Peon Awesome

I could see Galette hitting up Rhule when he got the Panthers job, pleading for a chance, hoping to get a The Golden Calf of Bristol-Meyer like pity tryout at minimum. Rhule not wanting to awkwardly shut down a guy who he had good memories with, says something along the lines "I'd love to have more guys with your work ethic on the team. I'll talk to the front office and see if we can arrange for a try out at least." Then like you would a bad date who says "Hope we can do this again" and politely nod before never texting again, Rhule doesn't follow up and focuses on building his actual team.

I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle. I think they didn't want to trade Arnold in the same way Jacksonville wanted to trade CJ; they weren't actively shopping him and wanting to get rid of him. I'm sure they were happy to have him as a decent 4th or 5th receiving option and depth at a position we are thin on high end talent. But I think it's clear we didn't value him as much as we had hoped when we signed him and may have even been quietly pleased he ended up helping us acquire a player with tremendous upside at a position of need and value.

If he stopped here, he might be right. There's a chance Zeke or Pollard will rush for more than 25 yards. But that's as far as I'm willing to go. As far as Deangelo Hall's prediction, I wouldn't call that bold. Seriously would anyone be remotely surprised if that happens?

Reasons this trade is good: 1. Gives us a new starting corner with elite measurables at a dirt cheap salary. 2. Opens up more playing time for Tommy Tremble, who has way more upside than Dan Arnold. 3. Cost us only a modest drop in draft position (probably 45 spots or so in the middle of the draft where value is muddled) 4. Gives us insurance for next year if Donte Jackson wants a fortune.

It's amazing to see how much happier McVay looks with Stafford as his qb over Goff. They guy looks like a kid on Christmas morning.

Houston probably says no, to be honest. They probably want more than the 32nd pick in the draft.

Imagine if we did draft Fields with all else equal. We're sitting at 3-0, Darnold playing great, trying to awkwardly figure out what to do with a guy we spent a top ten pick on. But all else wouldn't be equal because we'd be missing Jaycee Horn and probably wouldn't be far and away the number 1 defense in the NFL in every major statistical category. Just a complete lose lose.

Justin Tucker.. unbelievable

I realize it's super early to write off any careers but Trevor Lawrence is showing why you don't trade a bunch of draft picks for a rookie QB. One of the most heralded QB prospects OF ALL TIME is looking abysmal early. Now just imagine the risk you take with a prospect with question marks, which is damn near all of them.

Saints vs Panthers: 7-26 Saints vs everyone else: 59-6

Kyler Murray just threw a pick in Jaguars territory. Let's thin out our competition for a 1st round bye.

Feeling pretty satisfied with getting Sam Darnold for a 2nd round pick.

Holy smokes, one of the most incredible sequences just happened. Cardinals attempt a 68 yard field goal. Ball is short; Jacksonville player catches it deep in the endzone and returns it for 109 yards for a td with no time left in the 1st half. Unfrickinbelievable

I love the fact that the arbitrator increased his suspension after the appeal. Collins should've counted his blessings they got the suspension reduced to 2 games. Instead he has the audacity to appeal it. Sometimes you get what you deserve.

Just switched over to Redzone. Greg Olsen is calling the Bears-Browns game. Very cool

When evaluating Brady, you have to disassociate him from all the undeserved hype and praise. He's been anointed a genius offensive playcaller and basically been presumed to get a headcoaching job right after the Panthers hired him. In reality he is insanely green and it shows. But he does have a smart mind and has tremendous opportunity for growth, demonstrating that already with improved playcalling in the redzone against Houston. Right now I assess him somewhere around league average with the likelihood of transcending to the top 5-10 with more experience. I just suspect someone will hand him a headcoaching job before he can get there. I wouldn't be too upset if that happens cause at least short-term we shouldn't miss too much of a beat. But it is a bit disappointing we won't get the chance to see him unlock his full potential because the league is so obsessed with young offensive playcallers and will undoubtedly give him a head coaching job before he's ready for one.

Fantastic news. Sounds like it's just inflamed. I'm thinking that will probably keep him off IR and they'll see how he looks in a couple weeks. Maybe wishful thinking but I wonder if the extra rest from being a thursday night game keeps open the possibility he could return in week 5. I anticipate they'll be extra cautious cause you want McCaffrey good for the long haul but you have to wonder if our offense looks abysmal against the Cowboys, there might be some pressure to bring him back as soon as he feels up for it. Also disclaimer: this is not coming from any area of expertise as I don't know anything about sports medicine; just purely hopeful fan speculation.

That terrible "incomplete pass" call cost us another sack. We're trying to set records over here.

Nice game for Gonzalez. 4/4 on kicks + getting better distance on his kickoffs.

Can't believe we wasted a 3rd round pick on a pure blocking specialist.

Tremble with the td but that drive was just a PHENOMENAL showing by Darnold. Quick decisions and pinpoint passes getting through tight windows. That's how you resurrect a limp post-McCaffrey offense.

Brian Burns better pick up his play. He's barely past backup level. The more PFF grades I see, the more I'm convinced how much you have to take them with a gran of salt. PFF can be useful for tracking objective things like pressures, but whatever system they use to come up with their grades seems to need a lot of work.

While I think some of the difference between week 1 and 2 was the team getting acclimated against the Jets, I also think the coaching staff chose to play down to their competition. The punts from the 30, super conservative 2nd half offense, etc. Hopefully the thrashing of the Saints opened the staff's eyes on what works but my biggest worry is we play limp against the Texans and keep it unnecessarily close.

Not to look ahead because we need to focus and take care of Houston on Thursday but I seem to recall it wasn't till our complete thrashing of the Cowboys on thanksgiving that the whole world took notice that the 2015 Panthers were an absolute juggernaut. Several experts had even picked the Cowboys to win that game even though we entered 10-0. And if that sounds outlandish, just check this link: https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/11/25/9796444/2015-nfl-picks-predictions-experts-week-12-panthers-cowboys-seahawks-steelers-falcons-vikings It's possible the Cowboys may serve a similar role this year.

I heard 2 ESPN NFL analysts call the Panthers the number 1 defense in the league without any disclaimers and followed by heavy praise. I'd say we put some people on notice with that win against the Saints.