How soon after the lockout is resolved...

[rayzor]

I don't disagree and this is why I have been saying all along that Smitty isn't going anywhere. I don't think Carolina will take a 3rd or 4th for him and I don't think a team will offer a 2nd. Only way Smitty is leaving is if he decides to reorganize his contract and take less. Not many players do this so I am going with the odds on this one.

yeah, that contract is going to be the toughest part.

it all depends on how much of an impact smith will have on the team. if they feel that smith will impede the progress of this team or growth of their QB, then that will be the biggest factor and one i think they'd be willing to take a loss on. this is a case where they have to be looking at the big picture and it might be that while it would hurt to let him go for less than a 2nd rounder, in the long run it could help the team...esp. if they make strides to upgrade there either by FA or trade.

i have been saying for a long time, though, that whatever we trade smith for, that needs to be used to acquire his replacement. package that pick with a 5th or 6th rounder and get a younger upgrade.

[jramsey4]

They should be able to do all of the above at the same time. Letting one of the top running backs in the league walk would be a crime especially because most NFL contracts are not guaranteed.

I don't get this forum - everyone whined when we let all these players go last year and most here are content to let two of the best players on our team leave because they are older or not worth the $ b/c running backs and elite receivers apparently grow on trees.

I really didn't mind the cuts last year. I did however mind that we were non-existent in FA. The so called "one of the tob RB's" hasn't completed a full season since 08. Not to mention he's 28 and we have a RB behind him that has proven he is just as good (and Goodson could develop into a excellent change of pace back). But I still love Dwill he is a very exciting RB but I look at this like when we were in the same situation with Pep. We overvalued him and it crippled us in the FA market in 09. Then Johnson in 10' ended up with better stats (which I so called) and is to me a more rounded DE (which I also said and got roasted for it).

Just because a player is good does not mean you have to throw a ton of money at them. Especially at RB you can find good to great RB's throughout the Draft (MJ-Drew 3rd round, Bradshaw 7th, etc). I really don't understand all the smitty trade talks. Unless he just would not play for us I wouldn't trade him.

[carolinarolls]

It will be the most interesting 24 hours of pro sports FA ever IMO. Noone will be able to keep up. FA news alone could dominate an entire sports center and not scratch the surface.

or

It could be the most boring game of wait and see ever. Everyone could slow play their hand waiting for someone to set the market. There is no draft to back up FA this year. FA's who know they are at the mercy of what the market bears are expecting to get paid top dollar out of necessity. Owners are gonna be wanting to fill their holes in the roster but not overpaying just because of the circumstance.

It will be very interesting and hard to read what to do. The franchises with the advantage are going to be the ones with the most cap room which is great news for Panther fans if you buy into the whole take a step back to take two steps forward approach that JR is selling.

I think there will be a frenzy rather than a stall at first but either way there will be plenty of deals and plenty of news out there.

Unfortunately every jagoff reporter in the biz will be covering 5-6 BIG DEALS and we will miss out on a lot of the juicy details and theories that would normally surround some middle and lower level deals. I seriously doubt the media will be organized and prepared enough to deliver all the news that would be of interest once the frenzy does begin.

[DaCityKats]

GIFSoup

" if you see a 50, than im p#$$%."....... free lil boosie.

[DaveThePanther2008]

That is the problem for me as well. A third in next year's draft for a our leading receiver and clearly half the passing game. There is no way that is a fair deal for him. I would rather make him play it out here and see what he can do with Newton. If Cam can extend plays with his feet and buy Smith time to uncover, he could be Smitty's best friend next year.

That is similiar to my thought. I would at least ask Smitty to come out give Chudz and Newton a chance to show their stuff. More Chudz then Newton. If Chudz can show Smitty he will be a key part of our offense and that we will score some points. I think he would like to stay. I have already posted in a number of other threads I believe we have the talent to go far in 2011. I think keeping Smitty is a very important part of that success. Give us the pre-season (god willing there is one) and see how exciting our O is gonna be.

It will be the most interesting 24 hours of pro sports FA ever IMO. Noone will be able to keep up. FA news alone could dominate an entire sports center and not scratch the surface.

or

It could be the most boring game of wait and see ever. Everyone could slow play their hand waiting for someone to set the market. There is no draft to back up FA this year. FA's who know they are at the mercy of what the market bears are expecting to get paid top dollar out of necessity. Owners are gonna be wanting to fill their holes in the roster but not overpaying just because of the circumstance.

It will be very interesting and hard to read what to do. The franchises with the advantage are going to be the ones with the most cap room which is great news for Panther fans if you buy into the whole take a step back to take two steps forward approach that JR is selling.

I think there will be a frenzy rather than a stall at first but either way there will be plenty of deals and plenty of news out there.

Unfortunately every jagoff reporter in the biz will be covering 5-6 BIG DEALS and we will miss out on a lot of the juicy details and theories that would normally surround some middle and lower level deals. I seriously doubt the media will be organized and prepared enough to deliver all the news that would be of interest once the frenzy does begin.

Well I would imagine that, at minimum, teams will have a week to get their own Free Agents under contract before the floodgates open. After that it will be like ants on honey.

[MadHatter]

Question is, will the panthers actually make moves to acquire talent from Free Agency? If so, what position will they choose to fill first.

The other lingering question.. What will they do with smith?

Rivera stated in an article in the Observer that they had been busy identifying FA's at positions of need....LB, DT, WR, QB. I expect them to make quite a few moves.

[ThatSeptemberDay]

speaking of the lockout... sorry I would have made my own thread but I am not allowed yet.

But my girlfriend called me earlier asking about hines ward's contract because he tweeted this:

"Just curious...anyone on here live in or near Charlotte, NC?:) I'll tell you why I'm asking in the very near future...:) Stay tuned!"

link http://twitter.com/#!/mvp86hinesward

Now his contract goes to 2014 and he cant talk to our organization etc. But thought it was interesting enough to post, one of you feel free to make a thread about it.

[jtm]

I really didn't mind the cuts last year. I did however mind that we were non-existent in FA. The so called "one of the tob RB's" hasn't completed a full season since 08. Not to mention he's 28 and we have a RB behind him that has proven he is just as good (and Goodson could develop into a excellent change of pace back). But I still love Dwill he is a very exciting RB but I look at this like when we were in the same situation with Pep. We overvalued him and it crippled us in the FA market in 09. Then Johnson in 10' ended up with better stats (which I so called) and is to me a more rounded DE (which I also said and got roasted for it).

Just because a player is good does not mean you have to throw a ton of money at them. Especially at RB you can find good to great RB's throughout the Draft (MJ-Drew 3rd round, Bradshaw 7th, etc). I really don't understand all the smitty trade talks. Unless he just would not play for us I wouldn't trade him.

I would really love to find where this so called running back tree grows? People make it out like there are running backs available all over the place.

How would paying DWill what he deserves and what other teams would be willing to pay him, throwing money at him as you say. Paying top tier money for a RB position is a lot cheaper than other positions. Right now top tier running backs are getting $5-6 million a year. We pay a guy almost $17 million to stay here for a year when he didn't want to and we shouldn't pay a guy $5-6 million a year when he wants to be here and is worth the $.

Trust me on this one, if we let DWill and Smitty go we will pay for it. Kind of like the guy that has a hot girlfriend and let's her go so he can find one hotter. Everyone knows how that story goes....he never finds one hotter and then lives the rest of his life regretting it.