t96

Yeah I'm well aware lol, but for many people, myself included, it ceases to be entertaining when the integrity of the sport comes into question. If I wanted scripted non-competitive athletics for entertainment I'd watch WWE. Which I don't, and haven't since I was a child.

And every fuging broadcast has betting lines in graphics everywhere, guy at the free throw line better make sure everyone knows the odds that he makes it and sees the advertising for free $50 in bet credits if you make an account and bet $1000 in your first week or whatever the hell it is. Just a disgrace

It was completely pathetic for all these sports leagues to embrace gambling the way they have. A stain on all these sports.

fuging awesome win all around, loved nearly everything I saw. Of course the Nets suck and we’ve won our opener like 10 straight season lol so it doesn’t mean much but better than losing or having certain young players look terrible. Hopefully we can stay healthy can keep building. Also, for at least a couple days, all 3 Carolina pro sports teams have winning records… When was the last time that happened? I think last time both Charlotte teams had winning records was 2018 but Canes I think were below .500 then

I don't think it's quite so black and white. There are other examples, and sometimes it's just a you know it when you see it kind of thing. 2013 we had a MNF game against New England in November, they were coming off a bye at 7-2 and we were 6-3 coming off a close win against the defending NFC champ 49ers. That was about as big of a game as it gets and to me was one of the most defining and important wins and games of Cam's career and that entire core from 2012ish through 2017 (our best stretch in team history). Doesn't fit any of your categories and even in a vacuum losing there wouldn't have mattered all that much being an out of conference game in November, but that game mattered a ton for the team and our confidence and swagger. Another example being @Seattle in 2015, huge game and win against a team who it seemed like we'd never beat at the time. But otherwise I agree with you, I don't view this Bills game as a big game, and I don't think Bryce has had any big games in his career yet.

It's an interesting argument but it's not like he invented the peanut punch, he was just so good at it that it got the name, I don't think he changed the game he was just incredibly good at that aspect of it. He had one incredible season that resulted in a 1st team All-Pro nod, and played a little bit longer but otherwise I don't think he was much better of a player than say Chris Gamble, who is nowhere near the hall of fame. Of course the peanut punch, 1st team all pro and a bit more longevity elevates him above Gamble, but enough to be a HOFer? I'm skeptical. Big fan of his game and loved him here pre-injury (man I still wonder what if that year; so many guys deserving of rings on that team), but I don't see him as a HOFer.

yeah saw your follow up post after I replied as I read further down in the thread. That's fair but in some ways is a pointless exercise as that'll be true for majority of hall of famers just because one or a few others at their position are better. Like I'd never pick Adrian Peterson to be my RB on a dream team over a Sanders for example, but he's absolutely a hall of famer and incredible player that any team would love to have.

IDK about Fitz but yeah Brees is 100% lock to get in first ballot and it's not really a debate. SB MVP, 2x OPOY, 5x All-Pro (1 1st team), 7x pass yds leader, 4x pass TD leader, 2nd all time in both passing yards and TDs. Obviously I couldn't stand Brees with the Aints as a rival but his career was legendary. Just glad he only won once. Sean Payton totally underachieved there considering the QB he had.

I'd love to have Eli as our QB. He was a proven baller in the playoffs, and still a legit franchise QB who was better than the majority of the league in the regular season. Honestly the Giants didn't build many great teams around him. Put him in a beneficial situation like Belichick, Reid, Tomlin, etc. run and he could've won more than 2 SBs if you ask me. He was on a lot of bad teams, like really bad teams, throughout his career. Hell, swap him in for Rivers in the mid-late aughts and I bet he gets the Chargers a SB. Still think that whole draft situation was bullshit and lost respect for Eli there, but whatever.

He definitely was not top tier but he was close enough to me that combined with his 2 SB runs (which were absolutely insanely elite and clutch play from Eli all the way) it's enough to get in. He's also 11th all time in passing TDs and yards. Longevity does count for something. Frank Gore will probably get in due to that alone, he was never one of the top RBs in the league but was in the 2nd tier for so long. (granted, I don't personally think Gore should get in, just that he will. Him and Eli are similar career wise outside of Eli's 2 SB runs which elevate him above Gore considerably IMO) At the end of the day it doesn't really matter and is somewhat arbitrary. It's a bunch of writers voting too, not necessarily football people.

lol I thought this thread was gonna be about Russell Wilson (Mr. Politician who only ever says nice things about everyone) trashing Sean Payton for being the classless piece of poo that he is

Quintessential cinderella story athlete, and did it twice. Plus good counting stats and was a top 2nd tier QB his whole career. He should absolutely be in.

PFR puts together a pretty solid hall of fame "monitor" and the one for TE matches my view on Greg pretty closely: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_TE.htm First back to back 1000 yards is a cool milestone but not HOF worthy. He had a stretch of 5 solid-great years but with just 2 2nd team All Pro nods in that timeframe. Rest of his career outside those 5 years doesn't move the needle. If he didn't have the foot issues late in his career here and extended those 5 years to like 8 then I think he'd have a better case. But without much personal hardware, no significant career stat milestones and no team hardware I just don't really see him getting in. Would love it for him if he did, he's one of my favorite all time Panthers (obviously).

Luke and Smitty should both get in (both should already be in, but here we are). Peanut and Greg, to me, are both Hall of Very Good players, not HOFers.

Yeah of course. And I'm not expecting the next Luke or TD, but getting a Shaq caliber player in the last few years shouldn't have been so hard. We've tried with guys who wind up just sucking ass. I'd take just passable, but it's hard to fathom how bad ours have been lately.

Off ball LB is such a massive weakness though, so unlike historical Panthers teams which have always had great LBs. Secondary has been solid and pass rush/run D from DL/off ball LB a nice surprise so far, but man we need to upgrade that 2nd level badly. Also I still don't like Evero or his 3-4 lol

The D has been a pleasant surprise and I give them credit for a huge improvement over last year but linville (who I often disagree with) absolutely has a point here. Falcons are not a top 5 offense lol, they are bottom 5 by scoring offense and Penix played his worst game of the year against us. Cowboys are good but we allowed 27, not horrible like last year we'd have allowed 40+, but still not great. Dolphins got 24, pats got 42 on us, Jags 26. Our overall stats are skewed by the Atlanta shutout and playing the Jets' awful offense. Don't get me wrong, I've been impressed by the D, largely Horn/Brown and the rookies, but it's been a pretty easy schedule and they still haven't been outstanding. Just solid.

6.24ypa He's been better than pre-benching obviously, but not by a whole lot and he still needs to be replaced this offseason.

Kinda but our good seasons we'd pretty routinely blow out the worst teams in the league

We somehow have a winning record lol

Jaycee!!!!

D sucks on 3rd dwn

Scourton is a hell of a player

Rico should be clear starter getting bulk of snaps and carries every series. Stupid to rotate them

I think Coker will actually make an impact, not as much of one as he should to your point on us not throwing much, but I do think he’ll help the offense considerably.