Vince Verhei with Football Outsiders via ESPN Insider:
Fallers - Carolina Panthers
We tend to identify teams by their quarterbacks, and because Cam Newton turns 25 this year, we think of the Panthers as a young team. In reality, they were the fifth-oldest team in the league last year, and had the second-oldest offense. Old teams usually decline. Every wide receiver who caught a pass for the Panthers last year is now on a different team. They also lost four of the five defensive backs who played more than 500 snaps last season. And the surprising retirement of Jordan Gross created a domino effect that could end with four new starters lining up on the offensive line. First-round pick Kelvin Benjamin will give Newton a much-needed downfield target, but Newton will need to deliver an MVP-caliber 2014 if this group is going to return to the playoffs.
In fact I could add that the franchise has never had back-to-back winning seasons. I think that ends in 2014 but its hard to deny the fact its a true statement for a franchise almost 20 years old.
As far as being an old team, wouldn't the assumption of s decline in performance only apply if the team remained old? With all of the vets leaving this past offseason the team age has to be a lot lower now.
One last comment, Cam Newton maybe very well deliver an MVP-type performance and lead this team to a second NFC South crown. By the way, that's another undeniable fact foreshadowing a Panther decline. No team has ever won the division two years in a row since the NFC South was formed.
So let the pundits all proclaim the Panthers are in decline, If they want to give a 12-4 team and underdog role then I will take it. We can make then all feel like idiots for doubting a 12-4 team that brings back 95% of their core players.