KSpan

Absolutely, but several of those moves were from the pre-cap era. Moves like Brees and Woods on were also exceptional values. Revis to NE is the only huge-money example I can think of that arguably put a team over the hump, but NE had the money to do it because of masterful cap handling and solid talent across the rest of the roster.

I suggest you actually go take a look at the free agent signings of these teams for the past few years. I'll even help you - here is 2012: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/12/2012-free-agent-tracker/ Know who Seattle's biggest external FA addition was? Matt Flynn, but they DRAFTED Russel Wilson Know who NE's biggest external FA addition was? Brandon Lloyd, but they DRAFTED Chandler Jones Know who Indianapolis' biggest externa FAl addition was? Cory Redding, but they DRAFTED Andrew Luck Know who Pittsburgh's biggest external addition was? Jerricho Cotchery, but they DRAFTED David DeCastro Know who Green Bay's biggest external addition was? Tony Hartgrove, but they DRAFTED Nick Perry Know who eventual-SB champ Baltimore's biggest external addition was? Corey Graham, but they DRAFTED Bernard Pierce Yes, these teams are now able to sign big names, buf it's because they spent seasons building internally under quality talent leadership and being fiscally responsible, much like Carolina is doing now. You and many of the other people whining about free agents look like a clown when actual FA data are reviewed.

I said Green Bay was an example, and I hate to tell you but all of those teams are definite examples of the exact philosophy I've described - they're just already through the growing pains and reaping the rewards. Also, look back at the Giants, Steelers, and other two-time SB winners in the last decade... same philosophy. I don't really have anything else to say on the subject, as you won't convince me that dropping a ton of money on a player or two will yield magical results. If anything, I agree with the sentiment that a switch at OC could be the biggest magic bullet out there.

The 'best' teams are the ones whose roster is full of young, cheap talent, allowing them to sign the occasional big-pricetag free agent if they choose. However, it tales time and someone at the helm who can consistently spot such talent before that becomes possible, and this is where Gentleman only being in his third year come in. Take the Packers, for example. At the start of last year's TC, only 8 of the 90 players had spent time on another roster outside of Green Bay. That is exactly the model that works in this NFL - rember the Seahawks going 7-9 and making the playoffs under Carroll? That was the beginning of their transition into this model, and they are now a perennial powerhouse able to snag a few expensive players as they see fit. Source on Green Bay comment:http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-ask-vic/article-1/The-Packers-are-a-homegrown-bunch/1581d643-efb3-4156-abef-4c7712ae7401

South Jax or it doesn't count.

Edgy.

I wasn't being sarcastic and do agree. Keyshawn, Wahle, Lucas, and Ma'ake are all the most recent 'big names' and they were all like 10 years ago.

Keyshawn Johnson. Worked out well.

Oakland loves them some former SB MVPs.

Unprecedented trading action across the league.

I hope they send him to Cleveland. Or Oakland.

That makes no sense. The teams who would be 'in the Super Bowl for the next five years' can think that way because they're already laid a foundation of fiscal responsibility and sound talent evaluation. Additionally, those teams have continuity in critical leadership positions, both on the field and in the FO. Carolina is absolutely moving in that direction for the first time in team history because we might just have a guy in place who can make it happen. They don't grow on trees and it can take time to undo years of damage, and I'd argue that making the playoffs twice while suffering from the WORST of said damage is very positive.

This. I said in another thread that his value is probably more as a teacher and mentor than an every-down WR at this point, and unless the team adds a strong veteran receiver I don't see Cotchery being cut. The wild card, however, is the 'Proehl factor' and the fact that the bottom receivers (Bersin/Webb/Presley last season) play a lot of ST... Ginn will be returning kicks, but he sure won't be on the coverage teams.

Interesting collection of Panthers.

This thread is hilarious - so much hate for a guy who worked hard and produced to the best of his ability as a receiver and on ST. If he earns it again then good for him, but it's not his fault that the FO didn't/couldn't bring in a stable of blue-chip WRs last year.

Textbook throw right there. Beautiful.

Why?

Hmm... being arrested for resisting arrest seems like a circular argument. Probably a little more to that story.

It's so he won't be hurt when he bangs his head on the table after seeing the amortization table.

Moose was 3 years, 05-07. Dante Wesley was also only gone for a year, and I'm sure there are others.

Except that the quality of the last 2 drafts, inclufing UDFAs, has been head and shoulders above years past and Carolina is no longer handing out ridiculous contracts. Maybe huge FA signings aren't in the cards (history shows them to be overrated anyway), but the overall tone and philosophy of this front office couldn't be farther from 'RINSE REPEAT'.

Familiar coach in Reid and, if he cares, home state of Missouri.

Let alone Olsen and another TE (perhaps the Ed Dickson we saw at the end of the year) as well as any other receivers that we may pick up. At this point, I wouldn't rule out Cotchery's value as more of a mentor than a go-to player.

Kind of like some of us suggested when people were whining about no reports of Ginn being scheduled to meet with Carolina... imagine that. It's great that expectations of the team and the FO are up, but it's easy to tell that this organization has a new philosophy that many fans are not used to.

He has the type of name that RR has coveted during his tenure.