Panthers Back in the Hunt for a DT
The Panthers are going through defensive tackles like my family goes through gallons of milk. "Hi honey I'm on my way home from work. Do I need to stop and get anything? Well yes, stop and get another 320 lb defensive tackle please, they are going quick this week".
So two weeks into the season and we will have 3 DT's on IR and another hobbling about with a bum toe. Don't fear Panther fans there are plenty of no-name DT's out there ready to jump into our starting line-up:
daringantt#Panthers working out some widebodies today, including DT Antwon Burton. When they sign their guy, chances are you won't recognize the name.
Well hey, the store brand milk is just as good as the name brand! It comes from the same place and it's cheaper. Besides, with that million dollar a game DE we need to pinch some pennies somewhere.
Seriously now, does anyone know anything about this Burton guy? More after the jump...
Surely we would all prefer a veteran to fill the void and there are some known names out there:
They kept George Hypolite on the practice squad, but would prefer someone with more size. Multiple sources said they're focusing on finding someone 325 pounds or more.
That's a group that would include veterans such as Terdell Sands, Kenderick Allen and Sam Adams, but the Panthers have tried to avoid going too old (and too expensive) this offseason. One league source said the team might have no choice but make another trade, since the market's so thin.
Yet the Panthers could stand firm if Nick Hayden can be ready by Monday Night. Here's why:
"Well, we'll evaluate that," Fox said of future moves. "We do have Nick Hayden, who wasn't active for the game due to an injury; we'll wait and see how his progress comes. Typically we only go into a game with three (active). We'll evaluate who's available and what our best move will be."
Yeah but those three on have 5 good big toes between them. Yet even with two good toes I'm not exciting about going into Dallas with Lewis, Hayden and Harris as our rotation. I guess we really have little choice otherwise so let's see if Meeks and Baker can coach em up!
We are not the only ones crying the IR blues. The Falcons also lost a DT for the season is the game:
There was a spot after first-rounder Peria Jerry was lost for the year with a knee injury.
At least our latest DT loss will cost a lot less.
Oh and I can never let a classic Fox favorite quote go by without mention. He dropped an oldie but a goodie in response to a question about special teams play:
Asked if it was a matter of new personnel (though only three members of the kickoff coverage team are new here this season), Fox shrugged.
“It is what it is,” he said. “I'm not going to sit here and try to make excuses, but the reality is yes.”
Yes it is John and thank you for that wonderful Fox moment!
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Antwon Burton
Undrafted out of Temple in 2006 (he was a community college transfer in 2005). He’s listed as 6’2", 308lbs which is pretty small. He’s bounced around practice squads for the Broncos, Bengals, Chiefs and Rams but never taken an NFL snap.
Had an amazing senior season with Temple (66 tackles, 5 for a loss, 3 FF, 5 FR and 3 PD) other than that, not alot of information on him.
I don’t know what the cap situation is right now, but it can’t be good. With money going to Leonard and Feeley I don’t know how much room we have left with the cap.
Don’t forget Ra’Shon Harris too… I remember there was much hulabaloo regarding his signing until the Louis Leonard news overshadowed him.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
In terms of cap space...
…I’m not sure we’re limited by signing additional players for those that go on IR. Doesn’t insurance covers their salary. And if so, does that mean we’re not using “cap money” to pay them?
We would get injury insurance, but that would only save the team money on their bottom line.
Their salaries, however, still count towards the cap. I know in late July we had roughly $12 million on the cap, but that was before PS signings, Leonard, or Feeley.
I can’t find a good source for current cap situations… if someone has a website let me know.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
by James Dator on Sep 22, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
That's something you'd have to dig around the NFLPA site for.
Very difficult to keep up with.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 22, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Not quite.
Burton played in seven games for the Broncos over ‘06 and ’07, making four tackles and getting a PD. Cap situation’s got to be getting real ugly, yes.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 22, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
WTF ?? This is getting funny, LOL !!!
Hey I am so tired of this, I have an idea we should all go up to Charlotte and try out for the DT position during practice. Fox and Hurney have lost their mind, and this is just getting funnier by the day. Antwon BURTON ???? Please this is joke, their are veterans that we could sign and really if they had any cents they would place Hayden on IR and pickup two DT.
This guy is a nothing player from a lower end competition football school !!
Link to stats:
http://www.nfl.com/players/antwonburton/profile?id=BUR753059
He couldn’t make it with the Rams or Chiefs as bad as both of their defenses were last year. I mean seriously come on !!!
Best year was with the Broncos back in 2007 when he had four tkles, on PDEF, and no starts during the 4 games he played in, not to mention he had never started a game in his life in the NFL !!!
Still I just don’t get this type of thinking ??? Their are better, cheap vet’s on the free agent market and for some reason we have this youth movement this year.
My answer is this:
Place Leonard and Hayden on IR;
Trade CJ Wilson and Landon Johnson to Vikings for Jimmy Kennedy !!!
Sign Geogre Hypolite off the PS !!
Only thing I can come up with !!
Free agents that are the best fit include:
Shaun Smith, T. Sands, or Alfonso Boone !!!
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Sep 22, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions
Hey what about !
Gabe Watson from the Cardinals he is pretty big run stuffer and needs to go to a team so that he can start:
Link to stats:
http://www.nfl.com/players/gabewatson/profile?id=WAT365890
However it would cost more to get him, probably have to give up Marshall or some type of higher end middle of the road player for the Cards to consider the deal !!
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Sep 22, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Cowboys fan here
Are you guys completely out of healthy defensive tackles? geeeeeez thats tough. Dallas is really strong up the middle too. Gurode, Davis and Kosier are all playing really dominating games right now. Ouch.
However, We may have a problem or two of our own, Barber is hurt and no one knows how bad, and Newman looks like he can’t cover anymore. Steve Smith might get 300 yards against him.
Keep talking that smack Cowboys fan
You guys seem to know a little about having a QB give a game away as well huh?
I can only hope the Cowboys over look us.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
are you freaking serious?
we have the cowboys, we will beat the cowboys. at some point our guys have to say we are the carolina panthers we need to come out here and dominate somebody, and its gonna be dallas
by carolinabrave89 on Sep 22, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, it's just awful down here
Felix Jones is probably going to rush for 200 yards, and Roy Williams will start looking like the star receiver you thought he was when you overpaid for him. Witten will disappear a little, but only because you won’t ever need to convert a third down. Romo won’t look too mobile though, because we won’t get enough pressure on him to make him move.
Keith Brooking should be a stud in the middle, just like all those times he was for Atlanta. I bet Ware gets five sacks, three on Delhomme, one on Moore, and one on Feeley. The only question I really have is who’s going to get more interceptions, Newman or Jenkins.
Yep, it’s gonna be ugly all right. Just an embarrassment all around for Carolina. And I think you should have every expectation of that when you sit down and watch. :)

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