MMQB - Peter King on State of the Panthers

[raleigh-panther]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/12/13/week-14-mmqb/4.html

Excerpt from Peter:

I think it looks so depressing to be a Panthers fan. The empty seats. The hopelessness. That's about as down as a franchise can be. I understand Jerry Richardson wanting to pay a new head coach a reasonable salary ($2.5-million, for example, per year), but that franchise might be so far under water that he may have to rethink that future plan and pay Bill Cowher what he's worth. I can't imagine 60 percent of his season-ticket-holders re-upping for what they'd consider more of the same. The Panthers need a facelift. Even though recent history says low-profile coaches (Mike Smith, John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin) are good risks, Carolina needs a headliner more than Atlanta or Baltimore or Pittsburgh did when they made those hires.

[The Saltman]

so by facelift does he mean new uniforms?

[MadHatter]

Apparently he does not understand our PSL model.

There is no re-upping....don't buy the tix and you will forfeit your PSL investment.

[raleigh-panther]

lol maybe i hear there is a demand for black uniforms and/or helmets; those would be nice and hot in the Carolina late summer and early fall

[rayzor]

peter king = not a clue

1) $2.5mil for a HC? except for this year, richardson pays.

2) season ticket holders will continue being season ticket holders. they do't really have much of a choice. won't keep the fans form staying home, but those seats will still be sold.

[Panthercougar68]

so by facelift does he mean new uniforms?

On a serious note the Detroit Lions did that :smilewinkgrin:

[raleigh-panther]

Apparently he does not understand our PSL model.

There is no re-upping....don't buy the tix and you will forfeit your PSL investment.

Like you, I understand the PSL model.

Yes I have to buy or forfeit; but, at some point, non-attenandance does hurt, all those other ways that Jerry and the city of Charlotte makes money.

Sad but true, in these economic teams, the Panther are a luxury, not a necessity, and certainly not a necessity for the crap that represents pro football every Sunday, but, alas, it is what it is, and what is left, is individual decisions based on what the owner of the franchise does, or does not do.

[Jangler]

If JR thinks he is going to pay the next coach 2.5m and we will be contenders, then we will suck for a long time. You would think a business man like him would know this..."You gotta pay to play." And if you want to win you have to pay a lot. So I hope PK is just speculating and typing out his ass... Damn, I'll be glad when the waiting is over.

[unicar15]

I agree with Peter King but I think that a guy like Jim Harbaugh at Stanford could be high profile enough AND a guy that isn't ridiculously expensive. Pay him 3 million a year and I think that he could turn us into a superbowl team just as fast as Cowher could at 7 million a year. However, you can't go out and hire another D or O Coordinator like he did with Fox. You have to get a guy in there that is a head coach first and foremost. Fox was always a coordinator with a HC job.

[Guild]

Just because a guy commands a high salary doesn't mean he is going to be the best choice. That said I'm somewhat confident JR will get the best guy he possibly can. He doesn't want to lose... games or money.

[Phil Dees]

Apparently he does not understand our PSL model.

There is no re-upping....don't buy the tix and you will forfeit your PSL investment.

Which is what I will probably do. My club seats go up from $140/ea this year to $200/ea next year. Considering the PSL was $1500/ea about 17 years ago, that's not so bad a hit over that time.

edit: and now the Panthers are asking $7,500 / ea for that same PSL. Good luck with that ! Those seats will probably be empty, as is the one single right next to me that has been that way since the first year in the stadium.

[Panthercougar68]

We don't need a big name coach we need the right coach. If the Big name is the right coach so be it. I'm just tired of people saying we HAVE to have Cowher and no one else be our next coach to win a Super Bowl.

[Neylus]

Which is what I will probably do. My club seats go up from $140/ea this year to $200/ea next year. Considering the PSL was $1500/ea about 17 years ago, that's not so bad a hit over that time.

edit: and now the Panthers are asking $7,500 / ea for that same PSL. Good luck with that ! Those seats will probably be empty, as is the one single right next to me that has been that way since the first year in the stadium.

Seriously considering this too!

[Phil Dees]

Seriously considering this too!

LOTS of people will.