Panther's Moving Toward Future

[pantherfan81]

A friend of mine from Charlotte just called and asked me what I thought about the “fire sale’’ the Panthers are having today.

I’m going to tell you the same thing I told him. This is not a fire sale. Call the release of Jake Delhomme, Maake Kemoeatu, Damione Lewis, Na’il Diggs and Landon Johnson and the fact Julius Peppers and (maybe) Muhsin Muhammad are walking out the door as free agents a lot of things. But don’t call it a fire sale.

A true fire sale is when you’re getting rid of good players in their prime. Aside from Peppers, none of these guys is in his prime. Delhomme was old and, after his dismal play last season, this decision shouldn’t seem as shocking as many are making it out to be. Muhammad’s also old, but I’m not totally ruling out the possibility of him re-signing with the Panthers.

Kemoeatu, Lewis, Diggs and Johnson? They were role players, who were at the back end of their contracts. They were due salaries that were higher than their actual value.

The Panthers still have their core -- Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, Jordan Gross, Chris Gamble, Steve Smith, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams in place -- and that’s not a bad core to work with. Besides, some of those guys are coming up on long-term contracts.

If the Panthers start getting rid of those guys, then you’ve got a real fire sale on your hands. But these were pretty basic football decisions (although the Peppers situation was much more complicated). The Panthers have some young guys like Dan Connor, Everette Brown and Charles Johnson that they have high hopes for and that they want to get on the field.

I also believe owner Jerry Richardson has a hand in all this. In part, I think this is a message to players about the uncertain labor situation. Like many owners, Richardson, is worried about the possibility of a lockout in 2011. In an uncapped year, Richardson is slashing costs. These moves aren’t much different than what the Panthers would do in a capped year.

Richardson is showing the rest of his players the oil/water/money well, while not dry, isn’t flowing freely these days.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/8691/panthers-moving-deliberately-toward-future

Nice write-up by Pat he made some sense.

[Wither]

I don't know that it isn't just as simple as saving money where it can be saved, regardless of who is taking the blow.

Edit: This is in regards to the "Jerry Richardson" paragraph and below at the end of the quote.

[Montsta]

My only beef has been the Diggs release. I know there are younger guys waiting, but he wasn't due that much money, and has won, earned, and held down his starting spot for years for a reason.

The rest of the cuts I'm ok with.

[2jakefansinva]

trimming da fat.... for a leaner meaner fightin' machine.

[mountainpantherfan]

My only beef has been the Diggs release. I know there are younger guys waiting, but he wasn't due that much money, and has won, earned, and held down his starting spot for years for a reason.

The rest of the cuts I'm ok with.

I agree, this is the only cut that I'm not backing 100%, although I'm not disagreeing with it either. To me all of the other players cut or that have been allowed to walk haven't meet or exceeded expectations. Diggs, and Brayton as a UFA that has been allowed to walk so far, actually exceeded all expectations, at least by the fans.

I guess my biggest question would be if they were willing to let Diggs and Brayton go because of the youth behind them, why not let Hoover go as well? And why not retain Llyod and cut Kasay? I'm not saying they should now cut Kasay and Hoover but as a fan it seems to be mixed messages.

[grateflday]

I have felt this way all along since hearing about all the cuts. There is a core of young talent that has been starting and now the younger guys get to show us if they can perform. I am looking forward to seeing how next season plays out, it will be interesting. The Panthers could be a better team, and I think they will be.

[Delhommey]

How can one not move towards the future?

[Ga Cat Fan]

trimming da fat.... for a leaner meaner fightin' machine.

But, I don't think it will be for next season. I don't see us as a contender for a year or two now.

JMO.

[Sloth]

How can one not move towards the future?

Die?

[Kyle82]

Looks like a huge youth movement that will pay off in the future.

[carpanfan96]

Like Pat Y says in one of his other Blogs, this isn't a fire sale but this team isn't going to be competitive unless they make a few moves in FA. They have too many holes to fill with the little picks they have this year and that's even if you include them trading next years first for two picks this year.

They will have to pick up someone in FA that can contribute at WR and DE at least. If not and they don't pick up someone who can contribute this season at WR and DE in FA then you can consider this a cost cutting move for the uncapped season and consider it a wash season.

If the team performs it's a bonus as the payroll is low, if not oh well didn't put a lot of money into it.