Panthers’ Sam Darnold ready to compete for QB job: ‘Me and Baker are cool’

[ladypanther]

If Darnold’s new reality is bothering him he isn’t showing it. He arrived in Spartanburg cool, calm, and collected, rocking a bright smile, a simple black T-shirt, and a matching black hat. Speaking publicly for the first time since minicamp, he said it took him a few days to decompress before calling Mayfield after the Panthers traded a conditional fifth-round pick for the former Browns quarterback earlier this month. “Me and Baker are cool. I’m sure when things start rolling in training camp, it’s just gonna be fun. We’re gonna be able to compete and have fun with it,” Darnold said. “But at the end of the day, this is a business and we both take our craft and what we do very seriously. So it’s going to be very serious when that time comes to compete, but off the field, and all that stuff, me and Baker are really cool.”

Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article263833592.html#storylink=cpy

 

All that is enough reason for Darnold to be unhappy and request a trade. But he hasn’t. The team is not calling teams shopping Darnold either. “I’m not in a position to do that and it is not who I am,” Darnold said about seeking a trade. “No.”

Darnold called Mayfield a few days after the trade to invite him to a throwing session he organized for Panthers players in Charlotte last weekend. Christian McCaffrey, Chuba Hubbard, DJ Moore, and other Panther skill players caught balls from Darnold, Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Corral.

Did not know that last part.  Don't remember reading before how that was organized.

[BrianS]

Never questioned Sam's character.  He seems like a genuinely good dude, and I would wish him nothing but the best in whatever his endeavors.  I just don't think he's an NFL QB.

Hopefully he took his studies seriously when he was in school and can finish his degree and do whatever makes him happy.

[CanadianCat]

I would not be shocked if Darnold won. I know thats not the popular answer.

I actually really liked Rhules answer the other day. The QB will be selected (in part) by the players, by who they rally around. The players want the best guy, they will support the best guy. 

I dont really care who wins honestly, but if that player CAN become the man we will years a head in the franchise building process. 

[CRA]

7 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

I would not be shocked if Darnold won. I know thats not the popular answer.

I actually really liked Rhules answer the other day. The QB will be selected (in part) by the players, by who they rally around. The players want the best guy, they will support the best guy. 

I dont really care who wins honestly, but if that player CAN become the man we will years a head in the franchise building process. 

I think Sam is going to open as the starter personally. 

and it won’t be because he is a better QB than Baker.  He isn’t.  And Rhule and everyone already knows that. 

 

[ForJimmy]

18 minutes ago, CRA said:

I think Sam is going to open as the starter personally. 

and it won’t be because he is a better QB than Baker.  He isn’t.  And Rhule and everyone already knows that. 

 

I would believe it more if we weren't opening against the Browns.  It's going to be hard to not let Baker get his revenge and he is going to do everything in his power to start that game.  

[PizzaTheHutt]

[Donald LaFell]

Mayfield starts by preseason game 2

[ladypanther]

4 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I would believe it more if we weren't opening against the Browns.  It's going to be hard to not let Baker get his revenge and he is going to do everything in his power to start that game.  

I am sure the NFL would not be happy if Mayfieldis not the starter.  They set this up for ratings.

Edited July 27, 2022 by ladypanther

[frankw]

Good for Sam I appreciate him being accommodating. But if Darnold is somehow the starter by week 1 it will tell me the Panthers have learned nothing. But everything I've seen and heard so far says otherwise.

[CanadianCat]

11 minutes ago, ladypanther said:

I am sure the NFL would not be happy if Mayfieldis not the starter.  They set this up for ratings.

I mean I get the NFL would like the revenge game but to suggest the NFL set this up.. thats a little too much 'tin foil hat' to me.. 

[MHS831]

I kinda wish Darnold would be fired up and ready to compete to save his career.  Too much Surf Nazi in him.  I would be pissed, insulted, and determined to send Baker to the pine---

I dunno.  At this point, he had few options--that is what 4 years of suckage does to a person.

[poundaway]

The only way Baker isn't QB1 week 1 is if he hasn't fully recovered from his injuries.  He's probably  healed though.  I'm not worried. 

[ForJimmy]

9 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

I mean I get the NFL would like the revenge game but to suggest the NFL set this up.. thats a little too much 'tin foil hat' to me.. 

Broncos play the Seahawks week one also.  We played the Jets week one last year.  It's interesting.....

[ForJimmy]

6 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I kinda wish Darnold would be fired up and ready to compete to save his career.  Too much Surf Nazi in him.  I would be pissed, insulted, and determined to send Baker to the pine---

I dunno.  At this point, he had few options--that is what 4 years of suckage does to a person.

He is just happy he is getting $18.5 million after his awful season last year.