Many people long for the chance to have the ability to literally say whatever they want with zero accountability, but yet, have no one in the world be-grudge them for doing so. It is rare indeed that anyone can get away with such a thing. NFL coaches and general managers, are some of the few that can do it regularly without any real repercussion. In the time between the start of free agency and the draft, however, they are literally just having fun with you.
Read this article by the Charlotte Observer. And let’s consider some of the quotes.
Asked about going to LSU for Leonard Fournette’s pro day:
“There’s a few of (the pro days) that I wanted to go to specifically,” Rivera said Wednesday at the owners meetings. “His is one of them.”
Never mind that generally on any given year that all 32 NFL teams are going to go to an LSU pro day, because they have produced so many pro players, but also that this year LSU is potentially going to have multiple first round picks. The aforementioned Fournette and Safety Jamal Adams are probably top 10 picks, as well as CB Tre’Davious White, who may find himself a first round pick later on.
Asked about O.J. Howard and the Panthers TE depth:
“You look at what we’ve got, it’s a very deep position for us right now,” Rivera said. “We like the young guys that are trying to be developed. They’re all young guys that fit what we do, know what we do. They’ve been around. So we feel pretty good about that ... but you never know.”
But you never know. Do you? I could be telling the truth, or, I could be the biggest liar within three feet of you. I can literally say anything right now, and you’d have no real choice but to assume I’m both telling the truth and lying. I could tell you I’m planning on going to Chili’s tonight, but you never know how I’ll feel later. So, show up at Chili’s at your own risk.
On picking at #8:
“We’re going to be in a great position at 8,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a number of positions that we feel that we’ve got an opportunity to help and there’ll be a number of players available.”
Well, it’s really comforting to know that Ron Rivera believes that by the time we get to pick at eight, there are going to be players available, that they will indeed play football positions, and we’ll be allowed to select one of them. Truly fantastic stuff there.
This continues the hub-bub meant to link the Panthers to Leonard Fournette at #8 by every media outlet in the country, under essentially the caveman-like premise of “Carolina like run ball. Fournette run ball good. Carolina like Fournette.”
Again though, Ron Rivera will both say he is looking forward to the man’s pro day, but be happily non-committal about even going offense at the 8th pick.
Despite saying Panthers need to do more to help Cam, RR wouldn't say team should go offense at No. 8.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) March 29, 2017
Coaches are liars. They are not to be trusted. I said it yesterday and I will say it again:
Do. Not. Trust. What. Coaches. And. GMs. Say. Leading. Up. To. The. Draft.
— Erik Sommers (@Tater596) March 29, 2017
Just don’t. Maybe they will pick Fournette. Maybe they won’t. But history has shown with this team that your absolute best bet when trying to decipher who they will draft largely depends on who they have brought in for interviews and private workouts. Fournette, currently, is not on that list. Maybe he will be after his pro day, but for now, I’m putting my worthless stock into other players.