2008 Carolina Panthers 11-5 Top Three Worst Threads Ever Made Thread

[Feva]

Carolina is a tough team to project, they have enough talent to make some noise.  That being said if they don't get better QB play this season the Eagles should end up with a really nice pick. 

Yeah, I'm hoping Delhomme's shoulder never really heals right (at least this year) from that rotator cuff surgery this past offseason.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I thought he actually had Tommy John surgery.

[Feva]

Damnit... you're right.  Don't know why I typed rotator cuff.  Too much of a hurry.

[mpmcgraw]

I really don't think their defense is going to be any good this year.

[The BIGSTUD]

As of right now Michael Johnson is the guy I want too. Good call on that one. Hope he gets even better this upcoming season. Him and Cole would be ballin.

[PhillyGirl]

PANTHERS DONE WITH SMITH?
Posted by Mike Florio on August 4, 2008, 9:23 p.m.

In the wake of Friday's troubling incident between receiver Steve Smith and cornerback Ken Lucas, the Panthers could be thinking about life without the talented-but-troubled wideout.

Matt Mosley of ESPN.com  reports that there are "rumblings" out of Panthers camp that the team is fed up with Smith's actions, and are at least considering the idea of trading him.

Mosley says that Smith has become a "divisive force" on the team:  "One Panthers source said that several defensive backs were walking around after the recent incident saying that if management didn't discipline Smith, they would."

And Mosley, whose covers the NFC East for ESPN.com's post-Hashmarks blog project, partially justifies his encroachment upon Pat Yasinskas' NFC South turf by suggesting that the Cowboys could be Smith's ultimate destination.

Other teams that would at least consider Smith include, in our view, the Eagles, Vikings, Bears, and taterskins.

Assuming that Smith wouldn't want a new deal, his cap charge for 2008 is a very manageable $1.75 million.  Because it's after June 1, the Panthers wouldn't take a cap hit for the move until 2009.

Smith currently is signed through 2012.  His future salaries are $3.4 million 2009, $5.75 million in 2010, $7 million in 2011, and $7.75 million in 2012.

[mpmcgraw]

get steve smith?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Then he could be a hit man for some of the vadges on this team.

Sean Considine? Whupped.

I wish Ricky Midget Jr was still with CAR and he was the one who got knocked out.

[MDS]

they can have their first round pick back

[Father Demon]

get steve smith?

GET STEVE SMITH!

farging commit, dude.

[Feva]

they can have their first round pick back

No they can't.  But they can have the Eagles' 2nd rounder in a heartbeat.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

SI.com's Bucky Brooks

Can a team overcome a two-game suspension of its best player to make the playoffs? That's what John Fox will try to find out this season as the Panthers open the regular season without three-time Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith.

The fiery wideout was suspended for Carolina's season opener at San Diego and home opener against Chicago after fighting with teammate Ken Lucas during practice on Aug. 1. The brutal nature of the incident and the fact Smith had a previous transgression (he punched former teammate Anthony Bright during a film session in 2002), contributed to the severity of his punishment.

"This is a tough situation due to a number of reasons," said an AFC personnel executive. "You have a coach who is reportedly on the hot seat, and the player in question is the best player on the team. If you come down on him too hard, you hinder your ability to win, and ultimately cost yourself your job."

But Fox had to discipline his star receiver or risk losing the respect of his other players. At the same time, he had to be careful not to completely ostracize Smith from the team. As Carolina's offensive captain in 2007, Smith had earned the respect of his teammates on the field, and the team had lauded him for his maturity prior to this recent incident.

It's worth nothing Smith issued an apology to Lucas and his teammates at a team meeting, and that he vowed to earn back their respect and trust. Lucas took an unusually diplomatic approach to the incident, and called it a "blessing" that may bring the team closer this season.

Those initial steps will begin the healing process, but there is more work to do if the team is to move forward. Team leaders Jake Delhomme and Julius Peppers will need to encourage their teammates to move past the incident without harboring grudges or ill will towards Smith. And the organization will have to remain steadfast in its support of Smith. By continuing to stand by Smith, they stand a better chance of getting him to address his issues.

With Smith sidelined at the start of this season, receivers D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett and Muhsin Muhammad will have to pick up the slack. Running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart may also have to shoulder more of a load. Keep in mind, Carolina has a 7-12 record in games in which Smith was out of the lineup. All seven victories came in 2004, when he landed on injured reserve after breaking his leg in Week 1. That was also a season in which the Panthers jut barely missing the playoffs, falling short when a blocked field goal as time expired led to a loss to New Orleans. Bottom line, however, they've never made the playoffs when Smith has missed two games or more.

But if they're looking for motivation, the Dallas Cowboys overcame a two-game holdout by Emmitt Smith to win Super Bowl XXVIII. The second of their back-to-back titles in the early 90's.

Yay.

[ice grillin you]

i smell 3-13 and a top five pick
which is double goodness
because that means more suckage for the panthers next year
and an eagle win in carolina
with me watching in the stands

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Saints look to have a nice squad this year, but the Falcons are probably going to be awful and the Bucs could go either way.

Are the Eagles playing in Carolina again this year?  I should notice those things.

[ice grillin you]

next year