Super Cubs 132 Posted March 16, 2014 Steve Smith - gone Brandon LaFell - gone Ted Ginn Jr - gone That's their # 1, 2, and 3 WRs from last year all gone. I curious to how this plays out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 16, 2014 They are converting some of their defensive players to WR, that's how good they are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pecos Rattlers 5 Posted March 16, 2014 They also lost their 4rth leading WR: Domenik Hixon. They are left with their pass catching RBs and their TE & practice squad/KR level players. Sure, the upcoming draft is deep at WR, but rookie WRs are not really known for having immediate impact ... they had best grab James Jones and some other veteran. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 16, 2014 They had to get rid of their receiving core anyway. Smith was over the hill and not even close to what he once was. Lefell just sucks. Hixon wasn't anything special either. I wanted to see Ginn stay to see if he could develop something with Cam, but he still wasn't a franchise WR. The Ravens are retarded for signing Smith imo. I will never understand how a team can conclude they have a franchise QB, pay him as such, and then refuse to put more offensive weapons around him, WR in particular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raider 84 29 Posted March 16, 2014 Maybe Marvin McNutt will be their new #1 wr. Move him from the practice squad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pecos Rattlers 5 Posted March 16, 2014 Sure, they had no true #1 WR & Smith is on his last legs. He might end up being better than what they can cobble together now though .. And his cap # is 3M to not play there. Surely it was worth a call to see if he'd re-up to play a 1 or 2 year deal for slightly more than the cost of him not playing there Or at least wait until you do sign a replacement to cut him? I don't see any WR left on the FA market that are better than Smith besides James Jones. And they have 3 WR slots to fill, so even if they do get Jones, I think they'd have been better served to keep Smith & draft a rookie or two. If they miss James Jones ... they gotta go with the Danario Alexanders, Nate Burlesons & Jason Avants of the world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 16, 2014 Sure, they had no true #1 WR & Smith is on his last legs. He might end up being better than what they can cobble together now though .. And his cap # is 3M to not play there. Surely it was worth a call to see if he'd re-up to play a 1 or 2 year deal for slightly more than the cost of him not playing there Or at least wait until you do sign a replacement to cut him? I don't see any WR left on the FA market that are better than Smith besides James Jones. And they have 3 WR slots to fill, so even if they do get Jones, I think they'd have been better served to keep Smith & draft a rookie or two. If they miss James Jones ... they gotta go with the Danario Alexanders, Nate Burlesons & Jason Avants of the world. Yeah at this point of FA there isn't a whole lot left at WR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 2,461 Posted March 16, 2014 Steve Smith - gone Brandon LaFell - gone Ted Ginn Jr - gone That's their # 1, 2, and 3 WRs from last year all gone. I curious to how this plays out. they have lost alot of talent this off season so far on both sides offf the ball plus two oline players . i would think in the passing game newton lst some stock imo . and i think all three wr will have good seasons with the new teams they landed with imo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snatchit 108 Posted March 16, 2014 people keep forgetting about miles Austin.. he is a beast when healthy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffgiant 10 Posted March 16, 2014 Not a big fan of the way Panthers rebuilt its WR corps. I always believe QB and WRs need time to built chemistry. Not high on WRs changing teams, especially when they went to a bad team for money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,315 Posted March 17, 2014 I don't know why the Pats signed LaFell, he has always been pretty mediocre. Ginn? I think they'll live without him. Steve Smith was a headache and is old as hell. Certainly they do need some receivers now but it's not like they had much to start with. That said I would've retained one of those guys just for continuity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Mueller 146 Posted March 17, 2014 I don't know why the Pats signed LaFell, he has always been pretty mediocre. Ginn? I think they'll live without him. Steve Smith was a headache and is old as hell. Certainly they do need some receivers now but it's not like they had much to start with. That said I would've retained one of those guys just for continuity. Pats signed Lafell for his size and blocking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matts Eagles 25 Posted March 17, 2014 Lots of running...and passes to TE Greg Olson... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sho Nuff 719 Posted March 17, 2014 people keep forgetting about miles Austin.. he is a beast when healthy Let me know when that is... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike FF Today 608 Posted March 17, 2014 Here are my top ranked free agent WRs that are still available... 5 James Jones UFA 6 GB 12 Santonio Holmes Released 7 NYJ 13 Kenny Britt UFA 4 TEN 14 Danario Alexander UFA 3 SD 19 Lance Moore Released 7 NO 20 Miles Austin Released 7 DAL 21 Damian Williams UFA 3 TEN 22 Sidney Rice Released 6 SEA 23 Doug Baldwin RFA 2 SEA 24 Tiquan Underwood UFA 4 TB 25 Mario Manningham UFA 5 SF 26 Jerricho Cotchery UFA 9 PIT 27 Joe Morgan RFA 2 NO 28 Jason Avant Released 7 PHI 29 Nate Burleson UFA 10 DET 32 Darrius Heyward-Bey UFA 4 IND That's a shaky group. No doubt the Panthers will be looking for WR help in the upcoming draft. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphster 274 Posted March 17, 2014 They should have kept Smiff after a paycut, but the new GM wanted his own house. I think they make a run at Jones and Britt. Holmes is a locker room cancer, Moore is a possession WR, DX and Austin can't stay off the shelf. Sad thing is CAR will be looking at 2nd/3rd rounders for WR in the draft, so they'll need to hit. Good thing the WR class is solid this year! PS - Steve Smith will prove a lot of you FF prognosticators wrong in BAL next year. 70/800/5 = 180 point WR3 in PPR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Showboat 145 Posted March 17, 2014 100 catch season for Greg Olsen????? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gpann101 32 Posted March 17, 2014 Run game m.I.a. now pass game? Easy wins for opposing teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike FF Today 608 Posted March 17, 2014 Cross James Jones off the list. He's headed to Oakland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pecos Rattlers 5 Posted March 18, 2014 I wonder if they will consider replacing 'malcontent' Steve Smith with Santonio Holmes .. that'd be pretty hypocritical, but never stopped GMs before. Danario Alexander might have some upside, with only 3 years under his belt & 600 7 last year, except he might not play in 2014 due to knee injuries Britt could return to form I guess ... worth a veteran's min flier on a team that can afford a luxury. But any of these guys as the focal point of a passing offense? For a team that was a super bowl contender last year? I would hate to be explaining this to Cam Newton .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,895 Posted March 18, 2014 I would hate to be explaining this to Cam Newton .. Because he's kind of slow and you'd have to draw him a picture? I think they'll sign a bet and go WR early and often in the draft. Britt plus say Kelvin Benjamin is at least something to work with. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 18, 2014 The panthers are just going to convert good offensive linemen to wrs. They will block for cam and the run game on every play revolutionizing the offense to a run only offense. Probably something like a triple option on every play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pecos Rattlers 5 Posted March 18, 2014 It does look like they'll have a run focused attack right now Maybe their plan all along ... has been to re-sign retired OT Jordan Gross as a WR. I don't doubt that they will draft 2+ wr in the draft, but they need to go OL in the first round to replace Gross, so they are asking 2nd and 3rd round WRs to immediately be productive + counting on someone like Britt to come in and step it up. They also have about 5M in free cap space, so it just seems criminal to waste 3M of dead money on Steve Smith when he'd probably have played there with a hometown discount this year. That's also why they lost out on Nicks & Jones - no $ to pay them and no established WR to pair them with. Rumors are that Britt is looking at a few teams right now, so the Panthers might not even get him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,315 Posted March 18, 2014 Because he's kind of slow and you'd have to draw him a picture? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DankNuggs 305 Posted March 20, 2014 Britt, Moore, Rice, Baldwin, Austin, draft picks.... get a couple from the list and draft a few, not markedly worse than what they had. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikings4ever 496 Posted March 20, 2014 They signed the Crotch. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/20/cotchery-to-carolina/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boilermaker04 11 Posted March 21, 2014 Career possession receiver way past his prime. Magic 8 ball still saying outlook not so good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pecos Rattlers 5 Posted March 21, 2014 CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, the team announced. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but a source told ESPN.com the deal is worth $5 million. Not knowing the specifics ... lets assume $2.5M cap number each year. Add that to a $3M cap number for releasing Steve Smith & they could have kept Smith for a reworked 5.5M (or less to save $) and had a superior receiver that Cam already is in sync with. According to nbcsports the panthers had $7.3 M in cap space two days ago. Assuming they did no other deals, they just spent 33% of their remaining cap space for a 32 year old possession WR. Hope they have some other scrubs to cut .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteWonder 2,172 Posted March 22, 2014 sign Britt, Austin and draft a WR... that would put them in FAR better shape than they were. Austin is a more than solid WR when healthy and Britt still has a world of talent at only what 25 years old? Maybe you catch lightning with him but even if you don't you draft a guy anyway in this great class. Cotchery is a great pro and would make a nice WR3. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gepetto 988 Posted March 22, 2014 Good plan WhiteWonder, I think they should also sign Danario Alexander. They would then have 3 very good WRs and a Rookie WR, and since all 3 are injury prone at least if and when one gets hurt they still have 2 solid starters. All 3 healthy and they have a very good receiving core. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 22, 2014 Good plan WhiteWonder, I think they should also sign Danario Alexander. They would then have 3 very good WRs and a Rookie WR, and since all 3 are injury prone at least if and when one gets hurt they still have 2 solid starters. All 3 healthy and they have a very good receiving core. Dx would be interesting. A good low risk signing would be good for the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,315 Posted March 23, 2014 sign Britt, Austin and draft a WR... that would put them in FAR better shape than they were. Austin is a more than solid WR when healthy and Britt still has a world of talent at only what 25 years old? Maybe you catch lightning with him but even if you don't you draft a guy anyway in this great class. Cotchery is a great pro and would make a nice WR3. Those guys are both done, IMO. Britt, maybe you sign to see if he even sticks on your roster. God help you if you're heavily relying on him though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voltaire 4,564 Posted March 24, 2014 If Britt were smart he'd -oh nevermind- let's not pretend. But this would be the best place to resurrect his career and reputation. Great team, great QB, nobody to compete against at his position. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteWonder 2,172 Posted March 24, 2014 Those guys are both done, IMO. Britt, maybe you sign to see if he even sticks on your roster. God help you if you're heavily relying on him though you don't think Austin, Britt, Cotchery and lets say Kelvin Benjamin would be a talented group of WR's for Cam? certainly more talent than he has had to work with. Granted a lot of it is theoretical talent but Austin and Cotchery are both good character guys. Britt is a lottery ticket. Also factor in that it wouldn't cost a lot of $ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,315 Posted March 24, 2014 you don't think Austin, Britt, Cotchery and lets say Kelvin Benjamin would be a talented group of WR's for Cam? certainly more talent than he has had to work with. Granted a lot of it is theoretical talent but Austin and Cotchery are both good character guys. Britt is a lottery ticket. Also factor in that it wouldn't cost a lot of $ Austin and Britt don't play. Cotchery, perhaps, but he is getting up there in age isn't he? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteWonder 2,172 Posted March 24, 2014 Austin and Britt don't play. Cotchery, perhaps, but he is getting up there in age isn't he? Britt was purposely buried on the titans bench last year. they were done with him. obviously he still has issues but 1 year low $ deal for that type of potential talent... why not? Austin would need to show he can stay on the field but a solid veteran i would think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 24, 2014 I would like them both signing as a panthers fan. Its better than anything they will get for this year in the draft or free agency. As long as its a very small cap hit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikings4ever 496 Posted March 24, 2014 I would like them both signing as a panthers fan. Its better than anything they will get for this year in the draft or free agency. As long as its a very small cap hit. The WR depth for this year's draft is supposed to be very good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozenbeernuts 1,652 Posted March 25, 2014 The WR depth for this year's draft is supposed to be very good. Rookie receivers usually take at least a year to become consistent contributors. So for this year i believe if austin and britt can stay on the field they could outperform any rookie the panthers draft. The health issue is a big if so i said only with a small contract would i be willing to sign either of them. For the future, yes there are a lot of wrs in this draft that i believe would be more valuable with less health concerns. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites