Mr. Scot

Reported by Jonathan Jones...

...but were rebuffed. From the article: The Packers also called on Panthers WR D.J. Moore, sources say, but it was a non-starter for a Carolina team that wanted to keep its young core together.

Who gushed? I can recall Burns and McCaffrey offering public defenses but I wouldn't have called that "gushing". The closest you likely got to enthusiasm came from Temple/Baylor guys like Robbie Anderson and Colin Thompson. Nobody should take those guys seriously.

We're still a long ways away from having to make that choice. Right now, the one thing I feel comfortable saying is that Steve Wilks is worlds better than Matt Rhule. You can call that a little bar to clear or whatever, but I call it something that at least for right now, I'm happy to see.

If you want something tangible to hang your hat on, there's this... Matt Rhule talked about making the Panthers a hard running team. Steve Wilks made it happen.

I beat the bot by about sixty seconds

Don't know if Wilks gets the permanent gig... But yes, there's a tangible difference in the way players feel about him versus how they felt about Matt Rhule.

The spirit of Thieves Avenue lives on "It's not about the year; it's about a philosophy, it's about a mentality, a way of life, a tradition if you will," Washington said in 2018 when he was defensive coordinator. "It carries on. From one year to the next, the next group of players or the next group, they adapt it, and they carry the torch." Jackson learned the ways from guys like Tre Boston and Mike Adams and Kurt Coleman, and others. He's now the old guy at his position, so he loves that it's coming back.

Was it? I only recall a hearing a very few players actually speak out in support of Rhule, and one of those was Robbie Anderson. Forget the public speaking though. It's not hard to watch the games and see that the team plays harder for Wilks than they did for Rhule. That's a way bigger indicator of their true feelings than comments to the media.

Or he wants the rebuild to take seven years

But the numbers said he was coming back in MVP form... ...unless that was all bullsh-t

You offer a massive contract and full control

Yeah, that's a way more thorough description of the actual process than I've seen from anyone before.

No one that works in the NFL, it sounds like...

Via our old friend Brandon Beane (retweeted by Mike Kaye)... Basically, if someone looks in the general direction of a certain player, they're trying to trade for him.

...unless you have an offensive coach who knows how to use those talents.

Didn't post the whole thing.

From the article: “It is crazy to think the Panthers got almost a whole draft in the past two weeks,” one general manager said. The Panthers sent McCaffrey to the 49ers for second-, third- and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-rounder in 2024. They also moved wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Cardinals for a sixth-rounder in 2024 and a seventh-rounder in 2025. “I think the six draft picks is the best (haul),” another general manager said. “They’re loading up for a QB next year. Either trade up or put good players around the new QB.” The Panthers, who are currently in line for the third pick in April, are in desperate need for a quarterback after back-to-back offseason trades for Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield haven’t panned out. They’re in an obvious rebuild, which they officially declared by firing head coach Matt Rhule and trading the franchise’s most popular player in McCaffrey, but they’ll begin to clear their books from those contracts in the offseason. They just need to be able to hit on their quarterback in the draft. “I like what the Panthers did with the collection of picks for McCaffrey,” an executive said. “It was what they needed with their situation.” The assistant coach added, “Long term, the Panthers will benefit most, because they have to fully rebuild.” From the 49ers side... The general opinion was that the McCaffrey trade was mutually beneficial. Hard to argue after McCaffrey racked up three touchdowns Sunday when the 49ers beat the Rams, 31-14. “Instant splash,” the coach said. But there’s one concern. “Great for Carolina, tons of risk for San Francisco,” an executive noted. “He better stay healthy. And even if he does, is it because you managed his workload? Is that why you traded for him? To manage his workload?” A general manager agreed, “That’s a big haul for a running back who has been injured.” It’s a valid trepidation. McCaffrey missed 23 games from 2020-21. And even though he was healthy this past offseason, the Panthers limited the 26-year-old’s reps in training camp and kept him out of the preseason. If McCaffrey does stay healthy, though, as he did for his first three years in the league and again this season, the star running back has already shown what type of difference he can make for the 49ers. And that’d make it a win-win.

Might be the framework for a Burns extension...

Take a look at the other bidders for the Broncos, or maybe even the Panthers.

Switch it to WTF...

For context.... Here's a look at the Panthers' 2023 picks. — Their own first-rounder — Their own second-rounder — San Francisco's second-rounder — San Francisco's third-rounder — Their own fourth-rounder — San Francisco's fourth-rounder — Their own fifth-rounder Full list of Panthers draft picks for 2023

So...bring him back?

Might depend on who we hire though. Shane Steichen, for example. He and Wilks we're colleagues back in San Diego.

Mostly agree, but I could potentially argue for a couple of guys. Jeff Nixon is a guy I know Rhule is personally close to, but he's actually got a pretty good amount of NFL experience away from Rhule. Throw in too that he's the guy most directly involved with D'Onta Foreman and Chubba Hubbard. Similar story with Kevin Gilbride. He's got a decent resumé without Rhule. I can see someone keeping him around. Of the two, I'd be more into keeping Nixon.