What is Missing from Kris Jenkins Message

by Jaxon on Oct 4, 2007 12:34 AM EDT in News Comment 5 comments

Wednesday is hump day and the day I usually tried to start a positive spin on the next game. Last weeks loss is over, time to stop stewing over it and move on. Yet, I’m intrigued by the "player’s only" meeting called today by Mike Wahle, I assume to address some comments by a certain defensive lineman.

I’m not going to recap what Kris Jenkins said. It was basically "the Panthers lacked heart and pride". I was glad to hear Jenkins speak out but when I heard his words I cringed a little. I’m not sure I would take what he said as motivational. It was more pointing fingers though he never called anyone out. But that’s human nature, to ask "Is he talking about me"?

What I think is missing is "pride in what"? In their personal performance? In their team? In the Panther franchise? In North Carolina? Do you get my drift? The Panthers have struggled to establish an identity and I think this ties back to the poor home field performance. I think many NFL franchises, especially the expansion franchises, have yet to establish a franchise "standard" if you will. The Panthers just don’t have that iron-clad "not in my house" attitude that comes from winning at home. I think if Kris Jenkins would focus on establishing some pride in the franchise and wearing the Panther uniform it would give each player more incentive than just playing for themselves. We can always rationalize mediocre play.

Going into the meeting Jordan Gross tried to downplay the importance of the meeting:

"I think it's a good idea," tackle Jordan Gross said Wednesday before the scheduled meeting. "There has been a lot that has gone on in the last week. I mean we're a team where everybody gets along real well. Instead of just talking in the locker room, we might as well have everybody present. It's not a big drama story. We just want to talk."

Gross is known as one of the more laid-back players so I’m not too concerned about his comments. I would think most of the other players would take the meeting very seriously. What needs to be talked about is what it means to wear the Panther uniform and that they are a team that looks out for each other. I will be curious to see what emerges from this meeting. It runs the risk of demotivating the team if players are not being understood int their comments. Hopefully the Panthers will feel the emotion of any comments and the intent and not so much the lack of eloquence any words may have.

The Panthers have a chance to turn things around abruptly with a good performance this weekend. It's time to show some Panther Pride!

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next week

I think team meetings can be great for a team, but you gotta look at the basics as an individual. Every player at every position should be looking at themselves and figuring out the basics. For example, if I'm Deshaun Foster, I call Tiki Barber and ask him how we went from four fumbles in one game to no fumbles in a season. Jarrett should ask Keyshawn about downfield blocking, and David Carr should go to Peyton Manning's summer QB camp. Now if all those guys do all those things I suggest, you have to wonder what the hell our position coaches are doing. Maybe next year, the answer will be they're looking for a job. However, if our guys learn to tackle, get off blocks, catch passes, and get into the backfield, we could still go to the playoffs. I just didn't think our biggest weaknesses this season would be team spirit, like a bunch of high school kids.

by usana_gaines on Oct 4, 2007 6:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jenkins is right

This team has no heart and no pride. If they had either, they would not be so easily outplayed by arguably less talented players. What Jenkins did is not politically correct in our pansy, don't-hurt-anybody's-feelings, don't-speak-the-obvious-truth society we live in today. But in his own way, he had the guts to speak the truth, not trying to win a popularity contest. I would be exactly like him if I really wanted to win and put out my maximum effort on the field -- but was surrounded by a bunch of losers who just wanted to draw their fat paychecks with as little effort as possible.

The more immediate question is "Why?" They appear to be a bunch of overpaid, overrated, prima donna millionaires, who are more concerned about themselves individually than what they do as a team. (Peppers comes to mind.) It will likely take a thorough housecleaning to turn this team around, and a more in-your-face, demanding staff than they now have.

Can you imagine a Vince Lombardi team playing with so little effort? No, you can't, because he would not have tolerated it. I can remember a very competitive George Blanda, with the Houston Oilers, slamming his helmet on the turf and getting in the face of a receiver who dropped a ball or ran the wrong pattern. There's another QB in the 50s (can't recall his name at the moment) who was known for kicking a lineman in the butt if he missed his block. All the above people were also winners -- they had the fire and desire to win and would not tolerate anyone doing less than their very best. They were also playing for a fraction of what players are making today.

I hope fans realize those outrageous prices they are paying for tickets are paying the outrageous salaries these worthless players are making.

by A J on Oct 4, 2007 7:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good post

I agree with you on this one. I think John Fox did the same thing I did, he saw the talent on the roster and knew that he had a team capable of 10-13 wins. The problem is that, unlike me, he's responsible for making sure the players actually go out there and win. How would it effect Peppers if he was benched for McGlover? Would we have fewer sacks if Peppers wasn't playing? Since he doesn't have any and says they're overrated, I doubt it. How about getting someone on the roster who can force a fumble, besides Foster, or get an interception?
I'm disappointed, but I do believe an attitude adjustment can get us 8 more wins, which could be a division win the way the NFC is going.

by usana_gaines on Oct 4, 2007 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm skeptical and pessimistic

As I originally posted here, I felt the Panthers could be a 12-4 team. They had such an easy schedule (exception NO, I thought at the time) through their first six games to their bye week , that, if they lost none of those games, they could split the remaining ten games and still have an 11-5 season, or possibly 12-4 with a break or two. This record, it is obvious now, would have won their division.

Looking at their schedule now, with the way they are playing, they may be hard pressed to win two more games after the bye. They have blown the easiest part of their schedule. I see us being 4-12. Give hope to the hopeless -- where do you see us winning 8 more games?

I agree completely with you otherwise. Get some new players in there. How could they do worse than the lugs we have in there now? How can you do worse than Peppers' zero sacks? Or the team's zero interceptions? Do you realize that we are the only team in the NFL which has not intercepted a single pass?!

So Jarrett can't block -- who's blocking now, and to what effect? At least he can catch the ball. Goings plays hard, but who could do worse as a KO returner? You can take a knee and get 20. I could do that.

by A J on Oct 4, 2007 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

tough questions

First of all, I didn't know that we had zero interceptions through four games. Unbelievable. The final result of the first four games went like I thought they might because I thought Houston's D would be really tough against the run with Okoye (who leads the AFC with 4 sacks, and a healthy Mario Williams), and we couldn't stop Garcia at all last year when he played with Philly. I didn't expect that we would get embarrassed in those losses and need DeAngelo Hall to bail us out of the Atlanta game. With that said, let me look at the schedule for wins. I think a team meeting and another week of practice will help us beat the Saints who I always thought were overrated. If the Bucs lose, we'll be in a tie for the division lead - how sad is that? After that we beat the Cardinals, Falcons and Saints again, get one from Tampa, and we'll beat the Pack, 49ers and Seahawks. That's 10 wins. You don't have to believe me because I don't get paid millions to actually win. Unlike the players on the roster, I actually had to pay for my jersey (#89 of course). And none of the games I listed are easy wins since I noticed Joey Harrington had a career day against us with 344 yards and 2 TDs. But I still believe. If you think I'm an idiot and the Panthers prove me wrong, at least I'll still have my job this time next year. John Fox probably won't.

by usana_gaines on Oct 4, 2007 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs