Watched newest take on a hard-boiled detective series with Clive Owens, who, after putting a foot into bad guy’s face 7-8x during questioning, gives bloodied black ops guy instructions for his bosses, then answers question of ‘Why should they believe (you’re different)?’ with a simple, “Because you’re alive.”
‘Monsieur Spade,’ set in 1963 France, features political intrigue about guns, Algeria and constant subtitles. Spade disparages his own French along the line, but the overall story and action is strong enough to make watchers effort of necessary reading worthwhile. Sam Spades rep as not being shy with a gun from San Fran background is known.
Almost everyone in Charlotte who has suffered through The Tepper Years at helm of Panthers can get behind that Why should…? if not the because. In the short period of time since the Panthers 2023 season (2-15) mercifully ended – with enough media negativity about MrTeppers$ and meddling to sink a battleship – the operant feeling is a universal-deserved “Show us.”
A New Normal POV should include NOT being kicked around BOA Stadium.
GM Dan Morgan has the unenviable task of keeping defensive standout Brian Burns with Ejiro Evero’s #4 ranked squad, at a level of paycheck that should’ve been handled back in June.
Morgan is still remembered as a hitting machine on 2003 Super Bowl team, long before Luke Kuechly arrived. Whether he impresses his credibility on fans here won’t require literal boots to the face, but its not the time for being regarded as a nice guy either.
Head Coach Dave Canales
The departed Scott Fitterer proclaimed all Panthers needed to do in 2023 was plug in a good QB, even when it meant stripping the franchise of almost all offensive talent (and 2024 #1 pick) along the way. Most notable topper of course, DJ Moore moved to Bears (96 receptions/1364 yards/8TDs) and had a career year.
After giving Panthers credit for *finally* putting extra bodies in the O-line room instead of bouncing personnel around to cover injuries as operational theory, there’s no reason for piling on blame-wise when eight right guards and seven LGs passed through those positions. Bryce Young (thankfully) didn’t get broken, and since 62 sacks didn’t kill him, hopefully he learned lots.
That Panthers stole – a word that came up repeatedly – better personnel as entire NFL was searching for GMs, Head Coaches, and coordinator personnel outside their teams. Dave Canales came from Tampa Bay for the HC position, and brought Bucs receivers coach Brad Idzik along to be Offensive Coordinator. If they got All Pro Mike Evans to come too, THAT would be more than cool.
Being young, 42, and notably successful in getting well-dinged veteran QBs Geno Smith (Seattle, 2022 Comeback Player of the Year) and Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers) back on track, whether/how far Canales can move the whole Charlotte operation out of an extra nasty time since Tepper bought the team. https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/carolina-panthers-record-since-2018 There will be a plethora of free agent signings, Panthers will be looking at lots of extra possibilities. Haven’t heard a $$$ amount to go with six-year contract length yet…
Yes, you heard right, NFLPA team surveys rated Panthers facilities D-, with players 100% against the move from regular turf to composite because Tepper has a soccer team playing on same surface, and regular grass can’t take that.
Executive VP of Football Operations
New Executive VP of Football Operations Brandt Tilis, with14 seasons experience in the Kansas City Chiefs front office, three as Vice President of Football Operations (2021-23), will have plenty of input on Burns front, having served as the Chiefs lead contract negotiator for Patrick Mahomes 10 year, $450M contract.
There should be a huge organizational Whew! knowing they’ll keep Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero here another year. While still giving up too many points for an impotent offense to overcome – 24.5/game was 29th in league, barely behind Broncos 24.3 and Colts 24.4; Commanders were worst at 30.5), the 2023 Panthers ranked fourth in yardage (294 total yards per game, 122.4 rushing/171.5 passing). Panthers denying several teams requests to interview Evero for their DC roles was legitimate. https://www.footballdb.com/stats/teamstat.html?group=d&cat=t
Bill Belichick, Commanders OC Eric Bienemy, and Titans Mike Vrabel not getting new gigs in the significant number of changes is not Panthers problem now. To be a little snarky, that former Panther Coach Ron Rivera is interviewing for job swap as DC coach in Dallas, after Cowboys DC Dan Quinn went to Washington as Head Coach, thats two other organizations that have bigger concerns than Charlotte. Snyder is gone from Washington, so only Jerry Jones in Dallas has a twitchier reputation as an owner than Tepper right now.
— Jerry Jones didn’t keep McCarthy/Prescott because they’re good guys, 12-5 three straight years is a desirable level of winning, but its possible Belichick *didn’t* get a gig because he isn’t though.Morgan, Canales, his overall assistants much more on same page than Reich’s all-star hires array. Cam Newton being an edgy dresser and great community ambassador means something less today. That Canales become the whisperer of QB touchdowns and wins from team is only valid concern.
Take the Points
While ‘No’ is going to be a common response for Panther fans on believing the next edition of team is going to be All That, its legitimate to take the relative points looking upward. Consider holding back any collective opinion that it *couldn’t* get worse than 2-15 felt for next two months to NFL draft, or seven months till home opener vs. Washington Commanders though.
Dave Canales has been given a six year contract (still haven’t heard a number to go with that), a decently different scale for a guy who made $400k as QB coach two years ago, but its kind of a penalty stroke on MrTeppers$. If Ben Johnson (Detroit) was putting a $15M per year figure on his candidacy, and the thankfully gone Matt Rhule got 7 years/$60M, midpoint on that would be $12M-13M+.
Many opine math of paying off a third big coaching contract, if he gets antsy about un-major progress, should give even a billionaire owner like Tepper reason to let his football people control operations and actually STAY in background, not just use it as a line with a reporter.
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