top dawg

This is what people don't get. They're arguing about "young talent" [blah blah blah], but he has never been the right fit for a 4-3 (or a Snow 5-1 or whatever). He is a 3-4 LB playing out of position. Let me tell y'all a story: I was so peeved with Yahoo Fantasy Football for listing Burns as an LB. I wrote to them (tweeted at them and everything) a couple of seasons ago and argued that he should get a dual designation of "DE, LB" because though they listed him as an LB, the Panthers had him listed officially as a DE. They would not budge (though this year they have him listed as a DE). I thought about it, and just dropped him altogether, because he wasn't anywhere as consistent as top LBs, and he wasn't as consistent as top DEs either. Hell, even the top DTs outscore him (I have Quinnen Williams). Burns might be a sufficient BYE week replacement. The point is is that he's a tweener. He would be much more effective as a pass rushing, 3-4 LB. We aren't maximizing his effectiveness or potential because that's not our preferred system. This is the real reason why we should have traded him for that type of haul.

TMJ didn't make any sense. He was obviously more talented than Smith and has the upside of a one. Elf was at least playing decently for the most part. On the real though, neither one made sense. Rhule was an idiot. You can't leave more talented players in the dog house in the NFL because the difference in talent level is sometimes paper thin, and sometimes that's the difference between between winning and losing.

Well, he sucked. He's inconsistent (which is ultimately not what you want). But, did you forget his grade last week?

A "little thing like Mike McCarthy..." LOL (for real)

Star players are messing up their money too. We're talking possibly millions in their cases. Tape tells a lot, and I don't think that front offices are going to want to pay players that are half-assing out there simply because they're in a less than optimal situation. NFL types except players to be professional at all times, and even if they give you a pass and try to acquire you, they won't be paying you what you're worth.

Not really. It's been rumored for weeks that he was on the hot seat. Maybe it's a little surprising that his axing was mid season (not really), but there was a time that he and Rhule were in a race to be fired.

Like my late mother-in-law used to say, "What you don't see will make a whole 'nother world." The team is in flux. There are far too many unknowns to see any path right now, beginning with HC.

Moore is not really being paid like a superstar, but a star. And, at least at this point, we're not paying Burns like a superstar, but we may if we keep him. Be honest, they haven't played like superstars consistently enough to earn that label. But if you can acquire guys who can play around their level or better and pair them up with Burns and Moore, it should be enough to win. For the record, I've said that I would trade both for the right price. In my opinion, we got the right price for Burns, but Moore not so much. That being said, they're here, so we must figure out a way to get our money's worth.

Butker missed an easy field.

Trading Moore for a one was a nonstarter. He's arguably worth more than that now, especially with his relatively decent contract. The dead money wasn't worth just a first alone. If they had added a second, then yeah, but a first was basically nothing. Not trading Burns was ill-advised in my opinion (bordering on crazy). But, Burns is still young, and will still have high value once mid-March rolls around. Hell, he added a sack today. Like I said in another thread, if we add a more complete DE and a more complete WR, we'll maximize Burns' and Moore's effectiveness and productivity.

A first for DJ is not enough. A first and a second would've made me pull the trigger.

Was that Butker that missed the PA? OMG!

I can't take anyone seriously who totally disregards context. Persons who spew stats but just simply ignore context just aren't very analytical.

I don't think we'll pass that five-win standard. If "getting over the hump" is Tepper's bar, Wilks and company are toast.

I still can't believe people were calling him a bust after a couple of games. What am I saying? Yes, I can. I absolutely can believe it.

All of us knew that Fields would forever be brought up in this forum when we skipped over him. I said it in so many words around that time. Just because Rhule is gone doesn't give us that short of a memory. Fields will always be the guy that we fuged up on if he turns out to be a legit franchise QB. He's on his way notwithstanding extremely fuged up circumstances. Just deal with it as a part of life as a Panthers fan.

If my heart is pounding, I'm gonna keep pounding.

What a difference a week makes, huh? Not really. Just a very few random thoughts: The top three coaches can't be responsible for such excrement and expect to be serious candidates for their respective positions. After this display, a new coaching staff is damned near a certainty. Burns is a problem as some have already stated (including myself) He's just not a complete Edge. An equal problem is that YGM has never EVER played anywhere near his draft status. We need a complete Edge to complement Burns if we decide to keep him (and even if we don't). Much like D.J. needs help to shine on offense, Burns would benefit from a legit threat on the other side on defense. My opinion, but I don't see either as consistent solo needle-movers. We need to draft a more complete Edge rusher, and a receiver that's known for being a route technician. That would facilitate more consistent productive efforts for our guys. Speaking of problems, it is a problem that we extended a JAG, drafted a JAG and acquired another JAG at TE. We need a legit starter at TE, and it's obvious. Any person has to be blind not to see this. It's probably a good idea to spend at least a 4th on a complete RB. If we don't go that route, I'd say that Rojo is worthy competition to add to our RB stable (though I don't know how he blocks, but something has to be amiss there). Within that same vein, Hubbard is underappreciated in the Huddle, but is a necessary part of the offense as its presently constituted. But he and Foreman are simply replaceable (Hubbard because he has oven mitts for hands). We need another DT, and possibly LB. I can't really say because I can't say that the coaches are putting players in the best position to succeed. The surprise is not that we lost, but the way that we got our asses handed to us. It was a little excitement for the season, being in contention to win the NFCS, but the reality is is that we are a bad team that I suspect underperforms relative to its talent level on defense, and is hamstrung on offense by ineffective QB play and coaches that aren't creative enough to maximize the talent that we have on a consistent basis, particularly against the better teams of the NFL. Change is coming, and it needs to, and it's a good thing.

You just can't force thee ball to DJ.

70 percent of the snaps and a conditional 5th

I actually beat you to it.

I guess it wasn't what he was seeing, but what he wasn't seeing.

I really don't know what PJ was seeing right there. That was a horrible pass.

It really burns doesn't it?