Max Henson with Panthers.com had five takeaways from today's presser with this being the main one IMO:
Five Takeaways From Gettleman's Press Conference
"We are going to have the conversation and do the best we can," Gettleman said. "We are going to try to get a deal done. If not, there are options, and maybe the tag gets used." Teams have until March 1 – next Tuesday – to designate a player for the franchise tag.
If the Panthers were to exercise that option, they’d have until mid-July to try to negotiate a long-term contract that would supersede the tag, or Norman could play 2016 under the tag. Gettleman was asked if he was worried about how Norman, one of the most effective corners in the league this past season, hypothetically would react to being tagged.
"No, not at all," Gettleman said. "Josh is a pro. He’s a pro."
So Gettleman doesn't think Norman will be salty about getting tagged which is good to know. I mean, Norman stands to make a ton of money next season but we would all feel better with a long-term deal.
Of course Charles Johnson status with the team is a hot topic. I like what Gettleman had to say here as well:
"To me, it’s not about what a guy makes, it’s about what he brings to the table. It’s about the best 53," Gettleman said. "We’re going to put together the best team that we can."
So is Johnson, coming off an injury-shortened season in which he recorded one sack after averaging 10.5 sacks over the previous five seasons, likely to remain a part of the best 53? "We’re still going through that evaluation," Gettleman said. "It’s hard because he got hurt and had to work his way back, so when is he 100 percent? We’re still going through that process."
So Gettleman is giving the guy credit for being injured and was still probably not 100% til towards the end of the season. Saving $11M on the cap has to be tempting for sure.
The Panthers plan to bring back Mike Tolbert though the FB position appears to be a dying need in the NFL:
"They’re hard to find, because you have to remember you don’t have many fullbacks in the college level," Gettleman said. "It’s kind of a lost art, dying breed kind of thing. But for us, it’s a piece that we like, and it gives us flexibility."
The Tol-dozer seems like a staple of the offense, certainly we need him back.
It also looks like RT Mike Remmers will return as the starter at RT:
"We feel fine," Gettleman said. "Here’s what I’ll say: We’ve won 22 of our last 25 games with Mike Remmers starting at right tackle. We’ve done that. And you know I’m not a knee-jerk guy – I’m not going to do it. I will not do it. I believe in our ability to evaluate our players." Remmers was victimized by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller more than once in the big game, but Gettleman certainly doesn’t think that should equate to the end of the line for Remmers.
"It’s like anything else. You always want to get better. I don’t know what position it is – you’re always going to look to get better," Gettleman said. "But he’s young in his career. Give the guy a chance. Don’t take one snapshot and then decide we need a right tackle."
Since I'm predicting we play the Broncos in the season opener Remmers better be getting after it this offseason or Von Miller will eat his lunch again in September.
Last but maybe not least is 'Don't Sleep on WR Kevin Norwood':
"We thought very highly of him in the draft, so our thought process was, for a seventh-round pick?" Gettleman said. "We feel like this guy is going to be a player. Who doesn’t want a player for a seventh-round pick?"
We often overlook him as part of the mix going into the 2016 season. Given the lack of depth at WR in the draft we might have to settle for the current group minus Jerricho Cotchery plus Kelvin Benjamin and Kevin Norwood.