wayne Huizenga is the Dolphin owner). Not Dr. Robert Huizenga, the former team doctor for the Oakland Raiders....who is also not be confused with the somewhat famous, "Relationship Doctor", Dr. Robert Huizenga, who is actually a Phd. and a best selling author. However, the other Dr. Huizenga, the Raider's former team doctor, is also a best selling author. If you read and like football, then pick up his "tell all" book, "You're Okay, It's Just a Bruise": A Doctor's Sideline Secrets About Pro Football's Most Outrageous Team. (St. Martin's Press).
So, if you know who we are talking about, the owner of the Dolphins made several statements about his friend and EMPLOYEE, JASON TAYLOR.
What did the OWNER say? According to the NFL Network's, Adam Schefter: " Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga made the following comments regarding the futures of defensive end Jason Taylor and linebacker Zach Thomas.
Huizenga said if either player wants out of Miami, they simply should let him know.
"That’s really more up to them," Huizenga told reporters. "When the season’s over we’ll see how they feel about that. The trade deadline has passed so there's no sense discussing something that can't happen. But those guys aren't bashful. If they want to talk about it after the season, we'll talk to them."
Taylor and Thomas are too savvy to say whether they would be interested in talking to Huizenga, but to think they wouldn't is illogical. Both are veterans. Both are in the last years of their career. Both are tired of being saddled to a rebuilding team.
When the season ends, don’t be surpised to see each player tell Huizenga that he would be open to the idea of being traded. Whether the Dolphins actually deal them is another question." -Adam Schefter
You ask about a contract? Sure Tayloe has one year left. But that is no big deal if they really want to deal him.
Sounds like there is chance Taylor could be traded, right? Um, what happened to Zach Thomas? Is he in the Miami heat this summer? Nope, not even close. He is in Texas and soon to be on well on his way to Oxnard to practice with Jerry Jones' little 'ole Texas organization. Was he under contract? Doesn't matter. When the owner says they are open to a trade...them a new team can pick up your contract.
Also, the Associated Press reported on 5/21/08:" Owner Wayne Huizenga has said the team's open to trading Taylor. Last month Miami drafted two defensive ends as potential replacements — Clemson's Phillip Merling in the second round, and Hampton's Kendall Langford in the third round."-AP
So, if you understand football and business...When two people are in a contract together, like Taylor and Huizenga are, they can decide to change the contract any way they want as long as they both sides agree. In this case the owner likes Taylor, Taylor likes the owner and the coach seems to be caught in the middle (between Parcells, Taylor and the owner...not the author).
So, what could happen? Well we do know the owner says he would be open to trade Taylor. We know Taylor said he wants to play for a "winner" next year (that sort of means any other team besides Miami).
We know Parcells and the Jaguars tried to negotiate a deal for Taylor, but they could not hammer out a draft day deal as Parcells, reportedly asked for too much in return. So, the Jags kept their picks and
got some defensive linemen.
Now, enter the Panthers. The Panthers are a team who desperately need a defensive end who can measure up and pressure NFL quarterbacks. Taylor is possibly available, from what we have read and for enough compensation (a 3rd or a 4th round pick and possibly a 7th round pick are something that may work). The Panthers could handle dropping a pick like that for an 11 sack player and a solid tackler, because the defensive end position is possibly where the Panthers are most vulnerable.
Now, I asked the question, "Could Taylor become a Panther?" Sure he could...But it would be a very slim chance, like the chances I have to kick a field goal in a superbowl....However, it was just a question. The build up was to show the levels to which the Fox/Hurney have gone to try and build a winner.
If you know these two ( Fox and Hurney... like I do)...then you know the moves they have made are probably a result of BEING TOLD they have to build a team that wins at home and a team that can go deep into the playoffs or else. Out of the last 5 years, they have made it to the NFC Championship game twice and the superbowl once. How about the Jags? So, the question becomes: How desperate are these guys to win?
So, Fox and Hurney have to weigh the scenario, if they traded a 3rd and 7th round pick from next years draft to get this guy and they gone on to win enough games, but they come up a game or two short of a superbowl but they still keep their jobs, then what could they do if they if they had injuries or free agent losses? Building a team through free agency is tough and they know it.
It would be wild if it happened and I would bet, if the Panthers had a 100% solid QB situation this season then I would say they would, at least, make inquiries regarding Taylor.
Actually, today Miami head coach Tony Sparano (Not Tony Soprano...That is the role James Gandolfini played on the HBO hit the Sopranos....A Soprano would have Taylor at camp for the early OTA's carrying water to the team, and cleaning up after practice).
But the coach Sparano said again today he really expects and wants Taylor to play for the Dolphins this season.
I bet a shared lunch between Parcells and Jason Taylor, with a handshake would keep Taylor happy for this season in Miami for this season Taylor goes on to be the next action-adventure star in Hollywood.
Dude, Research, are you kidding me? Read up on blockbuster trades in NFL history...Many of them included players "locked" in by iron clad contracts. Other teams pick up contracts all of the time if they can work out trade deals with the teams in question.
By the way...Speaking of Blockbuster.....Blockbuster Entertainment --Blockbuster Video is H. Wayne Huizenga;s baby. Remember, he owns the Phins...the guy who said he would be open to trade Taylor.
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Rick Weaver about 1 year ago
(SORRY ABOUT THE SIMILAR POSTING ABOVE THIS ONE BUT I HIT SUBMIT TOO SOON...I GUESS I WAS JUST TOO EAGER TO HELP YOU OUT...SO, PLEASE FORGET THAT VERSION...THIS IS THE ONE TO READ...I HOPE
Thanks "Jaxon" (I take it you are a disgruntled Jag's fan?)
Jaxon, Jaxon, Jaxon.....
The last time I checked, Wayne Huizenga, owned the Dolphins and also he owns the checking account that issues checks to ALL members of the Dolphin's organization. It has never been reported that Bill Parcells purchased the team from Mr. Huizenga.
Now, before you get too far into this read...Remember, we are talking about H. Wayne Huizenga here
(the Sports and entertainment mogul H. Wayne Huizenga is the Dolphin owner). Not Dr. Robert Huizenga, the former team doctor for the Oakland Raiders....who is also not be confused with the somewhat famous, "Relationship Doctor", Dr. Robert Huizenga, who is actually a Phd. and a best selling author. However, the other Dr. Huizenga, the Raider's former team doctor, is also a best selling author. If you read and like football, then pick up his "tell all" book, "You're Okay, It's Just a Bruise": A Doctor's Sideline Secrets About Pro Football's Most Outrageous Team. (St. Martin's Press).
So, if you know who we are talking about, the owner of the Dolphins made several statements about his friend and EMPLOYEE, JASON TAYLOR.
What did the OWNER say? According to the NFL Network's, Adam Schefter: " Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga made the following comments regarding the futures of defensive end Jason Taylor and linebacker Zach Thomas.
Huizenga said if either player wants out of Miami, they simply should let him know.
"That’s really more up to them," Huizenga told reporters. "When the season’s over we’ll see how they feel about that. The trade deadline has passed so there's no sense discussing something that can't happen. But those guys aren't bashful. If they want to talk about it after the season, we'll talk to them."
Taylor and Thomas are too savvy to say whether they would be interested in talking to Huizenga, but to think they wouldn't is illogical. Both are veterans. Both are in the last years of their career. Both are tired of being saddled to a rebuilding team.
When the season ends, don’t be surprised to see each player tell Huizenga that he would be open to the idea of being traded. Whether the Dolphins actually deal them is another question." -Adam Schefter
You ask about a contract? Sure Taylor has one year left. But that is no big deal if they really want to deal him.
Sounds like there is chance Taylor could be traded, right? Um, what happened to Zach Thomas? Is he in the Miami heat this summer? Nope, not even close. He is in Texas and soon to be on well on his way to Oxnard to practice with Jerry Jones' little 'ole Texas organization. Was he under contract? Doesn't matter. When the owner says they are open to a trade...then a new team can pick up your contract.
Also, the Associated Press reported on 5/21/08:" Owner Wayne Huizenga has said the team's open to trading Taylor. Last month Miami drafted two defensive ends as potential replacements — Clemson's Phillip Merling in the second round, and Hampton's Kendall Langford in the third round."-AP
So, if you understand football and business...When two people are in a contract together, like Taylor and Huizenga are, they can decide to change the contract any way they want to as long as both sides agree. In this case the owner likes Taylor, Taylor likes the owner and the coach seems to be caught in the middle (between Parcells, Taylor and the owner...not the author).
So, what could happen? Well we do know the owner says he would be open to trade Taylor. We know Taylor said he wants to play for a "winner" next year (that sort of means any other team besides Miami).
We know Parcells and the Jaguars tried to negotiate a deal for Taylor, but they could not hammer out a draft day deal as Parcells, reportedly asked for too much in return. So, the Jags kept their picks and
got some defensive linemen.
Now, enter the Panthers. The Panthers are a team who desperately need a defensive end who can measure up and pressure NFL quarterbacks. Taylor is possibly available, from what we have read and for enough compensation to the Dolphins (a 3rd or a 4th round pick and possibly a 7th round pick are something that may work). The Panthers could handle dropping a pick like that for an 11 sack per year player and a solid tackler, because the defensive end position is possibly where the Panthers are most vulnerable.
Now, I asked the question, "Could Taylor become a Panther?" Sure he could...But it would be a very slim chance, like the chances I have to kick a field goal in a superbowl....However, it was just a question. The build up was to show the levels to which the Fox/Hurney have gone to try and build a winner this year (since January...6 months...not the last 12 moths).
If you know these two ( Fox and Hurney... like I do)...then you know the moves they have made are probably a result of BEING TOLD they have to build a team that wins at home and a team that can go deep into the playoffs or else. Out of the last 5 years, they have made it to the NFC Championship game twice and the superbowl once. How about the Jags? So, the question becomes: How desperate are these guys to win?
So, Fox and Hurney have to weigh the scenario, if they traded a 3rd and 7th round pick from next years draft to get Taylor and they do go on to win enough games, but they come up a game or two short of a superbowl and they still keep their jobs, then what could they do if they if they had injuries or free agent losses? Building a team through free agency is tough and they know it.
It would be wild if it happened and I would bet, if the Panthers had a 100% solid QB situation this season then I would say they would, at least, make inquiries regarding Taylor.
Actually, today Miami head coach Tony Sparano (Not Tony Soprano...That is the role James Gandolfini played on the HBO hit the Sopranos....An HBO Soprano would have Taylor at camp for the early OTA's carrying water to the team, and cleaning up after practice).
But coach Sparano said again today he really expects and wants Taylor to play for the Dolphins this season.
I bet a shared lunch between Parcells and Jason Taylor, with a handshake would keep Taylor happy for this season in Miami and after that Taylor could go on and be the next action-adventure star in Hollywood.
Dude, Research, are you kidding me? Read up on blockbuster trades in NFL history...Many of them included players "locked" in by iron clad contracts. Other teams pick up contracts all of the time if they can work out trade deals with the teams in question.
By the way...Speaking of Blockbuster.....Blockbuster Entertainment --Blockbuster Video is H. Wayne Huizenga's baby. Remember, he owns the Phins...the guy who said he would be open to trade Taylor.
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pantherdave willis about 1 year ago
nice one
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Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
Excellent article! I don't think there is a real possibility of Taylor to Carolina, but you did a great job exploring the possibility!
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pantherdave11 wills about 1 year ago
I meant to say nice write up. I am a UNC grad and Hilee Taylor is the real deal! I would like to see Taylor in Charlotte but I bet Mr. Richardson would not go for it.
I also enjoyed the history you presented. It is accurate and well thought out. Please write some more whenever you want. We loved it!
Your answer for the sour grape Jax's fan had us rolling! He was exactly wrong and you were great. People
like that bring nothing to the table.
Go Panthers and thanks Mr. Weaver,
Dave from UNC
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Jaxon CatScratchReader about 1 year ago
Rick:
How you get the notion I'm a disgruntled Jacksonville fan is beyond me. (Panther fan since inception) It's also not my problem you can't handle a little constructive criticism. I was simply pointing out that the title of the post suggested a discussion of the possibility of Jason Taylor coming to Carolina. Yet instead we got 12 paragraph's of Panther recap before you got to Jason Taylor. When you did it was strictly about 'signing' Taylor and not about a trade for him. It appears you've now added some paragraphs to the end of the post to address what I pointed out (Starting with "We have all heard about the "proposition" concerning the Jaguars 1st round pick in exchange for Jason Taylor.") No, I don't follow the Dolphins, I follow the Panthers.
Concerning your rebuttal, half of that is again unrelated to the discussion but the other half actually addresses the issue. Are you suggesting that if Taylor simply says he wants to leave, then Wayne will let him go? Yeah right. If you really know Fox and Hurney you know there is no way they are going to trade anything of value for a vet at the end of his career.
Your rebuttal better addresses the intent of the original post I would say, well done and much clearer and to the point than the original (except for the Zach Thomas analogy). Too bad your first knee jerk reaction was to belittle me for pointing it out. Why would you want to create an adversarial relationship with your readers is beyond me. No need to post another response as I won't be reading it.
- Jaxon - www.catscratchreader.com
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Rick Weaver about 1 year ago
Hi Jax
As far as a Jags fan goes and jag fan reference...I saw Jax and thought "Jacksonville" Jag's fan reading a piece on the same Jason Taylor that his Jags almost had and he was p.o.ed at me for even speaking his name....or because another team might even have a a snowball's chance in haiti to even try to speak with Taylor...
Criticism is great, really and that was my bad...I had pulled the original article off of "Word" and cut and pasted a piece I had actually done for a column about the NFL offseason and which teams made the biggest changes...I did not even catch it for a day (until your posting....SO, Thanks...but at first it made no sense). So, I went in and pulled the little piece I blogged here.
As far as Taylor goes...Well, the owner did tell the NFL Network if Taylor and Thomas wanted out of Miami just to let him know. Inferring he help would facilitate a trade to help move Taylor if Taylor wanted out.
Now, Mr. Huizenga may be a lot of things but he is not known for lying or not living up to his promises.
Unrelated was the fact that Zach Thomas was released and the cowboys signed him for a 1 year
$3 million deal ($1 mil for a signing bonus, $1 mil salary, $1 mill of incentives tied to playing time).
But Taylor was not released nor was he traded.
So, now we have Taylor not reporting...(no biggie...it is not mandatory)...but then indicating he will not be at camp...(a biggie for Parcells)...and then we see Taylor and Parcells trade barbs in the press..(a "small" biggie getting bigger).
So, today Sparano meets with Taylor and says it was a "good" meeting but, Taylor will not be in camp
(just does not sound productive). So, I have to believe there is still a tiny chance for him to go somewhere...
However, after Huizenga said he would basically help make a deal happen to get Jason Taylor out if Taylor wanted out of Miami....He changed his tone a bit recently...Huizenga said he would now "stay out" of the deal....Sounds like Parcells may have asked the owner to please stay out of it.
Now what do I know about Carolina....Fox and Hurney would not breathe a word if they did speak to Miami. They just do not give up anything.
Knowing Fox & Hurney...Yeah, not best friends or anything. Spoken with Fox on the phone enough to know he will not let you know anything that is REALLY going on with his team (dude...I had him getting Stewart or Otah or Clady...But coach honestly had me thinking Joe Flacco was going to be the next Joe Montana and I sort of felt the Panthers would take Flacco until Baltimore jumped on him....Fox in person, would rather sit around and crash on Hoover than talk shop...but he is a real nice fellow. Hurney is similar in keeping quiet but he is a smart fellow.
Now, I know them well enough to know a fire was lit somewhere near their posteriors at the end of last
season and I think Jake's elbow probably is what helped save them. I believe Mr. Richardson would like to be more like a Rooney and give his coach and GM forever to get a superbowl win put together. But Jerry Richardson (who I have only met a handful of times and never spoke with enough to even begin to say I know the man) is a businessman and a grandad (both are passions and he is good) . When the seats are half empty and his team is being boo'ed for losing game after game at home he had to have been near his hiring and firing point after his team was once again, eliminated from the playoffs last year.
Now whether or not the team even reads the latest Jason Taylor article I do not know. What I do
know ? the coach and gm are under a little fire and have made totally uncharacteristic moves this offseason and have helped shore up and cover most every position except for a strong defensive line. God help them if Pep has lost his fire (I do not believe that...but Pep is the quietest man to every wear a Panther uni). Ian Scott and Darwin Walker may not be the total answer and when did Lewis become so good? He was a backup...Ma'ake did however come on fairly strong at the end of last year (almost like a light bulb went off on his head). But Stanley McClover, dude, Otis Grigsby should have been kept in Carolina.
I do not think the Dolphin's owner would actually try to override Parcells because he knows Parcells will get his toys and go home and leave all to Sparano to destroy. But I would love to be in 110 this season and Taylor on one end and Pep on the other racking up multiple sacks in each game! That would be awesome.
I did not know you were a Panther fan and I am eternally sorry for my conclusion. Seriously, thanks for the critical look at the piece otherwise I would not have caught it until Sunday when I write the rest of the other one then I would have had the wrong piece with the wrong header up for 6 days.
Have a good one and Go CATS!
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Jaxon CatScratchReader about 1 year ago
Rick:
Thanks for the clarification and all the inside info. You obviously have access the rest of us dream of. My apologies for getting my fur all raised up! I look forward to reading your posts this season.
What Panther fan wouldn't want Taylor even for one season? I just never allowed myself to consider it given the price would be way too high for the Hurney & Fox.
You make a good point about McClover versus Grigsby. McClover played a lot more downs but Grigsby made more plays when he was in there. I guess thats why the Vikings jumped on him when the Panthers put him on the PS. I really pimped McCover a lot prior to last season and found myself wondering "When is this kid going do something?" If he can't get it down this TC he might find himself looking for a team.
The DL is in my opinion the biggest question mark going into this season. The Panthers have to be able to get pressure on the QB or else the offense will be under a lot of pressure to score, not what we want. Does this Brayton guy look like the answer?
Thanks for the info Rick.
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Rick Weaver about 1 year ago
Hi Man,
Thanks. Tyler is a tall fellow. Long arms and he seems to know what is going on when he is on the field...i.e. he will get his big mits up in the air and block a throw every now and then. But...He seems to be here for depth as he had production problems in Oakland. The two things he has going for him are: he will play every single down like it is a 4th down, goal line stance, in overtime in the superbowl...HE will ride a play until the very end and the other good thing he has is: He can play actually play every position on our defensive line but he is better suited as an end and he is as intense a player as you will see...Remember when nutjob, Jerramy Stevens tried to knee Brayton in the knee/thigh Brayton immediately planted his knee in Stevens groin (I think it costs $25,000).
Now, there we some Raider fans happy to see him go but they will lose depth with him gone. One good thing for Carolina is the fact that the Colts really wanted him and we know Bill Polian can be really good at finding talent and plugging them in. I think they wanted him just for depth.
It would be nice for him to go nuts and play like a first rounder but I think he will wind up in a rotation
as coach Fox is all about speed this year and Brayton is pretty quick but has a hard time shedding tackles.
One thing that will be neat is to watch how long it takes for Na'ail Diggs to have Landon Johnson all over his position. Johnson should easily start but they have Diggs running with the first team as of now....Johnson is a tough dude!
Good luck!
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Matt Gilmartin 12 months ago
As much as I'd like to see a move like this, I don't think it will happen. The Panthers have never been big on big-name free agent acquisitions, and that will be the case here.
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Rick Weaver 12 months ago
Well, I would have agreed with you until a few years ago...Then the Panthers signed Keyshawn Johnson...then more recently they signed the hapless, David Carr. So, never say never. Now, will it happen? 99% says no way...But, Fox and Hurney have made more dramatic moves this offseason than ever, like trading aways next year's 1st rounder (HUGE MOVE) so they could raft a tackle in the 1st round this year. Not to mention they got rid of Foster (after he had an 800 yard season) and then drafted a running back in the 1st round (just after they drafted Deangelo a few years before)....
Make no mistake here...Fox and Hurney are on the hot seats. If they come up losers and miss the playoffs they are gone. There is a good chance that the 2 could even be fired if their team made the playoffs as a wildcard and got drummed in the first round.
The reason they were given the go-ahead to give up the draft picks and cut all of the players they did and totally change their offensive and defensive lineups was because Mr. Richardson wanted them to have every chance to win (face it, the man wants a superbowl win) and if it all falls apart and he has to hire someone like Bill Cowher then he wants to know he gave Fox/Hurney (Richardson thinks the world of both of them) all of the tools they needed to try to go out and win. He will not have it seen that his coaches had their hands tied this offseason and then went on to lose so he could fire them. They are getting every last chance here.
So, you tell me....if you were going to lose your multi-million coaching year job and you were going to have to uproot your family (especially high school age kids....that is a very hard thing to do)
and then sell the new home you just built all because you had a defensive line that was not able to pressure other quarterbacks or if you had your starting QB, Jake Delhomme go down with some weird injury....(remember his hand injury the year before last and the "glove"...that costs the team a playoff run...then there was last year...Jake was on his way to the pro-bowl before he got hurt...) would you not want to have your bases covered? If you could have a fellow like Jason Taylor on the end opposite Peppers would you not do it? Taylor is a defensive machine! I know he is only good for one or two years but is it not worth taking a look at? Parcells will ask too much for him but I will can you that the Panthers brass knows just what the price for Taylor is (if there is a price) cause believe me, they have thought about it. I also know Matt Moore is good....Hey, I would like to see the team secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with 3 weeks left in the regular season and then let Moore start the remaining 3 games and get good experience. I would like to see the Panthers good enough to put Moore in the game in the 4th quarter after the team has put up a huge lead and just let him get more playing time and learn the pro game that way until Jake retires. But that is dreamland at this point in the time.
If there are any doable deals out there that could possibly be made then I will bet you the Panthers will make them and they have already shown you they are doing what they can to win given some of the moves they have made already and there are deals they have tried to make that we will never know about (remember, it is against league rules for any Panther personnel to discuss another NFL player under contract) and I would watch this team closely for more possible deals until the trade deadline ends after the season starts...(do you remember how long into the season the team was last year before they signed Vinnie and Matt Moore?...a long way in...that is how long).
Bottom line, Fox and Hurney have to win in order to stay. They will do whatever they can do to make it happen. The last time I spoke with Jerry Richardson, I asked him (as a fan) to please get this team a power runner and with a smile and nod he said ok...and this was after another home loss, late in the season. So, we will we if Stewart is the man...I think he just might be. If he is 100% healthy and works hard there is no reason why he cannot get 1000 yards and 10 td's next season. Plus, they have Labrandon Toefield, who also looked very good the few times he got to play. But you have to be careful with these unproven running backs....Remember Eric Shelton? He was supposed to be the "new" Steven Davis...but he did not pan out and that was a huge wasted draft pick.
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Matt Gilmartin 12 months ago
Geez man, you wrote a second article inside a comment. But it was good. I know that Hurney and Fox are on the hot seat, and that they must win. To be honest, if Richardson didn't think the world of them, they'd've been gone this offseason. But right now I'm finding myself looking forward to NFL and NHL season now that my Braves are rapidly fading out of contention for the NL East title. Can't wait to see what the Panthers can do come Sept (no, August doesn't count for anything).
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Rick Weaver 11 months ago
Well fans,
I new a trade was probably eminent....I knew it had to be to a team who desperately needed a defensive end....I had an idea it would it would be an NFC team....It was the Skins and not the Panthers.
Thanks for reading and look for more Panther coverage as time rolls along.
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