top dawg

Aaron Rodgers doesn't have a no-trade clause, but he has to approve of any deal because if he doesn't like where he's traded, he can just say we will retire, and any team trading for him will want to know that detail before any actual trade is approved. So, it's an effective no-trade clause, even if it's not an official one. As for them not trading him if he wants to be traded, sure they can hold him hostage, but that would be dumb on their part because they won't get any compensation for him, and they'll likely end up paying him 60 mil to do nothing.

What did he do?

Apparently PFF is predicting that Juju Smith-Schuster and DréMont Jones to become Panthers during free agency (courtesy of Panthers Wire). I don't know exactly why they predicted Juju to land here (as I don't have a PFF account and there was really nothing stated about that in Anthony Rizzuti's article), but I like the idea. He's still in his prime and doesn't leave a lot of balls on the field with that 4 percent drop rate over his career. He's a good target (pun intended). Now Jones, on the other hand, has ties to EJ and has played in his system as a 3-4 DE, so quite naturally the probability of him landing here is a little higher. "Jones was a high-caliber pass rusher as a 3-4 defensive end during his tenure in 4, with his 45 quarterback pressures and 25 defensive stops this past season under Evero both career highs.” Both players are definitely food for thought. I don't know what it would mean for the development of our current players, but (you heard it here first), "Best man up trumps next man up." Competition is what we need! https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/25/pff-predicts-panthers-sign-wr-juju-smith-schuster-in-free-agency/ Just more food for thought.

Well, not that you'll like the answer, it's simply the nature of things. All the best QBs get their turn being the highest or close to the highest paid because of the difference in time---the difference in salary cap---circumstance. If they're really good they'll get to bite off that apple two or three times. TV contracts and the salary cap is only going up. Wouldn't Montana or Bradshaw love to come up in this golden egg era?

I'll honor the honeymoon for a period, whether a year or two, but all this needs to lead to something. I would give them three depending upon progress, but the Rhule experience and age has made me just a little more impatient.

I will say this about him. I have seen some people try to compare his rawness to Willis. That's not right because AR is much further along, and of course he played in a big boy conference. That being said, he put up some stinkers due to the level of competition which is concerning. He couldn't sit back like Willis and look like a men among boys, running it and chucking it all over the field at will. The question for Willis is whether or not he'll be able to read pro defenses and make the proper reads. This is the same question for Corral, but Corral didn't have accuracy issues. Where Richardson should have it over Corral is running ability and durability. He's bigger and presumably stronger, but the mental aspect of the game is just as important, and it's not like Corral doesn't have good mobility himself. It will be interesting for sure if we're the ones that actually draft Richardson.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10066741-anthony-richardson-on-panthers-could-be-dangerous-gm-says-amid-nfl-draft-rumors

What if you can do both? I've seen QBs do both, but only the ones that can like Mahomes or Rodgers fir example. Sometimes circumstances cause for both: to anticipate and zip the ball, especially when a play goes off script. I agree that in an offense that's a well-oiled machine that is based on precision and timing, a QB "rarely" has to throw it hard, but there are those times when the best zip the ball to the receiver because they see it and know that they can execute it.

I mean, Rhule was what I'll call a "holder backer," and day 3 picks take time to develop anyway, so grading them is a little useless after the first year, unless they get substantial playing time, and even then it's hard to say anything definitive with credibility most of the time.

I've already said that I agree that we should look at the bigger picture. I was a proponent of Minshew over Darnold as well, and posted this article as an argument. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/lists/panthers-quarterback-trade-options-sam-darnold-jalen-hurts-gardner-minshew/ Carr has had way more opportunities and way more production being that he was a second round pick, and the expectations that come with that, but Minshew is likely the better value when looking at the bigger picture.

Well rushing was a huge part of Cam's production, and Teddy, not so much. Rushing is not a huge part of Carr's game or Minshew's game to date.Ind you that out of 142 games almost all of them started by Carr, he has 845 rushing yards. Out of 24 games started by Minshew (and 32 games played), he has 521 yards. Draw your own conclusion from there.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'll add that you must consider the complete picture, including a cost-value analysis. If our FO chooses Carr, I'll have to accept it, but the thing is is that I don't know if his expectations---functionally or contractually---is to be a bridge. So can we expect a team that signs him to sign him within that context? Minshew probably just wants another chance to be a starter and prove that he is legitimate, so he'll probably be more likely to come with that expectation, and his contract should likely reflect that. I'd also add that even some of the more advanced analytics besides passer rating is likely in Minshew's favor as well. Of course Carr has way more production because he had the opportunity due to his numerical draft selection and corresponding expectations. It's just food for thought.

I would like to know why I should invest all that money into Carr and not just pay Gardner Minshew less and roll with him. Why is Minshew's career passer rating actually higher than Carr's?

https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/3-reasons-detroit-lions-have-failed-matthew-stafford https://www.downtownrams.com/single-post/2021/02/01/los-angeles-rams-quarterback-matthew-stafford-by-the-numbers/

Smooth. I've taken note (considering my recent blow-up).

I heard an analyst (can't remember who it was) say that when Hurts (Allen too) came into the league he was a "bad passer." He said that if Hurts was in a boat in the middle of the ocean that he couldn't hit water his passing was so bad. Hurts' passing improved dramatically. I think it was Greeny who said that he'd never seen such dramatic improvement so quickly (and Greeny isn't the only one). Now I'm not saying AR will improve, but if our staff thinks that they can help him to improve, then they would have to consider him. If they actually do fix him, you get a "boom!" If they can't, well you know what it is...

I gotta give you that. My thing is that I don't think he's a bad person. I think that he has lost sight of reality a little bit, and that he's out of line with his own importance. I fault Carrol and Schneider for that though. They were his enablers. They allowed Russell to go places that he never should have been. Obviously when they wanted to reel him in, it was too late. He's their creation in several respects. Now let's see if Payton can't bring Wilson down to earth and help him to return to his franchise QB form. Many seem to be hoping that Wilson fails; I just want to see players do their best (unless their playing the Panthers). I think Aaron Rodgers is perhaps the biggest jerk of them all, but I would love to see him lead another team to the big dance if he's able to do it.

Yep, it all depends upon one's definition of "decent money." I would bet that the average Huddler's definition of decent money and many NFL executives' definition is totally different. There are some FOs that are going to value him way more than poor-mouthing forum members because they see where the game is heading (if it hasn't already arrived), and they also realize where the cap is heading also. The best way to efficiently manage your franchise QB is to pay him as early on the curve as you can before prices increase. I've heard several analysts say that for all the talk of B-more being an historically smart organization, the FO effed the Jackson situation up. He should've been paid before the Watson contract ever came out. I think that it's pretty obvious that Eric DeCosta is no Ozzie Newsome.

Now this is very interesting. I'd be more convinced if they would publish scores, allowing us to see actual correlations. But, just accepting their information, it sounds like this is something that deserves serious consideration.

He has already put out a statement denying that he wanted Carroll or Schneider fired.

No. I'd take him in a heartbeat for anything just north of 50-mil-per or less. Unlike most here, I'm not crying over spending for a legit franchise QB. People who are trying to assigm more blame to him for B-more not winning than the FO simply just don't like him. People who say that he can't pass are flat out wrong, as his career passer rating is very respectable. He simply hasn't been put in the best position to succeed, but even still he has made his team a legit competitor while he's been there. He has some injuries, but most QBs do. I don't blame him for not playing hurt when the team has failed to put any skin in the game.

I grinned in amusement.

He's a big risk, boom-or-bust type of prospect.

Being a hot candidate from the college ranks, and being respected in NFL circles for your knowledge and experience in the league are really two different things. But, point taken: all this is nice on paper, but it's the results on the field that will tell the story. I at least respect the way that Tepper has started the new chapter.

That's really a tough bar, as well as a colorful description. Won't you even concede that Tepper has reaped good results in the coaching search? NFL types are saying that we have an excellent staff. On an off note, we even tried to get analyst Dan Orlovsky. That's hilarious.