...have rescinded the franchise tag on Josh Norman. Looks like they're letting him walk. You gotta be f'ing kidding me.
Panthers...
- Thread starter coolwaterunc
- Start date
The dude was a huge reason why they had the season they did. Pay him. I just don't get this at all.
Yeah. We don't know the whole story but maybe Norman was acting like an ass and was going to hold out?
I can pretty much guess that this probably has more to do with Norman making over-the-top demands as opposed to the Panthers not being willing to pay him pretty well. You could see it coming a mile away. It sucks but I'm not surprised.
He was going to hold out, but so what? He's earned what he's seeking. This is just an example of the Panthers being cheap, IMO.
That could be, but honestly, I think it's more that Gettleman doesn't fool around. If dudes are gonna start making unrealistic demands, he ain't putting up with it. After putting up with Hurney handing out life-time achievement awards to Delhomme, etc. I am not totally against this philosophy. The "all business" approach has worked well for the Patriots and Steelers to name a few. They usually don't hang on to players past their prime and they don't usually put up with guys holding out for ridiculous contracts.
This has honestly been the worst 2 months of sports I can ever remember. Super Bowl loss, NCAA title game, Hornets about to get swept, and this J.Norman thing. This sh*t just feels like damn quicksand right now.
I'm torn on this one, and once the dust settles, I'll probably agree with the move, but man...Norman was my favorite player on the team, so this just sucks. Gentleman doesn't play around though, that's for sure. I guess you gotta respect that. Winning > Fan Favorites.
I'm torn on this one, and once the dust settles, I'll probably agree with the move, but man...Norman was my favorite player on the team, so this just sucks. Gentleman doesn't play around though, that's for sure. I guess you gotta respect that. Winning > Fan Favorites.
Gettleman said it was apparent that a long-term deal wasn't going to happen, so it sounds like Norman was playing hardball. What I don't understand though, is why don't the Panthers trade him instead of set him free? Try to get something for him this year whether he holds out or not.
I get it - Gettleman is running this team very similarly to how the Patriots do (sans the scandals). The Pats have let a lot of their fan favorite stars walk b/c they refused to fork out the money. I think the phrase Gettleman has used is he "won't mortgage the future" on one or two positions.
Plus, he obviously values the DL and LBs higher. I would almost bet you they wanted Josh to sign for $9-10 mil...with the plan to give K.Short and Star L. max money.
I don't blame Josh for trying to get as much as he can b/c this is his only shot at a max deal, but damn I hate that this has cost him a spot in Charlotte.
Plus, he obviously values the DL and LBs higher. I would almost bet you they wanted Josh to sign for $9-10 mil...with the plan to give K.Short and Star L. max money.
I don't blame Josh for trying to get as much as he can b/c this is his only shot at a max deal, but damn I hate that this has cost him a spot in Charlotte.
As much as I liked what Norman did on the field, he was probably going to be a bad seed in the locker room this upcoming season if he played under the franchise tag and knew that the Panthers weren't going to give him what he was demanding. It remains to be seen of course, but this may not hurt the team as badly as some think it will. For the most part, Gettleman has made the smart (and correct) moves, so I'll assume this is best for the team as well, until proven otherwise.
No pressure on Bene now, huh?
Do they have this much faith in Lou Young from the practice squad...just in case their guy isn't there in the draft? I heard a lot of rumblings about Young having a lot of potential, but they elected to not promote him last year when Bene got hurt...they rolled the dice on bringing back McClain, who was basically sitting on his couch.
Makes me nervous, in all honesty.
Do they have this much faith in Lou Young from the practice squad...just in case their guy isn't there in the draft? I heard a lot of rumblings about Young having a lot of potential, but they elected to not promote him last year when Bene got hurt...they rolled the dice on bringing back McClain, who was basically sitting on his couch.
Makes me nervous, in all honesty.
Just read a piece by one of the Panthers beat writers that said Gettleman was offering Norman a multi-year deal worth $11-12 mil per year...and Josh wasn't budging. He wants top CB money.
I'm sure someone will scoop him up and he's gonna get paid, but he's probably going to get forgotten too. Oh well...best of luck to the guy.
I'm sure someone will scoop him up and he's gonna get paid, but he's probably going to get forgotten too. Oh well...best of luck to the guy.
This is how the NFL works. To create a very successful and competitive NFL team, you've got to follow these steps:
1. You get talent through the draft. This is a two-part operation:
a). Acquire an elite player (especially a QB) with your first round pick. This is pretty easy....more teams hit than miss on their first round pick and even usually the second round pick.
b). Select underrated talent in the middle rounds and have that talent turn into starters. This is what separates the great teams (and GMs) from the pack.
2. When that talent reaches a contract year, you prioritize who you pay and who you don't pay. This is where the Panthers are. You do not overpay for a defensive back in this league. You only pay huge dollars to three position groups: QB, DL, WR. And even WR is iffy unless he's truly elite.
3. Re-sign your QB and your stud DLmen, and let your other talent walk if they're unwilling to take the franchise tag.
4. Use free agency to pick up the finishing touches to your roster, not to fill gaping holes.
That's your basic 4-point plan. This league is set up in such a way with the current salary cap that you cannot hold on to all your best players. You'll have no money left to sign anyone else. It sucks from a fan standpoint when you come to like a player, but it is what it is.
Also, do not under any circumstance take the Rams and Eagles approach of sending a kings ransom in exchange for ho-hum quarterbacks at the #1 and #2 spots. Goff and Wentz may turn out to be good, maybe even great, but as of right now neither is viewed as a "can't miss" like Luck was - and therefore they've drastically overpaid. If they end up not being franchise QB's and pro bowlers - then these two franchises have set themselves back 3-4 years in the rebuilding process. Especially the Eagles, who traded up to get whoever the Rams scraps are... right after they sign Bradford to an extension (like, can I fill out a GM application there? Doesn't seem like I'd have much competition). The Chargers have to be thrilled, they're gonna get whoever they like the most on the board - since they don't need a QB and the two teams ahead of them will be taking QBs.
After a few days to calm down, can y'all now admit that the Panthers were in the right? Norman came out of all this looking petty and looking like it was well known that he's a bad locker room guy.
Let me see what our secondary looks like at the beginning of the season, and I'll let you know. The NFL is full of egos. What Norman says/does doesn't bother me. It was one of the reasons I liked him last year.
coolwater,
There's Pro Bowl-caliber (or just shy of that) DBs every single draft. It would be stupid for the Panthers to pay top dollar to keep Norman who's had one good year and is like 29? Use that money on DLmen, Cam, and OLmen. And a friggin big-time WR for Cam for goodness sake.
Kelvin Benjamin is already on the roster. Panthers did what they did last season without him, which is pretty amazing.
Kelvin Benjamin was a reach in the first round, IMO. He'd make an excellent #2 WR because he's tall and big. He lacks elite speed to take the top off the defense though.
That being said, if the Panthers draft Laquon Treadwell, I will laugh. He doesn't have elite speed either.
That being said, if the Panthers draft Laquon Treadwell, I will laugh. He doesn't have elite speed either.
Over 1,000 yards in his rookie season. That despite a QB with accuracy issues.
Sure, KB is not Julio jones level but he can definitely be a top 10 WR. He needs to improve his separation and concentration (he tends to make the tough catches but drops the easy ones).
After a few days to cool down, I will say this:
1. I love the "Keep-It-In-House" approach that the Panthers organization takes. Steve Smith used to do weekly radio spots on WFNZ and routinely gave very candid opinions -- He's gone. DeAngelo Williams is to this day extremely open on social media -- He's gone. Josh Norman went on a national media tour over the past 2 months...and openly said he was going to loaf this year under the tag to ensure he stays healthy -- He's gone.
So...from that, I love it. That is exactly how the Steelers run their organization and I think it's the #1 reason they are annually in the playoff conversation. Gentleman "gets it."
2. From the Panthers perspective -- I'm with cool, in wait and see mode. The defense, as it stands right now, is simply not as good as it was 2 months ago. You do not lose an All-Pro CB like Josh Norman and not take a massive step backward. Unless they use the extra $14 mil. this season to drastically boost this team's talent, then I think this is a bad move, talent-wise. Perhaps Norman was going to become a locker-room cancer...I just don't see it. Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly would simply not allow that. Maybe on the Browns or Jags, but not here. Too much veteran leadership to allow that. So, to me, you bring him back and let the locker room police itself. Trust me - Josh would have given max effort.
3. From Josh Norman's perspective -- he wins, simply put. He bet on himself, and the usual suspect that overpays...overpaid yet again. He got his money in the only "contract negotiation" he will have in his NFL career, given his age. So, kudos to him, and best of luck.
I'm not quite understanding the circular logic.
One side of mouth: Kelvin Benjamin is a stud, he just has a QB with accuracy problems throwing to him.
Other side of mouth: Cam Newton is an awesome QB and can pass just as well as he can run, he just doesn't have good WRs to throw to.
One side of mouth: Kelvin Benjamin is a stud, he just has a QB with accuracy problems throwing to him.
Other side of mouth: Cam Newton is an awesome QB and can pass just as well as he can run, he just doesn't have good WRs to throw to.
This is exactly how an organization should be run, and the best ones in the league do just this. I was impressed with the front office of the Panthers in this whole ordeal, and if they keep this approach they may start to have the success that the couple organizations that run it this way currently enjoy.
Cam's accuracy was a problem a couple of years ago, when Benjamin was on the field. Last year, Cam's accuracy took a massive turn for the better, but he was not throwing to Kelvin Benjamin since he was, of course, injured. That's the jist of it.
Exactly. Cam improved considerably last season and the Panthers made it to the SB despite a patchwork WR corps. Also worth noting that Greg Olsen was instrumental in helping shore up deficiencies in the passing game.
