Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Panthers were *this* close to drafting Marvin Harrison.

Cat'sGrowl

By Cat'sGrowl,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Cat'sGrowl Newbie

Cat'sGrowl

Posted
Posted

Little article I picked up scouting out the Ponies this week. Polian screwed us.

Marvin Harrison conducted the single greatest workout of any wide receiver he's ever seen prior to the 1996 NFL Draft. Bill said that he and personnel executive Dom Anile were blown away by the workout, that Harrison was a once-in-a-decade player, and that they wished they had had the opportunity to draft Harrison when both worked for the Panthers in 1996.

Bill failed to mention that he did have a chance to take Harrison, but instead took runningback Tim Biakabutuka with the 8th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft.

The Colts, and then-vice president Bill Tobin, took Harrison 19th overall. So, despite having 'the single best workout of a WR than any other WR he's ever seen,' Polian passed on Harrison and took a mediocre runningback. SI's Will Carroll was following along with our live tweet tonight, and posted these zingers on Twitter:

So if "best ever" WR (per Polian) is Marvin Harrison and he went mid-1st in draft, what case can be made for drafting anyone higher?

And by passing on him, they filled the need in the next draft with … Rae Carruth!

Again, it's for moments like these that we follow and recap the show.

Here is the recap:

Bob Lamey started out the show by discussing Marvin Harrison and how he will be inducted into the Colts 'Ring of Honor' this weekend. Bill Polian said that, back in 1996 when he was general manager of the Panthers, Harrison had single best workout of a WR than any other WR he's ever seen.

Polian said the Panthers worked Harrison out the year after Carolina went to the AFC Championship Game. Thus, they didn't have a chance to draft Harrison. Polian said he wished he'd had a chance to take Harrison.

(Reality: Not true. Harrison was drafted in 1996. Panthers had the No. 8 pick in the draft that year, and passed on Harrison. Colts took Harrison 19th overall in '96.)

http://www.stampedeb...-2011#storyjump

In short, Polian thought Harrison had the greatest workout of any receiver he ever saw, but took Timmy Biakabuttakauakakauaka instead.

:banghead: Why do we always do this?:banghead:

Just once I'd like to look back and find out we took the right player..To see that almost took a crappy player, but took a good on instead. (Timmy B could have been a good RB had he stayed healthy, but Marvin Harrison good?)

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • cookinbrak
      Canes vs Caps Rd 2 Gm 5 7pm

      By cookinbrak · Posted

      To all the analysts who said "Caps in 5", thank you for telling us their departure time.
    • Matthias
      Tet McMillan signed to Jordan Brand

      By Matthias · Posted

    • ImfromClayton
      The Bryce Trade is Finally Complete. Who Won the Trade? Panthers vs Bears

      By ImfromClayton · Posted

      We won't know the answer to this for a long time. Reality is, Caleb has been the consensus #1 in that draft for years. Bryce was a similar situation, but mostly the same. He was not the clear and obvious #1 that Caleb was, but most teams had Bryce at QB1. The Panthers were always going to be terrible Bryce's rookie year.  I don't think DJ Moore's presence would have changed anything about that offense, as our guards, center, and left tackle were getting demolished on nearly every snap. It's clear Caleb's dad was trying to do everything possible to ensure Caleb didn't end up in Chicago with Eberflus. It's hard to imagine that he wouldn't have done the same, but probably more publicly with our situation, considering Carolina is an easier target for the media than Chicago. We can all speculate, but it's impossible to tell who is going to have the better career on May 16, 2025. If either QB doesn't pan out, we have an easy answer. If both flame out, the bears clearly won the trade, but it wouldn't have really mattered anyway. We all know how we win the trade. Candidly, even if one of the other picks we gave up ends up being a hall of fame player, we don't know if the panthers would have taken that player anyway. All you can do is make the best decision you can in the moment with the information you have. I really like Bryce Young, and I'm glad he's a Carolina Panther.  The only way to win in the modern NFL is to have an absolute dude at QB. I personally am happy that our franchise recognizes this, as I remember times when they did not. 
×
×
  • Create New...