Instead of a foregone conclusion there needs to be a rethinking.

[CRA]

A lot of our older or bad contracts come off the books in 2016. We should have the money to keep our core talent.

I think we have always paid for a larger core than we should. Our past "core" was basically a bunch of Hurney dudes.

Core going forward IMO should be considered Cam, Luke, Star/Short, Benji. Everyone else viewed as short term compliments.

[teeray]

A lot of our older or bad contracts come off the books in 2016. We should have the money to keep our core talent.

We probably won't have the money in 2015 to franchise him or extend him with our cap situation, so 2016 money doesn't do us a whole lot of good. Plus that money will go to Cam and Luke mega contracts.

We have to make hard choices, and if it comes down to Luke, Cam or Hardy, Hardy is odd man out

[WOW!!]

Look at the cap Cam and Luke will command.

Then look at the cap space Hardy will command. We still have to field a competitive team. Can only pay so many superstars. You can't have but so many. I don't think Greg is with the risk.....not when you factor all the other star players we will soon be inking. We still need he cap to fill it with solid roleplayers.

Before his current situation, it as always clear Hardy has some screws less and is odd. A risk.

You can't have superstars all over your roster. Not on 2nd year deals. I think Hardy is one we have to let walk.

Plus we need to focus on bulding a more complete defense....if you don't injury makes you go from great to bad overnight if it hits your one slanted strength

Some of you must think players of his talent grows on trees or something.

Again elite young pass rushers who can stop the run or a little less valuable as a franchise QB. When you have them you keep them. You can't just pick them up at the corner store. He is the 3rd most important player on this team. So other then Cam and Luke every other player is expandable before Hardy. Of course if found innocent.

[FootballMaestro]

Look at the cap Cam and Luke will command.

Then look at the cap space Hardy will command. We still have to field a competitive team. Can only pay so many superstars. You can't have but so many. I don't think Greg is with the risk.....not when you factor all the other star players we will soon be inking. We still need he cap to fill it with solid roleplayers.

Before his current situation, it as always clear Hardy has some screws less and is odd. A risk.

You can't have superstars all over your roster. Not on 2nd year deals. I think Hardy is one we have to let walk.

Plus we need to focus on bulding a more complete defense....if you don't injury makes you go from great to bad overnight if it hits your one slanted strength

 

Looking at the effect of Hardy, you may be able to argue that signing Hardy (albeit with concerns), nonetheless in purely football terms, maybe more important than signing Luke??

[beastson]

3rd? What I'm seeing he's making an argument for 2nd 

[Jmac]

Don't forget that R.G has to remove Hardy from the list and reactivate him, just like he had to put him on the list in the first place. Just because the Panthers may want him back after six games and request it, means nothing unless it is agreed to by R.G.

[FootballMaestro]

Some of you must think players of his talent grows on trees or something.

Again elite young pass rushers who can stop the run or a little less valuable as a franchise QB. When you have them you keep them. You can't just pick them up at the corner store. He is the 3rd most important player on this team. So other then Cam and Luke every other player is expandable before Hardy. Of course if found innocent.

 

You can make the argument (especially if we exclude Greg's 'Ahem' extracurricular activity risk; which I know is not easy), Hardy's the teams most important defensive player, and not Luke???

[FootballMaestro]

3rd? What I'm seeing he's making an argument for 2nd 

 

True. Cause if you brought Hardy back, and replaced Luke with Klein, not sure exactly how much worse the defense would be? Maybe, just a tad?

[CRA]

Some of you must think players of his talent grows on trees or something.

Again elite young pass rushers who can stop the run or a little less valuable as a franchise QB. When you have them you keep them. You can't just pick them up at the corner store. He is the 3rd most important player on this team. So other then Cam and Luke every other player is expandable before Hardy. Of course if found innocent.

All I am saying is you are forced to pick and choose.....problem with drafting well is you can't pay everyone you hit on.

Hardy is a risk. Is Hardy worth having a poo OL or secondary? I don't think so at this point. We need to pay some superstars and then field a complete team......not pay too many superstars and have slop around them.

Also, pay Hardy now and KK or Star could easily be the best lineman on the DL in 2 years. Gotta look at more than just Hardy in a vacuum

[WOW!!]

We probably won't have the money in 2015 to franchise him or extend him with our cap situation, so 2016 money doesn't do us a whole lot of good. Plus that money will go to Cam and Luke mega contracts.

We have to make hard choices, and if it comes down to Luke, Cam or Hardy, Hardy is odd man out

Choice is these 3 are the most important players on the roster.

[Marguide]

True. Cause if you brought Hardy back, and replaced Luke with Klein, not sure exactly how much worse the defense would be? Maybe, just a tad?

 

Our D took a major step forward once Luke was put at MLB. Hardy was here before that. CJ was here before that. How did our defense look with those 2 guys but without Luke? Not very good.

 

I agree with those thinking our less effective D this year is due to more than just the absence of Hardy. We saw some signs of problems in the preseason, and we saw signs of it the 2nd half of the Tampa game with Greg in the lineup.

 

If it's my money, there is no way I give out a big chunk of guaranteed cash to a guy that doesn't always show the best judgement. Perhaps with a contract that is essentially a series of one year deals like Revis had in Tampa, yeah maybe. But giving him $30 to $40 million in signing bonus up front, no way.

[CRA]

Our D took a major step forward once Luke was put at MLB. Hardy was here before that. CJ was here before that. How did our defense look with those 2 guys but without Luke? Not very good.

I agree with those thinking our less effective D this year is due to more than just the absence of Hardy. We saw some signs of problems in the preseason, and we saw signs of it the 2nd half of the Tampa game with Greg in the lineup.

If it's my money, there is no way I give out a big chunk of guaranteed cash to a guy that doesn't always show the best judgement. Perhaps with a contract that is essentially a series of one year deals like Revis had in Tampa, yeah maybe. But giving him $30 to $40 million in signing bonus up front, no way.

If Luke and TD misplay a couple of plays they routinely made last year ...our D would be much better this seaosn. It is those fluke plays that have made us look bad on D. The long runs have been the biggest killers this year. D has had opponents right where we want them.....then boom, we let someone run for 60 yards on 3rd and 7.

[Mr. Scot]

On the Greg Hardy situation.

1st let me say he needs to be found innocent in his trial before any of this starts.

But if found innocent it is clearly obvious that he is the 3rd most important player on this team. And a major piece to our defense. From a emotional leadership, intimidation and talent position. We are seeing now with the drop in every defensive category. How much he means to this defense and that we truly don't have a replacement on the roster with his skill sets and elite talent.

I know he will command a nice pay day but young elite pass rushers always do. Look at Robert Quinn and Mario Williams contracts. You have to pay to have versatile elite players at that position on your team.

I hate to know that we lucked out and develop such a elite talent (6th round pick) just to let him walk away in the prime of his career. He also gives you the ability to bargain shop at other position like the (secondary). Where with his pass rush we don't have to have a elite CB and Safety combination. Which will cost just as much or more then just paying him. He will get his money no doubt. There are atleast 15 to 20 teams that will run to his door once we release him. Specially a few teams in our division with cap space (Atlanta and Tampa). Can you see the nightmare of having to face the Frankenstein monster we created twice a year?? Yeah that would suck big time. I hope G-man and Ron are considering a change of direction after seeing the effect his loss is having on the defense. Some in the local media are so sure that whether guilty or innocent Greg is gone after this season. I hope they are wrong because elite talented and productive pass rushers. Who can play DT, DE, drop back in coverage be a gunner on special teams and is the emotional catalyst for your defense don't grow on trees.

Plain and simple JJ Watt types don't come around every day and Greg isn't far from being that type of player.

 

Didn't you tell us that Godfrey starting would make the defense better?

 

[WOW!!]

All I am saying is you are forced to pick and choose.....problem with drafting well is you can't pay everyone you hit on.

Hardy is a risk. Is Hardy worth having a poo OL or secondary? I don't think so at this point. We need to pay some superstars and then field a complete team......not pay too many superstars and have slop around them.

Also, pay Hardy now and KK or Star could easily be the best lineman on the DL in 2 years. Gotta look at more than just Hardy in a vacuum

With Hardy he is worth bargain basement secondary. Without Hardy we need to pay a better secondary. You are going to have to spend the money regardless.

And you keep saying could be. Kk and Star could be this or that. By the way when it comes time to sign them the RB'S and dead money will be off the books anyway. But the point is "could be" and are right now is 2 different things. Right Now Greg is the best player on the Dline and maybe on the whole defense. No question.