SmokinwithWilly

What's happened to this fanbase goes way beyond Bryce. We've experienced 2 versions of Hurndog, Nippleshorts, Fitterfuks, and now the only guy who'd take the job Morgan. Spygate and Mannings Last Ride screwed us out of 2 SB titles. This fanbase has been let down for decades. I for one am tired of hoping for something better. When the Panthers actually do something worth caring about, maybe the fanbase returns. Until then, we're the Browns of the NFCS.

Bingo. Doesn't matter if it's a Manning, Brady or the reincarnation of Joe Namath in pantyhose. We've got to have a starting caliber NFL QB and if Bryce ain't the guy, we will be in the best position to find one by keeping out 1st round picks. For every Dak, Wilson and Brady there's a Weinke, Grier and Corral.

I get what you're saying and the comment really isn't about Bryce as much as it is about the inconsistencies among referees with regard to penalties. I get the logic behind it, and 90% of the time its probably the right thing to do. But on game day, relying on Hoculee to make the correct call would scare the crap out of me. Maybe Bryce is old enough to get that call.

And given the fact the team has never had back to back winning season in 2 decades before Tepper that's saying something.

I don't think it would be so bad if the Huddle as a whole hadn't been so right so many times about common sense things. I haven't seen anything that has given me any hope that this team can make good decisions starting with Tepper. Its just one comically bad failure after another.

I don't either. If the penalty had been on the offense then the outcome is different. Hard to know what's a penalty half the time in the NFL, much less risk a bad throw on being certain of what a flag is going to be.

Because we're only one player away...

One of the picks that cemented it for me that Scott Fitterer had no business being an NFL GM. Complete panic pick.

1st thing we need to look for in a WR is can he catch the freaking ball. This is a basic fundamental we seem obsessed to ignore. We're not in position to take guys with upside over guys with fundamental football skills. Maybe once we've had a winning season or 3 in a row, we can afford those risks.

They went 11-5 and missed the wild card, but any other year that record is getting you in.

If Brooks ends up not playing another down for us, does he replace the Eric Shelton?

No. Bryce playing with confidence and actually getting it done as an NFL starting QB over an entire season is what we need. Teams are going to have more footage on him too post benching, so hopefully he responds well to the new things being thrown at him. It's just about new contract time after this season. Middle of the road performance is the thing we need least from him.

Im in again

DB and a pick would be an interesting option depending on what the pick was and how the contract was written. DB is a game changer in the center, but having Parsons wreaking havoc with 2 young bucks learning behind him. That's damn tempting.

I wouldnt say weve gotten through it with Bryce. He played better in the 2nd half of the season, but thats hardly conclusive proof he's the guy going forward. We may look better on paper, but we haven't seen a game played yet. The Horn contract was Hurneyesque, potential vs production. We're paper thin at LB and we haven't had a winning season in so long it's hard to remember. Morgan hasn't proven he's the guy yet either. It's going to be hard to build a competitive franchise with the cost of Parsons, for the Panthers at least. You're talking about a Rams/Burns level trade cost, a record new contract, and a lack of ability to build around Parsons, which is what he wants. There's a few journeyman QBs out there, but do we really want to build around a Jones, Darnold or Baker type? We've put a ton of resources into the offense. It'll be hard to do the same with the defense the next couple of years missing those 1sts and 2nd(s). If BY had given us a year of solid performance, I'd say go for it. But with less than half a season of success, i just dont see how we can. If it goes wrong we're going to need a franchise QB, another GM, be on a nearly decade long losing streak, and likely have an unhappy Parsons to go with it. And wed be trusting Tepper to fix it. I'd consider that a wreck.

Hate that it's true about BY, but I agree with you. We don't know what we have with him yet, and while we've seen glimpses, it hasn't been a full season of recognized potential. Trading for Micah and then having BY not fulfill our QB needs would wreck this franchise. I know pass rushers dont grow on trees and you get them when you can, but we're not really in a position to do it. Feels like buying a Tesla when your power just got shut off because you couldn't pay the bill.

It can be painful just bending over and compressing the area. I can't even imagine taking a full hit from a NFL player at full speed to the gut. Dude was tough as hell to be able to play at all under those conditions.

Time to go hunting for LBs

If there was a way to do cap compensation for elective retirement or injury forced retirement like Luke or Oher, I could see less argument for guaranteed.

Nothing wrong with starting to look for bodies early. It's a long injury filled season. I doubt we get through unscathed.

3rd should be probably half guaranteed. The failure rate is too high for full guarantee at that point in the draft.

Proving all you need to be a reporter is some keyboard and hallucinations.

I liked Cota. I think it was his contract offer from NO that I first heard of the poison pill.

Sad when the WWE is less scripted than the NBA.