Proudiddy

I was always surprised at how he just faded into oblivion. I was obviously much younger as a person and as a fan back then, obviously, but I remember feeling like he was impressive in the little time he played. Then he got suspended and that was pretty much the end, because I didn't even know he got suspended AGAIN after the first suspension was up until I randomly thought about him and Googled him a year or two ago. It seemed like local media never covered him or what happened to him after that initial suspension. Really sad news to hear though... RIP.

Honestly, agreed. Jake isn't appreciated enough. I loved that guy.

Idgaf what anyone says. No one should EVER wear #1 for this franchise again. Period. The moment Cam retires from the league it needs to go up in the ring.

It's still crazy to me that Wentz is where he is now since tearing his acl. Before that injury, he looked like a future star in the league/face of the league in the midst of what was likely an MVP season. Now he's been traded twice in the last two offseasons and is widely regarded as a guy you don't want.

Or "Best future insurance salesman."

And all respect to Smitty, possibly my favorite Panther of all-time, definitely one of my all-time favorite players ever, and always appreciate his takes and analysis, but I do find this pivot interesting. He was relentless in mocking and belittling Baker last year, seemingly at every turn. I believe he's flat out called him a bad QB in the past. And I don't think this about-face is from internal expectations or pressure because he ripped into quite a few guys during preseason last year to the point Zarzour was extremely uncomfortable trying to wash over it and smooth it out during the broadcasts... so he clearly doesn't hold back because he still works for the org... so, I wonder what it is? I also found it very interesting that he took the "Darnold has all the tools and potential" route last preseason, when to me, Darnold always seemed exactly like one of those guys Smitty would destroy at every opportunity, but he didnt..didn't... yet, he acted that way with Baker, and now he thinks he's Top 15? Don't get me wrong, I think Baker is a Top 15 guy, with Top 10 potential. And straight up, watching him and Darnold, despite the proximity in stats, is like night and day. Baker, at times, controlled and took over games. Darnold, even in his good games, seemed like he was a play away from imploding, or that he just accidentally tripped into positive plays. I just never thought Darnold was good. Ever. Baker can be, and has shown he can be. That's why I'm more far more encouraged about QB going into this season than I was last...

He didn't consider Jake top 15? I did, prior to the elbow stuff.

Baker is a hell of a lot more exciting than what we had going into last season, and I want you to be right. And I could see a world where you are... we have so many great pieces and possibly the most talented/deepest roster from top to bottom that we have ever fielded... yet, I think Rhule is too much to overcome. It depends on how much of a voice guys like Wilks and McAdoo have in the room and on gameday. If their presence is significant, we might shock a lot of people.

I know what Ellis said, but I'm really hoping they just release him. The difference between him and PJ is minimal, and hopefully neither would have to see the field regardless and just let Corral sit and develop, be it as the 2 or 3.

Big difference between Cheek and Cheeks nowadays, Scot. "Cheeks" is popular slang now for someone/something being garbage or not good at something. Also a safer, G-Rated variation of the use of "ass." That QB is complete ass, bro. Man, our QB is cheeks.

As far as what's taken place... as I've said before throughout the huddle since the rumors started, Baker is a good QB. I'm not head over heels for him or anything, never have been, BUT, i recognize his ability. He has Top 10 potential in this league if everything falls into place (system, personnel, coaching, etc.). He can be more than a game manager. But, he van also be very average... but as the article points out, I was basing my evaluation of him from his play before last season's shoulder injury, and the 2020 version of Baker was a good QB. They came within a few plays of beating the Chiefs... I like this move infinitely better than the Darnold deal, and not just because of the compensation, but because Darnold was hopeless and has, does, and will continue to suck ass. Baker can win you games, and regardless of what he does this upcoming season, I love the plan of bringing Corral along slowly in the mold of Rodgers and Mahomes. Sitting even half of a season, but hopefully at least all of your rookie season could prove to be invaluable and with his tools and intangibles, Corral has the potential to follow thr same trajectory as Rodgers and Mahomes... love this. P.S. - I am sad this closes the door on Cam coming back... but wait... what if we cut Darnold? Hmmm...

Freudian slip?

I love Terry, but we need to trade him and get value for him because the fit just isn't ideal. He is a certified dog and an absolute baller, but hr has to go somewhere where he is the ball dominant guard. Having Melo here as the primary ball handler makes it tough matches wise when you have a barely 6 foot guard as the other gut in the backcourt. I've always believed that. No matter how good he is, it puts us in an unfavorable position if he isn't able to maximize his touches and production offensively to offset the match up issues it creates on defense. So, ideally, moving him to a team where he could maximize his offense for a off-guard or combo guard with size would be perfect, and Lonzo fits that's description perfectly. I really would like to get more for Terry (like in a package to get KD, but that's likely a piepedream as I'm sure KD has no interest in coming here), but if that's the beat we can do, I really like that trade as well. An off-guard with size and defensive ability makes us incredibly dangerous. Also, can you imagine the Lonzo and Melo as a passing backcourt? My God. That would be amazing to watch.

fug Ben Simmons.

Despite his criticisms, so does Proudiddy.

What a monumental fugup he has been this offseason. You couldn't possibly fumble the bag any worse than what he has. Smh... Disappointed in him, and pissed off at the same time.

I also was pushing for him even before it was rumored... it's tough to say what happened without being privy to the behind the scenes stuff, but what I assumed, was it was our decision, not his. Reason being, I doubt he comes back and does a second interview in-person ( which was widely reported) after Atkinson fell through if he had no intention of accepting the position. Even if he felt jilted that we hired Atkinson over him the first round, I doubt he comes back to interview with us if he knew he didn't want the job. So that has led me to my theory, that between the draft night trade where we basically punted a lottery pick for nothing, and then hiring a retread coach we previously fired who has shown no signs of improvement, progress, or evolving and got fired again after he left here... that there's no way that reunion comes together without a) Clifford knowing he has no other chance at being a HC again, so he makes some concessions (i.e. lower salary demands, swallows his pride to come back and interview with a previous employer that fired him), and b) Charlotte knowing they can pay him less because of the position he found himself in with no other chance HC prospects and his previous history with the org. Simply put, I think the lottery pick trade and hiring Clifford were both about MJ saving money and maybe a slight hint of comfortability with familiarity. There's no way you look at those two candidates and decide Clifford was the better option that offers us a better chance at success on the court... it had to be money.

Yeah, sorry... wasn't intending that towards you, just as a general statement to the people who yammered on about why would we hire D'Antoni when our issue was defense... so we passed on a likely HOF coach with a proven system who has come closer to an NBA finals multiple times than we ever have... and not passed on him once, BUT TWICE! Only to hire a retread we already fired who is stuck in his ways, and his ways, at their best, has a ceiling of getting blown out and/or swept from the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed. Fantastic management, I tell ya!

Welp... prepare to rage fellas. One interesting footnote I kept thinking that everyone seemed to be ignoring after the draft night trade fiasco, was aside from the obvious - we enabled Detroit to save money to throw at Miles by giving them a young center so that they don't have to pursue Ayton - many left out the fact that Detroit is Miles' hometown team. So not only did we enable them to offer him beaucoup amounts of money that will likely scare MJ's cheap ass from matching, but he has even extra incentive to sign with the team that we helped because he's from there. I swear our teams are headed by fuging idiots.

Lol. That's what should happen, but we just hired Steve back... so, expect a Mason Plumlee and Bismack Biyimbo re-signing to start in the front court and eat up 32 minutes per game each. But hey! All you guys that wanted defense will get your wish as we slow the game down to limit possessions!

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if we lose him. The Panthers and Hornets are clearly cursed franchises. Just look at the poo they did over the last two weeks... losing Miles falls right in line with all of it. We are a dysfunctional organization, so I like to go ahead and prepare myself for the worst possible outcomes with our teams... That being said, if you look at the Kyler Murray situation with the Cardinals earlier this offseason, he did the same thing while trying to negotiate an extension. I think it's par for the course with agencies/athletes and their teams nowadays, but again, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we lose him.

TBH, if we can't get Duren at 13, I hope that's all it takes to get Myles. 13th plus salary for Myles... after that, I really don't care. Although Williams' size is intriguing, he is much of the same dinosaur that we've had issues with forever now, and those guys tend to get exposed when running into the better run orgs in the league (i.e., the ones we aspire to be if we ever want to win)... so, no thanks.

Well, I want to watch the whole league burn after what they've done, and be humbled like never before... and I heard a report today that after him trying to dodge them saying he had a pre-planned trip to make, apparently Congress now plans to subpoena Snyder. I hope he ends up losing the team and it gets really yucky for the whole league as he tries to bring others down with him.

Yup. 100%. IIRC, there was also some bad blood lingering from the CBA stuff and I thought I remembered reading that a lot of the owners had an ongoing beef with JR, which again, makes that story breaking when and how it did all the more convenient for them... Again, his actions were his own and he deserved whatever consequences he had coming for them... but what we all have seen, and continue to see and agree on is, he clearly wasn't the only owner with moral and ethical shortcomings; in fact, many are exposing themselves to be even worse... difference is, they are still in goodstanding in the good ol' boys club and that apparently makes all the difference.

Correct. Technically. But they generally move in lockstep. So you're (not you, but a general you) telling me they all saw eye to eye on JR, but all of them are fine with what Snyder is doing and how he keeps making the league look? I'm convinced the JR stuff all started with Goodell.