Could Wharton's days be numbered?

[MHS831]

Travelle Wharton has been solid as a Panther. He has never made the pro bowl, but he has taken over at LT when Gross was injured. This May he turns 30. His salary is $5.4 million and he plays offensive GUARD.

I know we love the stability on the left side of the line, but $5 million is a TON for a guard of his caliber.

It is nearly as much as Gross will make as a pro bowl LT.

With Kalil getting franchised and Otah on a first rounder contract, you are looking at 4 offensive linemen making approximately $24 million.

I really like Wharton, but this is a business. We could upgrade the position and use the $ on a free agent DT. There are maulers in the draft who would be great there (Pinkston, Love, Boling, Franklin, Hudson, Moffitt, Brewer, etc) some should fall to the 5th round or farther.

I am anticipating a few moves like this during free agency (after a CBA). Rivera will create some space to bring in his kind of player.

At least this is not about Newton.

http://www.sportscity.com/NFL/Carolina-Panthers-Salaries

[PantherPride52]

No way we release Travelle. Cam's gonna need a good O-line to block for him.

(Sorry I just had to make this about Cam)

[Darth Urious]

Gamble's gone before Wharton...

[The Saltman]

I like him and feel with how our qb situation is putting a 4th round guard in his place would be a bad idea. How cheap are we going to be?

[mmmbeans]

trade him for a 2nd rounder.

[MHS831]

No way we release Travelle. Cam's gonna need a good O-line to block for him.

(Sorry I just had to make this about Cam)

Cam you!! Oops. that was a slip. Seriously, I think we might extend him and Beason. That is what I would do.

[Urrymonster]

I could possibly agree with you....IF we had someone coming through t replace him.

Wharton is a solid and dependable guard, with exceptional pass blocking skills. However his performance is below his pay packet at the moment and has been for a couple of seasons.

However, Schwartz is only one emerging and you have to think there are questions over Otah's longevity. Considering that we would be looking for a very dependable back up at tackle AND a new starting LG. I think with potentiall new starters at QB, DT, NT, RE, CB, OLB then I think we will try to retain as many veteran starters as possible.

[YourMomsLover]

When I think of Wharton, I think of the 2008 game in Green Bay...he was a monster!

[MHS831]

Gamble's gone before Wharton...

I almost included him, but then I thought, "Munnerlyn and...?" Gamble set to make over $6 million. I am still mad at him for that backwards pass on the punt vs. Minnesota several year ago.

[Mother Grabber]

Trade him for Smitty

[Swarly]

If he was going to be released it would have happened before the deadline.

[OneBadassCat]

No Wharton is a good LG. We don't need to create more holes than we can fill. I thought he made the 2008 probowl?

[pantherclaw]

"Let's get rid of our best guard, who happens to be our best backup at tackle, all cause I feel he is overpaid."

Glad you are not running the panthers.

[Jackofalltrades]

Rework his contract, but he's earned his payday and he's too good, too versatile to let go.