why do people think this?

virtually every single guy we lost, with the exception of Gross, is EASILY replaceable. You could argue Smitty but I'd bet we could find a WR that could produce the same or better than him in the 1st/2nd round.

I expected us to regress a little bit, but I still see us making the playoffs. I feel like a broken record but do people not understand that the BIGGEST reason(and it's not even close IMO) we were so successful last year was the dominance from our front 7? and that's still here, and if anything will improve because of the increased experience/progression from Star/Short.

FFS people are acting like Smith was Calvin Johnson and LaFell/Ginn were Welker and Decker.

I don't know all the recivers mocks have us drafting all seem like they have stuff that needs to be fixed and none of them are gonna be able to be a number one receiver. Hakeem wants a long term contract, panthers probably wont be able to give him that. If he went somewhere like the chargers where do we go to for WR? Its gonna suck that we gave Hardy the tag when he will likely leave next year anyway. When we could have gave it to hakeem.

Offensive line is a mess. And congrats to PIT for getting M. Mitchell. Hes a lot better than some panthers fans give him credit for. A real rock in the secondary. He was our faster Kam Chancellor.

When fans see our conference rivals improving their rosters with impact players while we're too busy releasing our franchise goat, its easy to become pessimistic. Are some people overreacting? Yes but at the same time, we do have many holes to fill with few resources. If we lose out on Nicks, after him expressing how he wants to play here, I myself will start to become somewhat apprehensive about the job g-man is doing

So much this. **** im usually the pessimistic Panthers fan. Gross is the big loss here. Hardy will likely get a long term contract in a month or so and even if not having him on a one year deal is fine with me.

So we're getting upset about losing:

A CB we all hate when hes starting
Some DBs we signed right before the season and during (and as a unit weren't very good anyways)
A WR who basically was ranked only in the top 40 in production last year
Brandon ****ing LaFell
and a WR who finally produced something for the first time in his career

The vast majority of our offense was generated by Cam and the defense was great because of the front 7. Find some decent guys to fit in the offense on 1 year deals, draft some WR, and get cap flexibility.

I wish we could just keep Ginn. His returns were huge for us. Could normally get us good feild position. Also came up big in big games.

Signed with the Cardinals

It's unbelievable how overrated these guys are being. Almost all of them were journeymans that Gettleman signed shortly before the season. The defense was carried by guys that are still here.

What makes people think Gettleman can't find the same type of players once preseason cuts roll in? Secondary guys will beg to play for us because they know how easy it is to play behind a nasty front 7.

I used to be called a bad Carolina fan for being so pessimistic, too. Pretty sure you're the only one that was with me there.

We'll be fine, brahs. The core is intact, and our cap room will increase even more when Hardy is signed. Just wait a couple more seasons and you'll all see why the cuts we're making now are for the best.

But whatever brahs. If y'all want to hand out multi year deals to the likes of Munnerlyn, Mitchell, LaFell, etc.. Know that when Kuechly and Star are in line to become paid top defensive player money, we may not be able to afford it.

Hearing we may have whiffed on nicks.

I don't think people realize how not good Smith really was last year. DVOA of like -4%, not a good catch rate, ypc very low, YAC/c low, etc. For all the dogging we've done on Nicks (and it is deserved), Nicks outperformed Smith. Some of that is situational, but most of it isn't.

Gettleman found Ginn, Hixon, Mitchell, Florence, Cole, Wharton, etc.. I know I'm
missing a few names.. All shortly before last season. Yet for some reason our own fans are counting him out a few days after free agency started. Just lol.

It's no guarantee that gettlemen will find diamonds in the rough like he did last year

I think the main point is that these guys aren't diamonds in the rough. They're all replaceable players surrounded by better talent. Breaking your future cap space for guys like that is why Hurney ruined the Panthers.

Yup. We could use some cap rollover for next offseason. Cam, Kuechly, and Star are going to cost the moon..

I'm ****ing disgusted by the decision to let Smitty go
The heart and soul of our team… he was here for the Superbowl and he stuck in there when we were the trash of the league.
He could of left and went and got a ring but he stayed loyal to us.
I get it's business , I get we're building for the future , I get all that BS. Have some class and let the man retire here.
Money or no money , business or no business you don't treat legends like that.

Yeah, I think we're gonna be alright too. I'm pretty excited about drafting some new young receivers. The WR position is one of the deepest it's ever been this year. 1st round talent going possibly all the way to round 3. I'm almost positive the first three picks will be some sort of combo between WR, WR, OL. And I heard Panthers are interested in James Jones as well.

Said legend was reportedly rustling the jimmies of the guys in the locker room. Said legend is notorious for NOT helping mentor the young guys.

Not exactly a guy you want around when the core of your team is young and you're about to bring in a bunch of fresh WRs.

Just saying.

I understand the reasons for letting Smitty go… but Sundays are gonna feel very different this Fall. Sad day for this Panthers fan.

I'm not really worried about the team. FA just started and we still got the draft. Way too soon to get so weary of the '14 season.

Well run teams move on from old, overpaid, unproductive players. Sucks to part ways with the best player the team has ever had but it was time, maybe even a year late.

as much as well all love smitty and he is a legend in our hearts….you would be a liar if you didn't think he was WELL past his prime..it's sad indeed, but i think it was a good move for the future of the team

Why are people giving Gettlemen a pass? He cut Smith for selfish reasons

Gettlemen hasn't proven anything, Rivera was the one who turned around this team

Dude this is just one of those things that hurts no matter what…this is like the chargers getting rid of LT. He has been the face of the franchise and our hero forever but there is a time when you need to move on..I would have loved to see him stay, but I'll wait till the draft is over and see where we are before I roll the guillotine out. Our entire passing game needs an overhaul and if releasing smith is what it takes for that to happen then so be it. Wish him nothing but success wherever he lands..he would fit in well on the ravens.

He's getting a pass because he inherited a team in probably the 2nd worst(loldallas) cap situation in the NFL. A team that was losing far more games than it was winning. A team that HE constructed with smart signings of guys most teams gave up on. A team that he turned from a running choke-artist joke into a #2 seed, 12 win team.

Yeah, those are just a few reasons. Unbelievable people are giving up on the season before the fukking draft has happened.

Gettlemen didn't construct NOTHING, all the players from last season except for the safeties and Ginn were already here or were gonna get drafted by Rivera anyways. And I'm pretty sure it was Rivera who inherited the 2-14 team NOT Gettlemen.

Nobody is giving up on the season but trying to justify every stupid move the GM make is retarded. Not bring back a familiar face for Cam is just plain stupid, it takes years to develop chemistry. Cam is and the new receivers are gonna have to do it on the fly which is a lot to ask for.

Does Cam not have Olsen? DWill/Tolbert outta the backfield? Kalil? Not worried about chemistry.

I'm not justifying anything because his moves don't need justification. Pretty much everyone agrees that while it's a tough pill to swallow seeing Smitty go(safe to say he's the fan favorite for EVERY Carolina fan) it was the right move. He could've/should've handled it differently, but it is what it is. I'd rather cut ties now than go the Hurney/Delhomme route where they dragged it on and destroyed the franchise in the process.

Mitchell was a decent player but you can find safeties that give his production in the middle rounds of the draft/preseason cuts when teams have to trim rosters. He also got a contract that we flat out couldn't afford without severely hurting the team(thank Hurney for that).

Gross retired. Out of his hands.

Ginn & LaFell are nothing special. There are several other free agent WR's that played the same roles Ginn/LaFell played for us that are available. Is chemistry important? Absolutely.. but if Cam noticeably struggles because of that I think we've got a bigger problem on our hands.

Munnerlyn was blasted by all Carolina fans. I think he's a solid player for what he does and would've been glad to have him back, but again he's nothing special and can be replaced rather easily.

Personally I think given the cap situation Gettleman inherited he's been absolutely fantastic. If we didn't have the bloated Hurney contracts putting a strain on things there is no doubt in my mind we'd be keeping some of these guys.. but we do, so he's thinking ahead for guys like Cam, Kuechly, Star, Short..

frustrated but loyal Rams fan checking in.





Just wanted to feel part of something since anyone who makes a thread for us Rams fans would be severely disappointed

The only people that think letting Smith go was the right move are people who are giving Gettlemen a pass. Nobody is saying give Smith in extension they just want him to play out his contract which was only 7 million, now we have to give Smith 3 million for ZERO production.

IDC about Lafell but Ginn he actually had some potential, only if had got more snaps.

BTW if Cam struggles it is on Gettlemen for not bring him talent and taking away his most trusted receiver, Kuechly, Star and Short contracts are up are 2, 3 or even 4 years from now, thinking for the future instead of the present isn't a good thing for a team that just made the playoffs. If the panthers regress next season he won't be here for the future

They're going to draft at least two receivers in the first three or four rounds. And probably sign a FA sometime soon. Cam will have receivers to throw to next year, relax. Losing Smith isn't going to make or break next season. Smith doesn't have that big of an impact anymore. I'm sad to see him go as well, and it's going to be weird not seeing him out there in a Panthers uniform every Sunday. But after thinking about it, it really was the right thing to do. It's time to bring in some new younger guys to start building chemistry with Cam. WR is deep this year and I trust that Gettleman and Rivera will pick some quality guys that can start on day 1.

$5.25M guaranteed. average doesn't really mean anything.

explain?

Mitchell seems like a clone of Ryan Clark, just younger and faster.

he's 33 already?

Stealing this post from elsewhere. Thought it brought up some good points.

Myth #1 The Panthers have no offensive line.

The Panthers currently have 4 of the 5 starting offensive lineman that the Panthers started training camp with last season. The retirement of Jordan Gross being the only change. Bell, Silotolu, Kalil, Williams, all remain on the roster. Finding an above average left tackle is not an impossible task for David Gettleman considering it is only March. he bigger concern is the leadership on the line that will need filled. I believe Ryan Kalil is more than ready to step in.

Myth #2 The Panthers have cut all of their wide receivers and are ignoring that need.

The 2013 Panthers wide receivers corps were less than stellar, to put it nicely. One good indication of such is TE Greg Olsen, who remains on the roster, was the leading receiver. Thats right, the Panthers leading receiver is still on the roster. Say that over and over again until you feel better. Steve Smith's release, while heartbreaking and handled terribly, was necessary. Receivers decline quickly when in their mid 30s, and Steve had shown signs of such two years ago. Allowing his contract to continue another year would have made it more difficult to sign core young players all while not guaranteeing an adequate return on investment this season. Gettleman made a tough call, but it was the correct one. All in all, it won't be difficult for Gettleman to match the production of the 2013 wide receivers in 2014. Why? Because there isn't much production to match.

Myth #3 The loss of Mike Mitchell and Captain Munnerlyn is devastating.

I like Mike Mitchell. I think he is a fine safety. I also think Pittsburgh is going to be very disappointed in the return they get for their high dollar investment in him. Without the Panthers stellar front seven, Mitchell will be an average safety for them making above average money. The Panthers were pleased with Robert Lester last season and still have Charles Godfrey under contract. Panthers fans have yet to see how Godfrey performs when the Panthers have featured their current front 7. My guess is he will benefit as much as Mike Mitchell did, maybe even more. We could see Godfrey rise to a new level. Captain Munnerlyn is an average corner at best, and maybe an above average nickel. He was a liability last season on many downs, most notably against San Francisco. Melvin White and Josh Thomas both will play at a higher level than Munnerlyn in 2014, and at a smaller price tag.

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/topcat...of-sanity-r297
The only thing I have an issue with is that Captain was the best nickel corner in the league, but it's really not the biggest problem with our front 7.

Everyone was doom and gloom before last season. Nobody thought we would go 12-4. People weren't impressed with all the one year deals to Mitchell/Ginn/Etc. Look how those deals panned out. Have a little faith in our GM and coaching staff.

Oh and here is the same thing from ESPN:
Don't worry. Marvin McNutt won't be Cam Newton's No. 1 target this season. Gettleman is a football guy who knows talent. Based on what he did with the New York Giants and in one season at Carolina, he does a good job of finding the so-called diamonds in the rough. He proved a year ago to be savvy in the draft as well.
As mentioned at the beginning of free agency, patience. The Panthers won't sign a lot of big names to big contracts like NFC South rival Tampa Bay has done, but the Buccaneers are coming off a 4-12 season and have a new coach. They needed to swing for the fences a few times. So while the state of panic in Pantherland is understandable, it's a bit premature.

Last time I looked, they don't play the Super Bowl in March.
http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-pan...ing?src=mobile