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December 17, 2007
Looking ahead at potential free agents
As the end of the season approaches, it’s time to start looking ahead. Whether coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney – or a new administration – is calling the shots, the Panthers will face some interesting decisions when it comes to their own potential free agents. Here’s a list of Carolina’s potential unrestricted free agents:
Receiver Drew Carter: He’s never flourished, but Carter is a decent No.. 3 or No.. 4 receiver. At a reasonable price, he could be back because the Panthers need someone in their receiving corps besides Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett.
Receiver Keary Colbert: Has been given every chance possible to secure a starting job and hasn’t done it. It’s unlikely any effort will be made to keep him.
Safety Deke Cooper: Ended up starting out of necessity this year and hasn’t played badly. The Panthers likely will look for an upgrade, but wouldn’t mind keeping Cooper as a backup.
Linebacker Na’il Diggs: A dependable, but not spectacular, player on the weak side. The Panthers have a lot of youth at linebacker, but may try to keep Diggs at an affordable price.
Tackle Jordan Gross: By far, the team’s most significant free agent. A strong effort will be made to keep Gross. But he could have a high value on the open market. Keeping him could be an issue because the Panthers also are likely to be looking for a left tackle.
Fullback Brad Hoover: He’s been a very dependable and steady player. But Hoover does have some mileage on him. A contract for two or three years would be wise for the team and it’s also time to start grooming a replacement.
Defensive tackle Damione Lewis: Has had two nice years in a backup role and has found a niche as a pass rusher. Could get a chance at a starting job elsewhere. But the Panthers might have to view Lewis as a starter if they unload Kris Jenkins in the offseason.
Linebacker Terrence Melton: Signed to be a special teams regular, Melton hurt his knee in training camp and has missed the season. Could return at minimum salary.
Defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead: A solid backup. The Panthers’ interest in keeping Moorehead is likely to be determined by what happens with Jenkins and Lewis.
Defensive end Mike Rucker: Has had a very nice career with the Panthers, but retirement seems like a good possibility. Rucker took a big cut in pay to play this season. If he decides he wants to play one more year, the Panthers probably would have interest in keeping him, but not for much money.
Cornerback Dante Wesley: Signed to be the fourth cornerback and a special teams player, Wesley has missed the season with an injury. He could return at something close to the minimum.
Tackle Travelle Wharton: He’s been an adequate left tackle, but Wharton never will be a Pro Bowler. Carolina’s first concern is keeping Gross on the right side and that will take a lot of money. Because he plays the left side, Wharton could get some decent offers on the open market and the Panthers might look elsewhere for a left tackle.
PAT YASINSKAS
Posted by Observer Sports on December 17, 2007 at 01:28 PM | Permalink
Comments
Don't we want to look at who has to go that's currently under contract for next year? After all, we're probably in the worst cap space of any NFL team for 2008: near the top in cap space committed but near the bottom of players under contract.
I'm assuming we start by extending Peppers ($16m cap figure for next year, I believe, with $10m or so of that in bonus money). Where from there, and what do we save?
Posted by: jdb1972 | Dec 17, 2007 1:49:48 PM
Re-sign: Carter, Gross, Hoover, Lewis, Wesley (convert him to safety)
Goodbye: Colbert, Wharton
Offer minimum: Cooper, Diggs, Melton, Rucker
Draft a left tackle. Don't trade Jenkins, trade Kemo.
Restructure with Peppers, extend him for 3 years. If he doesn't produce early next year, try to trade him.
Posted by: Authority on Everything | Dec 17, 2007 1:56:26 PM
gotta keep gross he stoned patrick kerney all day and he leads the league in sacks, prolly should keep carter to he's decent and can stretch the field but we need a legit second option, AND DRAFT KENNY PHILLIPS FREE SAFTEY FROM MIAMI HE WILL BE A STUD IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!!!
Posted by: james | Dec 17, 2007 3:00:54 PM
gotta keep gross he stoned patrick kerney all day and he leads the league in sacks, prolly should keep carter to he's decent and can stretch the field but we need a legit second option, AND DRAFT KENNY PHILLIPS FREE SAFTEY FROM MIAMI HE WILL BE A STUD IN THE LEAGUE!!!!!!!!
Posted by: james | Dec 17, 2007 3:02:01 PM
I have no energy or enthusiasm to discuss any Panther related topics. They have been sucked out of me by the failures of every significant member of the organization.
Mr. Richardson calling out Julius Peppers.
Mark Richardson's choice of a former journalist in Marty Hurney to help evaluate talent instead of someone with practical football experience.
Marty's erratic success rate with free agents. Will Witherspoon, David Carr, Justin Hartwig, Dan Morgan, and Kemo are prime examples.
John Fox's consistently inconsistent ways. When Jake goes down and Carr's ineffective, don't try to reach the Super Bowl with a dinosaur. Give yourself more information on the young players you have. By now, the vets have earned their playing time bonuses, so what's the harm?
I've heard that you have input on the type of player you want to coach. I've heard our 300 lb. linemen aren't big enough for a power running game. I've also heard our 300 lb. linemen are too big for a zone blocking scheme. What's your plan, Coach? If you want to try a passing attack instead, don't you need more than one receiver and linemen that don't resemble a turnstile?
Offensive Coordinator Davidson, what happened to all those screen passes you wanted to do instead of the predictable draw play?
Defensive Coordinator Trgovac, why is it so difficult to consistently motivate your players? Also, I can't tell the difference between your defense and Siefert's in his last year.
Posted by: sick of it | Dec 17, 2007 3:16:54 PM
Mr. Procton where do you see us as far as cap space next year and who is realistically going to get cut I value your opinion unlike others
Posted by: Wayne | Dec 17, 2007 3:57:02 PM
I am not sure of who to cut and get rid of. That Terrance Melton Kid is gone, Wesley maybe gone, and Colbert is gone for sure. We need to make room and try to get Jason Taylor who has 3 good years left, possibly Chris Henry if he is a free agent. These will be great additions.
Posted by: Fayton | Dec 17, 2007 4:08:03 PM
The first decision that has to be made is to fire Fox and Hurney. This needs to be done SOON so the new coach and GM can handle these situations and evaluate (and hopefully fire) Fox's "left-over" staff.
Posted by: Matt West | Dec 17, 2007 4:27:54 PM
Sign Riley Skinner and the entire Wake Forest coaching staff. There the only ones that know how to win a football game in N.C. besides App!
Posted by: BDUB | Dec 17, 2007 5:31:31 PM
J RICH will never sign chris henry with his character issues, we need to go get alan faneca the guard from pittsburgh to help the run, thats all the offense needs a consistent running attack, and another reciever, and DRAFT KENNY PHILLIPS DA NEXT ED REED! a playmaking free saftey to go along with harris would make this D alot better and bring some intimidation over the middle no one is scared of our d right now the are soft, DRAFT KENNEY PHILLIPS FROM miami look him up, andre woodson would be nice to if hurney dont fuck it up
Posted by: james | Dec 17, 2007 5:38:47 PM
Not much in this article pertaining to salaries. Money answers alot of these questions. Don't even consider trading Jenkins($2.7mil) and keeping Kemo($7.0mil). Wharton is only making $430G. Gross is making $1.5mil. Hangartner($354G)just replaced Jeremy Bridges($2.1mil)at RG. Lewis is making $2.1mil, again Kemo has got to go. Since Foster and Williams are basically the same back. Cut Foster($5.5mil)and keep Williams($1.0mil). Go out and get a big powerful back to convert some third downs. Morgan($5.0mil),Carr($3.0mil),Kemo($7.0mil) has got to hit the road pronto.
I'd even question Lucas at $7.1mil.
Posted by: B | Dec 17, 2007 7:39:28 PM
Finally, I can agree with Yasinskas. I still think he is lobbying for Gross, but he is right on the money with his value compared to the other team upcoming FA's.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 17, 2007 8:08:52 PM
Here we go...we can fix it all in 1 year & go to the super bowl if we do the following:
DEFENSE:
1) Cut Dan Morgan (Huge Cap Savings)
2) Cut Kindall Moorehead (Cap savings)
3) Cut or trade Kemo (Huge cap savings)
4) Extend Peppers (HUGE CAP SAVINGS)
5) SIGN FREE AGENT LANCE BRIGGS (The money will be there from moves 1-4 above)
NOW: DEFENSIVE LINE will look like this: Peppers LE / Jenkins DT / Lewis or Draft Pick in 08 at other DT / Rucker & Johnson RE....
LINEBACKERS: Davis ROLB / Beason MLB / Briggs LOLB / Tim Shaw backup along with anyone else we draft, sign or re-sign
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Lucas RCB / Marshall LCB / Gamble FS / Sally SS or 3rd rnd pick, FA, / Draft or sign a nickel corner...Gamble gets burned too much to be a corner...but he has great range & speed w/ good hands...FS he will excel.
OFFENSE:
1) Cut Carr (Cap Savings)
2) Retire Vinny (Roster opening)
3) Cut Hartwig (Cap Savings)
4) Cut Colbert (Roster & Cap)
5) Re-do Jake's Contract (Potential Savings)
NOW:
1) Call Cleveland offer our Round 2 pick this year & round 2 & 5 in 2009 for Brady Quinn. Sit him for 1-1 1/2 years behind Jake. This way he learns our system without being rushed & by the time his 5 yr deal is up (1 yr already done this year) we won't have to pay him a lot of money & we'll know what he is.
2) Move Wharton (assuming he re-signs) to (RG) & Kahlil to (C)
OFFENSIVE LINE: #1 pick this year at LT/ Whale LG / Kahlil C / Wharton RG / Gross RT......(remember the money is here because Carr's $3 million is gone & there should still be money left from Morgan & Peppers moves & re-negotiating Jake's contract)
QUARTERBACKS: Jake #1 / Quinn #2 / Moore #3
RUNNING BACKS: Foster #1 / Williams #2 / Hoover FB / Cut everyone else & use picks 5-7 on RB's You WILL find a good one
WIDE RECEIVERS: Smith #1 / Jarrett #2 / Carter #3 / Robinson #4 / Sign FA for 2-5 any slot depending on salary cap situation
TIGHT ENDS: None of these guys we have / while Gates/Gonzalas/Crumpler are preferred its impossible...we need a Chris Cooley or LJ Smith type of TE...Draft or FA...time to use the middle of the field...Bubba Franks will come very cheap from Green Bay & could still be a threat
All of this is VERY POSSIBLE...HUGE CAP SAVINGS from cutting Morgan, Extending Peppers, Cutting Carr, Releasing Vinny, Extending Jake, Re-negotiate Lucas & Jenkins & Foster. All have had down years & cap charges can be lowered.
Or make all of the re-signings, cuts & extensions mentioned above, however, call Cleveland & offer this years #1 & #3 for Derek Anderson. Cut Jake, Morgan, Carr, Colbert, Hartwig. Extend, Re-sign & renegotiate all of the above.
IT WILL WORK & WE WILL WIN!!!
COACHES: FOX stays, Evaluate Trogovac (his bend don't break philosophy is killing us, we need to be more aggressive), Davidson is gone, & make QB coach our new Offensive Coordinator, he is young & will open it up.
Posted by: Charles | Dec 18, 2007 12:58:04 AM
All this sounds ok execept for the running back part. Foster has got to go, we have got to find someone who can CONVERT A THIRD DOWN. Williams is not the answer. We need someone BIG, POWERFUL, PUNISHING.
Posted by: B | Dec 18, 2007 7:29:56 AM
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Posted by: ljqhajnvll | Dec 18, 2007 8:07:07 AM
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Posted by: hggpdwakap | Dec 18, 2007 8:07:28 AM
This year has been sooo disappointing. Fox is Fox. He's really a good coach. He needs to take a few more risks with his QB though. I think the whole leagues knows we'll hand it to ineffective DeShaun Foster on 4th and 1. I really watched Seattle just mob the center of the line on that one. May not even be DeShaun's fault, I mean even John Riggins had trouble when there were nine guys piling on him.
Jake came out with 8 TDs and 1 pick before the injury. Weird injuries on defense, and missing a good safety in the draft. Julius Peppers' disappearance. Trying to get one more year out of the aging Mr. Rucker.
No my friends, your illness is not Coach Fox. Your illness is the management which inks a shaky Dan Morgan, but allows a healthy Will Witherspoon to leave. Your illness is shunning quality safeties like Deon Grant and Marlon McCree while trying to "develop" guys like Colin Branch. Bad picks: Kemo, Eric Shelton, Attiyah Ellison, Bruce Nelson, Adam Meadows, Stefan LeFors, David Carr. Bad escapes: Brentson Buckner, Keyshawn Johnson, Marlon McCree, Mushin Muhammed, Deon Grant. Never quite reached potential (teasers): DeShaun Foster, Travelle Wharton, Keary Colbert, Evan Mathis, Chris Gamble. Saving graces: Jake Delhomme, Stephen Davis, Mike Wahle, Ken Lucas, Jon Beason, DeAngelo Williams, Richard Marshall.
Keep Fox, jettison Hurney. I think we can do better.
Posted by: Ben | Dec 18, 2007 8:26:43 AM
Charles, how do you cut players for cap savings when they aren't under contract for next year in the first place?
Posted by: jdb1972 | Dec 18, 2007 10:55:52 AM
*You're going to have a hard time selling me on Marlon McCree...he wanted to get paid like his '05 season, and he's never approached those levels since.
*Kemoeatu is a contributing starter, as he has been since he joined the team.
*Bruce Nelson was on track to start before he was struck down with an extremely unfortunate injury that no one could have foreseen.
*Adam Meadows was also a quality signing...how was anyone in the front office to know that he was going to retire before the season started?
*Brentson Buckner was such a "bad escape" that he couldn't find a job after we cut him, and Keyshawn is the same.
*Neither McCree nor Muhammad have proven to be worth the money they left for.
*DeShaun Foster is the 2nd-best back in Panthers history...that's certainly more than acceptable for a 2nd-roudn pick. *Travelle Whartron has been a starter on the offensive line since his rookie year, and that's STELLAR from the 31st pick in the 3rd round.
*Mathis is another 3rd-round pick who has started for a full season.
*Colbert is 9th ALL-TIME for the Panthers in receiving.
*Chris Gamble was an All-Rookie and has been a starter since day one.
If you're going to rip the occasional miss like Eric Shelton or Randy Fasani, go ahead...but don't trash guys who have been consistent contributors to the success of this team.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 18, 2007 11:09:25 AM
My thoughts on Travelle Wharton:
I spent a while yesterday looking at the OTs available in the draft. If there's one we really like, we ought to do what it takes to move up.
Wharton has been a bargain at LT, but at times he plays like what Dr. Z calls a "WGSK" player -- will get somebody killed.
Posted by: BullCityDog | Dec 18, 2007 12:19:05 PM
Michael,
Nobody will ever call you a fair-weather fan, that's for sure. The issues with Gamble and Foster in particular remind me of that famous Jerry Glanville line that NFL stands for Not For Long (he used it on a referree, but the point stands). Historical performance is great, and I think a team should be loyal to players that have devoted their sweat for years. I think the Panthers do that with Kasay, Hoover, they are doing it with Morgan and Rucker as well. However, you don't get to have but so many bad years in a row, everyone slumps for whatever reason - golfers are a great example - and then make a comeback. I can only speak for myself, but I don't see Foster making a comeback to that form that gave us higher expectations of him, nor do I see it in Gamble, who, in my opinion, thinks he is a cover corner ala Deon Sanders that doesn't need to tackle. I know your opinion differs, but by gum, isn't that what makes America great? I think most people that post all share a great enthusiasm for the team and want it to be the best it can be. We then "share" our views on who we think is packed with poo versus our own opinion. I will give you this, you are a tenacious little guy, even if I don't agree with you most of the time. The real question is, does Jessica Simpson have bad mojo?
Posted by: Willy | Dec 18, 2007 12:21:48 PM
Wow Procton, by your comments you think Fox/Hurney have done a wonderful job. Should we really be getting caught up in something so trivial as WINNING football games? 6-8, 6-10 who cares? I love writing checks for tickets. I really would rather do something more interesting than go to any of those silly playoff games.
Posted by: Tom | Dec 18, 2007 1:19:15 PM
Umm...hasn't that combo landed the Panthers in the SUPER BOWL and the NFC Championship (TWICE!)??? How much more wonderful does it get. Furthermore, even if this team does lose both of its last two games, the 6-8 record will be the worst of their era, and here we are, alive in the playoff race as of Week 16. There are a hell of a lot of teams that would kill for that, particularly with a team on its 5th QB of the year.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 18, 2007 2:32:04 PM
Colber is 9th leading receiver in Panthers history....9th freaking all time on a frachise who isnt even 15yrs old?? Wow Keary, thats something you can tell your grandkids.
Deshaun Foster is the 2nd best back in Panthers history....thats saying alot coming from a franchise with studs like Fred Lane, Biakabatuka, Winslow Oliver, Richard Huntley, and Anthony Johnson. DeShaun Foster never finished in the top 10 in any major category!!
Posted by: m | Dec 18, 2007 3:15:11 PM
We spend a lot of money on the defense and I believe in that philosophy but I don't like when we overpay for players.Kemo,lucas, and morgan are overpaid! It would be nice if they all can agree to restructure their contract. Kemo with Kris Jenkins next to him is good for the run defense. Deshaun Foster contract is a bargain but he got to go. We need a better back that can give us the big play. D Williams is good but we still need a 1 2 punch. Do you feel me?
Posted by: Pakmania | Dec 18, 2007 4:48:56 PM
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