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Free Agency Losers


tailg8or

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/free-agency-losers-165800003--nfl.html

 

Below is the piece on Cam.  Pretty much nails it.  Link to Adam Levitan's article is above.  FA isn't over and the draft is yet to come, but there is much more work to be done.  BTW, save the posts about being cap-strapped, we went 12-4 last year and in DG we trust.  Reality is that we are in rough shape right now and there will be no chemistry on the OL, between Cam and his WRs, and in the defensive backfield.  Rivera has a big job in front of him once DG pulls together a roster.
 

 

 1. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
The daggers are coming fast and furious at Cam Newton right now. Let’s start with the offensive line.

Jordan Gross, PFF’s No. 3 left tackle last season, has retired. Travelle Wharton, PFF’s No. 5 guard last season, remains an unsigned free agent. Backup G/C Geoff Hangartner has retired. If the season started today, the projected offensive line is a rag-tag group of Byron Bell at left tackle, Garry Williams at right tackle, Amini Silatolu and Edmund Kugbila at the guard spots and Ryan Kalil at center.

Bell was PFF’s No. 52 tackle last year while playing on the right side and figures to struggle even more on the left side. Williams is former UDFA with 21 career starts in five seasons. Silatolu and Kugbila are youngsters coming off serious injuries. Kalil is the only sure thing. It's arguably the worst unit in the NFL.

OK, now let’s get to the receiving corps. This was a sub-par unit a year ago with declining Steve Smith and underperforming Brandon LaFell leading the way. Now those two are gone, as well as speedster Ted Ginn. The Panthers failed to truly address the position in free agency, only adding 32-year-old (in June) Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood to Marvin McNutt and Tavarres King. It’s a room devoid of playmakers.

The third negative for Newton in free agency is significant defensive improvements around the NFC South. The Saints added Jairus Byrd to pair with Kenny Vaccaro at the safety spot. The Bucs scooped up Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald and a Revis replacement in Alterraun Verner. The Falcons added size with Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai.

Lastly, Newton underwent ankle surgery to repair a ligament issue that’s bothered him since Auburn. He’s been slapped with a four-month rehab timetable, meaning he’ll miss offseason workouts with his new “toys.”  
 

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The rest of the division really didn't get that much better.

Srsly...wtf are these guys? It's like just because a team overpays for an early signing FA, that guy becomes a household name and pro bowler...speaking of PBs...have any of those guys ever made a pro bowl?

...and pimping Travelle Wharton...a product of playing between Kalil and Gross...I mean come on.

If we had overpayed for Big Hair and crotch, we'd prolly be the off-season's biggest mover and shaker.

The league's 52nd tackle...hmmm, well, there are 64 starting tackles in the league and many of the 51 who were ranked higher than him only played a couple games and got rankings boosts despite limited PT and it's anyone's guess who these guys played against. Regardless, the LT position doesn't go up against LEs, who are a vastly more talented group of pass rushers compared to the REs in the league, it's just a glamorized position because it guards right-handed QBs blind-sides.

Crappy article and sour grapes for sure.

Also,

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Panthers suck. The sky is falling on the Oline. Cam is hurt and has no receivers,

big deal. We're in cap hell. Gettleman is dealing with Hurney hell to build us a winner. I can deal with a little setback to finally have back to back winning seasons.

Every GM has to deal with left over contracts from a previous GM. If we are to give Gettleman credit for 12-4 and the playoffs, he needs to take blame if we don't return.

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Every GM has to deal with left over contracts from a previous GM. If we are to give Gettleman credit for 12-4 and the playoffs, he needs to take blame if we don't return.

Absolutely true. But I'll blame him when it's due. I can't blame him for not making a big splash when we're strapped. If he manages to get us through cap hell while keeping the team competing for playoff spots, I'll be happy. But if in 2 or 3 years, we're out of this cap hell and sitting at 4-12 again, then yeah, let his head roll. 

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article was for fantasy stuff, but this offseason hasn't done cam or our offense any favors.

 

 

wishful thinking will have you believe that we are ok right now, but the reality is we have one guy in the WR who has been in the league for years, but until last year hasn't been relevant at all. the rest are unproven...and that's being kind.

 

he lost his starting LT and now we're left hoping that the guy we had starting at RT who had no business starting there might suck less at a more important position.

 

losers in FA? yeah, i think it's fair to say all we've done on offense is lose assets. it's still early, but i don't know how you can't say we've done well at this point unless your only goal has been to not spend money.

 

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