Panthers and Lying Season

[London Loves Luke]

Great article by Matt Bowen on Bleacher Report about how teams manipulate each others' expectations with pre-draft visits and false injury/character leaks to the press.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2440775-the-lying-season-who-and-what-can-we-really-believe-on-draft-week

 

"They don't call it the 'lying season' for nothing," said NFL agent JackBechta. "In today's Internet age of competition for content, a faint whisper or speculation can turn into a roar of headlines. And agents are working those thirsty for content to promote our clients."

Maybe it's an area scout who is willing to talk (anonymously) at this point of the draft process. He might not have the same grade on a player as the team or the general manager does, but it's still usable information to flood the market with.  

According to Hatman, this chess match of information between teams starts early in the draft process. Every NFL club starts to track the 30pre-draft visits for each team, along with the private workouts, to develop a "team needs" list. This allows them to identify the position groups opposing teams are targeting in the draft. For example, if a team brings in multiple wide receivers, there is a good chance it will invest in the position at some point early in the draft. However, Hatman also said those same teams will put out smoke screens on specific players. Think of a team that needs to upgrade the running back position, and Miami's Duke Johnson, for example, is near the top of its board. In order to throw teams off, it could bring Johnson in on a visit, along with Indiana's Tevin Coleman. The idea is to create the impression among opponents that the team is considering many options, when really the organization wants Johnson.

 

Based on the last two drafts Star's "diagnosed" heart issues in Feb and KBs "refusal" to meet with some teams before the draft, should we be paying more attention to players who's stock has been falling in the last few weeks?

Jaelan Strong and his hand injury, TJ Clemmings with his foot problems, Landon Collins and Shq Thompson being called "overrated" by some analysts; they've all seen their stock fall in the last few weeks.

 

Judging from our history and Gman's draft success with Star and KB - I think there's no accidents here with Gman, he's playing the game. And winning. 

[Mr. Scot]

That's a pretty good piece, but I have to admit I was struck funny by "Hatman".

"Da da da da da da da da, HATMAN!"

[London Loves Luke]

That's a pretty good piece, but I have to admit I was struck funny by "Hatman".

"Da da da da da da da da, HATMAN!"

 

Who knew - there's actually a legitimate supervillian called Hatman.

 

On the other hand this Hatman seems to be a legitimate authority when it comes to scouting and draft tactics: 

 

 

 

Dan Hatman, a former pro scout for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and New York Giants and current director of ScoutingAcademy.com

[Mr. Scot]

Funny.

It's a good article.

[Bartin]

Do people actually think Star's heart issue was fabricated? Because that was very real. You don't get sent home from the combine because of a fabricated rumor and I'd imagine that he probably wouldn't like it for people to think one of the scariest moments of his life was something made up to trash his draft stock. His entire career probably flashed before his eyes when that EKG test came back.

[Mr. Scot]

Do people actually think Star's heart issue was fabricated? Because that was very real. You don't get sent home from the combine because of a fabricated rumor and I'd imagine that he probably wouldn't like it for people to think one of the scariest moments of his life was something made up to trash his draft stock. His entire career probably flashed before his eyes when that EKG test came back.

Absolutely not fabricated.

Could its severity have been exaggerated in pre-draft chatter, though?

Definitely possible.

[thunderraiden]

Absolutely not fabricated.

Could its severity have been exaggerated in pre-draft chatter, though?

Definitely possible.

 

It was definitely exaggerated. Everyone at the time said it was a false positive and yet people still talked about it. Oh well *sips tea* we have him now.

[London Loves Luke]

Absolutely not fabricated.

Could its severity have been exaggerated in pre-draft chatter, though?

Definitely possible.

 

I was a bit hazy remembering the details about Star's condition, I remember him beasting the pro day and analysts being split on the severity of his heart condition. Some massively overplayed its importance and others thought it was a non-factor. 

 

Could Carolina's scouts/doctors have been among those overplaying his injury to support his slide? this article and Gman's comments suggest that could well have been the case. 

[Bartin]

Absolutely not fabricated.

Could its severity have been exaggerated in pre-draft chatter, though?

Definitely possible.

 

I actually don't remember much of that once it was determined that it was a non-issue but a heart issue for professional athletes is definitely a cause for concern and I definitely wouldn't blame any team for taking him off their board purely based on the small chance that it wasn't a non-issue. If it resurfaced at any point after drafting him it probably ends his career immediately. It seems like the most no-brainer pick of all time in hindsight but in reality we took a pretty big gamble when we drafted him in the 1st.

[London Loves Luke]

I actually don't remember much of that once it was determined that it was a non-issue but a heart issue for professional athletes is definitely a cause for concern and I definitely wouldn't blame any team for taking him off their board purely based on the small chance that it wasn't a non-issue. If it resurfaced at any point after drafting him it probably ends his career immediately. It seems like the most no-brainer pick of all time in hindsight but in reality we took a pretty big gamble when we drafted him in the 1st.

 

My point is that I don't believe it was a gamble, I don't think Gman is in the business of gambling with first round picks at all. I honestly think we knew this wasn't a gamble and had done enough medical due diligence to ensure this was the case. I also believe that we may have done some behind the scenes manipulating to convince other people that it was a gamble. This is why I think Gman is coming out on top in more ways than one in his draft tactics. 

[Chaos]

[Growl]

Honestly I don't think Gettleman is really involved in the semantics process. We've been pretty straight forward with who were intent on picking in terms of needs and pre draft workouts and such. Gettleman was even openly briefly discussing his fondness of Kawann Short in an interview before the draft a few years ago if I remember correctly. I don't think we really smokescreen.

[Kuech the Sneak]

Landon collins