Parting Words of Wisdom from Peanut Tillman

[KB_fan]

When I set up my PanthersFan_inAfrica twitter account a few weeks ago, Peanut Tillman was one of the first players I followed (after Cam, Luke, TD and Greg, of course...).  I was hoping against hope he'd wind back in a Panthers uni for 2016.

Alas, it's not to be.

But wow... reading through all of his post-retirement tweets in my timeline this morning is amazing.  The guy is so special, so humble, so committed to mentoring and encouraging others.

Here are a few of my favorites.  If you have time browse them for yourself:

https://twitter.com/peanuttillman

 

In response to many Panthers fans pleas that he come back to Carolina as a coach...., including this one:

You know, the #Panthers could probably use another assistant secondary coach to coach up their rookie CBs... *wink* *wink* @peanuttillman

Encouragement to younger players...

Shaq tweeted this:

Peanut's reply:

 

Respect to archrivals:

 

Wonderful Humor:

 

And a heartfelt thanks and #Keep Pounding Exhortation in response to Panthers' well wishes:

 

 

 

 

 

[caatfan]

Good stuff. I wish he was ten years younger, but at least he went out as a Panther. 

[Jeremy Igo]

Special guy. Really wish he would just hang out in the locker room and on the sidelines this year. 

[Dunn]

I feel as if he really wanted to come back this year and the panthers told him otherwise.  The one tweet that stuck out was Kalil's.  

Wish we were teammates longer. Congrats on an amazing career @peanuttillman Photo Credit:@ryankalil

 

to which Peanut replied "Me too...thanks'

I could be reading too much into it, but I think he was really wanting back in, and it just didn't fit in the plans sadly.  Great player that I wish we had a few more years.

[nctarheel0619]

5 minutes ago, Dunn said:

I feel as if he really wanted to come back this year and the panthers told him otherwise.  The one tweet that stuck out was Kalil's.  

Wish we were teammates longer. Congrats on an amazing career @peanuttillman Photo Credit:@ryankalil

 

to which Peanut replied "Me too...thanks'

I could be reading too much into it, but I think he was really wanting back in, and it just didn't fit in the plans sadly.  Great player that I wish we had a few more years.

Yeah, you didn't read much into it at all.

He literally came out a month or two ago, stating the only team he wanted to comeback and play for was the Carolina Panthers.  

He probably was a little perturbed we chose a bunch of rookies over him, but hey, that's the lay of the land.   

[Devil Doc]

Didn't we kinda know this already... Considering Zack Sanchez is number 31?

[Nick_81]

31 minutes ago, nctarheel0619 said:

He probably was a little perturbed we chose a bunch of rookies over him, but hey, that's the lay of the land.   

He completely tore his ACL on January 3rd.  If he was able to come back at all, it would be November at the earliest, and that may be pushing it.  He has no reason to be upset that we got those guys.

[nctarheel0619]

37 minutes ago, Nick_81 said:

He completely tore his ACL on January 3rd.  If he was able to come back at all, it would be November at the earliest, and that may be pushing it.  He has no reason to be upset that we got those guys.

All I'm going to say is that if these rookies aren't good, and aren't good quick.  Gettlemen will look really, really, stupid.  

[Nick_81]

Just now, nctarheel0619 said:

All I'm going to say is that if these rookies aren't good, and aren't good quick.  Gettlemen will look really, really, stupid.  

Maybe, but it won't have anything to do with Tillman.

[Servant of Cthululelei]

I've been of the opinion for quite some time that if we picked up Tillman for this season, he would be a mid-season pickup.  There's just no reason to use a roster spot on him while he's not healthy - no other team is gonna do it either, so even if he hadn't outright said he wouldn't play for anyone else, he would still have been available mid-season.

And I'm just sayin here...if crazy circumstances arise and we find ourselves in desperate need this season, I wouldn't be shocked to see Tillman rescind his retirement for another shot at a ring. 

[nctarheel0619]

6 minutes ago, Nick_81 said:

Maybe, but it won't have anything to do with Tillman.

Fair enough, but a veteran that knows what he's doing back there couldn't hurt right now.  

[Nick_81]

Just now, nctarheel0619 said:

Fair enough, but a veteran that knows what he's doing back there couldn't hurt right now.  

I'm all for a veteran, and I wish it could be Tillman.  The timeline of his injury - recovery, would put his return late in the season, unfortunately.  That's why I don't feel like he would have any hard feelings about picking up the rookies, or that they were chosen over him.  There wasn't really much of a choice at the time, due to that, and other circumstances.  

[CatMan72]

16 minutes ago, Nick_81 said:

I'm all for a veteran, and I wish it could be Tillman.  The timeline of his injury - recovery, would put his return late in the season, unfortunately.  That's why I don't feel like he would have any hard feelings about picking up the rookies, or that they were chosen over him.  There wasn't really much of a choice at the time, due to that, and other circumstances.  

And then you have the matter of Tillman staying healthy once he returns, he hasn't been able to make it through a whole season without significant injury the last couple of years.

[shaqattaq]

45 minutes ago, CatMan72 said:

And then you have the matter of Tillman staying healthy once he returns, he hasn't been able to make it through a whole season without significant injury the last couple of years.

It wouldn't be a whole season, just Dec, Jan and Feb of course! 

He may be back yet.