Beason contract ploy - surely not...?

[PantherProfessor]

It seems very likely that in the upcoming season John Fox may do the unthinkable and move the captain his defense to a new position after 3 remarkable seasons averaging 140 tackles per season.

The argument being, this would enable the panthers to get 2008 3rd rd. pick Dan Conner on the field at MLB. Moving Beason to weakside linebacker woud enable him to be the dominate playmaker in the LB corps and utilize his speed and coverage skills in Ron Meeks defensive scheme.

This all sounds great in theory, but do you really want to move a top 3 MLB to a new position for 1 season for stop gap due to the injury of Davis? Would the panthers not be better suited to find an sucessor to Davis in case his injury is career ending, or keeps him injured for more than a few games each season?

We didnt move peppers to DT last season when kemo went down in training camp, Thomas davis didnt move back to safety when Harris missed a few games, etc... So the question really needs to be asked, what is the motivation for doing this, IF it doesnt put the best LB's on the field? (which is very well may, but we need to wait until the end of TC to see who wins the spots)

With all the roster moves to cut aging vets this off-season, the panthers have in fact gotten younger, probably healthier, and less experienced. They have also gotten a solid group of hungry players looking to "step it up". So i am buying into the policitally correct way to view all the moves, it should be the best way to go, long term. But, it is no secret the panthers have also gotten much CHEAPER in the offseason, electing not to re-sign or extend any of its key players. With Mr. Richardson heading up the negotiations with the NFLPA, he is setting the example for all ownership. but this is old news, and not the point of my post.

The fact that Fox is even considering moving Beason to another position is a little troubling to any fairweather fan, but for those dedicated to the team, you can see the logic in some of it. but, is this just another move to help reduce salary?

how so you say?

Lets say Beason has a great season at the will and Conner is solid if unspectacular at MLB, the offseason rolls around. Davis is traded, or comes back slowly from injury. What do you do with Beason's contract? do you re-sign him as the dominate MLB that he was for the previous 3 seasons? Or, do you sign him as a superb WLB?

MLB's make top dollar, as shown by this offseason extensions of Patrick Willis (5yr $50 mil) & Demeco Ryans (6yr $48 mil). Weakside linebackers arent going to command this type of money. With the current state of the franchise i dont see them over-paying at any position. So what do you do?

Well, lets hope that Beason isnt given some type of low-ball, slap in the face type offer that gets him disgruntled, or makes him feel underappreciated. He IS the heart of this defense now, and we cant afford another peppers situation where he just doesnt want to be here.

Lets hope this decision to CONSIDER Beason at the WLB position is purely football related, and it all works out. but, we have to ask ourselves, would any other team in the league be considering making this move? what would we be saying if the cowboys or eagles were thinking of doing something like this?:lurk5:

[CRA]

they won't save money moving Beason to WLB this year. Davis was on pace to have a better season than Beason before going down. Few teams run a cover 2....but if they do the beast needs to be the WLB (like a Derrick Brooks). Just b/c there are not a lot of dominate 4-3 WLB today in the NFL doesn't mean Beason wouldn't be. Teams are just moving to the 3-4 and no one is running a great cover 2 scheme anymore.

[SorthNarolina]

pass the popcorn please.

[NJPanthers12]

conspiracist

[BF91]

I think your idea is a little ridiculous. Its all about getting our three best linebackers on the field and in a spot where they can be successful. If Beason can play both the Mike and the Will (the LB spot Meeks' defense is designed around), and the coaching staff thinks Connor can play MLB better than anyone else on the roster can play WLB, then Beason should move to the outside and Connor should be in the middle.

Your comments about Davis and Peppers moving are off-base too. Davis had gained weight and become a LB. He was no longer a safety, and with good reason. Peppers wasn't moved to the inside because he was our best pass-rusher, thus more suited to come off the edge. Besides, moves were made to pick up other DTs through the season.

I think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill with this.

[PantherProfessor]

they won't save money moving Beason to WLB this year. Davis was on pace to have a better season than Beason before going down. Few teams run a cover 2....but if they do the beast needs to be the WLB (like a Derrick Brooks). Just b/c there are a lot of dominate 4-3 WLB today in the NFL doesn't mean Beason wouldn't be. Teams are just moving to the 3-4 and no one is running a great cover 2 scheme anymore.

agreed, there was much speculation last season about both beason and Davis' contract and every stated that davis would not get the same money as beason, probably around 20-25% less due to the position.

so my point is, beason needs to be paid based on where he is best, and not given a cheap shot by the ownership by moving to a position of less value in a contract year, just to save money. i dont think this the case, but you never know.

Beason would be a monster at WLB, no doubt, but at what cost?

[PantherProfessor]

I think your idea is a little ridiculous. Its all about getting our three best linebackers on the field and in a spot where they can be successful. If Beason can play both the Mike and the Will (the LB spot Meeks' defense is designed around), and the coaching staff thinks Connor can play MLB better than anyone else on the roster can play WLB, then Beason should move to the outside and Connor should be in the middle.

Your comments about Davis and Peppers moving are off-base too. Davis had gained weight and become a LB. He was no longer a safety, and with good reason. Peppers wasn't moved to the inside because he was our best pass-rusher, thus more suited to come off the edge. Besides, moves were made to pick up other DTs through the season.

I think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill with this.

eh, maybe it is. what else you guys want to discuss, T.O.?

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I think your idea is a little ridiculous. Its all about getting our three best linebackers on the field and in a spot where they can be successful. If Beason can play both the Mike and the Will (the LB spot Meeks' defense is designed around), and the coaching staff thinks Connor can play MLB better than anyone else on the roster can play WLB, then Beason should move to the outside and Connor should be in the middle.

Agreed. Criticize moving Beason to the Will all you want, but to say the team is doing it as part of some ploy to pay Beason less down the road is absurd.

You can bet that when Beason becomes a free-agent, there will be plenty of teams ready to pay him top dollar, no matter if he's been playing the Will and not the Mike.

[Mr. Burgundy]

interesting thought...Another note is that Beason mentioned on NFLN that he would rather play MLB but will do anything the team asks of him

[coxc63]

Even the move to WLB shouldn't affect the salary that I think beason has earned. As u mentioned before he is the heart of the defense and he deserves Willis money. IDT the FO is dumb enough to rip beason off and give him any reason to be disgruntled with the franchise. This D would fall apart without beason leading it. (I honestly don't see another player that could be a leader for our defense)

[PantherProfessor]

Agreed. Criticize moving Beason to the Will all you want, but to say the team is doing it as part of some ploy to pay Beason less down the road is absurd.

You can bet that when Beason becomes a free-agent, there will be plenty of teams ready to pay him top dollar, no matter if he's been playing the Will and not the Mike.

I am not criticizing the move actually, i think TC will show us all we need to know about the LB battle. I agree Beason will command top dollar, and ANY team would be lucky to land him. I just dont want the FO amidst a possible head coaching change to piss off one of our best players inadvertantly with some crap about a contract.

[NJPanthers12]

I am not criticizing the move actually, i think TC will show us all we need to know about the LB battle. I agree Beason will command top dollar, and ANY team would be lucky to land him. I just dont want the FO amidst a possible head coaching change to piss off one of our best players inadvertantly with some crap about a contract.

who cares if the front office pisses off Jon Beason anyway because the 2011 season will be locked out anway and the world will be ending in December of2012 before the Super Bowl, therefore it is this year or bust.

[Jangler]

Yeah, if the worry is Beason is going to another team...you can stop worrying. Look at all the crap they put up with with Morgan (no offense Dan if you are still here) when you have one of the best you keep him. Beason is not going anywhere anytime soon.

[Dpantherman]

boo, hissss