Would you feel better?

[Big Ed]

A False Better.

Some where down the road they would have left or retired anyway.

Its easy to feel good about what you know you have

You will never progress if you settle for what you have ,and you will never know what you could have if you don't give someone a chance to step up .

[monstercat]

its not all about pass rush folks, those guys stop the run too, if you want to see what tyler and leonard can do, go watch the miami game again and think to yourself, dang we are not going to have jp either... that is what our oline is going to look like

Uh, Louis Leonard didn't even play in that game, and tank Tyler didn't even join the Panthers until after the season started, so he was way behind in this defense compared to Lewis, who didn't do anything special himself.

[House]

Uh, Louis Leonard didn't even play in that game, and tank Tyler didn't even join the Panthers until after the season started, so he was way behind in this defense compared to Lewis, who didn't do anything special himself.

Add in the fact tha Miami ran all over everybody that they went up against and I think you can kill that arguement.

[Anybodyhome]

Lewis is gone because he's 6 years older than the next DT on the roster.

Kemo: Panthers released DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu.

A botched Achilles' surgery, combined with an impending $9.3 million option bonus, sealed Kemoeatu's fate in Carolina. Once a stout run defender, Kemo won't draw much interest at age 31 coming off a career-threatening injury. The Panthers may try to re-sign him this summer for a minimum-type deal.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Harris: Chris Harris revealed on his Twitter account Tuesday that he will be traded to the Bears.

We've seen several Twitter disclosures fall by the wayside, so we'll await confirmation on this one. The Panthers appeared to be souring on Harris after a torn labrum to end 2008 and a knee injury last season. Still, he'd be a major upgrade at strong safety in a weak Bears secondary. Harris was originally drafted by Chicago back in 2005.

Source: Chris Harris on Twitter

Peppers and his departure need no further discussion.

Diggs is 32 and Johnson 29. While Diggs has always been a Fox favorite, the time has come to move forward and Jamar Williams from Chicago was touted by many in NFL circles to be an upgrade over Connor and/or Anderson.

[KillerKat]

never saw the problem with cutting replaceable vets

[SorthNarolina]

Landon Johnson was a total FA bust.

Diggs was starting to really get poor in coverage.

Lewis would be much better in rotation, he had more sacks as a backup here than as a starter. He shouldn't have started.

Harris was a great old school strong saftey. Kept runs to the inside, forced a lot of fumbles, and he was an intimidating hitter. Still though godfrey will at least do as well and he has the ability to be better in coverage.

Peppers is going to be hard as hell to replace. Every DE and DT we have is going to need to play their asses off.

[panthers55]

Lewis is gone because he's 6 years older than the next DT on the roster.

Kemo: Panthers released DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu.

A botched Achilles' surgery, combined with an impending $9.3 million option bonus, sealed Kemoeatu's fate in Carolina. Once a stout run defender, Kemo won't draw much interest at age 31 coming off a career-threatening injury. The Panthers may try to re-sign him this summer for a minimum-type deal.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Diggs is 32. While Diggs has always been a Fox favorite, the time has come to move forward and Jamar Williams from Chicago was touted by many in NFL circles to be an upgrade over Connor and/or Anderson.

Kemo was picked up by Washington to play the nose and could be the starter depending on what haynesworth does.

Digg was snatched up by St Louis and Lewis by New England. All of them found homes relatively quickly.

Truth is neither of those big options to Kemo or Lewis were ever going to be paid and by not paying them it just voided out the rest of the contract meaning they were on a one year contract. The bottom line is all of thise moves were saying money not getting better. How we gain or lose remains to be seen. But to say at this point we are going to be better is optimistic at the least.

[Dpantherman]

id feel better if we got past that lewis and everyone else that we got rid of is gone forever and isn't coming back.

[ladypanther]

. What does 'jiffy' actually mean?

My guess is it means you are from the South.

[thennek]

I'd feel better if the 'younger guys' (specifically Leonard & Tyler) hired to replace the 'vets' actually played enough last year for the Panthers to know if they really are going to be better. Right now, I think it is anyone's guess.

Last year, only Kemo was out and it was enough to show how weak the D-Line was especially the first 4-5 games. Now the D-Line is missing not only Kemo, but also Peppers, and Lewis. At the very least, the new D-Line does not have much depth if injuries occur.

[KillerKat]

Im still pissed we chose Nick Hayden over RaShon Harris last year. RaShon would've been a great addition not only last season but this season as well. He's also a huge body at 6'5 321 lbs. I cringe every time I think about this move.

[pantherclaw]

Having those guys back wouldn't make me any better.

Seriously, diggs was decent lb that rarely made mistakes. He was nothing but a role player when he was signed to the team.

Lewis is the only other player that is worth mentioning in this thread....and having him back wouldn't change the fact that the panthers are changing over most of the defensive line. With time to think about it, ithe change over will be quicker with lewis gone. He could have only remained another couple years at the max. Let the change happen. The sooner, the better.

[Khyber53]

When they talk about releasing a veteran player like Lewis, the coaching staff has access to a very important source of information that we don't: the trainers.

Lewis hadn't apparently suffered any major injuries, no missed games, etc... But it isn't always about the big injury like Kemo suffered or the concussions that took Morgan away from the game. Sometimes it is just the wear and tear a body suffers as the game is played. Perhaps Lewis was needing a bit more time in the whirlpool than before, a bit more taping up, or time on the massage table. Nothing major, but it's like noticing that the car you are driving's mileage is getting up there and it's time to trade before it breaks down.

Hate to see him go, along with others, but it's a rough game and a winner stays, loser goes league. Staying competitive is the first goal of any team.