Panthers Fox Gets Chatty at NFL Coaches Media Breakfast
by Jaxon on Mar 25, 2010 9:06 PM EDT
42 comments
It's not often John Fox gets chatty with the media as he was in good spirits at the NFL Coaches Media Breakfast this morning. Some of what he said has already been reported on this site, like the Panthers possible need for a FA defensive end. Fox hit on some other topics though worth mentioning.
The topic that has everyone buzzing is his stated affection for Florida QB Tim Tebow:
"Did you ever watch (former Cleveland quarterback) Bernie Kosar play? Bernie might not appreciate it, but I call it as I see it. He won a lot of games. So it's not all just how pretty they are, (or) how big. That's part of it, no doubt. It'll be a factor. It'll be well-debated."
"I think you'll get 32 different opinions, and it'll be interesting," said Fox. "But I think he's proven he's had great success at the college level. That probably counts for something. That's how we evaluate these guys.
Me, I'm not buying it. I don't Fox would be so open about a player he truly coveted and hoped would fall to him. So if Tebow is actually there at #48 then we might have our answer but I don't think he will be there anyway.
Fox also shot down any thoughts of trading one of our stellar RB's:
"We haven't had any phone calls and he wouldn't be one of the guys at the top of my list to deal,'' Panthers head coach John Fox said at this morning's NFC coaches breakfast. "You don't eliminate anything, but we haven't had any conversations about any of our backs.
"If you're going to lead in the run game, you need more than one,'' Fox said. "We're not looking to get rid of any of them.''
Let's put that notion to bed. The Panthers seemingly risky 2nd round tender on CB Richard Marshall may just pay off, as long as it doesn't ruin Marshall's attitude:
Richard Marshall isn't the only restricted free agent not participating in the team's offseason conditioning program. Cornerback C.J. Wilson isn't either. However, Fox expects them to participate in the team's mandatory post-draft minicamp.
I would hope he's professional enough to not take it on the field as that would only hurt him in the long run. His absence though does send a message.
Fox hints that KO specialist Rhys Lloyd was not let go for money reasons but simply his performance fell off from 2008:
Fox said the reason Rhys Lloyd wasn't retained was because the team felt it was time to move in a different direction. He referenced the fact that Lloyd had a strong season in 2008, but didn't say anything about Lloyd's performance in '09.
He did have fewer touchbacks and teams seemed more inclined to return balls hit into the end zone anyway....Fox also gave the good news that all of injured players should return in time for mini-camp. Woot! Woot!
Lastly, Fox says he will conduct himself as normal in spite of working the last year of his contract. Duh. Fox is the consummate professional. As long as the Panthers start the season better that last year I bet they connect on a long term deal by mid-season.
0 recs |
42 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Extension
Lock him up now, the grass isnt always greener. Fact is Fox is a top notch coach who is maybe a little stubborn. But hey, he finally cut Delhomme loose, maybe he will be more inclined to be a little less conservative?? Either way I say give me Fox as long as we can have him.
by SouthernPanther on Mar 25, 2010 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
Agreed. Unfortunately, I think anything short of a DEEP playoff run will result in a new coach in Carolina. This will be a sad day for me.
Don't be so sure
Scott Fowler and Tom Sorenson don’t actually make the hiring decisions for the Panthers. They just pretend to.
Let us see how this year goes.....
If he puts together a competitive team then by all means keep him around. If not we can move on.
I tried being reasonable, I didn't like it.
I'm of the opinion that we
lock him up now. Every year that we are not in the playoffs, have you ever seen a John Fox team just quit? No.
A coach as decorated as Fox should always have a job, as long as he has not “lost the team.” Guys stop playing for coaches. Every year there are more than a few teams that quit on their coach. It is tough to watch some of these games in December. Again, I’ve never seen a John Fox team quit. Have you ever coached? Do you know how hard it is to keep 60+ people together and on the same page with a 4-7 record?
Do or do not. There is no try.
by ERL on Mar 26, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
When your down year is 7-9 and 8-8 that says something
whether you like it or not…
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Mar 26, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah the year needs to progress before Fox gets a new deal
I wish we would do exactly what the Giants did in T. Coughlin’s make it or break it last year of his contract an force Fox to win it all to gain a new deal or at-least make the Super Bowl. Fox is the best coach we have ever had in Carolina but lately he has gotten a little bit loose with his words and word selection, Fox needs to keep his opinons to himself and just coach the team and leave everything else in between to the best owner in the NFL J. Richardson.
Why all the praise for T. Tebow, he is the next David Carr and I have said this time and time again. He is not the answer for us at the QB position or the QB of the future. He is not ready to step in as even a backup QB and comparing him to B. Kosar is a joke b/c Kosar was a horrific QB with terrible balance, throwing motion, accuracy, etc….Kosar sucked and you want us to take another B. Kosar, plz Fox plz.
Why not compare T. Tebow to David Carr as well at-least Carr did well never mind, lol Carr was pretty horrific so I just give up.
In closing T. Tebow has never failed or been on a losing squad or had any tough hardships and was basically handed everything at University of FLA and the media has rammed Tebow down everyone thorat till we are sick of him.
I would prefer, T. Pike, A. Edwards, S. Canfield, Z. Robinson, C. McCoy etc. as opposed to Tebow.
We don’t need to select a QB until the 4th unless someone falls that we absolutely cannot pass up such as B. Price out of UCLA – DT.
Go Panthers.
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Mar 25, 2010 11:26 PM EDT reply actions
for the record, I don't think he's going for Tebow
but maybe a reason he’s “never failed or been on a losing squad” is because of the work he’s done
I would gladly accept Tebow on our team because he’s a great leader and I think with enough work and the right coaches he can become a good player… there’s no need to hate him for wanting to be in the NFL and trying to succeed… besides, I can only see us taking him if he falls to us into the fifth or later
If not for "The Drive"
Kosar is playing in a Super Bowl. Knock his play all you want, the man is a legend, he may not have looked pretty, but he produced and won. Like Fox says, there are no style points in this league.
Jake Delhomme, QB Carolina Panthers, 2003-2009.
120 TDs+16000+ passing yards=Good
89 INT's+27 lost fumbles=Bad
Most comeback wins since 2003=Priceless
by Flowing Willow on Mar 26, 2010 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions
No thank you Tebow.
I would find it HIGHLY unlikely that Foxy would be saying so much if he really intended on drafting the guy. Why show your hand like that so early? Let some team THINK we are going to draft Tebow that really wants him when it is our turn to pick, and make them give up a bunch in draft picks. Then we can draft the guy we were actually looking at and a couple more.
It's a month before the draft
If you hear any coach talk about any potential draftee the chances said draftee is actually at the top of their board is slim to none.
The guys coaches are going after never get mentioned prior to the draft. Fox may like Tebow, but I guarantee he’s not sitting at the top of Fox and Hurney’s board.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
I also blog the Panthers at www.realbitsofpanthers.com
by James The Aussie on Mar 26, 2010 7:26 AM EDT reply actions
He was in Gainesville to see those DE's
or the CB’s. Not Tebow
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I agree 100%. Given that Florida have two DE’s who could potentially be available (Dunlap if he falls and Jermaine Cunningham) I don’t doubt they were the targets.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
I also blog the Panthers at www.realbitsofpanthers.com
by James The Aussie on Mar 26, 2010 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
ROFL!
Jake Delhomme, QB Carolina Panthers, 2003-2009.
120 TDs+16000+ passing yards=Good
89 INT's+27 lost fumbles=Bad
Most comeback wins since 2003=Priceless
by Flowing Willow on Mar 27, 2010 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Tebow is just a decoy
Foxy/Hurney do this every year. They create a lot of buzz about a player at a position they don’t plan on drafting early. Then the first couple picks are a bit of a surprise. I think there plan is to look desperate for a QB (with no proven QBs on the roster), and then somebody will let a WR (or d-line) slip assuming we’re taking a QB. Seems classic Fox move.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
What's not to like about Tebow?
As a player that is. He’s got questions coming into draft about his decision-making and accuracy as a QB. But he’s a likeable guy and a leader. What’s not to like about someone with the kind of passion and work ethic? I think Fox was just showing some love for Tebow (just like all the other coaches), but nothing more.
I personally would not want for the Panthers to go with Tebow either, but I certainly would not be mad at the organization if they did end up drafting the guy in the later round.
I wouldn't mind giving him a shot IF...
they give up no more than a 4th round pick on him. He’ll be gone though by the mid-2nd
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
accuracy
who has ever been more accurate in the SEC than Tebow? Not Peyton Manning. Decision making…2 championships, 1 Heisman, more rushing TDs than any other player in SEC history, including Bo Jackson and Herschal Walker, and a QB rating of 120, with 88 passing TDs to 12 INTs.
by usana_gaines on Mar 26, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Spread offense = kiss of death
There are only three starting QBs who graduated from a spread offense: Drew Brees, Kyle Orton, Alex Smith.
The spread doesn’t require the QB to look off the safety, make reads, or take snaps from under center. It has a natural tendency to over blow statistics.
Tebow’s numbers don’t even sniff Graham Harrell’s career numbers- and Harrell is playing in Canada now.
Tebow:
9,285 yards, 88 TD, 16 INT, 5.5/1 TD to INT ratio
Harrell:
15,793 yards, 134 TD, 34 INT, 3.9/1 TD to INT ratio
It doesn’t mean Tebow wont be good, but it does mean that comparing him to Peyton Manning is not an accurate comparison.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
I also blog the Panthers at www.realbitsofpanthers.com
by James The Aussie on Mar 26, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
This
As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick or draft Tim Tebow, my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.
Tim Couch has the exact same career completion percentage that Tebow has
He isn’t exactly lighting it up in the NFL these days
As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick or draft Tim Tebow, my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.
seriously?
couch didn’t compare to tebow at all…that comparison is absurd. harrell didn’t run for TDs, win a heisman, a national championship, or play in the SEC. other QBs outside the SEC had better numbers against worse competition like Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan and even Ty Detmer. but i would like to re-emphasize my main point – Matt Moore is gonna lead us to championships and get some Pro Bowl nods along the way. I think Tebow will be great, but he Moore is the future of the Panthers. LET THE DYNASTY BEGIN!!!
one last point, he was much better than Manning in college, but I am not gonna say he will be as good as Manning as a pro. I’m a fan, but not a groupie.
by usana_gaines on Mar 26, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Statistically he did...
That was all I’m saying, and he played in the SEC too.
But I do agree with you – there’s no need for QB talk when we have our guy (Moore).
As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick or draft Tim Tebow, my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.
I will concede one point about Tebow...
He was a running threat at QB, which Couch, Chang, Detmer, Harrell, etc. were not.
But, run-first QB’s don’t have much success in the NFL, so you have to evaluate him on his ability to be a drop-back passer, which is his biggest flaw.
It’s one thing to run over a LB from Miss. St., South Carolina, or Vandy – but it’s a totally different concept to run over Jon Beason, Patrick Willis, or Ray Lewis.
As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick or draft Tim Tebow, my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.
moore
with all that said, i honestly believe moore will be our QB for the next decade, and will spend a lot of time at pro bowls and in the playoffs…so tebow just isn’t needed in carolina.
I like your attitude
Moore could be that type of player. He doesn’t have to be for us to win, but that sure would be awesome if he could develop into a perennial pro-bowler.
Do or do not. There is no try.
I can't say Moore will be a Pro Bowl QB
But I think he will be a Super Bowl winning QB!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
WR all the way...
Moore could be that guy with a little more help. J. Ford is the sleeper. Speed to spread the field. More options will take the pressure off the young guy, and improve the effectiveness of Smitty and the running game. Move the chains with Double Trouble, and hit the home run when they load the box. The defense will surprise people. The youngans will surprise people. Smitty is the only piece that will not be here too much longer. The future looks bright…
J. Sullivan
by pantherpackcaniac on Mar 26, 2010 3:28 PM EDT reply actions
Seems like Ford has too much hype to last that long
Unless we trade up
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Jacoby Ford will fall to the Panthers in the 3rd round.
It is heaven’s will.
"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Some analysts are even predicting he'll fall to the 5th
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Only because he went to Clemson
Sorry Rev, I couldn’t resist.
As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick or draft Tim Tebow, my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.
by bwsmith25 on Mar 26, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hell, I don't mind that!
Let them keep talking! Let them say that Clemson isn’t a good school for receivers. Anything to make him fall to us! Anything to make him fall!
He’s going to be a success, period. I don’t care what round he’s drafted in, as long as he’s drafted a Carolina Panther!
"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
I can't really talk too much trash...
As much pain as he caused my Gamecocks over the past several years…
I would be cool if we get him in the 3rd or 4th round though, because he does have killer speed and good hands – he would be a good option if Gilyard is gone off the board.
As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick or draft Tim Tebow, my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.
I seem to remember another underratted speedy receiver
Undersized, not the best route runner… Steve somethin.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Cat Scratch Reader
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
