Mr. Scot

I'd really like for somebody to tell me that we're not actually going to try and use Ian Thomas more in the passing game

I'll play but it's gonna have to be a root beer for me. The strongest thing I drink is Dr. Pepper. I won't wind up drunk but I'll probably need to piss like a racehorse.

I'm wondering if they'll use him as a fullback. At least that might make sense.

This from Spotrac... They've commented about using him more in the passing game, but they've said that before and there's a good chance it's a bullsh-t. Or maybe I'm just hoping it is

No offense, but that's not exactly a "bold prediction". That's kinda like predicting that at some point this season, Rhule will be outcoached.

He's a middle guy, isn't he? Or am I remembering wrong? We could really use a good MLB. Carter is a backup, at best.

It may not be far off. I've described Fitterer's role as basically director of college scouting. I suspect Morgan will function like a director of pro scouting. But no, neither of them have final say on who stays, who goes, who gets paid and who doesn't. That's all Rhule.

It all makes sense now. Kenny Pickett incoming...

Correct. The choice of who gets paid and who doesn't matters way more than what the terms are.

I don't think the contract itself is that bad. It's an overpay, but not a huge one. And the terms are mostly up to Suleiman, anyway. Rhule is still the guy that determines who stays and who goes

I remember him being really good a few years ago but then he went to the Raiders and disappeared. The article speculates that maybe the DCs in Vegas didn't know how to use him.

I don't really think Anderson gets cut (too close to Rhule) but I'm speculating...

Maybe cutting Anderson or Bouye will help. Not a big fan of cutting Morgan Fox. Thought he did a decent job with us last year.

As expected, it's because of his skill as a blocker. Not sure what the average salary is for a blocking tight end.

I think you'd have to consider him as purely a blocking tight end at this point. He certainly can't catch for sh-t. Rhule likes the offense run heavy, so...

Compiled by various members of The Athletic staff, a list of players that teams might be looking to move on from via either cut or trade for cap reasons (Link) Some players at positions that have needs or could use shoring up with the Panthers... - T DJ Humphries, Cardinals - T Alejandro Villanueva, Ravens - G Ben Powers, Ravens - LB AJ Klein, Bills - T Darryl Williams, Bills - QB Nick Foles, Bears - C Trey Hopkins, Bengals - C JC Tretter, Browns - TE Austin Hooper, Browns - QB Case Keenum, Browns - T Billy Turner, Packers - T Marcus Cannon, Texans - OL Justin McCray, Texans - QB Carson Wentz, Colts - LB Cory Littleton, Raiders - T Bryan Bulaga, Chargers - LB Eric Kendricks, Vikings - LB Blake Martinez, Giants - TE Kyle Rudolph, Giants - C Connor McGovern, Jets - T Andre Dillard, Eagles - FB Derek Watt, Steelers - T Zach Banner, Steelers - QB Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers - TE Cameron Brate, Buccaneers - T Taylor Lewan, Titans - G Roger Saffold, Titans - LB Landon Collins, Commanders Others of general interest... - WR Cole Beasley, Bills - CB Trae Waynes, Bengals - WR Jarvis Landry, Browns - WR Amari Cooper, Cowboys - WR Randall Cobb, Packers - WR Allen Hurns, Dolphins - DE Danielle Hunter, Vikings - WR Adam Thielen, Vikings - G Greg Van Roten, Jets - RB Chris Carson, Seahawks For the Panthers... - CB AJ Bouye - WR Robby Anderson - DE Morgan Fox - T Cam Erving - OL Dennis Daley

Oy... I know Matt Rhule likes him a lot better than we do, but damn

From what I've read, it sounds like some teams are becoming less afraid of his lawsuits. However, they're still fairly concerned about the ten criminal cases. A recent judge's ruling moved up the timing on several remaining depositions for his lawsuits. One of the apparent worries his legal team has is that if he's questioned under oath in those depositions, information learned from them could be used by prosecutors seeking to indict him. How likely is that to play out? Don't know, but it's another of the many reasons to stay far away from him.

With Rhule still retaining power, probably not at all.

I did. I have no idea what you're talking about (and I'm guessing most others here don't either).

That's probably a solid majority of us.

Kinda wish this was referring to us... Got the chance to watch Baker at a couple of Panther practices. He was hilarious

Mike Minter hit Rocket Ismail so hard he was never the same. I think the thing with Rhule is not that he's consistently too soft on players or too tough on them or anything. It's just that whatever approach he seems to take in particular situations tends to be the wrong one. All of us have probably known somebody who, one way or the other, just always seemed to screw things up. At the pro level, that's Rhule.

Couple items... Does this mean Bieniemy couldn't get an OC job either? Also... Ryan Pace is now part of the Falcons front office.

Granted, but Matt Rhule never should have gotten an NFL head coaching job.