Carolina Off-Season Evaluation
NFL.com is running an interesting article detailing the Carolina Panthers’ off-season. He details their off-season trades, signings, and grades their draft. He also analyzes some of their off-season goings-on, such as the entire Keyshawn Johnson saga, and talks about where he feels they dropped the ball (no pun intended) by not making a move to fill a need or two that may bite them later in the season.
Overall it’s very well-written, though I have to disagree with the writer, Vic Carucci, on a couple of points. First of all, though the Panthers see Dwayne Jarrett as an adequate replacement for Keyshawn Johnson, I must respectfully disagree with this assessment. Jarrett may very well become an impact player in the NFL, but he is not yet on Johnson’s level. Secondarily, Carucci blasts ex-Texan quarterback David Carr for his failings in Houston. Factually speaking, I don’t think there’s a QB in the NFL who could have won with that awful team.
You can buy all your Carolina Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
Jenkins Misses Workout
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins has not yet reported to a voluntary workout session for the Panthers, according to th Charlotte Observer. Talk of Jenkins being traded has been floating around all offseason. Though he has not been traded yet, his name continues to remain in the headlines, lately do to Drew Rosenhaus flapping his gums.
Jenkins has been productive for the Panthers, but the longer this situation is allowed to go on, the worse it will be for all parties involved. The Panthers need to decide what to do about Jenkins and do it, before mandatory camps begin. The last thing the Panthers need is a volatile atmosphere during training camp. Carolina has underachieved the past couple of years and absolutely cannot afford to loser their focus going into the 2007 season.
You can buy all your Carolina Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
Jenkins May Still be Traded
The Charlotte Observer is reporting that the team may still have three-time Pro-Bowl defensive tackle, Kris Jenkins on the trading block. The paper cited super-agent and professional loudmouth Drew Rosenhaus as their source. Rosenhaus does not represent Jenkins, but represents his backup, Damione Lewis, who would likely see more time with Jenkins elsewhere in the NFL.
Call me a cynic, but this just sounds to me like Rosenhaus blowing smoke to stir the pot. He’s notorious for pulling crap like this and given that neither the Panthers nor Jenkins’ agent, Tony Paige, have heard anything more about a possible trade, it seems that Rosenhaus may just be up to his old tricks. However, the fact remains that Jenkins is nearly 40 lbs overweight right now, and the Panthers were shopping him before the draft, so don’t be surprised if he does move before the start of the season.
You can buy all your Carolina Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
Former Panther to Announce Retirement
Former Panther wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is slated to announce his retirement this afternoon from a press conference held at USC, espn.com is reporting. Citing his agent as their source, espn.com reports that Keyshawn will apparently leave the NFL to take a job as broadcaster with the 24 hour sports network.
This may come as a shock to many of Johnson’s fans, especially those in the Oakland and Nashville areas. The Raiders and Titans were two teams who were reportedly interested in signing Keyshawn and adding a veteran receiver to the corps in the offseason. While Johnson expressed interest in returning to the field of play after being released by the Panthers soon after the NFL draft, it seems he has received a better offer from ESPN, though details have not yet been released.
You can buy all your Carolina Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
News and Notes from Carolina
The Panthers are going with veteran safeties this season, after failing to acquire any standout free agent safeties or any safeties in the draft, according to The Sporting News. Carolina wasted no time giving away Keyshawn Johnson’s numer 52 to former Clemson receiver Kevin Youngblood, who signed with the team in this off season. Johnson’s replacement, USC Trojan standout receiver Dwayne Jarrett, switched his number to 80.
In other news, the Panthers are converting their power blocking system to a new zone blocking ideology under new Offensive Coordinator Jeff Davidson. It will be interesting to see how these changes and more affect the team next season. The Panthers are coming off a depressingly disappointing 8-8 season, and will be looking to improve that record substantially next year.
You can buy all your Carolina Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
Dan Morgan to Play Football Again
Veteran Linebacker and human concussion machine Dan Morgan plans to play football again this season, according to espn.com. Morgan, who suffered his fifth “documented” concussion (the actual number of concussions Morgan has sustained is believed to be much closer to double digits) last season in a loss to the Falcons, worked out in a team minicamp earlier this month and says he expects to be on the field this season.
Apparently, Dan Morgan has a death wish, and the Panthers (and the NFL) are more than happy to help move him toward it. Morgan is quoted in the article as saying that “Walking away never occured to me. Not at all. Not for a minute.”
Cute as that is, Dan, the reason the thought never occurred to you probably has a lot to do with the MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS you’ve sustained in the past six years in the NFL. I hate to break it to you, but the odds that you’re playing with anything close to a full deck are slim and none. Seriously, what thoughts do occur to you, other than “smash!” “football!” and “Dan dizzy”?
I just hope nobody kills this guy on the field. Seriously. The NFL’s concussion policies are a joke.
You can buy your Carolina Panthers Tickets at stubhub.com.
Seattle Not interested in Johnson
According to a report at yahoo sports, the Seattle Seahawks are not interested in ex-Panther Keyshawn Johnson. Johnson, recently released by Carolina, has yet to land with a new team. While it would seem that many teams would have use for a large target like Johnson, as of yet, he remains a free agent, though his agent assures the media he will land with another team.
Perhaps Johnson’s storied attitude problems, as well as his age and mileage in the league, are making some teams leery of signing the receiver. Whether that is the case or not, the fact remains that Johnson was a productive receiver for the Carolina Panthers last year, so someone will be paying him to play football next year. Whether or not they will pay him the kind of money he believes he deserves remains to be seen.
You can buy all your Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
Ex-Panther Johnson in No Hurry
According to an Associated Press report, Keyshawn Johnson, former Carolina wide receiver released after the Panthers drafted W.R. Dwayne Jarrett, says he isn’t in any hurry to re-sign just yet. After being rather unceremoniously cut by the Panthers, Johnson is just enjoying the off season from his SoCal home. Early reports have Oakland and Tennessee showing the most interest in the big target.
Johnson believes he can still be productive in the league, and apparently enough teams agree with him to warrant him coming back for another year with another team. Both The Raiders and Titans, with their respective young QBs, could use a veteran move-the-chains receiver like Keyshawn.
Me-Shawn is most likely waiting to see who offers him the most money. And seriously, who can blame him?
You can get all your Carolina Panthers tickets at stubhub.com.
Panthers sign WR Smith to 3 year extension
In a story that will surely become the inspiration for many short, fast wide receivers with NFL dreams of their own, Carolina Panther Steve Smith has become one of the NFL’s elite receivers over the past few seasons.
Starting next season, Smith will finally be getting paid like one. Though the details of the contract have yet to be disclosed, Smith’s agent was quoted in the report as saying Smith with be making “significantly more” than his previous contract had him earning.
If anyone in the NFL deserves this raise, it’s Smith. He has matured into not only a dominant player on the field, but a world-class human being off of it as well. He is a leader in the Carolina locker room, and is likely one of the main reasons the Panthers felt comfortable cutting veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson in favor of going with rookie Dwayne Jarrett from USC. Smith is the type of player who will be a mentor to Jarrett. It’s good to see him finally getting his due.
You can buy Carolina Panther tickets at stubhub.com.
Panthers Past Mini-Camp
Without Keyshawn Johnson Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Jake Delhomme has now become the offensive player with the most seniority. “It’s different for me because I guess I never considered myself one of the older guys,” Delhomme said about his place on the team. He is very encouraged about his new backup David Carr, “I don’t have any doubt he’ll be ready to play if he’s called upon.”
All of the new draft picks participated in the weekend’s mini-camp, but did not play with the starting line-up. Rookie Jon Beason will be working behind starter Na’il Diggs as an outside linebacker and a possible inside man if Dan Morgan is plagued by injury again. Safeties will be played by Nate Salley and Mike Minter, while free agency has Tebucky Jones, Sammy Knight, Mike Logan, Tony Parrish, Lance Schulters and Troy Vincent in stock.
Left guard is manned by Mike Wahle while right guard has Geoff Hangartner, Justin Hartwig, Evan Mathis and Jeremy Bridges as options. Several of them can fill center along with draftee Ryan Kalil. There are a lot of options that will be worked out over the next few practices. Get your tickets to the regular season early and get them through StubHub.com.