Is this team in position to cut CJ this off-season? ?

[AU-panther]

CJ is tighter with JR than any other player.

He isn't going anywhere

Is that good or bad?

[TN05]

hurney needs to be drawn and quartered for giving a defensive end a contract that gives him the cap hit of a top five quarterback. 20m in 2015 is absolutely unforgivable if that's true.

The alternative was that he would go to Atlanta.

[mmmbeans]

hurney needs to be drawn and quartered for giving a defensive end a contract that gives him the cap hit of a top five quarterback. 20m in 2015 is absolutely unforgivable if that's true.

 

it was a lot but can you imagine if he'd played the last few seasons in atlanta?  

[MHS831]

They aren't proven enough to be starters or depended on carrying a defense that is based on having a pass rush..

 

Neither were Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson in their first three years here.  Good thread, by the way.  I found the question-considering Cam's deal is on the horizon then Luke's--to be rather interesting.  However, I do not see letting CJ walk, nor do I see us pursuing Greg Hardy--another topic. 

 

Ealy had 4 sacks this year--during his first 3 seasons, Johnson averaged 3.33 (10 total).  Hardy averaged 3.5 sacks per season his first 2 years.  Again, Ealy is on pace to be that good.  He will be better in year 2, in my opinion,  because there should be more opportunity.  Alexander is going to cost us $660k next season--so Ealy has veteran help on the cheap.  However, that brings me to the point--it takes at least until year three for DEs to develop, but they are expensive.  Keeping 2 studs on second contracts is ridiculously expensive.  However, we have a GM who finds talent under rocks. Maybe we can do the unthinkable.   But Gettlemen drafted Ealy for a reason--he knew he was not going long-term deal with Hardy, so I have to think he expects Ealy to be ready to start in year 2, when Hardy will be gone.  However, this season was messed up due to the Hardy legal situation.  Then Alexander got stupid.  Horton, Addison, and Ealy held down the fort.   Ealy is getting better and will be the starting RDE next year--or he and Alexander will battle for the job.  Considering how much Gettlemen was willing to pay for Hardy/CJ  for a season, he is certainly able to afford CJ next year if he has 2 or 3 cheap DEs on the other side.

CJ has been extended twice--this is where the Hurney deal really got stupid.  He was a desperate man, from all I can tell.

Just speculation, like everything else, but I like the question if you consider the financials involved in signing Cam.

[Diehardpanther02]

He may take a reduced salary too. But losing cj is to big of a risk, unless hardy is signed, which is highly unlikely.

[WOW!!]

Neither were Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson in their first three years here. Good thread, by the way. I found the question-considering Cam's deal is on the horizon then Luke's--to be rather interesting. However, I do not see letting CJ walk, nor do I see us pursuing Greg Hardy--another topic.

Ealy had 4 sacks this year--during his first 3 seasons, Johnson averaged 3.33 (10 total). Hardy averaged 3.5 sacks per season his first 2 years. Again, Ealy is on pace to be that good. He will be better in year 2, in my opinion, because there should be more opportunity. Alexander is going to cost us $660k next season--so Ealy has veteran help on the cheap. However, that brings me to the point--it takes at least until year three for DEs to develop, but they are expensive. Keeping 2 studs on second contracts is ridiculously expensive. However, we have a GM who finds talent under rocks. Maybe we can do the unthinkable. But Gettlemen drafted Ealy for a reason--he knew he was not going long-term deal with Hardy, so I have to think he expects Ealy to be ready to start in year 2, when Hardy will be gone. However, this season was messed up due to the Hardy legal situation. Then Alexander got stupid. Horton, Addison, and Ealy held down the fort. Ealy is getting better and will be the starting RDE next year--or he and Alexander will battle for the job. Considering how much Gettlemen was willing to pay for Hardy/CJ for a season, he is certainly able to afford CJ next year if he has 2 or 3 cheap DEs on the other side.

CJ has been extended twice--this is where the Hurney deal really got stupid. He was a desperate man, from all I can tell.

Just speculation, like everything else, but I like the question if you consider the financials involved in signing Cam.

Neither were starters either..

CJ first few years we had Pep and Brayton and Hardy 1st 2 years we had CJ and Brayton. . So ..... Neither were full time starters until their 3rd season. .

Addison and Horton have proven only to be rotational players at best.. Frank has a weed problem and hasn't been a full time starter ever. Who really wants to depend on him right now? And Ealy is still to young and unproven to be our best pass rusher and leader on the Dline..

That's another reason we have to keep CJ or Hardy. They both have develop into the leaders of the DLine nobody else is ready to take that mantel..

[CPantherKing]

Restructure and extend CJ a couple years to spread out the cap hit and allow him to retire a panther.

 

Yeah. Gettleman will get right on that in about never and a day.

 

If they were picked by Hurney, they are gone as soon as their contract allows for it. Gettleman does not work well with players and agents when it comes time to negotiate. Especially, if they think they are worth a good chunk of change. And word among players about the GM and coach will take care of any key free agent prospects that the Panthers may want to entertain.

 

Kony Ealy, a rookie to be named, an aging veteran no other team wants to sign, an udfa, and a young player considered a bust by most of the league will be the DEs come next season.

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Make up your mind. Are we or are we not very cap strapped in your opinion? Anyway we still have cap issues for this and next season.

What do you mean make up my mind? Lol

[heel31ok]

After QB, DE is the hardest position to get good players at. That's why Gettleman had no butterflies about taking Kony Ealy when he already had Hardy and CJ. And I'll lay good money that if the 2nd ranked DE on his draft board falls to us in the late 1st round, he'll draft that DE and sleep well that night.

 

I disagree as DE and LB seem to offer the most athletics choices year in and year out. 

 

[MHS831]

Neither were starters either..

CJ first few years we had Pep and Brayton and Hardy 1st 2 years we had CJ and Brayton. . So ..... Neither were full time starters until their 3rd season. .

Addison and Horton have proven only to be rotational players at best.. Frank has a weed problem and hasn't been a full time starter ever. Who really wants to depend on him right now? And Ealy is still to young and unproven to be our best pass rusher and leader on the Dline..

That's another reason we have to keep CJ or Hardy. They both have develop into the leaders of the DLine nobody else is ready to take that mantel..

 

I see your points, they are solid for the most part. I forgot about Brayton.  Ealy hasn't been starting either, so the comparison was fair.  In addition, playing opposite Peppers had some advantages.  Agree, you can't count on Alexander, but you might have to for a while.  I think we keep CJ on his deal and Alexander/Ealy/Addison fill out the roster.

 

I do think they will try to get Hardy on the cheap now IF he is found innocent.  Imagine getting Hardy, reworking CJs deal to add 3 years or so and save some over the next 2 seasons, and having Ealy and Alexander and Addison.  However, I can also say that GMan was not going to sign Hardy before this mess blew up, so if the issue was more than money, it could be that we don't trust him enough.

 

Either way, I think we keep CJ.

[O-Ther]

I disagree as DE and LB seem to offer the most athletics choices year in and year out. 

 

 

I agree there are plenty of good athletes at those positions. They got by on their athletic ability in college and didn't practice becoming a better PLAYER. When they come to the NFL, they realize athletics alone isn't enough. Most just come for the payday, and the ones that try to become a better PLAYER only have 1 or 2 years to learn and practice what takes 3 or 4 years of college play to learn before the next younger and faster athlete looking for a payday comes in and takes their spot. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

 

That's why it's so hard to find good PLAYERS at DE. If all it took was an athletic choice, scouts wouldn't have to watch college game film. The combine in Indianapolis would be the only thing they would need.

 

[MCC]

Yeah. Gettleman will get right on that in about never and a day.

If they were picked by Hurney, they are gone as soon as their contract allows for it. Gettleman does not work well with players and agents when it comes time to negotiate. Especially, if they think they are worth a good chunk of change. And word among players about the GM and coach will take care of any key free agent prospects that the Panthers may want to entertain.

Kony Ealy, a rookie to be named, an aging veteran no other team wants to sign, an udfa, and a young player considered a bust by most of the league will be the DEs come next season.

Lol, that's a lot of assumptions there, buddy.

[ThPantherFan]

I understand we're cap strapped per se but compared to other teams it's around the middle of the league in that regard.  We've got 20 million in dead money off the books after this year which is huge and that hindered our ability to do much just as much (maybe more so) than a handful of bloated contracts.

 

Notables on contract next season:

 

TD will get 9.9 mil

 

CJ 20 mil

 

Kalil 11 mil

 

Stewart 8.3 (He's not really cut-able)

 

DM-We owe Godfrey 3 million and Smitty 4.  

 

Those are the big ones with 5 guys accounting for around 50 million in 2015/16.  After that though, things have cleared up and most contracts are fairly reasonable.  

 

Also, no more Beason, Anderson, Gross, or Hardy sucking our money away which they accounted for 25 mil (Hardy 13 for his tag and the rest DM).  I can see DG working with Kalil, CJ, or TD on maybe a restructure if he needs some wiggle room and maybe an outside shot at a pay cut for one of them if they oblige.  

Okay, I see where you're coming from.  Makes sense.  Thanks for explaining.

[WOW!!]

I see your points, they are solid for the most part. I forgot about Brayton. Ealy hasn't been starting either, so the comparison was fair. In addition, playing opposite Peppers had some advantages. Agree, you can't count on Alexander, but you might have to for a while. I think we keep CJ on his deal and Alexander/Ealy/Addison fill out the roster.

I do think they will try to get Hardy on the cheap now IF he is found innocent. Imagine getting Hardy, reworking CJs deal to add 3 years or so and save some over the next 2 seasons, and having Ealy and Alexander and Addison. However, I can also say that GMan was not going to sign Hardy before this mess blew up, so if the issue was more than money, it could be that we don't trust him enough.

Either way, I think we keep CJ.

Agreed. ..