Yeah, I think our top 3 picks were all solid, but we really should have picked up a tackle or two in the late rounds. Those picks are all crap shoots anyway and it's hard to believe secondary and running back depth was more important than finding protection for Cam.

5/12/2014 11:21:39 AM

Do you really want to start a 5th round rookie at tackle week 1 and have to depend on him? Think about that for a second.

5/12/2014 11:33:12 AM

No, but I would have liked some depth and competition at the position. Do you really want to see more former defensive tackles in the offensive huddle?

5/12/2014 11:37:29 AM

JR Sweezy says what's up.

5/12/2014 11:57:39 AM

Hey JR, what's up yourself? How are you doing?

5/12/2014 12:01:47 PM

not too bad, just keeping busy during the offseason by punch old bus drivers in the face.

5/12/2014 12:18:13 PM

Why are you still riding the bus?

5/12/2014 12:24:42 PM

he's gotta start saving money now that seattle took some late round linemen

being buds with the qb isnt a guarantee anymore. dont you keep up with the news?

5/12/2014 12:57:58 PM

Quote :

"No, but I would have liked some depth and competition at the position."

I forgot our roster is already set in stone since

Quote :

"The draft is the only way to acquire players"

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 1:07 PM. Reason : ...]

5/12/2014 1:04:43 PM

I'm sure the Panthers can grab a veteran right tackle off the scrap heap in training camp when cuts begin. It's not really tough to find a competent run-blocking RT.

The problem is Byron Bell at left tackle. The guy is a bum and he's gonna get Cam blindsided regularly. Unfortunately, you can't just grab some veteran cap casualty to fill the position, either. Left tackles are tough to acquire. The majority of starting left tackles are high draft picks playing for the team that drafted them.

If Bell is the starting left tackle on opening day, the Panthers don't make the playoffs.

5/12/2014 1:37:30 PM

What if he gets replaced before the 2nd game? Should I still give up all hopes of the playoffs?

5/12/2014 1:58:57 PM

Yeah, now that's being a bit overly pessimistic. The Panthers didn't go 12-4 last year because of great pass protection. The secondary doesn't suck anymore, and the young front seven should be even better with Ealy in the mix. Offensively, I think we see even more power run and passes off play action. The wide receivers are better and will help move the chains on third down, while Benjamin gives us that red zone threat we've been missing on the outside. You don't go from 12-4 to out of the playoffs due to a downgrade at a single position (other than QB), especially when you've improved elsewhere.

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 2:00 PM. Reason : :]

5/12/2014 1:59:22 PM

Let's shore up our run blocking, so maybe Jonathan Stewart can have a big year and we can trade away his terrible contract. Getting rid of that albatross could make an 7-9 season tolerable.

5/12/2014 3:09:36 PM

Quote :

" The secondary doesn't suck anymore"

We lost arguably our best two DB's from last year's team (Mike Mitchell and Munnerlyn) and replaced them with a bunch of decent guys that no one else really wanted – Harper, Decoud, Cason.

That said, I don’t think they’ll be any better or worse than last year’s secondary. Thank God our front 7 is stacked.

5/12/2014 3:48:08 PM

Mitchell was a bum before playing in front of that line and Munnerlyn had to take a one year deal to stay with the team. I think we've clearly upgraded both talent and depth in the secondary, assuming no pre-season injuries.

5/12/2014 4:04:09 PM

wait, you think the panthers downgraded by letting munnerlyn go? LOLOLOLOLOL

5/12/2014 6:29:44 PM

Our starters will be Godfrey and Antione Cason right?

Benwikere (ben-wicker-y?)or Melvin White battling for the nickel spot.

Still got Josh Thomas and Josh Norman as true back-ups who should get better.

Harper/Decoud starting safeties with Boston and Lester backing up

Last year Captain/Florence/Mikell/Mitchell.

I'll take this year. Shrike's post was spot on with the Mitchell and Munnerlyn comments.

[Edited on May 12, 2014 at 7:27 PM. Reason : ...]

5/12/2014 7:27:01 PM

i would not bet on godfrey starting. hope i'm wrong though, i've always liked the guy

but if he can play some nickel and also be available as a safety sub, that would be awesome

5/12/2014 7:31:54 PM

also excited about the possibility of silatolu coming back from injury and playing near his potential and trai turner stepping in next to kalil in the other OG spot. if things break right that could develop into a beastly interior for the running game over the next few years

and then theres also EDMUND

5/12/2014 7:36:43 PM

The overarching theme of this entire offseason is to get better in the redzone.

We've got a big receiver to go get it now, and a nasty interior line to run the ball inside with that whole RB unit.

All this hopefully equals more touchdowns when we get down there.

5/12/2014 7:42:58 PM

Quote :

"wait, you think the panthers downgraded by letting munnerlyn go?"

He was bad earlier in his career, but he was pretty good last year considering he was always lined up against the other team's best WR. He also made some big plays to win us games -- especially against the Jets. There's a reason he got paid good money this offseason.

I don't think Cason/Godfrey will be any worse, but we were top 5 in the league against the pass last year. I wouldn't say we were sucking it up back there.

5/13/2014 8:07:29 AM

Quote :

"There's a reason he got overpaid good money this offseason."

A lot of that has to do with the front seven they play in front of. It's no coincidence that these journeyman and less talented players like Captain suddenly got good last year when our defensive front was mauling people.

5/13/2014 10:37:30 AM

Quote :

" WSOC TV Charlotte reports Panthers RE Greg Hardy was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence involving his girlfriend. It's a misdemeanor. No other details are known at this time. It's Hardy's first run-in with the law since entering the league. Depending on how things shake out here, he could be in line for a fine or possible one-game suspension down the road. Hardy is set to play the 2014 season on the $13.1 million franchise tag. "

5/13/2014 1:14:12 PM

awesome

5/13/2014 1:31:56 PM

Ealy starting DE in a year

[Edited on May 13, 2014 at 1:45 PM. Reason : KONY 2015]

5/13/2014 1:43:07 PM

Damnit people, don't hit women. It's not that hard.

Also Ray Rice is on video uppercutting his gf and he's still on the Ravens, so anything short of that and I think Hardy's fine.

[Edited on May 13, 2014 at 1:46 PM. Reason : :]

5/13/2014 1:45:51 PM

Thank god he didn't say he didn't want his girlfriend taking pictures with black people

5/13/2014 1:52:25 PM

is it too late to draft another running back?

5/13/2014 2:10:57 PM

^^luckily he was busy beating his wife gf during the draft instead of watching espn

[Edited on May 13, 2014 at 2:28 PM. Reason : kony '15]

5/13/2014 2:28:08 PM

It could be worse for the Panthers, he could've smoked pot

5/13/2014 2:46:59 PM

Looks like Andre Johnson may want out of Houston. Probably would cost too much & may not be worth it based on age/injury history.

5/13/2014 4:58:47 PM

5/13/2014 6:36:41 PM

I live next to dave gettleman. I saw him reading tww through his window and he just knocked over his arnold palmer and shit his pants laughing at that post

^^

[Edited on May 13, 2014 at 6:37 PM. Reason : ^^]

5/13/2014 6:36:41 PM

from the WRAL article (http://www.wralsportsfan.com/panthers-de-hardy-arrested-on-assault-charges/13641449/) this might be my favorite quote

Quote :

"He has long been one of the outspoken players in the locker room, predicting a late-season win against Atlanta in 2012."

5/13/2014 11:19:57 PM

5/14/2014 1:00:41 AM

^so simple, so brilliant

5/14/2014 1:09:22 AM

Something always seemed off with Hardy mentally, but he's been such a beast lately that it didn't matter. His interviews are always really awkward.

I heard a quote about him once ... can't remember who or what it was exactly ... but it was something along the lines "You think he's a weird guy when you first meet him, and then you spend some time with him, and you know he's a really really weird guy."

5/14/2014 9:48:01 AM

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/05/14/4908967/court-sets-bond-for-panthers-greg.html#.U3Oaffk7tcb

Quote :

"The arrest warrants accuse the Panther lineman of throwing girlfriend Nicole Holder to the floor and into a bathtub, slamming her against a Futon and “strangling” during an argument at his home. Hardy also said he would kill her, the warrant said, a threat “made in a manner and under circumstances which would cause a reasonable person to believe that the threat was likely to be carried out.”"

Hardy sounds like a real shitbag right about now.

5/14/2014 12:34:48 PM

The whole thing sounds insane. Throwing her onto a futon covered in loaded guns? Either this woman is liar or Hardy is legitimately batshit crazy.

5/14/2014 12:42:23 PM

I bet he follows Aaron Hernandez on Twitter

5/14/2014 12:48:50 PM

Quote :

"Goodwin also said Curtis held Holder down while Hardy made the 911 call, said to have lasted about five minutes."

So he called the cops?

5/14/2014 1:10:23 PM

sounds like some rough sex turned wrong

5/14/2014 2:02:52 PM

apparently, according to the restraining order the girl put on him today, when he threatened to kill her, he threw her on a bed that had assault rifles and shotguns.

5/14/2014 2:55:13 PM

welp

#kony2014

5/14/2014 3:16:48 PM

what a scrub, I keep my assault rifles under my duvet

5/14/2014 4:28:48 PM

I have no idea what happened, obviously. But it seems questionable that he would beat her up then somewhat calmly call 911 and ask the police to come. I can't help picturing the Jay-Z vs Solange elevator video. I don't know. He seems basically insane, but sometimes bitches be trippin. Anything is possible.

5/14/2014 9:35:27 PM

I agree with that. Ultimately, it's a "he said she said" thing and I don't think much happens to him.

With no knowledge of the situation whatsoever other than local news and hearing the 911 calls, it sounds to me like that girl may have started the fight and Hardy took a few punches and then started defending himself.

He sounded really calm in that 911 call like he was just looking to get a crazy bitch out of his house that wouldn't leave. I can't fathom why, as a high profile professional athlete, he would invite the police to a domestic violence he had just committed if he felt like he was guilty of anything that would cost him his job.

5/15/2014 6:50:30 AM

I don't think he sounded all that calm. Sounded pretty terrified to me. Without hearing her side, I think we've got a case of a crazy dude and a much crazier woman.

Hardy calling 911 was a smart move.

5/15/2014 10:06:19 AM

wonder if the girl is related to Gregory Frye

5/15/2014 10:12:12 AM

LOL I really hate that guy.

5/15/2014 10:19:37 AM