The Panthers have literally not signed a big-time free agent since 1998

[TN05]

Brentson Bucker (2001) - Came off a 7-sack season with San Francisco. Big-name signing.

Stephen Davis (2003) - Two years off of leading the league in rushes, and four off of leading in touchdowns, and was on pace for 1,100 the year before signing.

Mike Wahle (2005) - Longtime Green Bay starter. Big signing.

Ken Lucas (2005) - Came off of a six-interception season. Big signing.

Keyshawn Johnson (2006) - Not a big player, but a big name possession receiver.
Justin Hartwig (2006) - Big-name center from a big team (Pittsburgh).

 

That's six off the top of my head. We probably had a few more.

[The Huddler]

We did pay big time!

To our own players!!

[Cary Kollins]

All that matters is the team has made the playoffs the past two seasons and the franchise is trending upward. I could care less about anything else.

[Germy Ego]

Overall Hurney was a good GM. Don't let the last 2-3 years fool you.

 

ehh

[X-Clown]

Reggie white, Eric Swann, Chuck Smith

[Mr. Scot]

Ma'ake Kemoeatu was highly sought after too.

[MHS831]

Overall Hurney was a good GM. Don't let the last 2-3 years fool you.

 

I see both sides- he did some good things, but he was, for most of his tenure, riding on players already here.  For example, how good was he at bringing in WR talent?  Moose and SS were here already, but when moose went to Chicago, how did Marty respond?.  DT? Jenkins left, and what was the plan then?   RG?  S?  Did we ever have one? QB (before Cam).  He was once considered a tough negotiator, a pioneer when it came to contracts (Beason, for example). However, when we needed him to replace the existing pillars of the team that were aging out, he sucked.  Giving Jake the HUGE contract when nobody else wanted Jake after Tommy John surgery was the first sign of his ineptitude and desperation.  Then came his downfall, but he was struggling before.  Just my opinion, but Hurney was dumb in free agency, if you ask me.  Evans was a good one, Lucas OK.   However, most were busts.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Brentson Bucker (2001) - Came off a 7-sack season with San Francisco. Big-name signing.

Stephen Davis (2003) - Two years off of leading the league in rushes, and four off of leading in touchdowns, and was on pace for 1,100 the year before signing.

Mike Wahle (2005) - Longtime Green Bay starter. Big signing.

Ken Lucas (2005) - Came off of a six-interception season. Big signing.

Keyshawn Johnson (2006) - Not a big player, but a big name possession receiver.

Justin Hartwig (2006) - Big-name center from a big team (Pittsburgh).

 

That's six off the top of my head. We probably had a few more.

 

Okay people like to play the semantics game, I forgot. Even if I concede this list (which I mainly don't, only big ones here were Stephen Davis and Mike Wahle), 2006 was still NINE years ago.

[MGH1989]

Whale and Lucas were pretty big at the time, so was Kemo in 2005.

[Matthias]

We brought in Keyshawn Johnson.  He was supposed to be Shaq to Smitty's Kobe.

[KendrickPanther]

Maybe we should have paid Suh 114 million. He can play QB right?

[NanceUSMC]

If we're going to be fair, JStew was a big name FA...  DWill, Johnson, Hardy, Smith, Gross, etc...

[Mr. Scot]

Overall Hurney was a good GM. Don't let the last 2-3 years fool you.

Hurney managed three winning seasons out of eleven years in charge and put us in a cap hell that we're still trying to fix.

He was not a good GM.

[Everfrost]

Sure they have member chuck smith wasn't that a great signing in 2000