A peek into the Panthers philosophy (re: trades)

[Mr. Scot]

Via Joe Menzer...
 

When both Gilbert and Lewis failed to live up to expectations, the whole sequence of events became a case study for why teams need to be careful when dealing draft picks for players. It's also something that doesn't occur nearly as much as it used to in the NFL these days, perhaps at least in part due to this cautionary tale.

 

"You'll still see it, just not as often," said Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman.

 

Former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney, now part-owner of a radio station and co-host of a national radio show, agrees.

 

"I think teams have learned, and every year teams have gotten better at managing the salary cap," said Hurney, who worked as one of the league's first salary-cap experts for the San Diego Chargers before coming to Carolina in 1998 and becoming general manager in 2002 - a position he held until midway through the 2012 season. "And the best way to manage the salary cap is to accumulate draft picks and then hit on those draft picks. Because those are players who you know you have for three, four or five years.

 

"So I think that there are a lot of teams that are probably still willing to trade players for draft picks but I don't think there are many teams who really get excited about trading draft picks for players."

 

Picks for players?

 

So basically, those who regularly throw out 'trade picks for this guy' ideas are probably wasting their time.

[Montsta]

Seeing the words "Marty Hurney" and "Salary Cap Expert" in the same sentence make me want to put my head through a brick wall.

[Moorgan]

Yeah just read that too. I think you see it a lot less now a days like they said. But there are some. The Saints got a few picks this off season. And one must assume Jimmy Graham will work out for the Seahawks. But in general I think most teams look at draft picks this way.

 

On a side note, this is exactly how I do it Madden. (I know Madden is not real) But I rarely sign guys beyond their second deal. They just aren't worth the money and I always hit in the draft. I even had to end up letting Luke walk at age 36 because he just wouldn't retire. The only cap problem I run into is having too many picks.

[Mr. Scot]

By the way, I'm not sure how many folks remember Joe Menzer, but he used to be a beat writer for a paper in the region (I'm thinking Raleigh) who covered the Panthers.  He also authored a really good book about the team's expansion year.

 

This is the second article he's recently written for the team site.  The first can be found here: Second Round Success

[Mr. Scot]

Seeing the words "Marty Hurney" and "Salary Cap Expert" in the same sentence make me want to put my head through a brick wall.

 

To be fair, it does sound like he may have learned from his mistakes.

 

[csx]

Seeing the words "Marty Hurney" and "Salary Cap Expert" in the same sentence make me want to put my head through a brick wall.

 

He was considered pretty good at it for a while. I think he got too personally attached to his guys and lost whatever edge is needed. That and he was never really a player evaluation type of GM.

[hepcat]

To be fair, it does sound like he may have learned from his mistakes.

 

 

Hurney honestly got worse at his job as he went along.  We have no players left from the 2009 or 2010 draft, and one player from the 2011 draft (Cam).  Throw in the ridiculous contracts he doled out it's no surprise he "learned from his mistakes"

[O-Ther]

To be fair, it does sound like he may have learned from his mistakes.

 

 

When I think about Hurney, I feel like the college, the players, and the fans that got left holding the bag when the coach who broke the rules quits and leaves town while the NCAA punishes everyone left behind.

 

Hurney screwed us over and we're just now starting to get out of the hole while he's getting promoted in his new gig. Fug that guy. That's my opinion, and it ain't changing.

[Mr. Scot]

Hurney honestly got worse at his job as he went along.  We have no players left from the 2009 or 2010 draft, and one player from the 2011 draft (Cam).  Throw in the ridiculous contracts he doled out it's no surprise he "learned from his mistakes"

 

Joining the media is a great way to rehab your reputation.

 

Heck, just look at how many people think Jon Gruden would make a great head coach now.

[hepcat]

Joining the media is a great way to rehab your reputation.

 

Heck, just look at how many people think Jon Gruden would make a great head coach now.

 

In his defense though I think the Bucs would do anything to go back in time and not fire him.

[Moorgan]

I liked Gruden as a coach. I hated the Bucs and him with them but I always thought he was a good coach. Well at lest I thought he had a good football mind. I don't know about his leadership skills. I guess that's the difference.

[Mr. Scot]

In his defense though I think the Bucs would do anything to go back in time and not fire him.

 

He was fired because a bunch of players went into the front office and said they'd quit rather than play for him anymore.

 

(and to be honest, they weren't really doing that great with him in charge)

 

I don't think firing Gruden was a mistake.

 

Hiring Raheem Morris, Greg Schiano and maybe Lovie Smith, on the other hand...

 

(especially Schiano)

[hepcat]

He was fired because a bunch of players went into the front office and said they'd quit rather than play for him anymore.

 

(and to be honest, they weren't really doing that great with him in charge)

 

I don't think firing Gruden was a mistake.

 

Hiring Raheem Morris, Greg Schiano and maybe Lovie Smith, on the other hand...

 

(especially Schiano)

 

Yea and honestly they should have booted those players right out the door because look at how they've fared the next 7 years...zero playoff appearances, one winning season.  Oh well.  

 

Jury is definitely still out on Lovie.  He inherited a terrible team but they've got some talent so if Winston pans out he could end up being a decent hire.  But obviously as a Panthers fan I'm fine with them remaining in the NFC South cellar for another decade.

[LinvilleGorge]

I feel like Hurney wanted to stay true to the philosophy he discussed, he just drafted so poorly past the first round that he was forced to get himself into trouble cap-wise trying to assemble a roster.  In his final years, he was purely grasping at straws and really got us in a bind.