Sobering Read: Cam Newton, Panthers paying heavy price for Moneyball-like approach

[UNCrules2187]

Quote

 

In the eyes of the Panthers, Norman was an imperfect match. He lacked elite speed. He had a colorful disposition and attitude. He was expensive. At the end of the day, the argument was they couldn’t give a player like that a franchise cornerback deal. So the Panthers and Gettleman deemed Norman expendable and saw other ways to use his salary slot. They let him go and then extended offensive tackle Michael Oher. They tried (and failed) to get a long-term deal done with Kawann Short. Mostly, they planned for the future – 2017, 2018, 2019 – because in Gettleman’s book, you can’t deviate from the long-term outlook.

But the Panthers should be built to consistently contend for the Super Bowl right now. And teams sometimes have to sacrifice a little down the road to maximize a championship window in the immediate future. After all, what’s the use of stretching out a Super Bowl window if you don’t occasionally take an over-the-top shot to win a title within it?

The Panthers could have taken some more shots this offseason. They could have made a few more moves, spent a few more millions, and not left anyone second-guessing about the imperfections that are becoming more apparent on the roster. Instead Carolina is grappling with this: A 1-3 team that is looking like an inconsistent facsimile of the Super Bowl edition; a pair of subpar offensive tackles; a thin and mediocre set of running backs; a franchise quarterback in Cam Newton who is getting hammered; and a defensive secondary that is seemingly only as good as the front seven makes it.

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Ask other pro personnel evaluators about Oher, who was out with a concussion Sunday. What they tell you is this: He’s a mediocre player who is viewed by the Panthers as serviceable largely because he doesn’t require an elite left tackle salary. He is cost-efficient. Sound familiar? And right tackle Mike Remmers, who filled in for Oher on Sunday? One personnel evaluator told Yahoo Sports on Sunday that Remmers likely wouldn’t be a starting tackle for most other NFL teams.

That’s what is protecting the franchise quarterback and defending league MVP. A cost-efficient but mediocre left tackle. A right tackle who is viewed elsewhere as a backup. Meanwhile, the running back depth behind the oft-injured Jonathan Stewart continues to be the less-than-inspired duo of Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne. The defensive front seven has its own brand of problems, too – with few impact edge rushers to speak of.

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It all boils down to this: What’s more important right now – the Panthers’ $19 million in cap space and expanding the Super Bowl window, or the beating being absorbed by Newton, which risks the entire championship opportunity in 2016 and beyond.

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cam-newton-panthers-paying-heavy-price-for-moneyball-like-approach-233823369.html

[CPantherKing]

I assure you I did not write this article even though many would believe I did.

I do concur. 

[TylerDurden]

Yup, that whole "long-term outlook" is a crock.  Your window is only as open for as long as you have players that you can win it with.  We have a franchise QB/league MVP and a cornerstone LB corps.  We should be making moves like there is no tomorrow.  As much as I hate the Broncos, what they did after they lost to the Seahawks is the blueprint.  But, hey...  we have money and stuff.

[Yaboychris28]

pretty accurate. Our roster is lacking talent in almost all areas, but our gm thought it was smart to get rid of our best db and replace him with average rookie cbs. A long with that drafting a 3rd string d-tackle in the first round who hasn't made much impact

[CarolinaNut]

too long has gettleman used stop gaps and ignored finding long term solutions at key positions..it's biting him in the butt so far this season

[Riverboat Ron]

What if Gettleman is tanking on purpose to set up free agency next year with cap and drafts Myles Garrett...

[pstall]

Who are the high profile or guys that will demand big money next year that will be free agents?

I think the bargain basement deals worked last year but that's not always the case each year.

Of course the 1st quarter of the season shows all the glaring holes.

[Bartin]

Just now, Riverboat Ron said:

What if Gettleman is tanking on purpose to set up free agency next year with cap and drafts Myles Garrett...

Then he should be fired. Immediately.

[Yaboychris28]

1 minute ago, Riverboat Ron said:

What if Gettleman is tanking on purpose to set up free agency next year with cap and drafts Myles Garrett...

No team would even think about tanking after going to the super bowl

[Riverboat Ron]

Just now, Yaboychris28 said:

No team would even think about tanking after going to the super bowl

Gettlemagic!

[TylerDurden]

Yeah, football is not like basketball.  There should never be a team that intentionally sets out to tank an entire season from day one.  In football, because of the physicality, your window could be shut in the same season it opened.  

That's the thing that frustrates me the most about our "off years."  That is an entire season wasted, and it's not like this year had to be.  Everyone knew our weaknesses and where we should improve, but we did literally almost nothing.

[KillerKat]

The more I keep thinking of Gettleman's inaction this offseason, the angrier I get.

[panthers55]

It didn't have to be an either or decision. Some of the guys you sign long term like Norman and Short not only help you win now but teach the younger guys the subtleties of the position and make them better. You can both ensure the present while still keeping your eye on the long term window. It isn't like we are killing the cap and our future to win now

 With the dead money we are gaining, the inevitable increase in the salary cap and the fact that long term contracts are usually friendly until year 3 at least, there was no reason not to extend Norman and Short. Overall contract amounts are easily manipulated. The guaranteed amounts are the only big issues. Norman I suspect would have been reasonable after firing his agent and trying to come back here.

Gettleman was trying to show he is the boss a Nd right now it is biting him in the ass. But don't worry the rookies will look better by week 10 or so. That is what happens with rookies. In the meantime I told you without vet help we were going to get abused early in the secondary. So much for all the toys training camp report about how great the rookies looked.

[Growl]

for years posters have pointed out that the teams with the most cap space in the league are it's perennial losers (me being the most vocal and grating of the bunch)

 

rodeo posted the list of the teams in the league with the most space, and sure enough, the panthers are right up there with a bunch of other bad teams.

 

The NFL is the ultimate Pay-To-See-It sport. If you want to be good, you have to spend money. 

Instead this team has aimed for cap-championships, while the fan base has lauded and encouraged them on for doing it under the delusion that having lots of cap space is a good thing.