The handling of the Sam Darnold situation is one of the worst decisions in franchise history.

[hepcat]

1) Trade for Sam Darnold giving up a 2nd, 4th, and 6th round pick. Darnold was the worst starting QB in the NFL in his first 3 seasons. 

2) Pick up his $19m 5th year option before he played a down for the team. Again, the Panthers guaranteed Darnold $19m before he even put on a Panthers uniform. 

3) Passed on Mac Jones and Justin Fields in the draft. Did not sign a veteran FA to be a backup or possible starter. Zero backup plan in the likely case Darnold was a failure. Instead, they drafted a cornerback, a luxury position for a team in search of a franchise QB, and allowed Matt Rhule’s friend PJ Walker to be the unqualified backup. 

4) Continue to play Sam Darnold late in the season despite the fact he is incapable of completing a pass beyond the line of scrimmage, and Panthers legend Cam Newton probably will not be on the team after this season. 

I just can’t see how you can keep the people in charge after this. You can’t trust them to make a sound decision at the QB position. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by hepcat

[FugginPoo]

They need to explain the 5th year option logic

[IceWhiteice]

Totally agree, I feel he should be fired for that alone. They could have got Sam on draft day for a lot less. Probably a 4th or 6th only. 

[jopie87]

Could have had Minshew for a fourth. Could have had any number of rookies, including Davis Mills who is on an impossibly bad Texans team and looks better than Sam ever has. Could have played Sam in the preseason more, realized we were f'd and gotten a veteran in way earlier. They did literally everything wrong.

And the owner is sitting back and saying 'let's roll it back next year.'

There's been like 5 or 6 good years in franchise history, which sucks, but I've never felt like we were the worst run team in the NFL until this year. Not when being coached by the ghost of 49ers past, not when Pickles was putting up 3 points a game, it took being swindled by a used Pinto salesman masquerading as a head coach to hit rock bottom.

[Davidson Deac II]

For us older fans, Sean Gilbert was worse.  Kalil might be as bad.  But yeah, Darnold was a predictably terrible move.

Edited January 3, 2022 by Davidson Deac II

[firefox1234]

Lol I can’t believe folks were not only defending but praising these moves.

[BIGH2001]

1 minute ago, Davidson Deac II said:

For us older fans, Sean Gilbert was worse.  Kalil might be as bad.  

Gilbert is probably the only move worse than this one. 

[Mvp2014]

I really think matts too deep with darnold to cut him now.  he will trot him out again next year.  The 5th year option will forever puzzle me

[Wanderlai]

7 minutes ago, FugginPoo said:

They need to explain the 5th year option logic

They 100% believed the Jets mismanaged him and that Sam could be the future QB here going forward. You can’t fix talent evaluators that are that screwed up in the head. They will never admit they fuged up. 

[restNChrist]

10 minutes ago, IceWhiteice said:

Totally agree, I feel he should be fired for that alone. They could have got Sam on draft day for a lot less. Probably a 4th or 6th only. 

THIS

 

[Smitty will punch you]

It’s no way you watched him today and think he’s the panthers franchise qb. 

[outlaw4]

13 minutes ago, FugginPoo said:

They need to explain the 5th year option logic

As someone that was weary of the move but could see the intention, even this part made zero sense to me. In retrospect, reeks of sheer overconfidence by closing a way out in case things turn south.

I will say giving Delhomme a contract extension when his arm was clearly shot was even worse.

Edited January 3, 2022 by outlaw4

[mc52beast]

I’m thinking Tepper doesn’t really give two f’s about the product on the field, he’s probably more worried about finding Matt in the bathroom with his secretary.

[mav1234]

The Darnold trade was not good but I don't hate it. However, we gave him a totally poo line, didn't bring a vet qb presence in, etc etc. You laid it out perfectly why this was so very bad.

And the trade looks worse without our 3rd rounder too.