SmokinwithWilly

I don't think it's too early to negotiate an extension but I would be taking a hard look at how the NFL refs are calling the PI and holding calls on CBs for the rest of the season and any rumors of off season rule changes. As was mentioned earlier, Horn is a bit handsy and if they're calling that type of play with more frequency overall, it may be something that factors in to whether it's a good idea to keep him at a higher tier contract price tag.

I don't think it's necessarily selfless to make that trade. I think it's all in how you plan and if you can objectively view the player. You know you're going to have a new coach and be taking a QB in the draft. Whether or not he wanted to admit it, we were going to be beginning a rebuild with a new offense and new defense. Depending on the coach, Burns may not have even been a good fit for the scheme that coach wanted to run. So, if you're not 1st, you're going to need to trade up. Burns likely is going to want in the 30m per year range. While an effective pass rusher, he was never a complete DE. He wasn't a JJ, TJ, Bosa, or Garrett. He was more Reddick, and while good, never going to be in that top tier contract caliber. So the question becomes, knowing that you need a QB to go with a new coach, is it better to have your 23, 24 and 25' 1sts extra 24 and 25 1sts an extra 23'2nd and 30m aav of future contract cap space to get a QB and edge rusher Or your 23, 24 and 25 1sts and a good, but not elite DE on an elite tier contract. 6 picks and available 30m AAV in cap space vs 3 picks and 0 extra cap space to get a QB and a good, not great, DE. To me that is a simple answer and frankly one that could potentially save my job. You have to have vision and be able to recognize value. Fitts over valued Burns like many fans did. I think ultimately what cost him his job was 3 years of not being able to value players correctly. We saw it twice in the draft in 2 separate years when he panicked and couldn't read the draft. DJ Johnson and Matt Corral picks specifically come to mind. I don't think it was about being selfless as much as being a strategist. Neither Rhule nor Fitts never struck me as very strategic guys. I think they were more let's throw poo at the wall and see what sticks. Unfortunately for the fans, none of it stuck, but it still all stunk.

I think part of the problem though is Fitts never embraced the rebuild and had a bigger picture plan for building a team. He was constantly trying to add a piece here or there to be competitive. Sometimes you just need to tear it down and start over. Rhule was gone. We were going to be hiring a new coach. New coach means new QB. And whether or not you are using them this year, future 1sts are valuable trading material plus we would have had their 2nd that year to add an edge rusher if we so chose. How much different would it have looked if the trade for Bryce had been our 1st (9) and the Rams 2 1sts instead of our 24 1st which ended up being number 1 and DJ. A much better scenario for going and getting your new HC his new QB for his new offensive system instead of gutting the WR room. Sure, we would still end up losing Burns, but there was always the possibility that was going to happen anyway. Self preservation no doubt played a role, but Fitts wasn't looking too hot already. It's never a good thing to see your GM panic in the draft room.

Are braided belts making a comeback?

I think top 5/10 is where you draft the elite over need. Do you pass up a JJ Watt or a Peppers just because you need a WR? There's really only a few of those elite level prospects every draft anyway. So unless it's a QB, and you already have a Mahomes where you could easily trade out, you have to pick the guy that has the potential to be special.

Gettleman's ego and Norman having an ridiculously inexperienced agent was a match made in hell. Pulling the tag was always a WTF move.

I admit I haven't been to a Panthers game since Rhule was coach, but the few times I did even then, it just wasn't worth the cost. Ridiculous traffic, poor product on the field, and god awful concessions. I can think of a hell of a lot better experiences for $600 than a Panthers game. The Panthers football experience lately has been about as exciting as sitting through an elementary school program for someone else's kids.

Comparing the arm strength of 23 year old BY and 37 year old Dalton isn't the win you think it is.

Agreed. But Tremble wasn't really a pass catching TE coming out of college and was supposed to be developed into one. The comment was more about how we don't really develop anyone and have relied far too much on what they are when they come out of college.

To be fair, have we really developed anyone over the past few seasons? If you look at Luvu and Chinn, I'd say our previous coaching staff has been better at hindering development than helping it.

I'm still of the opinion that Frank didn't pick his guy, Dave did it for him. He just didn't seem to care after the draft and it pretty much showed in his coaching.

Happened to my wife after a car accident and it took us almost 4 months to finally get someone to listen. She had been responsive following the accident but actually suffered a TBI. But because she had been released from the ER, getting anyone else to listen about her ongoing problems was damn near impossible.

Even when Billy B had Brady, he was constantly bringing in and developing a number 2 QB. You have to. Even if you trade away the 2 and do it again, you should always be developing a backup QB. You never know when a knee is going to get folded or a shoulder take a bad hit. It's one of the things I was most pissed about this off season. Regardless of whether or not Bryce was "the guy", we didn't try and improve our QB room.

Fans have held up their end of the bargain. In 3 decades this team hasn't had back to back winning seasons, but sure it's the fans fault for having very low expectations, especially under Tepper.

With some help from some very favorable calls and non calls alike.

Still too soon to anoint him the chosen one. Still need to bring in QB competition in the off season. I like the progress, but there's still some things that bother me like the ease of the fumbles. No matter if he is or isn't the guy, we still need another QB in the room. Dalton is a FA and NFL ancient.

Lost my parlay. Oh well. 500 at 250 to 1 odds would have made for one hell of a trip.

My only real complaint is defenders can't be afraid to get a PF for.hitting the QB as a runner. If the QB fakes going for a slide, it should be a PF 15 yards and loss of down, just like faking a step out of bounds to get the defender to slow down only to keep going.

Mahomes is old enough to get that call. Cam never was.

He's a runner at the point. This is football.

If he ain't sliding, blow him up.

Hands. That's how you catch with them.

Much prefer a little hot vinegar BBQ sauce whole hog Q but there is something to be said for some thick KC sauce on a baby back. It's like a meat popsicle. My personal style is wet rub marinaded for 3 days that becomes part of the bark during cooking so you can really get that flavor all the way though.

I doubt it's his last. There are plenty of teams looking for LTs and he's shown he can do the job. Linemen can play well into their 30's. Barring injury, I'd suspect this next one is his big 4 year contract and would be followed by a reserve role one after.

I never said he picked Bryce. Bryce was Tepper's pick. He never fit any part of Frank's offense. This offseason, nothing was done to bring in competition for a QB that put up Josh Rosen numbers. That's definitely a reason to bring in someone else to compete. I don't expect miracles, but I do expect to at least address the biggest elephant in the room. Bryce was handed the starting job based on draft position, not performance. Any other QB with that plays like that is competing for a roster spot or to be on the PS. What's the point of playing the game if you're not trying to win? We might as well have just forfeited every game this season if that's the attitude.