Thinking back to previous offseasons...

[Mr. Scot]

...how many times do you remember hearing of the Panthers being interested in a player before you heard the news that we had signed him?

Did you see it ahead of time or was it generally a case of "Wow, I didn't even know we were talking to him"?

[OldNorthPowell]

3 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

...how many times do you remember hearing of the Panthers being interested in a player before you heard the news that we had signed him?

Did you see it ahead of time or was it generally a case of "Wow, I didn't even know we were talking to him"?

Usually we would see that a player was visiting but if we did not hear this it came as a surprise. I could be wrong but that is how I got the news.

[Bartin]

Usually the FAs we have signed aren't the type of guys that merit a report that a team has interest, but last year Oher, Ginn and Tillman were all reported prior to signing though that had more to do with the fact that they visited. I think there was a Coleman interest rumor as well. We've never even signed a day 1 or 2 UFA under Gettleman though so I don't know how much can be gleaned from previous years because we've never had the cap space to even consider signing some of those guys like we do now. If we do sign anyone today or tomorrow and I don't think we will I fully expect it to be the "out of nowhere" variety.

[Bartin]

3 minutes ago, OldNorthPowell said:

Usually we would see that a player was visiting but if we did not hear this it came as a surprise. I could be wrong but that is how I got the news.

That's how I remember it. Since all of our signings have been after the initial rush, they actually take visits since they can and those usually get reported when they happen and before the signing.

[Zaximus]

Something like Weddle may be a done deal and he isn't talking to anyone else.  Who knows.

[Ship]

yeah i feel like Weddle is a player who would be reported on a little bit more and hasn't been.

[Captain Morgan]

I remember last year seeing tweets from Ricky about visiting so many pro days, but it seems quiet this year.  Gettycat has always been tight lipped though

[Mr. Scot]

How much of what we don't hear is attributable to a tight-lipped organization and how much is on the beat writers?

[t96]

3 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

How much of what we don't hear is attributable to a tight-lipped organization and how much is on the beat writers?

More on the team since in general free agency like this and with agents always putting stuff out there, there's more coverage than just our beat writers. Our reporters are terrible though.

[Peppers90 NC]

people still thinking Weddle huh?

[Mr. Scot]

So, anyone read or heard the words "Panthers interested in / talking to / visiting with Gino Gradkowski" in the last few days?

No?

That's kinda what I'm talking about.

[Bartin]

10 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

So, anyone read or heard the words "Panthers interested in / talking to / visiting with Gino Gradkowski" in the last few days?

No?

That's kinda what I'm talking about.

Well yeah because no one cares enough about Gradkowski enough to even report on it. Don't think it has anything to do with the team or beat writers in his case. Agents are the ones who leak interest rumors. There's basically zero incentive for a team to do so unless they are trying to play him against another guy they are signing.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, Bartin said:

Well yeah because no one cares enough about Gradkowski enough to even report on it. Don't think it has anything to do with the team or beat writers in his case. Agents are the ones who leak interest rumors. There's basically zero incentive for a team to do so unless they are trying to play him against another guy they are signing.

Isn't that kind of the beat writer's job, though?

Heck, Aaron Wilson can tell you who's visiting anywhere, even though he really only reports on the Texans.

[Bartin]

4 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Isn't that kind of the beat writer's job, though?

Heck, Aaron Wilson can tell you who's visiting anywhere, even though he really only reports on the Texans.

Aaron Wilson is not a normal beat writer and yes ours are terrible, but the Jags have a loose lipped organization and no one heard anything about them talking to Nortman until the deal was reached because no one cares about guys who don't move the needle right now.