A Whole Gaggle of Conflicting Thoughts

[Proudiddy]

Here comes a wall o' text...  

I don't know where I am with this team, with the NFL, with everything in general right now.  

Today's game was the true litmus test of this team for me.  I was outspoken about my concerns following the first two weeks, and I was met with the usual droves of positivity police whose extreme optimism blinds them from the actual problems that plague our team and organization.  They believed the offense would pick up.  They believed in the defense.  I did not.  We played the Niners and Bills.  LOL...  And for you to believe either of those statements, you would have to believe in a strong, competent coaching staff, which we do not have.  I'm not negative, I'm realistic...   And a bit of a perfectionist, which doesn't always serve me well, but my intentions are pure.  That being said, here are the overarching thoughts I have following this disgusting loss...

*Something was taken out of this team today, and I don't think it can be pieced back together.  I think it's possible we're on the downside of the hill, and certain off-field mandates finally took their toll on this team to a point that is irreparable.  JR has been a looming figure that seemingly overpowers any and everything else in this organization.  He is the first word, and he is the final word.  I think he may have overstepped his authority today, even as the owner.  Furthermore, he simultaneously further neutered and emasculated his team, whose heart and attitude in the Rivera Era have repeatedly been called into question.  These are grown men, and like it or not, it is their right to express themselves as individuals - whether you love or hate their stances, that is their right.  One team didn't meddle with their players' feelings and opinions, one did...  and it carried over into the game.  We were already soft, mentally weak, and fragile.  Today's directives just made our players even more docile and accommodating.  "Bank of America Stadium and the entire Carolina Panthers Organization welcomes you, opposing team and fans, to your home away from home!"

Our Staff, and especially our OL, allowed other teams to cheap shot our QB repeatedly last year until he was injured, and now that injury has carried over into this season, and who knows, Cam may never fully recover.  I have played, talked, and watched football for 23 years, and all I know is, if you allow another team to take shots at your teammate and go unchallenged, you're a punk.  You're weak.  You're soft.  And you really don't care about your teammate or winning.  Last year, our OL had multiple chances to stand up for the franchise QB, and they didn't.  They encouraged more of it by their lack of inaction.  That same mindset is what allowed outings like today to happen...  Getting blown out, never being competitive, and flat out getting embarrassed, AT HOME, against the worst defense in the league, while our defense turned into a pumpkin right before our very eyes.

*Everyone here knows, you will not find a bigger Cam fan than me, secondary only to my love of the team...  but, I'm starting to distrust the team and their ability to make smart, sound decisions.  Furthermore, my loyalty to the team will never wane, but my love for them is taking a beating akin to the one Cam has taken under Gettleman-constructed rosters.  All that being said, it's time to look out for Cam.  I had a bad feeling since the surgery was announced, especially regarding the timing when it was announced.  I stated at the time that I did not think it would play out the way the organization told us it would, and that it would be a much longer process.  I also feared it would have much more serious implications than simply just "we're going in there to clean it up, then he'll be back to normal in 2 months."  Well, here we are.  

I honestly think Cam should've started the season on the PUP.  He should've been given time to build up his muscle endurance to the point that he could go through entire practices throughout an entire week.  He was never pinpoint accurate, but he's accurate enough to be throwing 60-65% completions a year.  The misses we're seeing now aren't due to injury, they're due to lack of reps.  But, not allowing him to practice, then throwing him out to the wolves to be judged by idiot fans who have been waiting for a reason to get a more "traditional," subdued personality at QB is not doing him any favors.  Furthermore, allowing him to play behind Matt "Turnstile" Kalil isn't doing him any favors in recovering from his injury.  Let him rest.  Let him get better.  Let him get 100% now, or I fear he won't ever get back to 100%.  I'm sure Cam insists on playing, but I'd give him next week to see if he can practice and work the kinks out, and if he can't do it, I think it's time to protect him from himself.  Also, this will kill two birds with one stone - it allows Cam the rest he needs, AND shows all of the idiots how yellow the grass is on the other side of the fence...  DA will stink it up, we will lose, even worse than we would otherwise because he is horrible, AND it will allow for Rivera and Shula to finally, hopefully be fired, and hopefully get a staff, and an OC in particular, in here that knows what they're doing, to come in and work with Cam (come back home Chud!).  I just feel like we aren't doing Cam any favors by resting him all week, then putting him out there with a lack of weapons and protection.  He's risking injury, re-injury, and just outright crappy performances until his shoulder is 100%.

*And finally, I know about 75% of the huddle will love this, as they consider the guy somewhere between Einstein and The Pope, but if we can't get Cam back on track, you can thank Gettleman.  If Cam is ruined, that is Gettleman's ultimate legacy.  Failure.  He took a Ferrari and parked it next to the cart corral at a Wal-Mart, then he took it and ran it through a local demolition derby, and then he decided that he wanted to take it to car shows, while also being his daily driver.  Surprise!  The Ferrari is having some lingering effects, nicks, and dents from the parking selection and the demolition derby!  And full disclaimer:  Hurney sucks for his own reasons.  But, this roster, and all of the other ones that allowed Cam to be demolished are Gettleman's fault.  So, aside from pushing Gross, Smitty, and Norman out, and the accompanying legacy of epic failure at those positions following their departures along with foreseen losing in their absences, his lasting legacy will be running a franchise, generational, transcendent talent into the ground.  But, hey, we have minimally impactful Shaq Thompson, Vernon Butler, Funchess, and now two-teams removed, Kony Ealy.  But, he was a mad genius right?  Those are all fairly ineffective players to this point in their careers and Cam still has no real protection at tackle, and no real receiving threat outside of KB that Gettleman brought in himself.  I really, really hope Cam can get back on track, but I'm starting to become concerned as to whether he can.

TL;DR


 

[Growl]

whoa where are the pictures

[Proudiddy]

1 minute ago, Growl said:

whoa where are the pictures

pictures are for commies.  Murica.

[Vagrant]

couldn't make it past the first self congratulatory prediction we'd lose today. next time you know you're right go place a bet, don't come here after and told ya so to everyone who actually believed in the team. 

[arbnranger]

[0115]

Went straight to the bottom. 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

It was a shiiit show today so everyone's gotta snowflake and color a bit.  24 hours to get the sand outta the lady parts and then Start focusing on the champs.  

But since you brought it up, I think our offense sucks and it's cause cam is hurt and Shula is stupid.   Teams are basically daring cam to pass at this point but he is nowhere near where he should be.  Shula can't think his way outta this one and can't mask it.  

[Kevin Greene]

Re the Bills and their suckage. They spanked the broncos today.

[Saha]

2 minutes ago, Pejorative Miscreant said:

 

But since you brought it up, I think our offense sucks and it's cause cam is hurt and Shula is stupid.   Teams are basically daring cam to pass at this point but he is nowhere near where he should be.  Shula can't think his way outta this one and can't mask it.  

This x10000000000000000000000000

[TooncestheDrivingCat]

[Peppers90 NC]

Ron failed this team big time today. He didn't have a winning mentality from the start of the game thru the first half when; the Saints had the ball first and goal on our 3 with 1:47 remaining along with all our timeouts. We let them run it out and kick a fg and made zero attempt to try and score and give them the ball to start the 2nd half.

[Marguide]

Ok Proud D, I agree with the majority of your points, actually pretty much all of it except the part about bringing back Chud.

Gentleman, like all GM's, had some less than stellar picks in recent drafts. Shaq, Kony, Funchess, and Butler have not provided sufficient value for where they were picked. Late round misses, eh, no biggie, but in the 1st two rounds, it hurts. He was not the mad genius many made him out to be.

Finally, as far as coaching, Shula gets more flack than he should and Ron doesn't get enough. We could do much better on both fronts.

There is not much cause for optimism at this point.

[Proudiddy]

58 minutes ago, Vagrant said:

couldn't make it past the first self congratulatory prediction we'd lose today. next time you know you're right go place a bet, don't come here after and told ya so to everyone who actually believed in the team. 

Where did I say we'd lose?  I didn't.  In fact, up until the game started, I even was texting with my mom that we should have a good game because of the Saints defense.  But, as soon as I saw the opening shots of the teams on the field before the game, that all changed.

Believing in the team doesn't make you a fan, supporting them and pulling for them does.  Sorry to burst your bubble.  I want us to win, and we can't, at least not consistently with the current people in the front office and staff.

[Proudiddy]

7 minutes ago, Marguide said:

Ok Proud D, I agree with the majority of your points, actually pretty much all of it except the part about bringing back Chud.

Gentleman, like all GM's, had some less than stellar picks in recent drafts. Shaq, Kony, Funchess, and Butler have not provided sufficient value for where they were picked. Late round misses, eh, no biggie, but in the 1st two rounds, it hurts. He was not the mad genius many made him out to be.

Finally, as far as coaching, Shula gets more flack than he should and Ron doesn't get enough. We could do much better on both fronts.

There is not much cause for optimism at this point.

The Chud comment was slightly in jest, lol.  I would be happy to have him back as OC though.  He knew how to play to Cam's strengths when he wasn't calling plays in hopes of landing a HC gig.  But, I'd take any offensive minded coach at this point, but doubt we ever get one while JR is running things.

But yeah, other than that -