top dawg

He wasn't in control there, but they were able to get some quality pieces that played (play) above their draft value. And I think our guys will too, even if it's just one or two. Moreover, I think that it's pretty much accepted at this point by NFL types that just looking at the value of the picks themselves (irrespective of the players), Fitterer was masterful. Too bad the the Darnold trade in free agency that preceded it dampened the mastery, and the Darnold extension just made Fitterer's overall viability questionable. In my opinion, there's been a certain contingent in the Huddle that's just going to associate anything in regards to this regime as negative and have no objectivity towards it at all. I don't believe that it's been all bad, but that dumb Darnold decisions regarding trade compensation and his extension are perhaps difficult to see over.

Not gonna lie, I want him...on day three.

Perhaps, but not really. If you look at where he came from, the way that he maneuvered his first draft and draft capital, and look at his demeanor and listen to his words during this off-season, there is some reason for hope--not "pure hope", but hope. Granted, there's always a degree of wishful thinking, especially with a relatively new GM...

If we do, there's no hope for us. Not that I really give any of these reports much seriousness, but at least the book hasn't been written on Murray. He has maturity issues it seems, but his play is in a different stratosphere than Baker Mayfield's or Jimmy Garrapolo's. With some seasoning, he may turn out pretty great. Let's not forget that it's still the lying season at the bottom of the stairwell to the draft. I'm skeptical of these reports, but I do believe we inquire about any deal, but it only matters if there is a legitimate deal to be made. Fitterer isn't dumb, I don't believe. He learns, I'm thinking. He's the countermeasure to continued craziness I hope.

He may be overrated, but so is Mayfield. And the truth is, Mayfield is a bust with a bad attitude to boot.

Nah, man. Kap was better than Mayfield. It's debatable. What I will say is that Mayfield has been at best decent since being drafted number 1 overall, and his ball security has been worse than Darnold's, despite being in a decidedly better situation. Kap's best is higher than Mayfield's, and Mayfield's low has been lower than Kap's. If Kap, Mayfield and Darnold are all in the same tier, and you aren't interested in Kap, then why be interested in Mayfield? You might as well keep Darnold.

Well, after many a beer during the course of the games last season, I must not have drank enough because Darnold just got uglier as the games, and similarly the season, went on. It was a sobering experience. J/k

Honestly, I can appreciate that. In some ways, as it pertains to the Panthers, and really American culture--if not the many stressful things that are plaguing our world in general--I'm just wary. I'm to the point now, right or wrong and with some mixed feelings, that I just feel that people are gonna do what people are gonna do.

I mean, if we're talking LT, it's got to be Blake Brockermeyer.

I am sorry for your loss. Pancreatic cancer is the worst. As for "Keep Pounding", let's not lose perspective here. You have explained the life, history, meaning or whatever words you want to use behind the term as a Panthers fan from your perspective. I used the term "saying", not "slogan", but even if I did, I don't believe that me or anyone within the context of answering a question on a message board and attempting to be as concise as possible, which is really what language is all about is "trivializing" the meaning behind what Sam Mills' was trying to convey, and to be honest it kinda made me feel some type of way, especially as one whose sister-in-law is now on the tail end of triple negative breast cancer treatment (she's been through the radiation, chemo, surgery, and is now taking pills and being monitored for things like her white blood cell count, etc), whose brother-in-law endured orapharynx cancer (basically throat cancer that derived from the Human Papilloma Virus or [HPV])---but was announced "clean" literally three months before my sister-in-law was diagnosed with hers last year, which was approximately two years after my wife's aunt overcame her battle with breast cancer. All are alive and doing relatively well, but the struggles are real. We are thankful they survived however. We have gotten to wear pink (and burgundy) ribbons at celebrations in their honor. On the other end of the spectrum, we've both had aunts die in their 50s from breast cancer. My wife and I were no strangers to them during either of their struggles. I can't say that we used the term "Keep Pounding" per se because when you're trying to be positive in the face of someone dying a progressive, yet agressive form of cancer or similar disease, at times the situation is surreal, but I can tell you that we communicated similar sentiments via whatever words or sayings that we could muster. I tell you this to say that I know something of the struggle and would never "trivialize" the meaning behind "Keep Pounding", but that when discussing it, the most succinct way to describe it in reference to the English language is by either using the term "slogan" or perhaps a better term "mantra" that is used on the team's website (but even one of the definitions of "mantra" references "slogan"). The "blasphemy", if there is any, is not in using a decidedly appropriate term to succinctly describe "Keep Pounding" to other Panthers fans, the blasphemy would be the fact that Tepper apparently wants to change it at all. Once you let your feelings known, as undoubtedly others will and maybe already have, perhaps he'll reconsider it. But even if he doesn't, I doubt that it or the story behind it will be going away because it's part of the franchise's history. Don't give up! Keep pounding!

Still overlooking the best leader out there, I see.

You're better than this.

This is simply PURE SPECULATION. Honestly there was really no reason to start the thread. Rapsheet is just shooting the sh¡t.

Hey, I'll take your word for it. Capology is not my strong suit (and I'm not interested in all adding up all those numbers). I know some are, so I'm counting on y'all to give me the scoop. Accurately of course.

Well listening to (I believe Jonathan Alexander) a podcast, I heard that only around 11 mil is really usable anyway because of the necessity to sign rookie contracts, and have a little in reserve. We really can't afford Garrapolo or Mayfield right now without some type of massive upheaval in the ranks of personnel (not them and Darnold). It's too much money.

Everytime I see this thread title I can't help but think: No, he's not going to be crying because he's going to be laughing his way all the way to the bank!

Yes, it's really outlandish if one really reflects upon it; they're in tank-the-season-mode in April (March, February, January...). I would've said "unbelievable", but I'm not surprised--or shocked, really considering the world we live in today.

The market was probably a little cooler than he thought, but he wasn't coming back here regardless.

It won't be the "same" mistake if we're not giving up draft capital. It's not really even the same with a little draft capital and Darnold's contract. It would be horrific--absurd to trade for him, give up draft capital, and keep Darnold's contract on the books. But we can't realistically afford that so I'm not too worried.

And let me add this here for Pickett fans "I wanna go on the record about this, too,” he said while referencing the 2016 photo of Pickett and Rhule at Temple University. “And fans, you can come at me if I’m wrong on this. I will be shocked if the Panthers pick Kenny Pickett at six. I will be shocked. I wanna put that out on the record so anyone can challenge me when it happens." -Jonathan Alexander https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/15/panthers-kenny-pickett-2022-nfl-draft-charlotte-observer/

Personally, I just can't fathom how anyone can knowingly and willingly be happy going into the season with Darnold as the starter. I could accept it, but I damned sure wouldn't be happy about it, and I just can't be happy going on these turrible (in Barkley's voice) losing streaks during the season. There's NOTHING that makes me want to see the encore act of last season, playoffs or not. Darnold was awful! That being said, if we have to give up draft picks for Gee or Nayfield, I'll suffer through it (but still won't be happy about it).

Wins the job? From who, a rookie? If Jimmy G is here, he will be the starter, period! If we win 9 games, so be it! Unlike some, I'm not going to cry over wins. You play and deal with what comes about regardless like you do every season. Pros are NOT going to tank. Nobody's going into the season with the mindset to lose.

It's worth it just not to see Darnold starting for us this year. Let's not pretend like Jimmy Gee ain't better than Sam DarNo. Darnold has thrown more INTs since he's been in the league than anybody...but Baker Mayfield.

If we can get him without giving up draft capital, that's fine. If we have to give up a day 3 pick next year and include Darnold's contract this year, I'll give a disingenuous smile (especially if it's a 4th) and bear it.