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!

     

Gross talks about Peppers and Jake


Recommended Posts

Source: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/panthers/story/5334039/

It was an ugly end for the Carolina Panthers in January. A disappointing playoff loss to the Cardinals left fans wondering if Jake Delhomme could cut it quarterback. Soon after the team's star defensive player says he wants to leave. But optimism remains high in the locker room. Even with uncertainty looming, left tackle Jordan Gross feels better days are ahead for the Panthers. "The good news is that isn't our last hurrah with this group of guys," Gross told 99.9FM The Fan ESPN Radio on Thursday. "We didn't lose that many major parts of the puzzle and I think we have the opportunity to be a better team this year than we were last. "One of the most critical pieces of that puzzle from last year is four-time pro bowl selection Julius Peppers. The defensive end has been slapped with the franchise tag after making it known early in the off-season that he didn't want a long term deal in Carolina and wanted to "reach his full potential" with another team. Peppers has been a no-show to all of the team's summer school sessions the last two weeks and could hold out of training camp as well. He has yet to sign his one year tender that will pay him $16.7 million. But even a high profile contract dispute like Peppers' doesn't consume the locker room that much. "It comes up but I would definitely say it's not a distraction," Gross said. "With Pep, he's the kind of guy that can shoe up at the end of training camp and get a preseason game in and then have an all-star year. No one is really too upset or worried about it and most of us just want him to be back." The quarterback position was a major issue in Carolina after the aging Delhomme committed six turnovers in the playoff loss to Arizona. To some people's surprise Delhomme then landed a five-year extension worth $42.5 million. The 34 year old is now under contract until 2014. But the 2008 pro bowl selection wants him under center. "Oh yeah he's great, and I've said that ever since I've been playing," Gross said. "He's just a special guy I think that he's made the most out of his talent and potential, and he works hard in the weight room to get better. I think that shows me how much he still wants to prove.....he's just an all-around outstanding quarterback." The 28 year-old tackle is sticking around in Carolina for sometime himself. In February Gross inked a deal for six-years and $60 million and he sees the Panthers as a team he could stay with the rest of his career. "Yeah I've said that even before I signed that this is the best place in the NFL as far as quality of life and quality or organization and ownership all the way down to the coaches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe I am nuts but I can't believe that Pep's FT/not showing up yet would be more of a potential team ripper than Smitty punching out Luc.

Actually, Smitty punching out Lucas focused the team last year. I can't wait to see who he punches out this year... :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, Smitty punching out Lucas focused the team last year. I can't wait to see who he punches out this year... :D

This would be the only reason I would want Chad Johnson on our team. I would love to see him get hit right in the OC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mint,

That's what I was implying but I obviously didn't do a good job making it clear. :P

I think part of that though is because of the character of the team and how Luc handled it. Other teams, it may have tanked them.

Pep is just doing what lots of other players before him have done and I am willing to bet that though his teammates wish he were there, they all understand 100% that it is business.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mint,

That's what I was implying but I obviously didn't do a good job making it clear. :P

I think part of that though is because of the character of the team and how Luc handled it. Other teams, it may have tanked them.

Pep is just doing what lots of other players before him have done and I am willing to bet that though his teammates wish he were there, they all understand 100% that it is business.

i thought that is what you were saying but i wasn't 100% sure. would have been surprised if it wasn't.

i agree. the team isn't going to be holding any grudge against him and are going to be making him feel pretty good about being back. no guilt or anything, just open arms and a desire to get back to work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I think he did a solid job.  Honestly I liked his post game interview the best.  He gave himself a C and said he left a lot out on the field.  That kind of attitude can carry him far.
    • This is lacking a fairly considerable amount of context. For one, Adams(age 22) started 12 of 16 games, had 38 rec, 446 yds and 3 TD's on 66 targets(18 less, with 2 less games started). The main thing missing here is that the top two WR's for Green Bay that year combined for about 2800 yds and 25 TD's. Now if you want to throw a more accurate dart at Adams, take a look at year two. This year the production was spread around considerably and Adams didn't stand out from that pack(pun not intended).  So, if XL struggles mightily this season, I would probably keep that comparison in your quiver to counter argue. I would suggest that I don't think that scenario is probably very accurate for most HOF caliber WR's taken in the first round over the past 15 or so years. Adams was the 89th pick overall, as well. A little different hill to climb than XL, although not massively.
    • to clarify I am not referring to Will Levis.  Not knowingly.   I just made that up and tried to use a reasonable guesstimate of what else was done.  That sounded in the ballpark.  At one time I did look it all up and there were several teams that had much more successful days downfield.   If that happened to be Levis' actual numbers than it's more of a lucky coincidence.  If memory serves, it wasn't just Will Levis that brought the claim into question, it was SEVERAL teams had better days.  and you are missing my entire point of the subjective nature of it all.  If PFF employee Doug watched Bryce's film and then used his same unique subjective vantage point to grade all 31 other starting QBs.  Then dumped into into a spread sheet, it would a subjective Doug take but at least it would be a level uniform subjectivity.   The grades are done by various people.  All watching and applying their own subjective view to a play.  Everyone isn't going to grade incompletions out the same.  Or completions.   So when you dump it all into a spread sheet and hit sort.....it's not actually a statement of fact as portrayed.  Which is why you sometimes get some head scratching stuff.  I'm not reframing anything.   I don't think.  I just wasn't going to look it all back up so I was talking vaguely off the general issue I have with PFF and treating any random claim they make as the truth. 
×
×
  • Create New...