I still don't think cutting/letting go the vets is a big problem.

[Fiz]

On the defensive side of the ball where the majority of the losses were, there hasn't been significant drop off.

Diggs was lost in the linebacking corps, but they've been arguably the best unit.

Maybe some leadership was lost with the Harris trade, but that's really difficult to quantify, and with the exception of Godfrey's usual lapses of concentration (which would have been there anyway since god knows fox wouldn't have started Martin over him) the safety play has been alright.

They're not getting any pressure from the middle of the line, but it's not like they were doing that with Lewis last year or Kemo on IR.

Overall I think everyone would agree that the defense has been fine, and have been doing the best they can with the cards they've been dealt (being on the field for 45 minutes a game)

On the other side of the ball, neither Moose nor Hoover are even in the league anymore, so maybe we dodged a bullet on that one. We know that Fox loves sending vets out there after they've outlived their usefulness (rucker, morgan, lucas, foster, jake, etc) and as long as we're not getting production we might as well be giving young people snaps.

The problem as I see it is on the other end of not bringing anyone in. throughout fox's tenure, he's constantly brought in vets to fill in the gaps, and this is the first year I can remember that they didn't do that, with the exception of like ed johnson or whatever but who the f**k is that guy

i'm not excusing richardson or anything and please don't think I am.

However i feel people bitching about the cuts need to refocus their rage to three things related to the salary purge

• not signing a veteran QB. regardless of who was going to start at QB, they needed someone they could turn to for advice that's been through the rigors of an nfl season. as it has turned out, Clausen is the QB going forward. The only person he has to talk to is a shell shocked moore and text messages from Mark Sanchez
  
• not bringing in a veteran wide receiver. I literally do not care who it was. there is simply not another nfl caliber wide receiver on the team at this moment. steve smith has obviously not taken to the role of mentor.
  

  “Whether they want to hear it or not, they get in the game and all of sudden things change and they’re getting smashed up-side the head,” he told Sports Illustrated. “Then they’ll come to me and I’ll kind of give them their space and I’m like, ‘What do I know?’ ”

  
  At some point someone like David gettis or Lefell needs someone they can turn to, and as much as I love the guy I'm not sure Steve Smith is the man.
  
• the scare with Wharton today, and the play of the offensive line in general, has shown that they might benefit from veteran depth. in 2008, the Panthers built their dominant line by signing every single free agent offensive lineman they could find then sticking with the one that rose to the top. I don't know how much that would have helped the offensive line with their early season struggles, but they're one twisted ankle away from starting someone you've never heard of
  

it's impossible to quantify the whole leadership thing, and the "young team" thing is pretty tired, but i think jerry richardson has really done his own team and the young players he was leaning on a disservice by throwing them to the wolves without anyone to guide them through the forest.

the offensive was predicated on two things: Moore being who we thought he was and a wide receiver stepping up. now that both of those assumptions have blown up in their face, it's clear that the offense will be ineffective all year, and his statement season might cost him far more.

It's possible that gettis, lefell, and clausen don't develop at all. we've seen plenty of QBs get shell shocked, and everyone knows wide receivers are a crap shoot. we might be ruining all of these young guys before they even get a chance.

basically what i'm saying is that all the cool kids have stopped bitching at jerry for leading the charge on cuts. that isn't having nearly as large an impact as him not signing anyone.

anyway here is a hot chick

[Dpantherman]

good to see you

[rico6]

That and the fact that he refused to sign any players in the offseason.

[frash.exe]

this is a better gif

back on topic though completely agree. JR/Hurney dropped the ball on a job half done.

[Skew]

2006 called.

It wants it's hot chick picture back.

[Fiz]

i mean i don't think you can include hurney in this problem at all. he was never the one signing the check and all the evidence indicates this is coming from the top.

just because hurney is willing to fall on his sword on the radio shouldn't distract you from what is obviously the cause of all of this.

[Dpantherman]

That and the fact that he refused to sign any players in the offseason.

he said that...

[Darth Waya]

I wasn't a fan of the veteran purge. But you're right. The larger damage was done by the slashing of payroll & not bringing any veterans in. Of 32 teams, our payroll is #24. If the cap were in place this year, we would be below the floor. I know Mr. Richardson models himself along the lines of the Rooneys & Wellington Mara, & often puts the league ahead of his own team's interests. I also understand that he is a big part of the CBA negotiations, & is putting his money (or rather, NOT putting it) where his mouth is on rolling back player costs. The people that suffer for that however, are us the fans.

To couple a bargain basement payroll with a ticket price increase takes balls that clang though.

[Skew]

i mean i don't think you can include hurney in this problem at all. he was never the one signing the check and all the evidence indicates this is coming from the top.

just because hurney is willing to fall on his sword on the radio shouldn't distract you from what is obviously the cause of all of this.

I agree with you here, and your first post.

I do think JR cut Hurney and Fox's hands off when it came to adding to this roster this year.

[Fiz]

[Darth Waya]

i mean i don't think you can include hurney in this problem at all. he was never the one signing the check and all the evidence indicates this is coming from the top.

No, I think you can and should include Hurney & Fox as part of the problem. They're the ones who have never developed any draft picks or young free agent pickups in the passing game. Whether this is the result of an inability to identify talent, or a result of philosophy/stubbornness is irrelevant. The result is a joke of an offense, & that blame falls squarely at their feet.

[SOJA]

your right Fiz!!!!...................... that chick is really hot. But I do agree. The only person that might still be making a contribution would be Vincent but who knows at this point. Hoover was injury riddled, Moose was washed up, and it looks like Harris is on the decline of his career as well.

Just wondering but does your picture mean you are still sold on Moore?

[CRA]

Good points. A vet QB was needed. Again the Pike pick was just dumb. Jimmy needs one. Needs one in his ear during the week and on the sideline. Same could be said for Moore.

Smitty is a beast WR. Never been anything more than a one man wrecking crew. We need a Moose type player. Youth is great but they can't learn everything from coaches.....especially the ones here

[Fiz]

No, I think you can and should include Hurney & Fox as part of the problem. They're the ones who have never developed any draft picks or young free agent pickups in the passing game. Whether this is the result of an inability to identify talent, or a result of philosophy/stubbornness is irrelevant. The result is a joke of an offense, & that blame falls squarely at their feet.

well i'm not sure what hurney has to do with developing talent, but i agree that identifying wide receivers hasn't exactly been a strength for hurney.

most GMs have a weakness. hurney might suck at spotting wide receivers and defensive line talent, but he (and whomever helps him (which is fox)) are very good at spotting linebackers, running backs, and secondary players.

they've tried to do stuff with wide receivers. i wouldn't put colbert on hurney, since he clearly had talent (2004 season) and then just fell off. carter was miserable, the westbrook trade didn't work out, and well obviously dwayne is a disaster.

basically what im saying is you can't curse hurney for what hasn't happened and ignore him for what has.