Is anyone here not really happy about the direction this franchise is heading?

[PanthaSan]

Don't matter what I think.

As a Panther fan, I have to accept the decisions of the FO. I will still be a fan if everything they are doing comes back to bite us in the ass.

Simple as that.

[Udogg]

It's the big name. Lots of people sit around waiting on the name recognition signing to validate the FO/team is making a move at improvement. However historically big names to poor performing teams end up being waste of money. See Washington Redskins. It's legitimate to feel that we haven't done enough to improve the team from last year. However thinking about it, with mediocre QB play we would have been in most of the games we played last year. If Matt Moore didn't choke on the goal line during the giants game, who knows how the season would have went. However coming off heartbreaking loses in the playoffs and momentum killing QB play the team ended up 2-14.

I personally feel talent wise that we are a very talented team. I also have a new respect for the people who come with the "lame duck" coach talk. We all saw how Clausen shut down, Gamble quit caring, Smitty went into quiet simmer, etc. Looking in our division I don't see one position (short of QB) where we are at a significant disadvantage at position.

RB(Stew,jwill > Turner, ?)

TE(Tony Gonzales, Kellen Winslow, Shockey?....),

FB (Evans, Muglhave, Fiametta)

WR(Roddy White, Steve Smith, Colston/Meachem/etc...)

LT(Gross, etc..)

LG(Wharton, etc)

Center (Kalil, etc)

RG (we are dead last here :) )

RT (Otah/Clabo/etc..)

LB(we win)

S (we don't win, but really no one in division stands out)

CB(Talib, Gamble)

DE(CJ/Abraham)

DT(Gerald Mccoy,Babineux then everyone else)

ST(no idea)

So really when you think about it, short of QB play , we have just as much talent as everyone else in the division. Coaching and QB play is our Achilles. If that improves we will win games.

[Happy Panther]

what could he be doing that, in your eyes, would be more beneficial to the franchise?

Top tier CB and good veteran QB and another fat guy on the O line.

Too much to ask?

[Peppers90 NC]

Couldn't be more terrified of where this franchise is heading.

JR seems to have lost it.

Cam is a huuuuuuuuge unknown and it seems we've tied our future to him with no real alternative plan.

We're either old and good or mediocre at best at most positions, except LB and RB (yay!) and our coaching staff is extremely young and unproven in their new roles.

Lots of things have to go right for us to be successful.

omg we are in so much trouble, you heard it here first. If terrified, might want to hide under the blanky with mommy

[jtm]

ACL repairs have come a long way. I say this from experience because I have had one. It isn't a NFL death sentence like it use to be. Kris Jenkins had 3 and he turned out okay.

Let's all be honest here. The guys that got cut in 2010, with maybe the exception of Harris, needed to be cut. At some point all teams have to reload. Everyone here complained about JR not spending monye, and now are complaining that he is spending too much money. I don't get it. Hurney and JR didn't just dream up these contract amounts. I can assue you they are based on what other teams were willing to pay. Do people really think that the Panthers would sign TD without some type of out if his knee doesn't hold up? I think DW probably got a little higher than market value but I think this was repayment from those years where he was blatently underpaid and didn't hold out or complain.

Lastly, we were 2-14 last year because of our QB play. We have talent, but Cam or someone has to be effective this year or we will have similar results. You have to score points to win.

[Lumps]

only thing I am worried about at this point is solid QB play, that's all we are away from contending player wise...still the whole chemistry thing...the Panthers always stock decent LBs.

[thefuzz]

what could he be doing that, in your eyes, would be more beneficial to the franchise?

You mean other than the handling of the QB position, signing Jake, sticking with Fox, going defense first, picking 2 LB's and 2 RB's in the first round 4 of 5 years?

Or maybe mortgaging the future on draft picks like AE and EB?

Or maybe signing Mare?

Or possibly signing a 28 year old halfback to a monster deal?

You are right, I would probably be doing the exact same things.

Man, I love James Anderson.

[Urrymonster]

Here is my thinking:

Johnson signing - a necessity

DWill signing - a luxury

Davis signing - a luxury

Anderson signing - a luxury

Mare signing - a waste

I just feel like you signed one of Anderson or TD and you certainly didn't sign both AND DWill. Get them for peanuts, great, but each is locked into a 5 year deal. Add in that they want to extend Kalil and Beason to what can only be 5 years at minimum and we essentially have our roster set for the next three years.

The thing is, a lot of these players are good, but not great players. At least not yet, or no longer.

I could be wrong here, but I feel like we are trying to make statements more than anything. We clearly were desperate to keep DWill and CJ, hence the generous (only the guaranteed money s above market value) signing bonus'. However I feel like we have gone out a bit too aggressively, with the more intriguing signing of Ron Edwards being my favourite pick up so far.

It really is boom or bust with the money being thrown around (and soon to be tied into Newton), so if Hurney gets it wrong, then he is out the door HOWEVER we are also stuck with the players.

EDIT - In these situations I always try to compare how we do business to other more established franchises. When was the last time the Pats extended a player for 5 years who was injury prone. The last time the Steelers offered a monster extension to a RB. The last time Phili, Indi etc gave a 5 year deal essentially a 28 year old one year starter at LB? The last time anyone was interested in giving Mare more than a one year deal?

[CRA]

Here is my thinking:

JDavis signing - a luxury

Anderson signing - a luxury

Mare signing - a waste

.

Mare is literally Kasay + Lloyd in one body. That saves money and a roster spot......that is only a waste if you can't look past being a Kasay fan.

Also, are DL is weak so a strong LB corp is a need. You don't sign Anderson and Davis.....and we are stuck w/ just 2 MLBs in Beason/Connor.

I do think the Williams money would be better served at CB or DT.

[thefuzz]

Urry, I hear ya.

I think instead of DWill, Davis and Anderson, we could have had a real DT, and a CB. Both of those are positions of need, not desire.

But what do I know.

[Peppers90 NC]

But what do I know.

Not near as much as the people in the industry

[thefuzz]

Not near as much as the people in the industry

Yup, that's right.

Pssst.....2-14.

[Crixtala]

so, we don't re-sign DWill, TD and Anderson (or one or the other of the last two)

what do you do instead?

i'm sure you'll say the backfield would have been fine without DWill, and that's definitely arguable

but what about the hole at LB? start the season with the lineup we did last year?

Beason - Connor - Anderson/TD? where's the depth?

[Panths]

You cant possibly know how we'll operate under a new coaching staff, that im pretty sure is a hell of a lot more competent than the lame duck of last season.