Were #5 in ESPN's current preseason power rankings

[gorillamilitia13]

I'm not going to lie this kinda ticks me off but I shouldn't be surprised as the media loves to hate on the Panthers. I find the Cardinals at number 2 just comical, I would love to meet them again in the playoffs so our defense can feast on Palmer again.

I was expecting their reasoning to have us at 5 would have something to do with Norman leaving, but no, this is their great analysis: 

Quote

The Panthers have a tough act to follow, after they won 15 games last season, but no team in NFL history has ever followed a 15-win season with anything less than a 10-win season.

I need to do a lot better job at not letting this stuff bother me, but it is frustrating. The media never learns.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17319873/nfl-2016-preseason-power-rankings-seattle-seahawks-arizona-cardinals-top-new-england-patriots-behind

[uncfan888]

I didn't realize there was anyone left at espn to make these lists 

[Nick_81]

2 minutes ago, gorillamilitia13 said:

I need to do a lot better job at not letting this stuff bother me, but it is frustrating. The media never learns.

Yeah, don't let it bother you.  A little bit of it is media bias, but it's mostly due to our secondary.  Can't really blame them for knocking us down a few slots, when we lost an all-pro corner, and are going to start rookies on the outside.  Mostly unproven secondary all around.

[Cary Kollins]

the Panthers outscored the #1 and #2 teams 80-39 last time they met.

 

good on ya ESPN experts

 

*editor's note: ESPN considers David Newton an expert

[billionairemonk]

[Harbingers]

That ranking is quite horrible. 

[greghardy'sAK-47]

pretty sure i saw where they had us at #1 right after the SB.  i wonder what the reasoning is to drop the panthers.  

[RoaringRiot]

8 minutes ago, greghardy'sAK-47 said:

pretty sure i saw where they had us at #1 right after the SB.  i wonder what the reasoning is to drop the panthers.  

Josh Norman's departure I'm sure

[ctrcat]

The Seahawks were forced to re-sign Tony McDaniel this week, who, like Browner, was good for them three years ago.  Repeat, three years ago.  Probably a sign that Reed and/or Hill aren't ready to be what they hoped at this point.  Losing Mebane and Irvin are huge. Alex Smith and Co. went through that D like a hot knife through butter.

[manu4t]

It is ESPN.  These are the same hard hitting journos who stated last month Trai Turner was underrated because he didnt make the Pro Bowl last year.....not to mention they keep that blustery jizzwhistle Kevin Neghandi employed.

So consider the source, and just let it go, it is not worth getting upset about.

[ctrcat]

PS-playing Jimmy Clausen twice on two different teams as the Seahawks did will help your points allowed average.

[PantherGuy]

Not sure about the general media hate. It's just ESPN. What else are they going to use to get clicks right now? Training camp basically over and the average fan doesn't care that much about the preseason. Most other places love us. 

[greghardy'sAK-47]

panthers 4-0 against three of the top four teams last season.  

[caatfan]

We have no OL.

We have no WR's.

We have no CB's.

It's always something. As fans we don't like it, but since the team feeds off disrespect, bring it on.