The Revenge of the Lousy Organization

[Mr. Scot]

"They're a lousy organization and they're gonna have a lousy season."

- Gregg Rosenthal, September 2015

 

Today on NFL.com, Gregg Rosenthal writes about how the Panthers built their Super Bowl team.

How the Carolina Panthers were built

This Panthers team is ahead of schedule. They weren't necessarily supposed to make the Divisional Round in 2013 or 2014. Even after that success, most preseason prognostications had them as a below-average team following Benjamin's injury. (Whoops.) Gettleman saw value where others did not, and now he oversees a team in great salary cap shape, positioned to take full advantage of Cam Newton's prime. This is only the beginning.

In the above paragraph, Rosenthal links to his own season preview, where he wrote this:

Cam Newton is at once unfairly maligned and not good enough. People don't give him credit for being an above average starter that improves the mediocre talent around him. But Newton is also not a transcendent, top-five, MVP-candidate type of quarterback yet. And that's what will be required to put up points with this group.

His No. 1 receiver is the artist formerly known as Philly Brown. His No. 2 receiver is a rookie (Devin Funchess) that many scouts should play tight end. The offensive line is just as shaky beyond center Ryan Kalil, with Oher a major concern for Newton on the blind side. You could argue Newton has less help around him than any quarterback in the NFL.

This would all be lessened if the Panthers could win with scheme, but offensive coordinator Mike Shula is another ankle weight for Newton. This Panthers offense is going to need Newton to run more, improvise more, and rely more on a resurgent Jonathan Stewart. That's not how to build a consistent offense.

What we'll be saying in February

We'll be saying that the Panthers couldn't win playing 1970's football. Everyone else will be blaming Newton.

Predicted finish: No. 3 in NFC South, No. 11 in the NFC, No. 22 overall in Around the NFL's Power Poll

Heh :)

[CarolinaXblue]

Eat a fuging dick. They literally did everything he said they'd need to to win. Including the MVP type season.

[Mr. Scot]

I think Rosenthal gets that he looks pretty stupid right now (hence, "whoops").

I'll give him credit that at least he's accepting that he was wrong instead of doing some kind of weird logical gymnastics (like so many others have) trying to prove that, despite what happened, somehow they were still right anyway.

[Davidson Deac II]

I understand why most would not pick us to go to the SB.  Most of our own fans probably wouldn't have picked us as a SB favorite this year.  I certainly didn't.  But the 3rd place prediction was ludicrous.  We are in a division with Tampa (rookie qb), the Saints (no defense) and Atlanta (unproven coach). 

[Johnny Fever]

I clicked because I thought maybe this was about Atlanta giving us our one loss. But, it was even better than that. Thanks...

[mwright350]

I really enjoy reading pieces like this from guys who predicted us to be terribadawful.  

I mean really I rabidly consume most stuff about the team even if it's an embarrassment to journalism but these sort of things particularly put a smile on my face.

Anything can happen in the NFL from season to season but the light sure seems pretty bright in Charlotte right now. 

[TheWiz]

Its one thing to say that we're not going to win because of X,Y, & Z... 

But to say that we're a "lousy organization," .... Based upon what? 

The fact that someone gets paid to say this kind of stuff really makes me wish we didnt drop that game to Atlanta.

The bias against Carolina is not just against Cam. This franchise has been disrespected, and overlooked for years. All of our accomplishments have always been attributed to someone else failing instead of our success. 

There's a small market bias. A regional bias.... being in the south. Even to the point where other fan bases disrespect Panther fans in our own stadium. Age bias... because we've only been existence since 1995. 

I don't believe these guys need anymore motivation... but if you're looking for something to bring out that extra venom in them, this is it. 

[PntherPryd]

I expect there to be a lot of "mea culpa's" on Cam and the Panthers.  Here is one from MMQB Andy Benoit , film watcher extraordinaire (just ask him) and the last person I thought would admit he was wrong.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/02/02/mmqb-andy-benoit-admits-wrong-about-cam-newton-super-bowl-50

OK, OK—I was wrong about Cam Newton. Way wrong. He’s played up to and beyond the megacontract he signed last year, his four seasons of promise and development paying off in an MVP season for the Panthers. 

This NFL season has brought me a steady stream of angry tweets/comments/e-mails from Panthers fans. Understandably so. In June, I wrote:

I think the Panthers will come to realize (if they don’t already) that they overpaid for Cam Newton. 

 

And then he goes on to credit Cam's "Football IQ" for his growth.  Good article.

 

[KB_fan]

Gregg Rosenthal was one of the earlier guys to own up to his wrong assessment.  So props for that.  But it is funny to re-read his prediction now

At the time the preview was done, if I recall correctly, they quickly pulled the video with the "lousy organization" comment, replacing it with a new, less inflammatory preview (after loads of outraged comments!), realizing it went WAY too far.  It still really surprises me that the "lousy organization" version got published at all.  It almost seemed personal, as if someone in the Panthers had offended the NFL.com guys.

[ctrcat]

George Washington called Charlotte a trifling place.  FUG U George.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

In fairness, he did outline what would need to happen in order for the Panthers to be contenders without KB. He was just wrong in saying that it wouldn't happen :)

[Paa Langfart]

Quote

Gettleman isn't afraid to believe in players who were not well-loved elsewhere. Kurt Coleman went from a punchline in Philadelphia to a key contributor in Carolina. Ted Ginn was a bust as a top-10 pick in Miami and didn't last in San Francisco, but he was one of the most effective players in the NFC Championship Game for Carolina. Cortland Finnegan was out of the league until he was signed to play big playoff snaps followingCharles Tillman's season-ending surgery.

This team needs to get G Man that ring.

[Nomad82]

20 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Gregg Rosenthal was one of the earlier guys to own up to his wrong assessment.  So props for that.  But it is funny to re-read his prediction now

At the time the preview was done, if I recall correctly, they quickly pulled the video with the "lousy organization" comment, replacing it with a new, less inflammatory preview (after loads of outraged comments!), realizing it went WAY too far.  It still really surprises me that the "lousy organization" version got published at all.  It almost seemed personal, as if someone in the Panthers had offended the NFL.com guys.

Like someone else said, it's a regional bias. I see it all the time with my MLB team..and they've been around for 100+ years and are the most accomplished franchise not named the N.Y. Yankees in that sport. Don't take it personally. Enjoy the black hat.

[pantherj]

Making the enemies of the Panthers franchise look like fools is so sweet. All the Panthers haters really took an epic beating this season. I'm so pleased that they didn't get away with their attacks this season. Now comes the final blow: