Mage

On a whole, you are probably right, but DJ Moore is definitely going to be the best receiver on the field today with Hopkins out.

Even if Cam isn't playing today, I hope he's on the sidelines. He is always a great morale boost.

Apparently Stephon Gilmore asked to wear #1 out of respect to Cam, but Tepper said no. Didn't know that. Also pushes back against the silly narrative that the Panthers were trying to "erase" Cam lol

It's one thing to put up good numbers. It is one thing to put up good numbers and look good doing so. The former is much more likely than the latter with PJ Walker, and hopefully the coaching staff would be able to differentiate between the two. If Murray and Hopkins are out today (Edmonds too), then I think the defense could put Walker in a lot of situations to put up points.

What's crazy is what they saw on film isn't too far from the truth. Darnold does have some similarities to Stafford (play-style wise). Not quite the same arm strength but Darnold side-arms it a lot like Stafford does, and is able to still get a lot of velocity on it. Both are gunslingers. Both have some mobility, Darnold a bit more than Stafford at this point in their careers. LIS. I didn't mind the trade. It was worth the risk to see if you could tap into his upside. But picking up the 5th year option was so moronic.

If Murray and Hopkins don't play... The Panthers have the better defense, top to bottom (DL, LBs, DBs) They (Panthers) have the better wide receivers They have the better running-back If we lose, assuming Murray and Hopkins don't play, you will never see me defend Matt Rhule again. I'm all for limiting McCaffrey's touches but tomorrow is the day to abuse him. Rely on him. We need to win and get to 5-5. Cam entering a 5-5 situation, I believe in him to will us to the playoffs. But 5-5 is a lot different than 4-6. Come on Rhule!!

If anything, PJ Walker is what "Keep Pounding" is all about. Screw the obstacles. Screw the outside noise. Screw what is SUPPOSED to be the case. Just keep fighting, keep playing, keep pounding.

I'm so ready for Cam time But I am rooting HARD for PJ Walker. I want to see him do well. I want to see this man ball the hell out. It isn't his fault the Panthers signed him to be the #2 back-up. It isn't his fault Sam Darnold was the only QB ahead of him in the depth chart. Quite frankly PJ Walker shouldn't be in this position, because in all likelihood, he will fail. But I hope he doesn't. I hope he proves everyone wrong and just has the game of his life, a game so good that it helps him earn another job with a team next year. And knowing Cam, he probably feels the same way. Let's get this W PJ.

Honestly, Cam Newton looks so at peace that it is amazing to see. I want to win and I want Newton to perform well. But ultimately I'm just so happy to see him back, I'm happy to see him happy, and I'm happy to know that things between the Panthers and Newton might actually end on good terms.

We can't. They were likely posting the old rules about the 5th-year option. It used to be guaranteed only for injury (a big part of why RG3 was inactive for all of 2015) and/or when the new league year starts. However it is now guaranteed as soon as you exercise it.

As someone who really liked Wilson in the pre-draft process... He has looked absolutely horrendous. And not in a, "well, he's just a rookie" way like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. Those guys at least look comfortable with the speed of the game. Wilson looks like the game moves way too fast for him. Makes the OL look worse because of his horrendous feel for the pocket. Locks onto the first-read and never goes off of it. Accuracy is putrid. He could still get better, but I wouldn't count on it.

I don't think Cam talks today but could be wrong

Also a possibility that if Cam and the Panthers have been talking since before this week, that Newton was already given the playbook and had a chance to learn over it.

LIS earlier in the thread, learning the playbook isn't quite as difficult as one would think. Yes, for a rookie, no way they would be able to play this quickly. But Newton is a 10-year vet. He's familiar with the vast majority of NFL concepts, formations/alignments, and some verbiage across different playbooks leaguewide are often similar. Obviously there will be some stuff he doesn't know that would take some time and we'd in some ways need to limit the playbook to an extent, but no reason he couldn't play. Ultimately I don't think our approach Sunday would be any more or less limited than if PJ Walker was starting. Likely run-heavy, try and get McCaffrey heavily involved underneath, and call a lot of pass concepts that Cam is most familiar with.

I don't know why people keep trying to push the narrative that Rhule still believes in Darnold. REGARDLESS of what you think about Rhule (not trying to get in that debate here), but it is clearly, so blatantly obvious that Rhule has given up on him. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he never started another game here, even if he's on the roster in 2022, unless we fail miserably in the offseason at finding a potential starter. You don't say what Rhule has said about Sam if you believe in him long-term. Dude didn't even try to use the injury to excuse his behavior, said he didn't see any signs on film that his shoulder was an issue. You'll never see a starting QB thrown under the bus that hard

Playbooks can be complicated, but for veteran players who have been around the league for years and years, it isn't THAT difficult to learn a new playbook. Hardest part will be verbiage depending on how different it is in Brady's system vs others he's been in, but he'll surely be familiar with most concepts and stuff. IIRC Brett Favre signed with the Vikings super, super last minute in 2009 and was able to play immediately. Some stuff might have to be dialed back, but in all likelihood Cam Newton would know enough to play.

Damn. I don't even care if he's good or not. I'd rather have my favorite player of all-time sucking at QB than PJ Walker or Sam Darnold.

Darnold looked no different on Sunday than he did most any other weeks. Even Rhule said at the time he didn't necessarily see anything on film to suggest Darnold's arm looked noticeably weaker. And none of the INTs had anything to do with arm strength as much as they did horrendous decisions. Darnold played because he was healthy enough to play. And if Darnold was any good, then he'd likely still be playing right now in spite of the injury. But he's been bad for multiple weeks and was well on his way to being benched anyway. I mean Matt Rhule made that pretty obvious after the game on Sunday.

Baker Mayfield is literally playing with a torn labrum "But negligent Panthers hurr hurr!!" What Darnold has is something that he can play through. Him sucking has nothing to do with the injury. He just sucks.

Dude, the posters complaining mostly do not care about the facts. I've tried to use facts several times to no avail. Never even acknowledged.

Tepper is rich as hell and Rhule’s contract does not affect the team

This thread reminds me of when Mr. Scot was ADAMANT that the Panthers made a horrible decision letting CJ Anderson go and was trying to convince everyone that he was somehow a difference maker.

Bum

I'm down to put money on it if you want.