Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Hurney is in an unenviable position in some ways

top dawg

By top dawg,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

top dawg Grand Master

top dawg

Posted
Posted

A week ago, no one in the world would have thought that we'd ever see a day where Marty Hurney would be the GM of the Carolina Panthers. It was inconceivable---a joke. Many people would humorously but dismissively split their sides at such a preposterous thought.

Well, no one's laughing anymore. Hurndawg will be the acting GM on an interim basis through the 2017 season whether you like it or not. "It is what it is," as his hire John Fox used to say. 

But what is "it?" What in the Panther-blue blazes is going on? You'd think that Hurney has been hired long-term from the way Hurney haters have reacted to the news of his rehiring. But that's just it. His title is Interim GM, and why that has apparently escaped so many, I don't know.

Hurney's job is anything but a "gimme." Although some may beg to differ, he wasn't given a perfect roster or endless amounts of salary cap space. He has a decent setup thanks to his predecessor Dave Gettleman, but it's far from perfect and decisions will have to be made. Hurney is the acting GM, so he is going to get credit whether you like it or not, but he's also going to be forced to take responsibility if things fail.  That's just the nature of the beast. You can't genuinely give Gettleman all the credit of his success when it was due in large part to players that Hurney signed, while at the same time give Hurney no credit for any success that happens as a result of a roster that has Gettleman's fingerprints all over it. But that's what many of you you are setting yourself up to do (if you haven't already done it on some level). 

Honestly, I think the key to this season will be less about the GM---Hurney or Gettleman---and more about coaching. We have some great, highly productive players from Hurney's legacy still on this roster, as well as younger potential studs from the Gettleman era who still need to play up to their potential. But it's Ron, the coordinators, and the positional coaches that are going to have to take the pieces from both these eras, balance them all out, and fulfill the goal of a championship. Gettleman and Hurney have provided some necessary pieces, but whether we have enough remains to be seen. I tend to think that Hurney will need to make two or three more moves, which will further cloud which GM actually deserves the credit of success in the minds of many.

What has obviously escaped most is that unless and until we have a superbly successful season, Hurney is living on borrowed time. If we do succeed, then let the second wave of griping begin (like it will ever stop). Let all the arguments as to why the success is ALL Gettleman and none of Hurney, like is the illogical argument by so many seemingly levelheaded Huddlers now.  It will be ironic that success will bring the most divisiveness, but if the past week is any indication, that's exactly what will transpire, because Hurney haters will refuse to give the man credit for anything.

But, if somehow we fail, Hurney will get most if not ALL the blame, while Gettleman continues to be a god in the eyes of many. So from the perspective of being appreciated by many many fans, Hurney will be damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

As for me, if he succeeds, there will be very valid and compelling reasons to remove the interim title if that's what he actually wants. If he fails, which he is likely to do considering that probability and possibly artificially inflated expectations from the now inflated importance and good sentiment of a 15-1 season, he will be axed. So considering all the right that Hurney enters into, the wrong is that which really hangs like the sword of Damocles over his future. People may have gotten it twisted, but it's going to take a Herculean effort to put out a winning product---with so many valid questions regarding weaknesses on our roster, particularly relative to the strength of our league and divisional counterparts---much less win it all. If it happens, then Hurney deserves all he will get. If not, then we have lost a season...just like last season, and Hurney becomes a footnote, just like Gettleman, on the way to eventually bigger and better things. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
top dawg Grand Master

top dawg

Posted
  • Author
Posted
7 minutes ago, Sean Payton's Vicodin said:

fug him, he sucked ass at his job, wasted all of our time, made millions of dollars - and he gets to do it all over again. How is that unenviable? Is the Charlotte sports press actually worth a poo now?

Well, he suck(ed) at his job in several respects for sure, but that doesn't mean he suck(s) at his job now. If he does suck, then he'll be gone rather quickly, so ultimately I don't see all the fuss. Put your big boy pants on (like @ladypanther said), and grin and bear it. This season will not last forever unless we end up as champions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Khaki Lackey Mentor

Khaki Lackey

Posted
Posted
A week ago, no one in the world would have thought that we'd ever see a day where Marty Hurney would be the GM of the Carolina Panthers. It was inconceivable---a joke. Many people would humorously but dismissively split their sided at such a preposterous thought.

Oh it's still a joke. I assure you.


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TheRed Newbie

TheRed

Posted
Posted

It cracks me up how the same posters that used to litter this place with "Hurney magic" posts now act like none of it ever happened. One of the now most disliked Panthers of all time, Haruki Nakamura, was presented with a near unanimous circle jerk praise thread by fans here when Hurney signed him.

Gotta love the huddle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Castavar Grand Master

Castavar

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, top dawg said:

Well, he suck(ed) at his job in several respects for sure, but that doesn't mean he suck(s) at his job now. If he does suck, then he'll be gone rather quickly, so ultimately I don't see all the fuss. Put your big boy pants on (like @ladypanther said), and grin and bear it. This season will not last forever unless we end up as champions.

I don't believe that for one second. I mean, Shula still has a job as our OC for christ sake's. Hurney is here to stay. No way in hell JR would fire his buddy twice. Best we can hope for is Hurney DOESN'T become our permanent GM and we hire somebody worth a damn at the end of the season. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
top dawg Grand Master

top dawg

Posted
  • Author
Posted
31 minutes ago, Castavar said:

I don't believe that for one second. I mean, Shula still has a job as our OC for christ sake's. Hurney is here to stay. No way in hell JR would fire his buddy twice. Best we can hope for is Hurney DOESN'T become our permanent GM and we hire somebody worth a damn at the end of the season. 

So you actually believe that if Hurney sucks that the surly J-Rich---the same one that fired him before---who was arguably the catalyst behind such bad decisions---is going to gleefully make a bad situation permanent? Is that what you actually, really really believe? Come on, man.

Whether you or I like it or not (and I don't), there was a compelling reason to keep Shula around, but Shula is on Ron, not JR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • MHS831
      Are the Panthers a "Trap Game" for the Hawks?

      By MHS831 · Posted

      The Seahawks won an emotional, divisional, overtime rivalry game vs the Rams on a Thursday night (Dec 18).  That gives them 10 days to prepare for the Panthers, but the Christmas holiday fell a week later--I bet they were afforded an extra day for travel-many coming back east.  Following the Panthers, Seattle plays at San Francisco for the division title (in all probability).   The Rams finish the season with games against the Falcons and Cardinals, two likely wins, pushing them to 13-4.  The Niners finish the season with home games against the Bears and Seahawks. Seattle finishes the season with the Panthers on the road and SF in California.   It is easy to see how preparing for the Panthers, during the holiday break and with the Niners waiting for them in SF a week later for (what could be) the NFC West title and #1 Seed in the NFC, could create the perfect trap game scenario.  The Panthers at home are 5-2.   In the past 2 weeks, the Seahawks struggled to beat the Phillip Rivers Colts in Seattle and then pulled off a miraculous, emotional victory at home vs. the Rams.  I am not convinced that they are as good as advertised. Seattle is a TD favorite in Charlotte.  I feel that Carolina by 3 may be more accurate.  While I am still not confident in this team's consistency and it never seems to dominate, it sure feels like a trap game for Seattle to me.  How could they NOT be thinking of San Francisco right now?  They are not used to being in this position (current players) and it is human nature.  Carolina 27, Seattle 24. 
    • MHS831
      Robert Hunt Practice Window Activated

      By MHS831 · Posted

      It is a tough decision.  There is another factor.  Is he in game shape?  A tired Hunt is not better than an "in-shape" Corbett.  When coming off an injury, it is natural to want to protect the injured area, even if it is completely healed.  This can cause you to contort your body for no reason, lose fundamentals, and it could lead to other injuries.  For example, I had a knee in high school that required getting taped.  That made me aware of the knee (not used to tape on my knee) and I pulled my groin (favoring or dragging the leg with the tape).  The trainer explained the groin injury the way I do here--but scared money makes no money.  If he is cleared to play, he is cleared to play.  Watch him, rotate him in for a series, etc.  Specifically, I would want to watch the matchup--who is winning more--Corbett or Hunt?  How is the defense reacting (if at all) to Hunt being in?  Etc.  
    • MHS831
      Chad ‘Ochstradamus’ Johnson and Shannon Sharpe on Panthers

      By MHS831 · Posted

      Shannon was sued for $50 million (settled out of court, I believe) for forcing sex on his girlfriend during a two-year relationship.  He denies it, but ESPN let him go last April.  Chad Johnson's wife filed a police report because he head-butted her in a car and was put on probation. I had to google it.  I watched the Ray Rice video and when you see it, you realize just how vile and cowardly abusing a woman really is.  But for the same point Aussie tried to make, these women are defenseless, and being phyiscally bigger and stronger does not validate your actions.   I can't even stand to watch Steve Smith.  I can't normalize this kind of behavior--again, I do not think R-P had that in mind when he posted this.  When the reason was exposed, we should realize that we are talking life (quality of) and death (in some cases) here.  
×
×
  • Create New...