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What do you say to the Panther critics?


MHS831

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What do you say to the fan that criticizes the Panthers for going 7-8-1 and making the playoffs?  The fan who refers back to the blowouts and the embarrassing games earlier this season?  The heckler?  The smart-ass brother-in-law from Dallas or Seattle?

You tell the fan that it was not pretty, but we won the division despite having to climb out of Hurney’s Cap Hell Hole, created by desperation characterized by overpayment and bad drafts.  You explain that we have a ton of dead money and our $13m franchise player was not only a distraction, but he was suspended for most of the season-fully paid.  You tell them that we lost a lot of talent last year to free agency and had to again crawl through the mound of unclaimed, bargain-basement free agents, undrafted rookies, and practice squad players for starting talent.  Don’t forget to tell them how Ealy, Horton, and Addison stepped up during Alexander’s and Hardy’s long-term suspensions.  Remember how incredible it is that Thomas Davis is still playing at a high level after 3 ACL surgeries.  Tell them how we pulled a rookie LB from Florida Atlantic to start today.  Mention Fozzy Whittaker’s story before sharing his statistics of late.  Perhaps you could share Tre Boston’s injury status this season and understand why he was late to the party.  Finally, explain how difficult it was for an injured Cam Newton to produce having bad ribs, a surgically-repaired, healing ankle, and no chance to develop chemistry with his WR corps in the preseason.  And about the WR corps, explain how NONE of them were here last year.  Mention that 7 rookies started for the Panthers today.  SEVEN ROOKIES STARTED (Benjamin, Brown, Benwikere, Boston, Turner, Norwell, Glanton).  That is about a third of all starters on offense and defense.  THREE UNDRAFTED PLAYERS STARTED (Bell, Remmers, Norwell) ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE.  Finally, tell them that the Panther’s record is 0-0 with 4 to play.

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What do you say to the fan that criticizes the Panthers for going 7-8-1 and making the playoffs?  The fan who refers back to the blowouts and the embarrassing games earlier this season?  The heckler?  The smart-ass brother-in-law from Dallas or Seattle?

You tell the fan that it was not pretty, but we won the division despite having to climb out of Hurney’s Cap Hell Hole, created by desperation characterized by overpayment and bad drafts.  You explain that we have a ton of dead money and our $13m franchise player was not only a distraction, but he was suspended for most of the season-fully paid.  You tell them that we lost a lot of talent last year to free agency and had to again crawl through the mound of unclaimed, bargain-basement free agents, undrafted rookies, and practice squad players for starting talent.  Mention that, for the surge at the end of the season where this team returned to last season’s form, it was done with a third-round rookie at RG and an undrafted rookie LG.  Mention that we started a fifth-round rookie at one corner and pulled another former fifth-rounder out of the doghouse on the bench to start at the other corner.  Mention that both of our OTs were undrafted, the RT recently plucked from a mediocre team’s PS.  Mention the contributions of undrafted rookie Philly Brown at WR.  Don’t forget to tell them how Ealy, Horton, and Addison stepped up during Alexander’s and Hardy’s long-term suspensions.  Remember how incredible it is that Thomas Davis is still playing at a high level after 3 ACL surgeries.  Tell them how we pulled a rookie LB from Florida Atlantic to start today.  Mention Fozzy Whittaker’s story before sharing his statistics of late.  Perhaps you could share Tre Boston’s injury status this season and understand why he was late to the party.  Finally, explain how difficult it was for an injured Cam Newton to produce having bad ribs, a surgically-repaired, healing ankle, and no chance to develop chemistry with his WR corps in the preseason.  And about the WR corps, explain how NONE of them were here last year.  Mention that 7 rookies started for the Panthers today.  SEVEN ROOKIES STARTED (Benjamin, Brown, Benwikere, Boston, Turner, Norwell, Glanton).  That is about a third of all starters on offense and defense.  THREE UNDRAFTED PLAYERS STARTED (Bell, Remmers, Norwell) ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE.  Finally, tell them that the Panther’s record is 0-0 with 4 to play.

 

why respond we are in the playoffs.

 

 

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