Shaq Thompson Remains a Free Agent

[Basbear]

1 minute ago, carpanfan96 said:

Don't think they would care, I'm pretty sure the plan is to start Jewell and Wallace with Rozebom the main backup. 

I agree, I think they have moved on.... unless jewel or Wallace get injured before the seasons start.. 

Sad for Shaq....

[BlazeCarolina]

11 minutes ago, Basbear said:

What if Shaq is better than Rozebom/Wallace??

I don't think we care right now.  We are developing for the future, and as much as we love Shaq, he ain't in it.

[Cuttinedge]

Why sign him for him to play 2-3 games before another trip to IR  

[Daddy_Uncle]

1 hour ago, chknwing said:

we need LB help, hes actualy more than likely the best available considering he knows the team and play book

Just because we need LB help doesn't mean we need a feel good story. I truly don't think he adds value to the defense 

[BlazeCarolina]

6 minutes ago, Daddy_Uncle said:

Just because we need LB help doesn't mean we need a feel good story. I truly don't think he adds value to the defense 

He would add value, but it is short term value and takes away from the development of our younger players.

Wallace with reps may be better than Shaq in 2026, and it doesn't matter much if we aren't ready to compete and Shaq retires before we are.

We would be wasting our time with Shaq, even if we are better in the short term.  I hate being the voice of reason sometimes, because I am a fan of Shaq and his locker room presence.  Ship has sailed.

[Aussie Tank]

How's his health? Was it Achilles that went? 

[Icege]

Bringing back Shaq + adding a FS would be the perfect bow on top of this offseason

[rodeo]

If you're interested in developing our young guys like like 30 year old Jewell then you don't sign Shaq. If you're interested in putting the best team on the field, then you sign Shaq.

Rozeboom is shockingly bad and not much of an upgrade over Wooten or Cherelus.

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, Aussie Tank said:

How's his health? Was it Achilles that went? 

It is likely he misses most of 2025. so this discussion seems rather foolish overall.

[csx]

I'd much rather see Wallace even if he didn't have an Achilles tear in late September  

There's a good reason he's a FA

 

Edited April 30, 2025 by csx

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, csx said:

I'd much rather see Wallace even if he didn't have an Achilles tear in late September  

There's a good reason he's a FA

 

TBH, without the Achilles tear there would be no comparison between Wallace and even this version of Shaq. Wallace was a so-so rookie and Shaq has been an extremely productive and capable veteran.

Now price however......

[csx]

6 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

TBH, without the Achilles tear there would be no comparison between Wallace and even this version of Shaq. Wallace was a so-so rookie and Shaq has been an extremely productive and capable veteran.

Now price however......

But Thompson isn't the future. You have to give your young players an opportunity. Especially when you aren't expected to make a run at anything 

[kungfoodude]

Just now, csx said:

But Thompson isn't the future. You have to give your young players an opportunity. Especially when you aren't expected to make a run at anything 

Well, I am not in the camp that thinks Wallace is the future either.

I ultimately would understand the decision even without the injury, if perhaps not completely agree.

[Khyber53]

Look, I love Shaq and have cheered for him since Day 1. I'd love to see him back but those injuries were all pretty major and they started coming one after another. That's usually the sign for a professional athlete that it's time to turn the page.

I think he's been an excellent linebacker throughout his career and when he took to the field beside Luke and TD, he was very much a man among equals there. I think that sadly, it is time for a new page for him, just like those other stalwarts. 

But please, ask him to come back and retire as a Panther. We'd be honored by him if he did.