A little perspective regarding Mr. Richardson

[Floppin]

I don't understand how the money situation is so hard for some people to understand. Jerry Richardson has one true job as a panthers owner, and that is to maintain the franchise as a viable profitable business. He will make sure this is done in the most efficient way possible because he is a savvy business man.

The counterpoint is that Mr. Richardson is a football man. He played the game, he loves the game. He decided to own a team because of this love for the game. He fought for a team in the Carolinas and he will do everything in his power to make sure that this team is a success, both financially and competitively. He did not have to purchase a franchise as a business move, he could have invested in a million other ways. He did not purchase a franchise as a glamor buy, like a little dog in his purse. He purchased a team because he loves football. He just happens to be a good business man as well.

Anyone trying to polarize the signings (or lack thereof), cuttings and other off-season moves as either purely football or purely financial are completely bereft of logic. One could argue that every cut made was based on football ability alone and it would be tough to argue, but likewise the cuts allowed for cheaper (and arguably more talented) younger talent to see the field. The lack of free agent activity is purely financially motivated although some of the moves that people speculated should be done would never have been done in a season without special circumstances like this one. (signing TO for instance)

At the end of the day Mr. Richardson has a responsibility to run a business that has a solid future and still provides a quality product under any current stresses or pressure on the market. This has yet to be seen for this team, but anyone who seems to think it's coincidental that so many important contracts are in FA after this year is fooling themselves. Is it possible that Jerry has taken his stance to the extreme because he is on the chair for the CBA? Sure. Is it also possible that unlike many gum flappers Mr. Richardson does what he says he's going to do and doesn't back down. He carries through because he knows it's whats best for his business and his product. Definitely.

Jerry is making sure that this team can go forwards with at least some semblance of success while making sure that all his other employees that are not football players can maintain salary and benefits. Anyone that points to teams like the Jets and the Ravens spending money as proof that Mr. Richardson could be doing the same are fooling themselves. These teams are taking fliers, hoping to catch a lucky wind. They are betting all their eggs into either the CBA being worked out and there being no lockout or the hype that winning a superbowl creates will enable them to weather the financial storm they are about to hit. The odds of them hitting the latter, no matter how much they spend, based on historical trends is very bad and these teams are basically playing russian roulette with their franchises.

Me personally. I'll trust my owner who has proven that it is possible to build a mid/small market team into a financial juggernaut without all the petty poo that so many franchises whine about. I'll take the proven business man over the louts and the Al Davis'. Richardson is doing the rational thing for this franchise, it is true what they say that some men who take risks in a time of crisis rise above all comers on the other end. It is equally true that for every one success story there are thousands more who end up picking through poo for a piece of corn just to survive. I'd rather take the guarantee than the chance of poo picking if you ask me.

[panthers55]

I don't understand how the money situation is so hard for some people to understand. Jerry Richardson has one true job as a panthers owner, and that is to maintain the franchise as a viable profitable business. He will make sure this is done in the most efficient way possible because he is a savvy business man.

The counterpoint is that Mr. Richardson is a football man. He played the game, he loves the game. He decided to own a team because of this love for the game. He fought for a team in the Carolinas and he will do everything in his power to make sure that this team is a success, both financially and competitively. He did not have to purchase a franchise as a business move, he could have invested in a million other ways. He did not purchase a franchise as a glamor buy, like a little dog in his purse. He purchased a team because he loves football. He just happens to be a good business man as well.

Anyone trying to polarize the signings (or lack thereof), cuttings and other off-season moves as either purely football or purely financial are completely bereft of logic. One could argue that every cut made was based on football ability alone and it would be tough to argue, but likewise the cuts allowed for cheaper (and arguably more talented) younger talent to see the field. The lack of free agent activity is purely financially motivated although some of the moves that people speculated should be done would never have been done in a season without special circumstances like this one. (signing TO for instance)

At the end of the day Mr. Richardson has a responsibility to run a business that has a solid future and still provides a quality product under any current stresses or pressure on the market. This has yet to be seen for this team, but anyone who seems to think it's coincidental that so many important contracts are in FA after this year is fooling themselves. Is it possible that Jerry has taken his stance to the extreme because he is on the chair for the CBA? Sure. Is it also possible that unlike many gum flappers Mr. Richardson does what he says he's going to do and doesn't back down. He carries through because he knows it's whats best for his business and his product. Definitely.

Jerry is making sure that this team can go forwards with at least some semblance of success while making sure that all his other employees that are not football players can maintain salary and benefits. Anyone that points to teams like the Jets and the Ravens spending money as proof that Mr. Richardson could be doing the same are fooling themselves. These teams are taking fliers, hoping to catch a lucky wind. They are betting all their eggs into either the CBA being worked out and there being no lockout or the hype that winning a superbowl creates with enable them to weather the financial storm they are about to hit. The odds of them hitting the latter, no matter how much they spend, based on historical trends is very bad and these teams are basically playing russian roulette with their franchises.

Me personally. I'll trust my owner who has proven that it is possible to build a mid/small market team into a financial juggernaut without all the petty poo that so many franchises whine about. I'll take the proven business man over the louts and the Al Davis'. Richardson is doing the rational thing for this franchise, it is true what they say that some men who take risks in a time of crisis rise above all comers on the other end. It is equally true that for every one success story there are thousands more who end up picking through poo for a piece of corn just to survive. I'd rather take the guarantee than the chance of poo picking if you ask me.

I agree with your premise and logic. It isn't totally financially driven and clearly isn't talent driven.

I think the answer lies in the middle as you do but my take is that we are getting the best talent we can for the cheapest price. The overriding variable is financial but if you take that as a given, then we are trying to build the best team we can with that as an overlay. He wants to be competitive and field a winning team within a budget, however austere.

I don't think we have aspirations for the Super Bowl and are clearly not all in as years past. We are different from teams like the Jets who signed guys like Revis because they realized they were not a playoff team without him. They want to win now and are willing to spend money on it.

Richardson from outward appearances wants to win as long as we can do it within a severe budget. It isn't hard to do and we all have experience doing it. Do you want Filet Mignon at 12 bucks a pound or ribeye for half that. Both are steak and are good, just one is great but it costs more. Most folks would settle for less as long as the price justifies it. That in my opinion is exactly what we are doing. Settling for decent because it is cheap.

[Sandy Claws]

A lot of folks were whining about how the D would suck as the axe fell on Lewis, Diggs, Harris traded, and no effort to resign Peppers. WHile still the preseason, the D unexpectedly was able to get pressure and looked pretty good against the run, both areas where a lot of fans were expecting collapse. Is it possible that the fan's assessment of the need for a big name #2 is just as inaccurate?

[Floppin]

A lot of folks were whining about how the D would suck as the axe fell on Lewis, Diggs, Harris traded, and no effort to resign Peppers. WHile still the preseason, the D unexpectedly was able to get pressure and looked pretty good against the run, both areas where a lot of fans were expecting collapse. Is it possible that the fan's assessment of the need for a big name #2 is just as inaccurate?

It is possible but not nearly as probably. The issue with the defense was that no one had seen the group that we now field play together, so there were a lot of chicken littles with no real facts other than these new guys were "career backups", "no names", "late round draft choices" and the like.

We have seen this WR corp in action however, and it hasn't looked overly promising. We have not seen our offense as a whole so it is still a probability that the dire need has been overstated. It has heretofore not been decided.

[Stone]

when we as fans can look at this team as a business and nothing else it will make your life easier. the panthers are an investment for JR. one that i think he cares deeply about but still it is a business. long term success and a legacy are what is important to JR. winning is part of the plan but making emotional decisions are not what it is about.

[Nu Guns]

All we are asking for is 1WR....thats not breaking the bank!!

Anyways...its not going to happen as predicted and its time to move on.

Go Panthers !

[Wither]

Look, some of us here actually have inside sources.

Get me something of Smitty's and I'll leave you alone and never argue you with you again on this board.

Unfortunately, we have mostly selfish, entitled, whiny little ***** who are so caught up in their own wants and desires they're blind to the world around them.

Yeah, something like that too.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Get me something of Smitty's and I'll leave you alone and never argue you with you again on this board.

You wouldn't want what this source can get. Well, you might, but it'd be gross.

[Punisher]

The difference between calling Jerry Richardson "Mr" and Sam Mills Fan "Mr" is that Jerry Richardson has earned people respects. I would probably not call him Mr. on a fan message board, but if I was with him in person, you better believe it. How much of a douchebag do you have to be to not see this. nm

[Wither]

You wouldn't want what this source can get. Well, you might, but it'd be gross.

Orly? Try me.