TD alt

Glad to see you didn't count .500 seasons. Not counting the coming season, the Panthers have had a winning season a little less than 25 percent of the time. That's abysmal. Tepper's tenure has been a black hole for wins, and for fan sentiment, interaction and energy. Us fans should really be a miserable lot, but we are always looking for reasons to stay hopeful. Fan Fest is a reasonable distraction I guess. But, if you think like I do, The Panthers should be paying me to come to it.

Yeah, I was kinda thinking that. But...Bryce is still gonna have to earn his money, and he's going to have to be substantially better than his period after being benched, or the question will be if we want to pay him $50 per year (if you get my drift).

Gotta have a lot of white jerseys in the mix, as they are away games where home teams almost always choose colored jerseys. Now I don't know what happened week 5.

I don't know why, but thinking about this thread made me think of my son's remarks to me back in the spring. He was born in '98. I don't remember what we were exactly talking about, but I do remember his question. He said, "Dad, why out of all the NFL teams did you pick a loser?" He's low on the Panthers, man. He says that I make the same excuses every year. He doesn't believe in Bryce as a viable starter at all and basically thinks the last few games of last season weren't impressive and that Bryce is fool's gold. He liked Cam, but wasn't completely sold that he'd get us over the top. He even says things like "y'all" in reference to Panthers fans at times. Perhaps it's just to get on my nerves---make a statement---but maybe there's somewhat of a real disconnect on his part. But he does watch every game with me and roots for the team...but they haven't won anything of note in a long time. The rollercoaster at least use to rise sometimes--win one season, lose one season. Now, it's lose every season. The magic is lost and we haven't been able to find it. It's going to take winning, not just competing, but winning. That is the only way the Panthers fan base is going to be legitimately energized. And consistent winning will be the capstone of a strong, longstanding and viable franchise.

He'll be done with them until they give him that bag

And call me a Huddle homer, Huddle snob or whatever, but on other platforms, fans say some real stupid sh¡t. It's like they don't even know the team sometimes the sh¡t be so stupid.

I think that there's plenty of insight. There are still hardcore fans here that have been fans for years (decades in some cases), and have no shortage of insight---at least reasoned rationale or opinions. Being that many of us are older, it's going to take more than Fan Fest to get us excited. A preseason game is more exciting because at least I can focus on a "practice" from more of a macro perspective due to all the cameras and camera angles from the comfort of my living room. Get off my lawn. I'm really worried about the Panthers once Gen X and Millennials start disappearing. Not interested in the football? I think that is patently false. Preseason has barely started, and there hasn't been any real football for Panthers fans for about seven months. During the off-season, of course people are going to discuss drafts for a time and trades. Once the regular season begins, there will be a change in focus (like always). How long that focus lasts depends upon how well we are doing (or not), and if we are realistically in playoff contention. Otherwise, the off-season essentially starts a little early, but many still watch most of the games (if not all of them), and fewer some will voice their opinions and give insights regarding the play.

Nobody's exactly overjoyed with journeyman kicker Matthew Wright. Hell, he's played for six NFL teams during the regular season over five seasons. If he was the answer, why so many? He must be the kind of guy you take when you can't get anyone better. [Enter Ryan Fitzgerald] I was hoping that our rookie UDFA Ryan Fitzgerald was going to be a hit, being that he missed less than a handful of FGs his last couple of seasons, but yet and still made five FGs over 50 yards last season on only one miss in 2024. But, he's been missing a few, like Matthew Wright, on the so-called skinny posts and he continued missing at Fan Fest, going one of three. I'm beginning to wonder if he's a miss. Man, I didn't know that it would be such a problem to get a kicker with staying power after Jon Kasay retired. I am loathe to say this, because it's so easy to say in hindsight (and plenty of Huddlers do), but we should've just dumped Gano for Butker. Man, it would just be nice to sign a legit kicker who is here for at least a decade. Now, I'm afraid, it has become a thing. Sure, it's been a thing you say, but I'm surely disappointed because I thought that Fitzgerald would end it. Now? Who knows? https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/08/02/panthers-training-camp-kicker-ryan-fitzgerald-fan-fest-dave-canales/85494382007/

Honestly, in my opinion the Bryce argument is the best one against making an expensive acquisition. We don't know what's gonna happen or if we'll need that draft compensation. Still, for me, if it's DB and a pick, I'd have to consider it.

"Wreck" the franchise? I think that's a little hyperbolic considering all the acquisitions that were made. I thought the franchise was wrecked after Bryce's first month. Just thinking of the king's ransom that we gave up for him sent shivers down my spine. But now, we've kinda gotten through that. I know that I'm projecting, but I think that it will become very evident fairly quickly that the O-line and offensive skill players won't hold the team back. That being said, even without Bryce, I don't see us being an absolutely "wrecked" franchise. Ostensibly we're building to the point where others can succeed if Bryce fails.

I think that you're rightfully hopeful, and I generally feel more sure about the offensive skill positions than I do about anything else other than maybe the O-line, but...I'm not yet convinced that Bryce is a top half-of-the-league QB, much less worth what we divvied up to get him. I'm hopeful, but less hopeful. Hell, I'm downright nervous, and that's not the place I want to be after two seasons. In two months from now if Bryce hasn't assuaged most of my fear, my legit hope for the remainder of this season and beyond will be gone. I love the thought of the D-line, but behind the D-line has many many questions, and we need depth. Call me cynical, but other than Horn, who has a history of injury, I can't say that we don't have anything but second stringers masquerading as starters. In other words, these guys are going to have to prove to me that they can not only run with the big dogs, but be the big dogs. We should have that answer fairly quickly once the live bullets start flying. But, don't get me wrong, I'm generally open-minded about the team in general this time of year, and this year I could be even downright positive and optimistic.

I'm no cap person or contract lawyer, so I have to rely on AI in this specific situation for clarity. That being said, ChatGPT says that we would only be responsible for $20 million, but could designate it a post-June 1st cut and spread that burden through 2026. According to Chat, whose sources are OTC & Sportrac, DB's signing bonus was $25 million (and five mil has already been accounted for in '24). As for future salary, (basically the guaranteed part) of course that would be the responsibility of the Cowboys.

Polymarket Blitz twitter seems to be the only place with this information right now. I can't find it anywhere else.

With our luck, he'll be Florida bound...I could see them saying, "fug them picks," as well.

Well, funny you should mention him. Here is an article, kinda hot off the presses, but it's not from Yahoo but Panthers Wire. It's within the same vein as the others, but is a little more detailed https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/08/02/panthers-rookie-preview-te-mitchell-evans/84147296007/ To answer your question though, Evans is not hurt, but obviously going under the radar. He had a solid mini camp, and is likely just learning his position without the spectre of great expectations. I suspect he'll make his mark once the preseason games begin.

The articles were worth the read, if only that they give hope (which is what they're for I guess), but the one on Etienne and Ransom, as well as the one on Cam Jackson were somewhat more informative from a technical standpoint I'm thinking. The one on McMillan was more like, "McMillan is a unicorn," without actually saying it. Here's my take: Etienne is certainly an NFL-caliber back. He has starting potential in him if the situation arises. I've seen him aplenty and I think that he's a faster, shiftier, albeit a smaller version of Chuba Hubbard with decidedly better hands. He is a legit threat to take it to the house if he gets through the initial levels of contact. Ransom needs to hone his craft and play with consistency. Expect solid play, especially against runs, but expect bad angles and whiffs due to over-pursuit. If he can get it all together, he'll be a helluva run stopper. His pass coverage will probably be suspect among the greater talent in the NFL, but If he can be average then he'll likely be above average in his entirety overall. Jackson needs development. He's got "good bones" however, not so much as a pass rusher (I suspect that he just doesn't have the feet to do it), but he can become an anchor in the middle against the run, and take up space (even on double teams), if he learns to consistently keep his pad level down. McMillan was highly productive in college for more multiple seasons (which is new for Panthers fans). McMillan is not some project that we hope can turn into a WR1, he is the real deal. He has the "bones" of a unicorn, but will he ever be one remains to be seen. In my estimation, in the grand scheme of things, McMillan's floor is relatively high due to his flypaper hands, size, and underappreciated speed. What may also be underappreciated is his smarts and instincts while in coverage. So, yeah, he has a high floor, but an even higher ceiling. He makes contested catches on the regular, but he also gets YAC on the regular as well. His versatility serms understated. If he can polish up the route running and consistently get open, the sky is the limit. On paper this is a really good draft class. Thank God for PFF!

Tuka, he was a rookie, and an immature one at that. Sure, injuries certainly accelerated his timetable, but that's life in the NFL. Only fools would keep a player down. Nevertheless, it honestly doesn't matter at this point. Just know that Parsons is more than a lucky linebacker. If Parsons really becomes available, we are going to check in, and there will be discussions. We'll likely pass, but under the unlikely scenario of Brown and a third, I'd bet the house that the the former Panthers LB signs the new one. That's all I'm saying at the end of the day.

I don't think that there is any way in hell that any team wouldn't have evaluated his relentless pass rushing ability in real time and not exploited it to cause havoc. The cream rises to the top. As for everything else, it's pure speculation that we will never have the answer to.

I heard one analyst say that Parsons is (or was relative to the same age) a better player than Mack. Could be recency bias, but I'd say that that's absolutely true.

If we had drafted Parsons, we'd be paying Parsons. You don't let young players get away just because they're playing well. That's a recipe for failure. If you don't trust your FO to be competent, then what's the point? Sometimes acquisitions about striking when the iron is hot. There are costs associated with trading, and there are opportunity costs for not trading. Mind you, that's only if there is a legitimate opportunity. The cap rises basically every year, so being scared to pay for outstanding play is probably not going to lead to the results that you want in either the short or long term, especially when a player is still young.

You see, I just don't subscribe to a cookie cutter type of philosophy when it comes to trades or team building. Every situation is different. Many may disagree, but I think that FOs that can't draft impact-players beyond the first round aren't really viable. Just for argument's sake, because we all know this hypothetical trade is as realistic as the moon being made of cheese, Micah is a young dawg really just beginning his prime and is arguably the most valuable pass rusher in the league. He could realistically play at a high level for at least the next five to seven years. Parsons' current trajectory is Canton. That being said, he's not some old merc that fits the mold of "one piece away," he's a core piece to any defense for the better part of the next 10 years. Pass rushers of his caliber and age don't generally become available, so, sure, he'd help an elite team, but he's also a fit for a younger team that's building. I know that you don't agree, but it's all good. I respect your rationale.

Because it makes for a more interesting and interactive post. I mean, it is a football forum.

Which group, the Panthers or the Eagles? Both, perhaps? LOL

Dude, are you referring to Bayless and Cowherd? Come on, all I'm asking you to be is reasonable.