Updated draft board on ESPN.com with a couple of interesting notes. Dre Kirkpatrick drops to number 19 and Justin Blackmon drops to number 12, while Quinton Coples rises to number 3 and Michael Brockers rises to number 10. Also, Devon Still and Whitney Mercilus are no longer ranked in the top 32.

Also this article reports that there is word that Carolina may be looking to draft a WR in the first round.

Continue reading this post »

The most recent well-written post by our very own manager, James Dator, gave me an insightful take on how most scouts and front offices view the combine. With all the media hype surrounding this annual event, their is always a chance that a coach and/or gm could become more enamored with measurables than they actually should. While there is no doubt that scouting departments across the league must proceed with caution when evaluating these prospects based on combine numbers alone, there is also a caveat to consider if one goes into this event with there eyes wide shut. Let's take some time to find out who ignored some gaudy numbers, and as a result, has payed a heavy price over the last several years.

Vernon Gholston is widely known today as the poster child for good combines gone bad. But there is another side to this that sometimes goes unnoticed. Let me put it to you this way: For every Vernon Gholston, I'll raise you a Connor Barwin. Let's go ahead and examine his remarkable story for a few minutes. Barwin was, for all intents and purposes, a failure during his first three years at Cincinnati. Up until his Senior season, his coaches had come to the conclusion that special teams and back-up tight end was his ceiling. Through some trial and error, they finally came to their senses by realizing that it wouldn't hurt to give him a shot at playing defensive end. To their surprise, he was a natural at the position and his stats only confirmed this fact. Barwin posted team highs of 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles-for-loss that final season, thereby introducing himself to the scouts and the nation in a very big way. His stock was appropriately on the rise, but there was understandable skepticism out there as well. Determined to further make a name for himself, he entered the combine with God-given talents that many players could only dream of. The only question that would remain in the aftermath was this: How much could his draft stock actually rise after putting up such formidable numbers? Let's review the tape and find out who he out-performed.

Continue reading this post »

I just came across a very interesting post at RotoWorld.com, from a report by CSN Bay Area. It's sort of a followup/add on to the earlier report that The Raiders have cut CB Stanford Routt (6-1, 195), to create salary cap room. The report is under the heading of Raiders FS Michael Huff.

Now, the news. The report by CSN Bay Area states that 5 more Raiders are likely on their list to be cut, starting FS Michael Huff, starting DT Tommy Kelly, DT John Henderson, CB Chris Johnson, and G Cooper Carlisle.

The Free Agent who might be of interest to the Panthers is starting DT Tommy Kelly (6-6, 300). Kelly is 31 years old, but that's younger than Panthers DT Ron Edwards, who would have to be traded to make room for Kelly any way. Kelly's 2012 salary is to be $6 million, and that's why Edwards $2,533,333 salary would need to be cut, to create some cap room. The important thing about Kelly is his inside pass rushing ability, with 7.5 sacks in 2011, and 7.0 sacks in 2010. If Kelly is cut, and he clears waivers, at his age, maybe the Panthers could sign him for less money (maybe $4-5 mil.). Here are Kelly's stats for the last season (in addition to his sacks), (2010 60 tackles) 41 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 5 passes defended, and 1 int.

The Panthers biggest need is an improved pass rush, and even more important an improved pass rush from the DT's. I would prefer a younger veteran DT than Kelly, but no affordable Free Agent DT is as productive. Amobi Okoye of the Bears did have 4 sacks in 2011, is much younger, and might only be around half the cost, but he's also less than half as effictive a pass rusher, in his career.

DT Tommy Kelly's strong inside pass rush would help open things up for CJ and Hardy at the DE's. Kelly could also be a great bridge if the Panthers were to draft a very raw rookie DT like Brockers, who only had 2 college sacks, and will likely need a few years to develop as an NFL pass rusher.

www.rotoworld.com/sports/nfl/football?r=1

www.nfl.com/player/tommykelly/2505830/profile

I remember reading that if Cam did want to switch back to #2 jersey number he might have to buy out the back stock of jerseys (this came up when AP thought about switching) but now that we have tweeked the logo and they are changing all the jerseys anyway he should be off the hook on that one. Wonder if he might change? I guess either way you should wait for new Nike jerseys. Wonder when they come out?

The Early Years

As a child growing up in rural North Carolina, I often found myself wondering what it would be like to have a father. This thought would frequently run through my mind as I shot hoops outside of my home, rain or shine. You see, basketball became my refuge, my release. Sure, I played and enjoyed many sports, but nothing could compare to the pure joy that basketball gave me. I suppose my love affair with this sport was due in large part to the fact that I was alone. There were no neighborhood children to throw a baseball with, nor were there brothers or sisters to throw a football to. As enamored as I was with basketball at that time, football wasn't far behind, thanks to Joe.

My Friend Joe

I have such fond memories of my friend Joe, who my mother cleaned house for. Even though he was old enough to be my grandfather, he was more like a dad to me. The two things I remember most about him were his selflessness and his love of the Miami Dolphins. I can honestly say that my passion for football was initially cultivated in his living room on Sundays as we watched NFL games with unbridled exuberance. Of course, I had already pledged my allegiance to the Chicago Bears and we would often debate who was the better team. His Dolphins or my Bears. He undoubtedly had a valid argument with the likes of Dan Marino at quarterback, along with the dynamic receiving duo of Mark Clayton and Mark Duper on offense. Admittedly, I was quite fond of Jim McMahon, the Bears brash quarterback who always seemed to be wearing shades. This motley crew of players were as different as they come. You had guys with world-class speed like Willie Gault right along side of Matt Suey, a fullback who personified the term blue collar. I certainly couldn't forget the larger-than-life defensive tackle, William "the refrigerator" Perry, who always seemed to be flashing that gap-toothed smile. However, my inspiration was "Sweetness", an unusual, but appropriate moniker that is still used to today for the late, great Walter Payton, who I believe was and still is the best running back to ever wear an NFL uniform. For all the pomp and circumstance that seemed to follow this wacky cast of characters wherever they went, they are primarily remembered today for their ferocious 4-6 defense, which I still say is the best team defense I've ever witnessed. As I saw it, the Dolphins would soon get what was coming to them that year on Monday night football and this friendly disagreement would soon be settled once and for all.

The Night I Cried

For me, December 2, 1985 was unlike any other day because my Bears were carrying their 12-0 record into the Orange Bowl in Miami for Monday Night Football. I was still a child who had to get up very early for school and my mom had one rule concerning football this late at night. If I took a two hour nap, then I could watch the game. I still remember laying in bed, unable to sleep, imagining anxiously what would unfold later that night. But, this was no ordinary football game. This was the Bears and the Dolphins. This was Monday Night football. It was Christmas night for me. If you don't already know the end of the story, the Dolphins handed the Bears their only loss of the season that fateful night, and it was one of the most satisfying upsets in Dolphins' history because it preserved the fact that they were the only team to finish a season undefeated('72), which still stands today. As it turned out, the Bears still went on to win the Super Bowl in dominating fashion by defeating the New England Patriots, 46-10. I hate to admit that I cried like a baby the night they lost to the Dolphins, but I learned an invaluable lesson that season: One loss does not a season make.

A Professional Team To Call My Own

Over the next five years, I was busy playing soccer, basketball, and little league baseball, just like many other kids my age. I still followed the Bears, but by the early nineties, most of the players I had previously been smitten with had already retired or moved on to another team. In many ways, the Charlotte Hornets had taken the place of the Bears the day they played their first game in 1988. The Hornets were not only local, but they became a source of connection between my uncle, Lawrence, and I. I can still recall listening to Hornets' games on the radio and phoning him at halftime to discuss the current status of our beloved team. The Hornets had become a source of pride for both of us and we were just elated to have a professional NBA team that we could call our own. If only we had an NFL team to call our own.

A More Permanent Professional Team To Call My Own

1992 was like any other year for a sports-addicted teenager like myself. My love of sports had only increased over the years and I was following the NFL's decision to expand with anxious excitement. They would soon announce the final five cities where they would expand in the very near future, and I was on the edge of my seat. The final five cities included the likes of Memphis, St. Louis, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and of course, Carolina. A year later, Carolina was awarded the NFL's 29th franchise on October 26, 1993 and went on to play there first season in 1995 at Death Valley, while their new stadium was being finalized in Charlotte. While they finished their first expansion season with a respectable 7-9 record, the Panthers remarkably reached the NFC championship game in only their second season. Over the next seven years the Panthers seemed to almost exclusively experience adversity. From the infamy of Rae Carruth's murder plot to the embarrassment of Kerry Collins racial slur incident with Mushin Muhammad, along with his release from the team in 1998 after requesting a trade. For what seemed like eternity, this team was ostensibly cursed, until 2003.

A New Beginning

At that time, the Panthers were in the second year of the John Fox era. He had brought in a no-nonsense defensive approach that this team quickly responded to in his first season(2002) by going 7-9. However, the 2003 season got off to a dubious start in the very first game when they found themselves in a 0-17 hole at halftime against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Little did we know that the aging Rodney Peete would be replaced with a newly signed guy by the name of Jake Delhomme, who would immediately prove that he wasn't deserving of the back-up role he had previously been relegated to in New Orleans. There was something special about this guy, and he proved his worth that day when he led the Panthers to victory by hitting Ricky Proehl in the end zone with only 16 seconds remaining. He went on to lead the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII that season, only to lose on a last second field goal to the Patriots. I know it's painful to revisit that fact, but I would do it all over again if given the chance. Delhomme never repeated that same success as the leader of this team over the next seven years, but he endeared himself to many Panthers' fans with his forthright honesty and down-to-earth personality. He always accepted total blame even when it wasn't all his fault. I appreciated his transparency and so did many of you. He was truly one of us. Imperfect, but real. The same could be said of the Carolina Panthers, and this is part of the reason why they are so easy to love.

Change Is Good

We've now entered a new era in Panthers' history. Our logo has recently been updated, along with our coaching staff. We have a new quarterback at the helm. Have you heard of him? Cam Newton has brought a hatred of losing to this team that I don't think this organization, as a whole, has previously had. This new attitude has put us in a place where we are on the precipice of something big. Something special. When I look back on my life, especially those impressionable, early childhood years, I realize that I wouldn't change a thing. Sure, the painful memories can be as fresh as my next thought, but the good times are just as easy to dwell on. These experiences are what made me who I am today and I choose to embrace them. In the same way, we as Panthers' fans, shouldn't forget the past, however sordid it may have been at times. Nor should we forget those rare times when we were among the best teams in the league. Do you remember the invaluable lesson that I learned as a Bears' fan when they won the Super Bowl: One loss does not a season make. That same lesson can be said of our beloved Panthers: One or more losing seasons do not a history make. Likewise, that lesson can be said of you and me: One or more mistakes do not a lifetime make. Sometimes changes have to be made to experience something greater and I think the appropriate modifications have been made for our beloved Panthers to be successful for a very long time. I believe the best is yet to come. How about you?

Now that we have our franchise QB for the next 12+ years, it seems this offseason there has been a lot of talk in finding Cam’s backup that will best keep offensive continuity if we lost Cam to injury. Some people have made the case for using a late round draft pick on a guy like Russell Wilson; others have stated they would like to see a Free Agent like Dennis Dixon or Josh Johnson. The thinking behind getting one of these guys is that they are low risk acquisitions and have the athletic ability to step into our offense and be able to run the spread option type plays we grew to love so much this year. I would like to add another guy to this list that I hope Chud, Rivera, and Hurney take a look at this offseason, Jason Campbell.

Campbell is an UFA and after Oakland gave up a 1st and 2nd round pick to get Palmer I don’t believe they are thinking about re-signing Campbell. Compared to the three QBs mentioned above Campbell is not quite as athletic, but he does have 3 seasons with at least 200+ rushing yards. He is also older than the other three (just turned 30), it could also be a plus having a more experienced QB around while Cam develops. The main reason I would want Campbell is because I believe he is a much better passer than any other athletic QB available. Guys like Wilson, Dixon, and Johnson would be able utilize some of the designed QB running and option plays; I am just scared if Cam were to go to for a couple of games our offensive would resemble this year’s Denver Broncos offense with Tebow. The main identify of our offense is the aggressive "Air Coryell" which attacks the defense down-field through the air. Campbell has the arm strength, proven QB ability, and knowledge of the system that If Cam were to go down for a game or two our passing offense would not change too much. Obviously we would lose a lot of mobility from our QB in running the ball, but with two All-Pro talent RBs they should be able to handle that piece of the offense.

It is possible that Campbell is offered starter type money and/or a starting job by another team, and if that is the case I would say that the Panthers shouldn’t get into the bidding. However, if he can be brought in making backup QB money this is an avenue the Panthers should at least explore.

As this is the offseason I am just thinking out loud about how to make our team better, what do you guys think about the idea and do you have any other backup QB ideas?

As the debate and discussion continues over who is worthy of our first-round pick, another thought has stood out to me. Injuries at key positions have become a huge factor in determining our perceived needs in this year's draft. Injuries are a major part of every NFL season, and nearly every team has to go through a period of time missing a key player due to injury.

Though the effects of injuries to the Panthers seems obvious overall, I wish to examine how injuries will have a deeper effect on our draft than what meets the eye...

Poll

Which player do you have the LEAST amount of faith in being able to play AND play well as a starter at their position for the entire season?

• David Gettis
• Ron Edwards
• Thomas Davis
• Brandon Hogan
• Jeff Otah

  91 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

After creating my first one I realized I enjoy making these. So after some positive and negative feedback from my first one, I've created a new one with some new ideas. (Because that is the point of this, to keep your options open and think of different ideas.) Hope you guys enjoy!

Offseason

Cut – Jason Baker, Ben Hartsock, Jeff Otah

(We need to make these moves to clear up some cap space if we want to make any moves in free agency. Lets face it; Jeff Otah cannot stay healthy. We need to finally release him and find his replacement.)

Re-sign – Jeremy Shockey, Geoff Schwartz, Antwan Applewhite, Thomas Williams, Derek Anderson

(These are all very good backup/rotational players who won’t cost too much.)

*Restructure Thomas Davis’ contract

(He’s made it clear that he wants to come back and play for the panthers, even if it means taking less money.)

Trade – Mike Goodson for a 5th round draft pick

(I’m a sure team will be willing to make this move for this running back/kick return man. His talents will finally show with some other team, it was just an unfortunate situation that he was stuck behind double trouble.)

Free Agent – Carlos Rogers, Dennis Dixon

(We went for Carlos Rogers last year so why not again this year? He’s proven himself to be a very solid CB in the NFL. Despite his age (30) I think Him and Gamble would be a very scary combo for the NFC South for the next couple of years. Dennis Dixon is a free agent this year as well, with his size and playing style he could easily fit in our system as a backup.)

***Again I’m going to trade back our 2nd round draft pick with another team thats trying to get a quarterback. We will then receive their 2nd round and also their 3rd rounder.***

Draft

Round 1 – Riley Reiff (OT – Iowa)

(I’m not going to lie I’ve been on the Kirkpatrick/Brockers bandwagon this whole offseason. But this move makes too much sense. 1) He will obviously be the BPA at this point. 2) If we let Otah go he would be the perfect replacement, who knows we could even put him at left tackle and move Jordan Gross to right. 3) With our team growing and becoming contenders for years to come, when will be the next time we will be able to select an elite tackle inside the top 10? Just some food for thought.)

Round 2 – Dontari Poe (DT – Memphis) (6-5 – 350)

(Finally! The huge run stuffer we have been missing ever since Kris Jenkins left. At 6-5 350 lbs. this kid is a mammoth, not to mention one of the strongest if not the strongest player in the draft. He would be the BPA at this slot and he would fill a huge need.)

Round 3 (Trade Back Scenerio) – Chandler Jones (DE – Syracuse) (6-5 – 265) (4.78)

(If Chandler Jones drops to the 3rd round, this will probably be the biggest steal of the draft. He has the elite size and strength to become a pro-bowler, even though he is still a little raw in some areas. He is finally getting the attention he deserves and he is skyrocketing up on the draft boards, I have seen him go as high as the first round before. He could start out like JPP and be a rotational player before finally earning the starting role.)

Round 4 – Sean Spence (OLB – Miami) (5-11 – 228) (4.58)

(AKA Thomas Davis 2.0. A very fast hard-hitting guy from the U, who could easily step in if Thomas Davis (once again..) goes down with an injury. Pairing him with Beason and Anderson could give us one the best line backing corps in the NFL.)

Round 5 – Aaron Henry (FS – Wisconsin) (6-0 – 208) (4.52)

(Anything besides Sherrod Martin is an upgrade. He is a very good player, with very good value at this draft position. He can easily come in from day 1 and compete with Martin for the starting job.)

Round 5 (Goodson Trade) - Jarius Wright (WR/PR – Arkansas) (5-10 - 176) (4.34)

(I’m a very big fan of Jarius Wright; he has the same elite speed and vertical threat that Mike Wallace has. I think with some mentoring from Steve Smith for the next couple of years he could easily fill in for him after he retires. He also made a name for himself at the senior bowl with some impressive punt returns, which we all know is a dire need.)

Round 6 – Chris Rainey (RB/KR – Florida) (5-08 – 178) (4.36)

(The "scat-back" and kick return man that everyone wants. Come draft day I’m not sure if he will last until the 6th round, but if he does he will be an amazing return man and a great change of pace running back to pair with double trouble.)

Round 7 – Drew Butler (P – Georgia)

(We need an upgrade over Jason Baker really bad and he is the best punter (IMO) in the draft.)

Depth Chart

Offense

QB - Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Dennis Dixon

RB -DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Rainey

FB- Richie Brockel

TE – Greg Olsen, Jeremy Shockey

WR 1 - Steve Smith, Jarius Wright, Kealoha Pilares

WR 2 - David Gettis, Brandon LaFell, Armanti Edwards

LT – Jordan Gross, Lee Ziemba

LG – Travelle Wharton, Zach Williams

C – Ryan Kalil, Jeff Byers

RG - Geoff Schwartz, Geoff Hangartner

RT – Riley Reiff, Byron Bell

Defense

DE – Charles Johnson, Thomas Keiser, Eric Norwood

DT – Ron Edwards, Jason Shirley, Sione Fua

DT – Dontari Poe, Andre Neblett, Terrell McClain

DE – Greg Hardy, Chandler Jones, Antwan Applewhite

WLB – Thomas Davis, Sean Spence, Jordan Senn

MLB – Jon Beason, Thomas Williams, Jason Phillips

SLB – James Anderson, Sean Spence, Jason Williams

CB 1 – Chris Gamble, Brandon Hogan, RJ Stanford

CB 2 – Carlos Rodgers, Captain Munnerlyn, Darius Butler

FS – Sherrod Martin, Aaron Henry

SS – Charles Godfrey, Jordan Pugh

Special Teams

K – Olindo Mare

P – Drew Butler

KR – Chris Rainey

PR – Jarius Wright

Poll

How would you grade this offseason and draft?

• A
• B
• C
• D
• F

  48 votes | Results

I just finished looking over the 6th new mock drafts in the last 3 drays, and thought it would be interesting to see who might be the top 15 picks mmight be if all 6 drafts were averaged together.

These 6 Mock Drafts are by Mel Kiper (2-8-12), RotoWorld's Evan Silva (2-6-12), 2 mock's from nfldraftscout's Rob Rang and Dane Brugler (both 2-7-12), 2 mock's from walterfootball.com's Walt (2-8-12) and Charlie Campbell (2-9-12).

Draft Pick - Average Draft Position - Position Played - Name

1. - 1 - QB - Andrew Luck

2. - 2.33 - OT - Matt Kalil

3. - 4 - QB - Robert Griffin III

4. - 5.17 - CB - Morris Claiborne

5. - 6.17 - WR - Justin Blackmon

6. - 10 - RB - Trent Richardson

7 (Tie). - 8 - DE - Quinton Coples

7 (Tie). - 8 - OT - Riley Reiff

9. - 10.17 - OT - Jonathan Martin

10. - 11.16 - OLB/DE - Courtney Upshaw

11. - 11.67 - DT - Devon Still

12. - 13.17 - DE - Melvin Ingram

13. - 13.83 - OG - David DeCastro

14. - 20.4* - CB - Dre Kirkpatrick (not listed in Kipers top 18 picks, and that's as far as it went)

15. - 22.67** - QB - Ryan Tannehill (#6 pick in 3 drafts, but not listed in the other 3)

* Kipers Mock only ran 18 picks deep on the ESPN bottom crawl 2-8-12

www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/39842/60/mock-draft-10-blackmon-falls

www,cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock

www.walterfootball.com/draft2012.php

www.walterfootball.com/draft/2012_1.php

It's a new week, which means it's time to start up another OT Open Thread to give us a place to have our non-Panthers discussions (because heaven forbid we discuss non-Panthers stuff anywhere else).

Right now we're in that dead period between the Super Bowl and the Combine where there's not much to talk about, so hopefully this open thread will be a way to keep conversations flowing, even if they're not about the Panthers.

As usual, here's a refresher course of the rules:

This is the place where you can talk about almost anything you want, and we prefer you start any off-topic conversations here to help keep the front page articles focused on the Panthers (after all, this is a Panthers site).

Please keep in mind that while this is an "open thread", the rules of CSR still apply. Play nice with each other, don't bring up politics and/or religion, and don't post NSFW images or use words that you wouldn't say in front of your mother. (Ok...we'll be lenient on the language...but let's try to keep the F-bombs to a minimum.)

Feel free to use this space as your "community cafe" so to speak, where you can discuss movies, music, tv shows, food, or anything else you want to discuss, so long as it adheres to the rules.

Also, please be sure to rec this thread so it stays near the top of the fanpost section to ensure everyone who wants to join in can easily locate it, and be sure to "unrec" the previous OT thread so it will disappear from the sidebar since it will no longer be relevant once this thread gets started.

Okay Panthers fans, this is now an off-topic open thread!