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August 02, 2007
Minter headed for backup role?
The trade with Chicago for Chris Harris could sort the safety situation out a little more differently than you might expect.
The automatic assumption is that Harris and veteran Mike Minter will be the starters with Nate Salley and Deke Cooper as the backups. That’s entirely possible, but the thought here is this will play out in a different scenario.
It may take a bit of time before Harris catches up and learns the defense. But, physically, he’s better than any safety the Panthers have. He’ll be one starter, likely on the strong side.
But the surprise could be at free safety. There’s a reason why Minter took a massive pay cut to backup money in the off-season. The Panthers view him as a backup.
Minter’s a great guy and has been a very solid player for a long time, but he’s clearly nearing the end of the road. Don’t be surprised if Salley or Cooper end up starting. Maybe it happens before opening day. Or maybe Minter starts for a while. But the guess here is that by midseason, at the absolute latest, Salley or Cooper will be starting opposite Harris.
Posted by Observer Sports on August 2, 2007 at 06:42 PM | Permalink
Comments
I think you meant, by midseason at the latest Salley or Cooper will be starting opposite HARRIS? The point seemed to be that Minter will be a backup by that time.
Posted by: Whoops | Aug 2, 2007 7:46:01 PM
Dude its a FREAKING blog! Take a break, get some fresh air, take a class at CPCC...blogs aren't formal articles they are brain dumps and I appreciate the quick updates.
Thanks Pat.
Posted by: CatDawg | Aug 2, 2007 7:59:41 PM
This is a brilliant move by the front office. They got a legit starter who's played in a Super Bowl, is young, has like 15 starts under his belt, & is being paid like 400K for this year and next. Well worth a future fifth round pick. Someone out of Minter, Salley, & Cooper should step up and provide adequate play opposite Harris.
Posted by: Will Piner | Aug 2, 2007 8:31:02 PM
Isn't this the guy that got burned by Steve Smith in the playoffs two years ago?
Posted by: Jeff from Charlotte | Aug 2, 2007 8:54:07 PM
This is one way to make sure that doesn't happen in a NFL game, again. :-)
Posted by: GUNNER | Aug 2, 2007 9:23:48 PM
Yo CatDawg u misunderstand me big time. I appreciate the blog updates as much as u do, I'm just tryin to help a brother out man. Pats the man
Posted by: Whoops | Aug 2, 2007 10:35:51 PM
Tell me again who hasn't gotten burned by Smith?? There is no one who can stop him one on one throughout an entire game if the offense is intact and doing good...
Posted by: Robert | Aug 2, 2007 10:36:21 PM
Breathing a little easier now with the Panthers getting Harris. Wonder what his 40 time is, cause the Panthers need some speed back there when Minter's in. Did anyone note that we also signed Jermaine Hardy, another safety. I didn't remember his name, so looked on NFL.com and found out his only playing time was with the....Panthers! In 2005. So no reason to get more excited.
Posted by: Ron | Aug 2, 2007 11:38:03 PM
I'm glad we signed Harris. He can provide youth and athleticism. I'm still optimistic about Nate Salley the most. He's big and quick, and has learned for a year from Minter, and has been practicing with the first team. Harris has been in the SuperBowl and has experience as well, which should help a lot, and learning from Minter will be great. However, the best thing for our safeties is better leverage from the front four, a healthy and effective LB corps, and an offense that stays on the field. We're going to have all that in place as we move forward and dominate the rest of the league and win our first Super Bowl.
Posted by: charlsong1 | Aug 3, 2007 4:45:37 AM
I've heard that Mike Minter petitioned the league to allow him to take the field in one of those Rascal scooters this year. Did anyone else hear this? That will definitely allow him to better chase down the WR's he gives up passes to but I don't see how it will help improve his poor tackling. I guess he can just Rascal them over.
Posted by: Harold | Aug 3, 2007 7:34:51 AM
Grest job panthers signing Harris, I was scared for a minute because Minter's time as a starter is over. I don't mean any harm but Minter is a slight bit over the hill. Last year he was always a second to late for a big hit or interception and that comes from him slowing down. Mentally he the best on the team because he knows the defence like the back of his hand but father time won't let him make the plays. Harris is the prefect replacement for Minter and its a plus because Minter will have no problem mentoring Harris. Minter has been the leader of this defence for many years and now that the torch has been passed to Peppers, Minter becomes that extra coach on the staff that gets to play once in ah while. Overall it was a Great move Mr GM. We might surprise some people this year.
Posted by: Born_ah_heel | Aug 3, 2007 8:52:47 AM
Calling this a brilliant move is a pretty big stretch. I think it fills a need but brilliant?
Posted by: itsme | Aug 3, 2007 10:08:37 AM
LOLing at harold. got to love mike "eat me after dinner" minter
Posted by: hilarious | Aug 3, 2007 11:40:56 AM
Great move now the Panthers should go and make a trade to get Santana Moss to help take alot of coverage off Steve Smith.The Panthers trade Mike Rucker the Redskin need a DE badly plus give them Drew Carter and Keary Colbert so they have two WR to replace Santana. This deal will also help since Santana can do some of the thing Steve Smith can do and that will help out in the new offense that Jeff Davidson is running so great move getting Haris now Let go after Santana.
Posted by: Panthers GM. | Aug 3, 2007 3:29:16 PM
Glad you're not the real Panthers GM....this isn't Madden, what a dumb trade. Are the Redskins stupid? Why would they give a top 5-10 wideout to us for a DE with 1-2 years left, a wideout who is to scared to ever make a catch in traffic and another wideout who hasn't done anything in the last 2 years? Even Snyder isn't that dumb, and he is the worst owner in the league!
And Harold is just hilarious with his Mike Minter scooter petition comment!.....NOT. Nice attempt at joking one of the classiest players this ever to play for the organization. Try moving to ATL....you'll fit in well with the fans there. Thank You!
Posted by: James | Aug 3, 2007 5:38:15 PM
Quit flogging this Panther-Redskin trade. This would'nt even make it in Madden! Thanks James. Mike Minter defines class. You, sir, are a true Panther fan. See ya in the nosebleeds!
Posted by: S.H. | Aug 3, 2007 5:52:35 PM
Now if we just had Jack Del Rio back as the defensive coach we would be set.
Posted by: kevin | Aug 4, 2007 12:05:18 AM
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