Jason La Confora - Panthers Showing Interest In Acquiring WR Allen Robinson

[Car123]

17 minutes ago, The NFL Shield At Midfield said:

there is no guarantee that it will work.  none.

we've had years with off-the-charts monster offseasons like 2006 and missed the playoffs.

Lol monster offseason. Maake, Lewis, and Keyshawn.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

15 minutes ago, Car123 said:

Lol monster offseason. Maake, Lewis, and Keyshawn.

yeah, kemoeatu was the top DT on the market, kris jenkins was coming back, steve smith got a perfect possession complement after his all world campaign in 2005, justin hartwig was billed as a big upgrade over mike jeff mitchell, gamble and lucas were pro bowl snubs, and we got deangelo williams in that draft.  the panthers were the hands-down winners of free agency that year and the odds-on favorites for the NFC.  damione lewis was an afterthought-he was brought in to be a rotational DT at the time.  but nice wikipedia run, you get an A for effort.

 

[Car123]

3 minutes ago, The NFL Shield At Midfield said:

yeah, kemoeatu was the top DT on the market, kris jenkins was coming back, steve smith got a perfect possession complement after his all world campaign in 2005, justin hartwig was billed as a big upgrade over mike jeff mitchell, gamble and lucas were pro bowl snubs, and we got deangelo williams in that draft.  the panthers were the hands-down winners of free agency that year and the odds-on favorites for the NFC.

I wouldn’t call that “hands-down winners.” Keyshawn was the only big name and he was cheap.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

14 minutes ago, Car123 said:

I wouldn’t call that “hands-down winners.” Keyshawn was the only big name and he was cheap.

yeah you wouldn't now because you know the outcome like most of the football geniuses on this forum.  all of those guys were high profile players at the time and anybody who was on this site then knew the fanbase was buzzing.

new york times NFL preview from september 2006:

Quote

In Carolina, All the Right Pieces Could Lead to a Title

The Carolina Panthers seem to have improved the team that advanced to last season's conference championship game. Keyshawn Johnson, acquired in free agency, is an excellent complement to the star Steve Smith at wide receiver. The defensive line, featuring Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Maake Kemoeatu, ranks with the best in football.

Coach John Fox is among the most underrated leaders in the N.F.L. His teams have been disciplined and even-keeled, withstanding setbacks, like injuries and close losses, that seem to derail other teams.

The Panthers will again be physical on both sides of the ball, featuring a deep running corps led by DeShaun Foster, DeAngelo Williams and Nick Goings.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme is efficient if not flashy, a good fit for this team. Delhomme may have problems keeping Smith and Johnson happy, but Fox is strong enough to keep a lid on any potential problems.

Carolina plays with the swagger of a team that expects success. Solid on both sides of the ball and on the sideline, the Panthers should again be Super Bowl contenders.

 

ESPN week 1 power rankings from 2006 (panthers were #2 behind the NFC champ seahawks):

Quote

The Panthers seems to be the "it" team right now, and there are plenty of reasons why. They have playmakers on offense, a stout defense and one of the NFL's best coaches.

ESPN article on the panthers signing kemoeatu

Quote

Defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, one of the hottest players in the unrestricted market, on Saturday agreed to a five-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.

...

Kemoeatu, 27, has developed over the past two seasons as one of the NFL's best young interior defenders against the run. At 350 pounds, the former Utah star absolutely eats up blockers and allows the linebackers to get to the football. He is the kind of anchor player most teams are now seeking for at least one of their defensive tackle spots.

panthers sign hartwig

Quote

In adding Hartwig, considered by most scouts as the second-best center available in the free-agent pool, after LeCharles Bentley, the Panthers landed a player who is five years younger than Mitchell and who is seen as a peaking performer.

 

[Zaximus]

1 hour ago, The NFL Shield At Midfield said:

there is no guarantee that it will work.  none.

we've had years with off-the-charts monster offseasons like 2006 and missed the playoffs.

I think we've had more examples of sitting around doing nothing and failing than times we've signed people and failed, however.    Never back to back winning seasons shows that sitting around doesn't do anything.    Not that I think you should sign everyone available, but you spend to fix the few holes you have.

[Peppers90 NC]

2 hours ago, CatfanMO said:

I say we mortgage the future. Our window to win is right now. 

that's desperate talk, and easy to do when it's not your job on the line and you have no one to answer to

[steven8989]

8 minutes ago, Peppers90 NC said:

that's desperate talk, and easy to do when it's not your job on the line and you have no one to answer to

Who cares he is going to lose his job after this year anyway!!!

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

35 minutes ago, Zaximus said:

I think we've had more examples of sitting around doing nothing and failing than times we've signed people and failed, however.    Never back to back winning seasons shows that sitting around doesn't do anything.    Not that I think you should sign everyone available, but you spend to fix the few holes you have.

there's a difference between that and mortgaging the future as the poster i originally replied to suggested.  and i just wanted to apply a panthers context to the possibility that you can still fail when going all out; i know that historically carolina is a team that doesn't go nuts in free agency. 

[Trill OG]

We should hear something soon on Allen Robinson, usually the teams are announced who are in the running. I just hope we at least get a meeting.

[backINblack28]

1 hour ago, Zaximus said:

I think we've had more examples of sitting around doing nothing and failing than times we've signed people and failed, however.    Never back to back winning seasons shows that sitting around doesn't do anything.    Not that I think you should sign everyone available, but you spend to fix the few holes you have.

Agree, and I think the most important thing here is context.  Context is, with a healthy AR and even Torrey Smith last year, we beat the Saints and go to Minnesota who we had already beaten without same said WRs.  No telling what having 1 or 2 more contributing guys or a top tier guy in that mix makes us last year.  Let's find out this season.