For people who are angry with Dave Gettleman..

[MadHatter]

35 is not a reason in itself.

35 and declining production is.

He was the #1 option here and managed 750 yards and 4 td's. NOT worth $7-8m a year for that.

He has lost a step and lost his burst...even if you refuse to see or believe it.

Wish he would drop to $4m and be moved into the slot.

[CollegePanther]

I'm beginning to question whether Gettleman has a plan or just likes to show his authority.

[XClown1986]

I'm beginning to question whether Gettleman has a plan or just likes to show his authority.

 

Why? Because we are 3 hours into free agency and haven't overpaid anyone? It's easy to be skeptical so early on but you should question or doubt him after a few weeks of free agency silence. Not hours.

[FattyFatFat]

Honestly, I am more ticked off at steve than dave. The panthers have paid Steve very well in the past 10 years. They were super loyal to him and treated him extremely well considering some off the field issues and trade demands.

Now after 10+ years of the panthers feeding him very well, Steve has a chance to help out the panthers by taking a pay cut. What disappoints me is he would rather get cut and collect guaranteed money than rework his deal to play out his final 1-2 years with this organization. Gross did it why can't Smith

I understand your comment, but he's got to do what's best for him. These are his last 2 years of real earning potential. Why settle for 4 million when he can make 3 from us and 6 from another team?

[CollegePanther]

Why? Because we are 3 hours into free agency and haven't overpaid anyone? It's easy to be skeptical so early on but you should question or doubt him after a few weeks of free agency silence. Not hours.

No, because he sent our probowl LT into retirement and is now trying to get rid of the only WR on our roster with a catch last season. Not to mention tho two are top 5 all time Panthers. Also, the rest of our OL retired. Just kinda wondering if he's getting a bad rep with players. Why take away the two best players in your two already weakest positions? 

[heel31ok]

35 and declining production is.

He was the #1 option here and managed 750 yards and 4 td's. NOT worth $7-8m a year for that.

He has lost a step and lost his burst...even if you refuse to see or believe it.

Wish he would drop to $4m and be moved into the slot.

any age and declining ...but so far i see a drop but declining would be seen in the future not so far.Smith took what the O was giving. unlike cam he cannot throw it to himself.His burst is the least of things he has lost in fact his burst is still there. That is unless you call a 30+ yd route a burst.He is still quick off the line a great blocker and catches the same amount of passes % wise as he has for years. I do agree he needs to go to the slot but this goes against your charge of losing his burst. It is because of his burst he needs to go to the slot.

[Zithers]

idk why people are freaking out. steve smith is due $10m in 2015, isn't he? he's not worth that, plain and simple. gross wanted to retire... and so did hangartner and byers apparently. probably wharton too. gettleman has nothing to do with those guys wanting to leave.

 

then we tagged greg hardy, probably an extension happening, but that takes up most of our cap.

 

and for the rest of the offseason we're just gonna do what we did last year when we had no money: bargain bin shop (munny, florence, mitchell, ginn, wharton, cole) and draft good players.

 

we're not gonna be making any splash signing for another year or two. dunno why this is so lost on by some people.

[weyco2000]

He's great because he has tremendous value at the WR spot on our team as opposed to any other we have on our roster.

He's not worth his salary, you guys have to let go.

He's great because we probably wouldn't have won 12 games and the South without him.

I see a pattern of people thinking that when players perform well it's because Gettleman has a great eye for talent but when they perform poorly it becomes the players fault.

[AKPantherFan]

if we go .500 next year, it will be the sudden demise of the OLine which is more at fault

Sorry. That blame is DG.

HIS JOB IS to put talented players on this team.

[Davidson Deac II]

I would hate to see Smith playing for another team.  But as far as getting mad at Gettleman and company, that depends on what happens over the next few months.  If we lose him, and expect someone currently on the roster to replace him, then I will be mad as hell.  If on the other hand, we get someone in the first round, or sign a free agent, and it actually works out, then I will not be mad.  :)

[Panthers111]

I understand your comment, but he's got to do what's best for him. These are his last 2 years of real earning potential. Why settle for 4 million when he can make 3 from us and 6 from another team?

 

Ya we are all different people but if I had 60+ million in the bank I don't really weigh that extra 2-3 mil quite as highly as where I am playing and finishing out my career. 

[bleys]

 

 

 

 

 

Yes you have both addressed why Gettleman would want to make this move. However that's not what I was asking. Why should SMITH want to take a pay cut?

 

If it's all about business and business = money, he would want to be cut to get his bonus and sign with the team willing to pay the most

 

If it's all about success and success = winning, he would want to be cut to get his bonus then sign for cheap with the team most ready to win now

 

The only reason he would want to take a pay cut and stay is loyalty, and as Gettleman and his most die hard supporters* like to argue, loyalty is worthless.

 

*I like Gettleman and so far think he's been a good GM for the team, but I don't think he's infallible like some here do.

 

 

There is another option..  Smitty has been rewarded for his loyalty and now that the team must focus on business, it's his turn.

 

It's far from an either/or situation...

 

 

 

 

I'm beginning to question whether Gettleman has a plan or just likes to show his authority.

 

1) the guy has a job that if this were true would cost himself a chance at success.

 

2) finally gets this job after being passed over a few times, just to throw it in the trash because he wants to show his authority..

 

 

makes perfect sense.

[bleys]

Sorry. That blame is DG.

HIS JOB IS to put talented players on this team.

 

only someone extremely short-sighted would assume DG (going into his 2nd year) will have every tool at his disposal to make anything close to this statement somewhat realistic.

 

 

He's putting those pieces into place so you can use this line down the road..  

[camtheone]

Gman has done us well so far.  WE had Hurney once we don't want a Jr.  He's making smart decisions, maybe not handled the best but still maybe it is time.  We as Panther Fans love Smitty and will always remember his heart but he's 35 and we're about to pay him 7 million.  We have a lot of other holes.  Let the Gman work.  KEEP POUNDING!