MHS831

Combine, pro days, etc. giving numbers. people in groups (scouts, coaches, players) talk. More data, more rumor fodder.

I do not see it this way--we upgraded, but we will need to draft an Edge, WR, DT, CB, S, OT, and maybe a TE. That is six or seven needs and I don't really see that as flexibility.

Translation: If you go apeshit crazy, we ain't paying u

In the past, I recall Huddlers arguing that character does not matter--it doesn't--in Madden. But a team is a fragile ecosystem and all it takes is one bad egg--that is a bad example because one bad egg leaves 11 eggs, and that is how many you need--disregard my metaphor. Think of our greatest players--most of them high character guys--Gross, Mills, Beason, Luke, Morgan, Moose (even when he had a mistake, he rebounded--I met him--great guy), Eric Davis, Minter, Rucker, Stewart, Jake, Cam (odd, different, but his character as an athlete and leader was good), Olsen, Kalil, Wharton, Remmers, etc. I put Remmers in there to piss people off. But you get the point--it takes a lot of self discipline to be a pro athlete--more than i ever had--training, image control, media engagement, dealing with the public, film study, etc. Character is important.

All of these guys would contribute--except maybe Belton. I would take the OT from BC Trapilo (if on the board in the third--a natural pass blocking RT) As much as I like the kid, I do not see Walker as a smart option as an edge. However, with Pearce and Green having a history of issues, I wonder what options we will have--really want to trade back. Having said that, I see why people would like this draft--but we can't have an all-South Carolina Edge starting crew and WR and three NC State Offensive lineman. It is as if our scouts do not have a plane.

Good teams can draft a guy like this and expect the culture to take care of it. Bad teams can't get cancer.

so since this thread is about Safeties, I thought I would ask if there is any news concerning the safeties that visited today-

I know people do not rate players based on the "big picture" but Smith did not encourage younger WRs--in fact, he bullied some. So if he is great but nobody else emerges in the WR room for several years, and his rep as a teammate is not good (punching teammates, getting in people's faces) then how can he be that great? I have mentioned several times how I watched him at OTAs and nobody talked to him except Kasay. Smith was a dick. now, he practiced as hard as he played, and he was a great player, but even if you are a star, you are one of 53 or you are a weakness. Some may disagree, but I watched him for years.

He will not be a "1 trick pony" like Burns was, and if you consider that he can play edge in some situations, LB in others (blitzing, shadowing, etc) he can beat you in many ways. Hard to game plan against. I used to teach at Salisbury years before he was there--vaguely knew his dad--but my friend who is still there can't say enough good things about him. High character guy--we could do worse. I think his versatility makes it difficult to rank him. Depends on the system and the DC. However, if he crashes as an edge, we still have a LB. If we were to draft Stewart and he crashes as an edge, we have a bust.

I was even proposing trying Farley at S if CB is not his thing. We have no pass rush (at the moment) and no deep S. What could possibly go wrong?

I had that thought. I also had the thought, "We will sign the wrong one."

Yeah, we need a center fielder and we draft third basement playing a bunt.

Like Ian Thomas....I just think this way--if your defense sucks in ways they compare it to the worst defense of all time, and this guy had a chance to crack that lineup and could not--and he is 29--what are we doing? I am going to call it camp fodder so I can sleep.

This Blackmon would be a good signing because in free agency, you look for players at their floors and hope that coaching, a new system, and a new opportunity will pay off. However, on day 1, you are signing players at their ceilings and hoping they continue that level of play. Blackmon can be average,and there is nothing wrong with average if you have elite players at other positions. if you ask me, if he can stay healthy. He has an injury history, and that has contributed to his inconsistent and subpar play--if healthy, expect improvement. He should arrive healthy. Low risk, high reward.

. I was watching a Colt podcast and they were discussing whether the Colts should re-sign Blackmon. One guy called him a good special teamer and the other corrected him. Missed 14% of his tackles. Made 6 plays. They added that he was injured and played hurt and had a better 2023.

He is 27 and has an injury history--played hurt last year. had 3 picks, 82 combo tackles, but a 107 passer rating against. Is versatile--but has been injury prone. played 0ver 1000 snaps last season while banged up. SInce he is versatile, I would love for him to be a "swing S" but he has been injury prone. For that reason, I would like him as depth--

I could not stand him when he was here. Too inconsistent--

Excellent point--Let's hope that is not true for XL and Coker--

Jeopardy Clue: "A 34-year old, undrafted white guy from Minnesota State, a racoon-eating linguist equestrian, an undrafted WR from Holy Cross, and a special teamer from East Central Oklahoma who had 94 yards receiving in the three years preceding 2024." "Who are the 2024 Carolina Panther WRs?"

So we could be around $10-11m. I do not get into the cap stuff and contracts that much--too stressful--but I do think we have some veterans who might be released after the draft. I like to throw a radical idea out there on occasion, so here is my radical idea for today--and it has literally a less than 1% chance of happening--put Robert Hunt on the trading block. Zavala played well last year and I hate to see him on the pine on a rookie contract while Hunt is approaching 30 and making bank. Based on PFF: Now, remember, the idea is to keep Bryce's uniform clean. Note the difference in pass blocking and the similarity in run blocking. Zavala might be the better player. I realize there is a smaller sample size, but Zavala BALLED OUT when he played. Had we known he would, we would not have signed Hunt. A team could pick up Hunt for $16m or so, and that is what the Panthers would save in Cap room. I am thinking this would be a post draft trade--maybe a mid season trade--but if they could find a partner, I think I would do it. I realize that some would say "That's crazy!! We just got the OL right and now you do this?" The reality of the situation is a team cannot pay $80m per year for its offensive line. Ickey is going to need a deal and deserves it. Moton is probably in his final season, but as soon as we can break away from paying our guards $40m per year, the better off we will be. Zavala has earned the right to start. If I were another team in the NFL, I would be trading for him. And THAT is the radical concept I have for this point in time in Panther history. You're welcome.

Thanks for keeping us current. Signing draft picks is about all we have left--I am still very happy that Morgan did not kick the can down the road. I also think some players with bigger salaries could be released after the draft (Robinson, Clowney--doubtful, but possible--etc.

Signed.

Chemist--where--your basement? And yes, I was a college football player, coach, journalist, and then teacher--school administrator--professor. I have written 2 nonfiction books (listed on Amazon) and a novel that is being published later this year. It is a compliment that you don't believe it. I did not say I validated to rumor--I heard the rumor and I would ask Graham about it if I had the chance--I am not seeking your validation. Ask Basbear where he heard it. Now stop being a little bitch.

You are a concrete operational fool who only wants to argue and bitch--Screw you if you don't understand it. I don't give a poo. No, I am a professor and author. And you are???

Not to Joe Person, and that was my point--the rumors were not part of an article--it was a rumor as I stated. The rumor circulated to such a degree there were no articles stating that Graham is not on PEDs--that would almost damage him-but there were articles about scouts being "alarmed by the drastic weight loss." Now, if you were around athletics on a high level at any time in your life beyond Madden, you would understand the possible implications of that statement. Of course they are not going to print an unconfirmed rumor, but there were Huddlers who mentioned it and I can't recall where I heard it--but if I heard it, others did too. For example: While there could be other reasons for concern, the word "alarmed" is used, which suggests something more dire or serious. Again, any good reporter would not write an article about a rumor because mentioning the rumor is nearly as damaging, but they would ask the person about the rumor to give that person a chance to respond. If they choose not to respond, you do not write about it. Now, I realize this trolling thing is what you do, and if you ask others, they will tell you they heard the rumor too. I have given you more time than you deserve.