Captroop

I'm of the opinion that your O-Line is the foundation of your entire team. It covers all manner of sins. Is our QB group weak? Yes, but they can look a lot better when they have protection. Are our running backs world beaters? No, but they can run through holes if the O-Line creates them. Is our defense bad? Yes. Legendarily in the history of the NFL. But the an offense that's able to sustain drives and doesn't ask them to constantly start on short fields can help that immensely. I can't think of a single area of the team that wouldn't be playing better if we had a stout O-Line.

Yup. I'm exactly as dedicated to this team as they are to putting a quality product on the field. Life is too short to spend getting upset about garbage. I'm a fan. I'll (probably) always be a fan. But because I am not submitting myself to weekly torture doesn't mean my fandom is less pure than anyone else's.

I have a hard time imagining us making any changes mid-season no matter how bad it gets. Tepper is impulsive. But a) there's nothing to be gained by making a change 3 weeks into a season, you're already signaling your season is over. Is someone really going to step in at this point and turn things around? Anyone in the league? Or even CFB, because I don't think Bellichick could step in and right this ship. So the best we could hope for, is someone like Wilks to step in, boost morale enough to win a few meaningless games and ruin our chances at a top pick, and then have the wheels fall off again. And b) Tepper has proven that he is capable of learning some lessons. We really haven't heard much out of that clown recently. Certainly not as much as we used to the first few seasons. And by this I mean I think he knows he has a reputation. And no quality coach wants to go and work for the impulsive, meddlesome owner who repeatedly fires coaches midseason. We've already got to be the least attractive landing spots in the NFL with the absolute dearth of talent, conditioning, and playing surface that will keep players healthy. So the best thing to do is at least pretend that he's ready to stay out of the way. So either way, IMO the smart play is you let this play out all season. Let these suckers go down with the ship, and if a regime change is needed, you wait til the end of the season to make a change.

Okay, so we've completely backslid to O-Line being our most glaring weakness. That, plus a nervous QB who panics under pressure ought to ensure this is the least watchable season of Panthers football... well, since last season really.

Realistically, though... what return. Honestly, I'd be willing to give up the 6th round pick we could hope to get for Bryce at this point just to see Tepper take the big bite of humble pie that releasing Bryce would be. For the long-term health of the franchise, you must admit that visible display of Tepper admitting that he fugged up and should stay out of football decisions would be monumental.

If it weren't for the egos of the people who would have to make this decision, this would absolutely be the move. But admitting you traded multiple firsts, and passed up on Stroud for a #1 overall pick that couldn't even play his way through 3 NFL seasons? That would take a level of humility that our brain trust are just not capable of.

There's absolutely no reason to bench Bryce and start the QB carousel. What's to be gained? Try to save some of Bryce's trade value by hiding him away? I don't think that's a real risk at this point. And putting in another QB for a win or two before the wheels inevitably fall off will just hurt our draft position. No, you as an organization bet the farm that Bryce was your QB this year, so you stick with it. We need to see the ignominy of one of the worst #1 picks of all time, and I'd argue the worst trade in NFL history play out before our eyes. Just so there's no doubt. And then put an end to what I hope is the saddest and worst epoch in franchise history.

I'd say let him play out the season and then end it. But honestly, it's early in the year. We could probably bring in a journeyman to start and have us contend. Let's be real. No point tanking, Arch would never be allowed to play here.

Big mood. English Premier, man! And the games are like at 9am. Have your Irish coffee and watch the game during breakfast and by noon your whole Sunday is ahead of you!

FTFY

Funny, I got the exact same vibe as the Smitty trade. It's time to get rid of ole reliable and force Bryce to go through his progressions, take deep shots, and not just defaulting to the easy option of finding the guy who's definitely open for a 5-yard gain.

Do the same with QB1 while we're at it.

I'm actually happy about this move. I watched a lot of UFL this season and Bryce really stood out as someone who needed a shot on an NFL roster. He was clearly the best player on the field. Feel better about our backup QBs than I did yesterday.

I think the fact that Evero is still here also is telling about Canales' job security. If he had a solid position as the HC, I think they'd let Evero go and bring in a DC for the future. Giving Evero the last year of his contract to me says if it doesn't work out this season, it's time to clean house and start fresh with a whole new coaching staff. No point bringing in a new DC if that's the case.

I am at a Canadian company now, so no office pool for the first time in ages. So if there's room, I'm interested!

Happened once in my Carolina fandom. I really wanted Greg Olsen and we took Beason. We ended up getting Olsen later. And that worked out pretty well, I'd say. I really wanted Parsons over Horn, so if we have a chance to grab him, I'm 100% for it!

In a sense it's good. You want your QB to be able to find and hit the open man. Tom Brady had a hall of fame career doing exactly that. But at the same time you really want to know they can make the more difficult throws as well. I remember watching Lance's tape and being blown away by the talent and arm strength. And then just noticing, "boy, that's like the third or fourth clip in a row where they've said, 'wide open!' That's a little odd." Then I couldn't stop noticing. Not to re-litigate this, but watching Stroud, some of those throws I just wouldn't think are even humanly possible.

Trey Lance was the reason I came up with the completely unscientific "Trey Lance Test." When watching a QB's college highlight reel, what percentage of the highlights are accompanied by the play-by-play announcer saying, "Wide Open!" With Lance, I think it was like 60%.

Really good, but that's a pretty bold use of a trademarked name. I hope we don't incur the wrath of the house of mouse.

I'm all for intensity. But this is the move I'd expect from a bubble player trying to make the roster. If you're a Week 1 starter, you don't need to tee off on your teams #1 RB to make a name for yourself. This would be a really stupid reason to have your #1 running back injured before the season starts.

I guess he's used to is from his Green Bay career, but I just can't imagine signing up for a frigid season in Pittsburgh when there were probably several dome teams who'd be happy to have him.

Seeing a tight end group without Ian Thomas warms my heart.

Heard the Steelers fans celebrating, "Now the other team won't be able to guess run/pass based on Pickens' body posture."

Yeah, I get them getting involved. The husband not so much. Imagine airing ALL your dirty laundry for what will probably be a $20k payday after fees. Maybe it's just me, but I ain't putting my personal life out there for used Hyundai money.

Oh, man. Hearing "Muhammad!" from the play by play announcer just unlocked a core memory for me. That brought me right back to the call of the 85-yarder in the Super Bowl, which just lives deeply in my psyche. "Looking. Looking. Gonna go deep. Has his man WIDE OPEN. It's Muhammad. MUHAMMAD! To the 15, 10, 5, Touchdown!" Okay, I now have an active rooting interest in him making this roster. I need that back in my life.