Panthers sign C/G Gino Gradkowski

[jdpanther5]

 

[Ricky Spanish]

Huh...

Yay?

 

Originally drafted by the ravens so he's a Matsko guy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino_Gradkowski

[DelhommesTheMan]

There's our insurance for Kalil next year.  We will be targeting a Center in the draft also mark it down.

[Captain Morgan]

Joe Person ‏@josephperson  59s60 seconds ago

Panthers sign free agent OL Gino Gradkowski to 3-yr deal. Veteran will back up C Ryan Kalil.

 

 

3 year deal, we must like him

 

[TylerVagyler]

He's solid depth 

[Mr. Scot]

Good depth signing.

[CWORS]

Good signing by DG... If I remember correctly he started for the Ravens a couple years back and was then traded to the Broncos. Back up with starting experience!!!

[jdpanther5]

"The Broncos waived him in the final roster cutdown and the Falcons claimed him ahead of the Panthers on the waiver wire."

Gradkowski started at both guard spots and at center in Atlanta and should provide depth at all of those positions behind Pro Bowl center Ryan Kaliland established guards Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell. Fernando Velasco, who filled that role for the Panthers the past two seasons, became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday.

'He gives us depth at center and guard," head coach Ron Rivera said. "You feel very secure that if something were to happen, you can plug him in and not lose everything. It's very much like with Fernando last year when something happened with Kalil, he had to come in and start the Indianapolis game. We believe that's what Gradkowski can do for us.'"

 

So a Velasco/Silatolu replacement. Didn't realize he was with the Falcons, Gettleman again going after division-rival FAs.

[Bartin]

Needed to get backup interior OL. Can probably assume this means Amini is definitely gone and probably that we don't have plans to bring back Velasco.

[Moose Hoover]

Ravens 4th rounder in 2012

[Byrdman4real]

Needed a reliable backup. Good pick up

[Bartin]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I'm almost positive we brought him in for a visit at some point last year or at least we were linked to him before he signed a 1 year deal with the Falcons.

EDIT: I'm definitely wrong about this by the way

[Jmac]

1 minute ago, Haplo E said:

Boring! Let me know when we sign Wallace.

Don't  hold thy breath

[Sam Mills Fan]

1 minute ago, TylerVagyler said:

He's solid depth 

While you're probably not wrong, I always laugh when this is literally posted in every single thread announcing a backup's signing on the Huddle:

 

"Solid depth"

"Good pickup"

"I like him"

"Savvy veteran"

"Smart move"