Going "Young"

[Khyber53]

There's a reason some of the big names in the league are out there right now as Free Agents -- their prior teams found out that these guys weren't what the teams needed to win.

The secret is that the really important pieces of a team's puzzle don't make it out onto the market. Think Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson are going to be allowed to test the waters by their current teams? There are four players that could bring wins to even the lowliest of teams, but they aren't getting cut.

Who hits the free agent market generally? Folks on the downslope, trouble makers, marginal athletes and supposed stars that didn't reach their potential. Basically, players that their coaches/GMs decided weren't worth the amount printed on their price tags.

Sometimes one of those folks finds a new home and a new lease on life. The Panthers are famous for that: Stephen Davis, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Greene, Reggie White, Tyler Brayton, etc... Finding those guys, however, ain't easy and sometimes you end up with a David Carr instead of a Brett Favre.

We aren't rushing into this or chasing big names, and that's traditional for this team. We've shed folks that will be hot on the marketplace (sure, Pep went fast, but so did Jake and Rhys) and we've stayed out of the chase for LT and TO, etc.

We'll be okay come opening day and have 53 good people on the roster. I have faith that we'll be competitive, but heck, I'd tune in to watch even if I didn't.

[carolinanimal]

There's a reason some of the big names in the league are out there right now as Free Agents -- their prior teams found out that these guys weren't what the teams needed to win.

The secret is that the really important pieces of a team's puzzle don't make it out onto the market. Think Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson are going to be allowed to test the waters by their current teams? There are four players that could bring wins to even the lowliest of teams, but they aren't getting cut.

Who hits the free agent market generally? Folks on the downslope, trouble makers, marginal athletes and supposed stars that didn't reach their potential. Basically, players that their coaches/GMs decided weren't worth the amount printed on their price tags.

Sometimes one of those folks finds a new home and a new lease on life. The Panthers are famous for that: Stephen Davis, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Greene, Reggie White, Tyler Brayton, etc... Finding those guys, however, ain't easy and sometimes you end up with a David Carr instead of a Brett Favre.

We aren't rushing into this or chasing big names, and that's traditional for this team. We've shed folks that will be hot on the marketplace (sure, Pep went fast, but so did Jake and Rhys) and we've stayed out of the chase for LT and TO, etc.

We'll be okay come opening day and have 53 good people on the roster. I have faith that we'll be competitive, but heck, I'd tune in to watch even if I didn't.

john fox teams are always competitive. that is the nature of his philosophy,it keeps us in games. now winning consistently is another thing.

[MadHatter]

this still paints us into a corner. we know 1 pick will have to be a wr. that leaves 4 picks for defense. maybe even one for backup qb. we will need a de. one dt at least. the rest will have to be fa's. dont forget there will be competition for the fa's unlike in the draft. drafting for immediate need is risky.

We have always had success in the latter stages of FA...with the mid-tier guys.

When we jumped feet first and signed big name guys, we typically failed.

I am not sure why the current FA strategy is surprising anyone.

[panthers55]

There's a reason some of the big names in the league are out there right now as Free Agents -- their prior teams found out that these guys weren't what the teams needed to win.

The secret is that the really important pieces of a team's puzzle don't make it out onto the market. Think Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson are going to be allowed to test the waters by their current teams? There are four players that could bring wins to even the lowliest of teams, but they aren't getting cut.

Who hits the free agent market generally? Folks on the downslope, trouble makers, marginal athletes and supposed stars that didn't reach their potential. Basically, players that their coaches/GMs decided weren't worth the amount printed on their price tags.

Sometimes one of those folks finds a new home and a new lease on life. The Panthers are famous for that: Stephen Davis, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Greene, Reggie White, Tyler Brayton, etc... Finding those guys, however, ain't easy and sometimes you end up with a David Carr instead of a Brett Favre.

We aren't rushing into this or chasing big names, and that's traditional for this team. We've shed folks that will be hot on the marketplace (sure, Pep went fast, but so did Jake and Rhys) and we've stayed out of the chase for LT and TO, etc.

We'll be okay come opening day and have 53 good people on the roster. I have faith that we'll be competitive, but heck, I'd tune in to watch even if I didn't.

I agree with you up about free agents most have something wrong with them or just are overpriced for that team due to cap considerations but from a strictly salary point of view are cheaper for someone else to pick up. But with the shortage of UFAs and high tenders being given to a bunch of RFAs, the market is slim. Plus without a bunch of draft picks to trade we won't be making very many trades. With only 5 draft picks we can't expect that to save us either.

I am not convinced we will have 53 good people on our roster. We might have 40 good people, 7 okay folks, and another 6 "who knows" folks. It is a good time to a UDFA for us this year. Several guys who would normally be cut will end up on the active roster and practice squads.

[carolinanimal]

We have always had success in the latter stages of FA...with the mid-tier guys.

When we jumped feet first and signed big name guys, we typically failed.

I am not sure why the current FA strategy is surprising anyone.

not suprised but with all the depth lost we are going to have to do a lot of filling in and that is never a good sign.

[carolinanimal]

I agree with you up about free agents most have something wrong with them or just are overpriced for that team due to cap considerations but from a strictly salary point of view are cheaper for someone else to pick up. But with the shortage of UFAs and high tenders being given to a bunch of RFAs, the market is slim. Plus without a bunch of draft picks to trade we won't be making very many trades. With only 5 draft picks we can't expect that to save us either.

I am not convinced we will have 53 good people on our roster. We might have 40 good people, 7 okay folks, and another 6 "who knows" folks. It is a good time to a UDFA for us this year. Several guys who would normally be cut will end up on the active roster and practice squads.

this is another concern. will we just keep people we shouldnt because they are cheap or will we go with better talent if it cost a bit more?

[Mr. Scot]

Mr Scott.....you stated that Brayton had received an offer. Do you have any more details on that...who, how much? I was searching the itnernet and was unable to find anything.

Thanks

I don't know if the specifics were printed. If I recall either Gantt or Chandler (hard to tell them apart these days ) said we had made him an offer but he decided to test free agency instead.

Kinda disappointing after hearing him say how much he wanted to be here, but in the end it is still a business.

[MadHatter]

I am not sure that it is a good time to be a FA.

There are a lot of aging veterans still on the market. Teams are not biting on them.

Also, some are accepting non-guaranteed contracts (Kemo).

[MadHatter]

this is another concern. will we just keep people we shouldnt because they are cheap or will we go with better talent if it cost a bit more?

Understand your point. But, that is where I think we differ in our opinion.

I do not think we let better talent go.

I still think Irvin, Leonard, and Tyler are just as good as Kemo and Lewis.

I still think that Connor and Anderson are better than Diggs

I still think we either re-sign Brayton or get a comparable DE for rotation

The only one I question as far as talent and play iw Hoover. Fiametta shoudl be good, but he has not proven anything yet. This one is a big gamble.

[MadHatter]

I don't know if the specifics were printed. If I recall either Gantt or Chandler (hard to tell them apart these days ) said we had made him an offer but he decided to test free agency instead.

Kinda disappointing after hearing him say how much he wanted to be here, but in the end it is still a business.

Got it. I thought you meant that another team had made him an offer. I knew we tried to sign him before FA.

Given how quiet it is, I still think re-signing him is a real possibility...and a good idea.

[markbm62]

Got it. I thought you meant that another team had made him an offer. I knew we tried to sign him before FA.

Given how quiet it is, I still think re-signing him is a real possibility...and a good idea.

here is the info http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/11/1302307/de-brayton-tests-market-in-seattle.html

The Panthers held contract talks with Brayton's representatives before free agency started but were unable to strike a deal, so he chose to test the market.

[rayzor]

The problem with what we are doing is that we have essentially painted ourselves in a corner. being active for peices in the fa market allows you to be more flexible in the draft. the way we are now we cant afford to have any busts at all in the draft and anyone that knows anything about the draft knows that it is a crapshoot sometimes. our whole season could depend on how good this draft is.

also what "mid-level" fas are out there? the ones we just let go? that would be a joke. why would we cut a guy who started for us just to bring them back as a backup? if they came back they probably would start again.

this team always prefers to build first through the draft and then fill out through mid-low level FA acquisitions. this year will be no different. even though their picks are few (i don't believe for a moment that we won't be doing some draft day trading, btw) they will look there first to address their needs and then they will pick through the UDFA class and then they will pick through the emerging mid-level FAs that have yet to hit the market.

these FAs aren't on the market yet because their teams haven't released them yet. this will be a better group than the original FA group that hit the market.

people don't understand that the FA group that came in the first wave is incredibly weak compared to other years because of the uncapped year and the stipulations that come with it. what few quality ones that are there are overpriced (as usual) and the rest of the medicore talent has a higher price tag on them than they really warrant.

we will have a full house come TC this year. we have at this point 24-25 spots still open. just about every single one of these guys will be coming in with a chip on their shoulder wanting to prove they deserve more and will be happy to take a 1-2 year deal to prove themselves. one thing that will be different is that they will be looking for guys that are younger than 30 who have the potential to be solid players going into the future.

[Hairless Cat]

the only thing I disagree with is this

Fox needs to win this season to either earn an extension or get a job as a head coach elsewhere

I think Fox could have a fairly abysmal season in 2010 and still be courted by 6 - 10 teams as a head coach.

[Mr. Scot]

the only thing I disagree with is this

I think Fox could have a fairly abysmal season in 2010 and still be courted by 6 - 10 teams as a head coach.

Possible, but there are some pretty good young coaches out there too, not to mention the Super Bowl winners who didn't get much of a look this season (and, granted, may not next year either).