Month: January 2024

Sports

Super long off-season ahead for Panthers in 2024 (and Please! not Belichick)

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Super long off-season ahead for Panthers in 2024 (and Please! not Belichick)
Panthers face a murky, uncertain situation on the field and in the front office. Getting #MrTeppers$$ to take a seat vs. trying to run football operations himself, here’s hoping for more light and fun in the future.

So you opened Fansided mail Monday and found out #GMScottFitterer is no longer a Panther management person. There’s a regular stream of departures on player side coming as well, not many ‘make good’ one year contracts panned out. (Perhaps I drank the KoolAid, *might* have thought so too), but guy who said, “All that’s necessary is dropping a good QB into mix for 2023 Success” is working same unemployment line as ex-HC Frank Reich.

A LOT of NFL teams aren’t happy with their results – Arthur Smith is gone in Atlanta (7-10 all 3 years), Chargers will continue getting blown out if Herbert doesn’t throw five TDs (give Dan Marino a call about Truth of that). If Belichick and Pats are calling it quits as dance partners, the joy of millions awaits official word of the split. Asking #MrTeppers$$ to not bring him here is legit – nobody liked HIM, just the rings Brady won for all.

That Detroit Lions are only #3 seed based on ref’s decision in Dallas game (sigh, this crew has a hoo-hah *every*week*), its still a considerable way up the professional mountain to NOT be considered the proverbial red-headed step-child (31-68) that the Carolina Panthers have become.

Admitting that dissing the Lions organization about the Matt Millen years (don’t ask) was always an easy blast, now I’m stuck with the Loser’s Refrain, “We’ll getcha next year.” Can’t knock their Pistons hoopsters, who recently recorded 28 straight losses for a single season record, when Charlotte (8-25) and San Antonio (5-30) have ugly as sin records too.

After Dan Campbell’s first year (2021), Lions were 3-13-1, getting Jared Goff and three high draft picks in return for long-suffering Lions QB Matt Stafford, who promptly won a Super Bowl with Rams. Stealing OC Ben Johnson from them (with considerable #MrTeppers$$), maybe call it payback for letting Panthers think they could do same thing by just adding a QB (and a coach for every position)?

Three Months to Draft

No sense getting cranked up about2024 draft when #1 pick Panthers clearly need is in hands of Chicago, who will decide to keep Justin Fields after last few solid games this year www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4362887/justin-fields, or trade current QB for more draft capital. The smart money is on them using that improvement as a solid rationale for trading Fields and selecting Caleb Williams (USC) at #1 this year.

Fields had a very different second half of the season, noooo doubt he has arm and legs to do even better, but if Tepper wasn’t happy with results of previous QBs Fitterer brought in, grabbing an iffy fourth-year guy who seemed on edge of gone in Chi-town won’t fly. Bears will want max return from in any trade, challenge (ha!) would be Panthers having no draft capital to work with.

Fitterer is GONE – Who’s in?

Welcome to the Carolinas, and top flight coach and necessary General Manager, know your boss will have you on speed dial.

I came to Charlotte the same year as Panthers (1995), saw my first game at Clemson, and getting a picture of Steve Young about to be met on a goal line quarterback sneak by a missile named Sam Mills, was a thrill. There have been two Super Bowl trips for Panthers, New England (Brady’s 1st win, 2003) and Denver (2016), neither of which ended in wins. The Cam-Olsen-Kuechly-Davis unit Charlotte loved (HC Ron Rivera, 76-63-1 has most victories) was cool, but 2023 was a HUGE trough for Panthers,

Since the offensive line was a primary sore spot, with Young frequently wearing someone with other teams jersey by time he took second step from center, thats GOT to be place to start. Ikem Ekwonu at OLT two years ago seemed like a godsend for stability, but a huge falloff in overall effectiveness (and brutal overall injury situation, just sayin’) was at center of Panthers pathetic output.

The difference in Newton at 6’5″, 260 running the RPO (run-pass option) with his size and speed from Game One couldn’t be further from the reality of 5’10” (maybe) 195 lb. Bryce Young being sacked *62 times.*

–Myself and EVERYONE in Charlotte, throughout 2023 season. Howell (Wash.) was a victim 65 times. 3rd was ol’ Zach W. (Jets, 46)

Yes, I thought off 7-10 record, with terrific running game results from D’Onta Foreman, and a solid defense would benefit the new quarterback greatly. How Foreman wound up in Chicago on a one-year contract is NOT what should have happened, and Fitterer was certainly the loser on that contract. How much $$$ did D’Onta want again? becomes relevant when he/Panthers were willing to part with their only talented receiver, DJ Moore, to get absolute #1 pick, and he had a career year with Chicgo https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorD.00.htm .

If the Panthers find their Head Coach before Ground Hog Day (that’s fast), it will almost surely be because #MrTeppers$$ whacked someone like Detroit’s Johnson with his checkbook. Best practices is using FOOTBALL PEOPLE to make such decisions, which would mean he really hasn’t chosen to use those resources yet. With the deepest pockets among NFL owners, that whacking is undoubtedly his (second/only) best route, because overpaying after the shine has come off Panthers in a big way seems mandatory.

Tepper gave up on Reich, but he can’t go after another QB in draft. For anyone who really thought the choice of Young was unanimous, that Tepper miiiiight have pushed for him will probably take a while to be outed.

Business, Community based pr, Sports

Fans and #MrTeppers$$ are Dissatisfied, Charlotte Teeters on ‘Loserville,’ Young survives 2023

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Fans and #MrTeppers$$ are Dissatisfied, Charlotte Teeters on ‘Loserville,’ Young survives 2023
Looking good for NYE always counts, but even Daddy Warbucks cut couldn’t save Panthers from a shaved monkey effort vs. JAX

Nobody is likely to say it out loud and proud, Charlotte area sports fans are having a crisis of belief in local teams. That the Pistons lost 28 in a row is only a distraction to our own situation (5-27). There’s Fields doubters and another #1 pick possible in Chicago, both NY teams, with $45M Rodgers and Zack the Unloved, plus Danny’s $40M ACL, are bigger deals, Discomfort with sub.500 in Charger-land with strong armed Herbert, and gutless-cheap leadership? We got a guy doing double duty here!

Cleveland? Yeah, $92M into Watson deal, still something seriously wronger there QB-wise, but congrats to Flacco and Brown’s defense. Patriots? (Bleep) Belichick.

Truly, a great many teams are dissatisfied with their football prospects this late in their seasons. Hey, they’re barking about playing bad for real in Philly, and Kansas City too. That 7’4″Wembanyama kid in San Antonio, getting 18.9 pts., 10.3 rebounds, 3 blocks, and Spurs are 5-27. Forty, maybe sixty more pounds, he’ll be the second coming of Ralph Sampson.

Saturdays dinner date seemed to hedge her approval on my acceptance of her poor USC (5-7) Gamecocks, so losers are everywhere, not just Panthers.

Chicago must’ve felt the love, at least they sent thanks again for officially gaining Panthers 2024 #1 overall pick – and of course, for DJ Moore having his best day ever.

Does the last game matter?

While a considerable number of teams are still technically alive in the NFL parity world, #MrTeppers$$ took an unkind swerve with what’s inevitably going to be labeled a #TepperToss while at game in JAX. Feeling foolish, maybe a little thin-skinned DT? Sure seems like it. Gettin’ whupped 26-0, with half-dozen sacks to finish out the Panthers 2023, some trash-talking Jax fans might push your buttons.

Whether Mr. T has become introspective about previous meddling as adverse to Successful Football Operations, or he still wants to ‘pair’ coaches is still in question. If Detroit’s Johnson was close last year, that $15M-plus payday could be real, but who feels good about a non-expert Boss standing on their turf? Evero will probably stay on defense vs. assume HC role, but as noted before, Sportwriter Guy me being wrong about every turn for three years, we’ll see.

Last games matter because its what everyone gets plenty of time to remember, players and fans, and coaches. People still say, ‘Cam didn’t reach for that ball!’ in the 2016 Super Bowl. In a 2-14, slow train wreck season, with busted expectations aplenty, players still want opportunities to do better. If your contract is up, can anything done *today* keep me in memory of those who might still have opinions about my playing anywhere again? Do Zack Wilson or Ken Pickett wish certain things hadn’t been said or confirmed about playing time?

Ask Russell Wilson how it feels to get benched for his last games in Denver, so he doesn’t get dinged! and Broncos wouldn’t be allowed to cut him to save a $54M contract year in the spring. Will Brian Burns *still*put himself on the line one more game without a new contract? Will Panthers defense want to mess with Mayfield getting a rich contract in Tampa? Could be a pride thing both ways.

Ask a long haul COVID sufferer about an old axiom about what fails to kill us only makes one stronger, 2-14 losing is bad losing. Steve Wilks got major credit for 2022 team‘s intestinal fortitude, amping fan interest, an effective, run-oriented offensive line, and team cohesion. Wilks was stiffed by Tepper, another choice is necessary, so WhoDat? in 2024.

–1/2/24 Glenn S. And Everybody wants who? and how much? so that’s where the betting sites are going overtime.

How many Oles! does Fitterer have?

Having admitted that Sportswriter Me left the sackcloth wearing and moaning to others most of this season, the question in bullfights and management moves is slipping the sword behind the animals strong neck to end things, hopefully with the elan-deadly seriousness of a matador. We’re talking about #GM Scott Fitterer now, because the talent level, albeit with a surprise or two, isn’t comforting to many. How many Oles! might be fulfilled by someone besides ‘the guy who wants to be in on everything,’ will be part of 2024 considerations.

I only caught pieces of the Jaguars game, was thrilled that the Kung Pao sauce I tried with chicken/broccoli stir-fry, and a bold California red from my arrived-for-New Years shipment from Nat Geo wines, was so tasty as a working lunch. Just my job to see the slog before the blog. No pressure to produce in the immediacy of a blitz like Bryce sees, a late, ugly crumbling by the Panthers just a feeling to be noted.

The good game against Green Bay, that last-gasp 33-30 loss, might have meant something…but no, goose egg.

I could afford to be civilized – a good game on another channel wouldn’t be a problem. Still had wine and good kung pao, no throwing laptops required. Brother and I later opined about relative calm of Mr. Richardson’s generous spirit over 25 years of Panther ownership and community, compared to the number of flawed, expensive relationships since Tepper. It still sucks he got run out, Daniel Snyder lasted 20 years.

Are we super aware #MrTeppers$$ supercedes all else over six years of ownership? Nope, just regular aware, and aware of his $875M Rock Hill facility deal blowing up too. I’m actually wondering who’d take the job here (Just please, not Belichick!)

Loserville? Check the numbers

For those who desire major league baseball here, an established and beloved team like the Hornets – rescued to some degree by Carolina hero Michael Jordan (who got paid off LARGE, and given an attaboy!) for trying so long with this franchise – the Hornets seem financially incapable of fielding a quality team. That said, there’s no real option for a bigger baseball stadium , and the $$$ for a lineup to fill a 45,000 seater with a *competitive* team would require *real* deep owner pockets for half of 162 game season is a fantasy. What new management can do about fanning interest for Hornets is also in question.

For seven years and 364 games, the Hornets led the NBA in attendance 7x, essentially sold out (capacity 23,819). Charlotte lost its team because Mecklenburg County taxpayers said NO! to a new arena for owner George Shinn. In 2022-23, their regular season average was 17,123 per game, (89.7% of 19,077). Now, LeBron sells out.

The sellers-scalpers don’t come down on prices for Steelers, Cowboys, Giants, Packers games at BOA. but even with a cheap flight and two overnights in Charlotte, the economics of tickets here aren’t a problem for those fans who can’t get tickets back home. Fans leaving at halftime because they have a 4:00 BBQ, *that’s* a problem.

  • Panthers (2-14) Still tough to believe Tepper yanked plug on Reich mid-season. Was there consensus on 5Ws of coaching hires, or BRYCE?
  • Hornets (7-23, 13th (of 15 in East) Scoring 110.6 ppg, allowing 121.4 ppg. This hasn’t been your Dad’s Hornets for a long time.
  • Knights Baseball (International League, 18-56 in 2023, 29.5 games out)
  • Checkers Hockey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Checkers (16W-11L-3T, 6th in Atlantic Div. AHL – Hershey leads with 54 pts),
  • Charlotte FC (10W- 13Draw-11L) in 2023, 13-3-18, 42 pts. in 2022 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_FC. (Hiring 3rd coach, same as Tepper with Panthers last 3 years)

Give the Queens University Royals Mens team some slack for 6-9 record in second season of Division I basketball, but 0-8 on the road. Games on 6th, 10th, 12th.