would JR even pay for a #1 pick?

[Mvp2014]

I don't think most folks don't think richardson wants to win. The points raised where that winning takes a back seat to the CBA agreement and gaining an advantage in negotiating by not spending money on free agents and getting rid of many veterans.

The other point I raise is that I think that he spent money in 2009 for a mediocre product and said consciously that if we are going to do that, we could win 8 games with rookies and draft picks and save a ton of money. When Peppers left he started unloading guys as evidenced by his signing Diggs to a 3 year extension and then cutting him 3 months later. It was obviously a change in plans.

He just didn't think we would be that bad although every other knowledgable guy out there said as much.

He wants to win as long as it stays in a budget. That is reasonable acctually as long as it works.

No, not really. JR is a businessman and a good one, he saw that there was most likely going to be a lockout in 2011 and also saw that we were in a situation where we needed to rebuild anyway since Fox/Hurney couldnt field a consistent team 2 years in a row It's obviously backfired on him but imagine how he would look if we ended up 8-8 and 40 million in cap space and minimal salary going into the lockout, pretty nifty. Biggest problem I think most people have is that he raised the ticket prices and didnt address the fans on his plans. The people with PSL's are pissed right now, pay more money for tickets that you're forced to buy and then JR puts a TERRIBLE product on the field. It would be a shocker if we didnt spend a lot this offseason on a D lineman and a safety

[jtm]

No, not really. JR is a businessman and a good one, he saw that there was most likely going to be a lockout in 2011 and also saw that we were in a situation where we needed to rebuild anyway since Fox/Hurney couldnt field a consistent team 2 years in a row It's obviously backfired on him but imagine how he would look if we ended up 8-8 and 40 million in cap space and minimal salary going into the lockout, pretty nifty. Biggest problem I think most people have is that he raised the ticket prices and didnt address the fans on his plans. The people with PSL's are pissed right now, pay more money for tickets that you're forced to buy and then JR puts a TERRIBLE product on the field. It would be a shocker if we didnt spend a lot this offseason on a D lineman and a safety

I am not making excuses for JR, but I did not to dispel the myth that making money is a bad thing. Winning teams make a lot more than losing teams.

I have never been a season ticket holder so I can't speak to the ticket price hike. I get back to a lot of games but I have always gotten tixs from friends or scalped. That sucks for PSL owners because they are the reason we have the Panthers. I remember when they were selling PSLs. I was in college but it was impressive that they all sold out in a day.

[mav1234]

snip

this is indeed how JR was thinking he said, though I don't know that Fox would have been offered a contract even if he had let his guys go more easily. take it or leave it, think what you want about him and the situation... this is what he has said to people and it's what I believe happened, but people are free to disagree.

The one thing that is making me nervous is the non signing of Beason. Right now he is the best player on this team, not to mention a stand up guy, and a leader.

that is true. however, none of our players have been signed, and signing only one of them would send the wrong message to our other players (namely that the FO was full of poo when it said nobody would get signed until after the CBA was finalized ).

I do not think we're going to lose Beason.

[mav1234]

The one thing that is making me nervous is the non signing of Beason. Right now he is the best player on this team, not to mention a stand up guy, and a leader.

that is true. however, none of our players have been signed, and signing only one of them would send the wrong message to our other players (namely that the FO was full of poo when it said nobody would get signed until after the CBA was finalized ).

I do not think we're going to lose Beason.

[KatsAzz]

brandon how easy do you think it is to "trade down"?

In my opinion SF would jump at the chance to trade up and select Andrew Luck since David Carr is the only QB under contract.

My guess is they would also try to sign Harbaugh as HC,since both him and Luck are already established in the area.

I would venture to said they would be the ones trying to make us a package deal we couldn't refuse.

[thefuzz]

this is indeed how JR was thinking he said, though I don't know that Fox would have been offered a contract even if he had let his guys go more easily. take it or leave it, think what you want about him and the situation... this is what he has said to people and it's what I believe happened, but people are free to disagree.

that is true. however, none of our players have been signed, and signing only one of them would send the wrong message to our other players (namely that the FO was full of poo when it said nobody would get signed until after the CBA was finalized ).

I do not think we're going to lose Beason.

I too hope that we are able to retain him, but I do have my doubts.

However I don't agree with the sending the wrong message thing. We re signed Gross and Gamble, now it's time to resign Beason.

It doesn't matter what you have said, you sign your best players. Look at the Chargers. They said no new contracts until the CBA is done and then extended their 3 most important players on O. Rivers was first, then Gates, then McNeill. I think it sends the right message. Play hard, practice hard, be a good leader, and we will reward you.

[Mvp2014]

I am not making excuses for JR, but I did not to dispel the myth that making money is a bad thing. Winning teams make a lot more than losing teams.

I have never been a season ticket holder so I can't speak to the ticket price hike. I get back to a lot of games but I have always gotten tixs from friends or scalped. That sucks for PSL owners because they are the reason we have the Panthers. I remember when they were selling PSLs. I was in college but it was impressive that they all sold out in a day.

Like I said, he's a businessman. I also think he loves football and wants a ring but at the end of the day he's got a 800 million dollar franchise here and the last thing he wants is another season like this to deface the value any more. I just hope this CBA goes through, a lockout will ruin the sport.

[jtm]

Like I said, he's a businessman. I also think he loves football and wants a ring but at the end of the day he's got a 800 million dollar franchise here and the last thing he wants is another season like this to deface the value any more. I just hope this CBA goes through, a lockout will ruin the sport.

Well said and I agree 100%. I just wish others realized that regardless of what they think about JR's motives, he is all about winning. Even if you think all he cares about is money, which I think is far from the truth, a winning team makes more money than a losing team. Ad sales are huge for revenue and it is tough to sell a lot of ads to an empty stadium and for televised games no one is watching.

At the end of the day having an owner like JR helps me get through seasons like this. If we had George Shinn running the Panthers I would have jumped off a cliff a long time ago.

[mav1234]

I too hope that we are able to retain him, but I do have my doubts.

However I don't agree with the sending the wrong message thing. We re signed Gross and Gamble, now it's time to resign Beason.

It doesn't matter what you have said, you sign your best players. Look at the Chargers. They said no new contracts until the CBA is done and then extended their 3 most important players on O. Rivers was first, then Gates, then McNeill. I think it sends the right message. Play hard, practice hard, be a good leader, and we will reward you.

Uhh, I don't think we re-signed Gross and Gamble this offseason.

The issue is you could make an argument for A LOT of the players we need to extend making a big impact and being very important. You strengthen future negotiating positions and avoid stepping on toes by taking this line imo. I don't think any of the Panthers are upset about it at all right now all that much (cept Marshall), but I bet they would be if Beason got a deal right now and nobody else did.

[Mr. Scot]

In my opinion SF would jump at the chance to trade up and select Andrew Luck since David Carr is the only QB under contract.

My guess is they would also try to sign Harbaugh as HC,since both him and Luck are already established in the area.

I would venture to said they would be the ones trying to make us a package deal we couldn't refuse.

As of right now, they hold the number eight pick.

With a quarterback like Luck in play, trading up to number one from that spot would take an offer verging on the ridiculous.

[thefuzz]

Uhh, I don't think we re-signed Gross and Gamble this offseason.

The issue is you could make an argument for A LOT of the players we need to extend making a big impact and being very important. You strengthen future negotiating positions and avoid stepping on toes by taking this line imo. I don't think any of the Panthers are upset about it at all right now all that much (cept Marshall), but I bet they would be if Beason got a deal right now and nobody else did.

I understand your position, although I don't agree with it.

Jerry knew that the lockout was on it's way, and chose to extend both Gamble, and Gross, but not Beason, D Will etc....We thought that Gamble and Gross were needed for long term success, and we took care of them, it's time to do the same for Beason.

If I am in the position, I don't even hesitate to let the team know that I am locking up our best player.

[panthers55]

I understand your position, although I don't agree with it.

Jerry knew that the lockout was on it's way, and chose to extend both Gamble, and Gross, but not Beason, D Will etc....We thought that Gamble and Gross were needed for long term success, and we took care of them, it's time to do the same for Beason.

If I am in the position, I don't even hesitate to let the team know that I am locking up our best player.

With potentially a 100 million needed in signing bonuses just to keep those guys who have to be resigned this year, there won't be money to sign Beason when there isn't an absolute need to do anything until next year. Youi have to decide on Kalil, Williams, Marshall, Davis and a host of others on 1 year contracts or tenders before deciding to sign up guys who won't be free agents until 2012 or later.

There is only so much money to spend and signing bonuses have to be paid as soon as the contract is completed.

That is why Gross and Gamble were signed, they were going to be free agents if they weren't signed when they were.

[CatMan72]

I understand your position, although I don't agree with it.

Jerry knew that the lockout was on it's way, and chose to extend both Gamble, and Gross, but not Beason, D Will etc....We thought that Gamble and Gross were needed for long term success, and we took care of them, it's time to do the same for Beason.

If I am in the position, I don't even hesitate to let the team know that I am locking up our best player.

It's no reflection on Beason, DWill or anyone else that the Panthers haven't extended them... we don't want to write any new contracts until we know what the new CBA looks like, it wouldn't make any sense to do otherwise.