Smitty Says Panthers are Better

Steve Smith is echoing what many others are saying , that the Panthers will be a much better team this season.

"With those two (receiver) acquisitions and with some of the big guys on the offensive line -- the rookie (tackle Jeff Otah) -- offensively I think we finally made an upgrade," he said, pausing as he left the Bank of America Stadium practice fields Thursday.

"Compared to the years prior when we had some guys come in, and as those guys have left we really hadn't replenished. And we have finally, and I can honestly see a big difference."

I was just lamenting the key free agent losses the Panthers suffered.

Smith also thinks Moose is aging like fine wine.

"With age comes things that you lose and gain," Smith said. "I was told the things I can do at 25, when you're 30, 34, you'll be able to do a little bit better. Because you've been in the game for so long you'll be able to just manipulate routes and stuff like that.

"So I don't really see any loss. I think he's gained a lot of knowledge."

I’m sure he’s gained an appreciation for an accurate QB too. Jake’s passes are surely a welcome sight. I likes the idea of the power running game as well.

"There were times in the game where if (running back) Stephen Davis was in his way, he would run him over. We've got guys of that caliber, outstanding, that I like watching play."

 The Panthers line will be hard to run over for our height-challenged RB’s. D-Will will counter move his way to daylight while J-Stew will wedge his way between their big behinds. I can see many a Panther scrums turning into five yard gains as the pile can’t help but move forward

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 Jason Peter  Pans His Book

I would probably find Jason Peters book compelling if he wasn’t a former Panther . He cost the Panthers a 1^st round pick and lots of money before being cut loose.

This is more than a book about a druggie who had a failed pro football career. It's a good look into the sordid world of how a pro football player survives when he feels pain every day of his life. And Peter doesn't blame Nebraska, the Panthers, the NFL, or his family.

"I didn't want to put the blame on anyone for my drug use -- anyone but me,'' he said. "I've got great parents. I had all the advantages any kid would want growing up. I take all the blame for everything. There are guys who come out of the surgeries I had and they don't get addicted.''

At least he is manning up and not blaming someone else like so many before him. I may not buy his book but I’ll give him a break. I can’t say for sure if I was handed a couple million bucks at 21-22 yrs old I wouldn’t turn into a party animal. Hell in college I could get in trouble with just $50.

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Mason’s Minutes

 Here’s links to the latest Mason’s Minutes. I have found Andrew to be a good addition to Panthers.com as he gives good detail and seems to focus on topics of importance.

Mason Minutes 1

Masons Minutes 2 

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Catfight: Jags vs. Panthers

 The Panthers and the Jaguars will always be linked given they came into the league together in 1995; ‘sister’ franchises if you will. I found this little comparison on Jaguars.com comparing the two franchises on and off the field.

 Michael from London, UK

At this point, how would you compare the Jaguars franchise to the Carolina Panthers, since they came into the league together? Although the Jags are a better football squad on paper, Carolina is having absolutely no problems selling tickets or finding a corporate sponsor for stadium naming rights.

 Vic: I’ve answered this several times but I’ll do it again. The big difference between the Jaguars and the Panthers is that the Panthers solid Permanent Seat Licenses (PSLs). That’s what has allowed them to sell their tickets; the threat of forfeiting their PSLs if they don’t buy their tickets. The naming rights thing is a function of the difference between the two cities. Charlotte is a banking capital. It has a far bigger corporate community than Jacksonville does. On the field, the Jaguars have the edge in wins. The Jaguars are ninth in the league in winning percentage since the team began playing. If you eliminate the first season, the Jaguars are sixth in the league since 1996. The Panthers are 21st since ’95 and also 21st since ’96. Carolina, however, has done something the Jaguars haven’t done: They’ve won a conference title and played in the Super Bowl. Both teams built stadiums that are too big for the markets, but the PSL concept has kept Carolina’s stadium sold. Could you sell PSLs in Jacksonville? I don’t think so. That’s the big difference.

 I do hear a lot of fans bitch about the PSL cost and price of tickets but hey, it’s worked. The Panthers always have fans in the stands. If you put out a winner then the bitching will subside. Both franchises have fared well and both should be very competitive again this year. How about a Panthers vs. Jags Super Bowl?  The biggest  cat fight in history.