Younger and Faster or ready for lockout?

[Cat Fanboy]

What does the Huddle think? I refuse to think we are 'rebuilding' when we have the BEST running game behind one of the BEST O-lines and the BEST WR to ever have played!

[DudeNamedJeremy]

i think its a little bit of both

[LinvilleGorge]

100% preparing for a lockout.

[Bobby]

It's obviously a salary dump to prepare for a lockout, we just so happen to have some good players.

On the brightside, we could always be Tampa and be in a sea of debt without the deed to our stadium.

[Catalyst]

I've said it before (though not here) but I think J.R. is preparing for a lockout, but also to put us in the best possible position AFTER the lockout. I can legitimately see us being big-time contenders in '12 and beyond with the current core group we have in place.

I mean, if 2011 is a lost year, it means that teams who depend on a bunch of older veteran players will be in a lot of trouble come 2012 because either those players will have retired and be gone or likely lost a step during the lockout season. The teams that will be in the best shape are teams like us and the Eagles, who have very a young, but also very talented core roster that will remain largely in tact once play resumes in '12.

That said, I do think we'll make the playoffs this year. Our schedule is pretty weak and we've got a very talented team despite all the losses. I just think that if Moore or Clausen becomes the franchise QB we so badly need (and I do believe one of them will) that we'll be in a killer spot after the lockout to really be a factor for the next 5+ years the way the Colts & Patriots were this past decade.

[DudeNamedJeremy]

it's gonna be nice being the super bowl champs for 2 years in a row!:party:

[top dawg]

It's a little bit of this, and a little bit of that.

But, by no means is JR handling things to his team's on detriment. To the contrary, he is trying to get "the best of both worlds" and/or make the best out of a bad situation.

In his own, shrewd and cunning way, he has probably achieved the first stages of his master plan, and it's only a matter of time before the pieces ultimately fall in place and culminate in a championship.

The Big Cat, along with his Fox and Hurney, have pulled a Jedi Mind Trick on the media, the NFL, and even the more daft portion of the Panthers' fan base. May the force be with them.

[CatMan72]

We're taking the opportunity to dump salary in this uncapped year in preparation for a lockout. We're keeping our core guys, so as soon as a new labor agreement is reached we will be poised to build around that core quickly.

[panthers55]

We are definitely preparing for the lockout. As for the future that is still up in the air. To date we haven't locked up our core of young players and have little to no one who is under long-term contract. Neither the coaches, staff or the vast majority of key players are signed beyond this year. If we have a change in coach and resultant change in scheme on the defensive side for example, we could have a fruitbowl turnover again next year. I am sure there is master plan but some of the abrupt changes in strategy over the past 12-18 months also suggests that things are in great flux right now. So until this thing shakes out and we see who is here and who isn't, it is hard to say that we are building anything for the future. Most of these current moves are built for the next 12 months. If we sign our players long-term like other teams are beginning to do then perhaps we can talk about 2012. Until then we don't even know who is going to be here.

[rayzor]

both. not sure why that is so hard to believe.

i would also throw in that we are preparing for the next coach.

[MadHatter]

both. not sure why that is so hard to believe.

i would also throw in that we are preparing for the next coach.

It is absolutely for both reasons.

Preparing the costs for the team for a potential lockout. JR is trying to ensure that he does not have to lay-off any employees during a probable lock-out. Lowering the payroll helps achieve this.

He also has young players that need to be on the field. He was able to dump bloated (most) salaries without a cap hit. Dump them after a CBA and he would be required to take a Cap Hit.

Long term....great position.

Short term....taking a calculated risk tha tthe young guys are more athletic and ready to step up.

[panthers55]

It is absolutely for both reasons.

Preparing the costs for the team for a potential lockout. JR is trying to ensure that he does not have to lay-off any employees during a probable lock-out. Lowering the payroll helps achieve this.

He also has young players that need to be on the field. He was able to dump bloated (most) salaries without a cap hit. Dump them after a CBA and he would be required to take a Cap Hit.

Long term....great position.

Short term....taking a calculated risk tha tthe young guys are more athletic and ready to step up.

Other than being young and inexperienced- where are the long-term moves. Most of our young core aren't under contract beyond this year. We are likely not to have our current coach and staff next year and our GM has an extension he hasn't bothered to sign. If we change coaches we are looking as possible major changes in personnel again next year. All of you assume that we are going to lock up all the young guys and move forward as a team. That could happen for sure but right now it hasn't. Long term we have nothing, short term is all there is. Sure we are all hopeful that things will work out as we hoped but the last 6 months have shown me that you can't assume anything. I doubt most anybody would have predicted the changes in the last 6 months. There is no guarantee that the next 6 months don't have as many or more changes in the works.

[Brooklyn Bully]

80% lockout prep.

[MadHatter]

Other than being young and inexperienced- where are the long-term moves. Most of our young core aren't under contract beyond this year. We are likely not to have our current coach and staff next year and our GM has an extension he hasn't bothered to sign. If we change coaches we are looking as possible major changes in personnel again next year. All of you assume that we are going to lock up all the young guys and move forward as a team. That could happen for sure but right now it hasn't. Long term we have nothing, short term is all there is. Sure we are all hopeful that things will work out as we hoped but the last 6 months have shown me that you can't assume anything. I doubt most anybody would have predicted the changes in the last 6 months. There is no guarantee that the next 6 months don't have as many or more changes in the works.

The moves will allow us to lock up our young guys long term.

Given where TD, Beason, Williams, Kalil were drafted...and their base salaries...the current rules make it EXTREMELY difficult to work out extensions.

As for the coaches....I like what one expert said. All coaches are in the last year of their contracts....some will just be paid to be given the boot.