Panthers Waste No Time in Free Agency
The Carolina Panthers will not be wasting any time in free agency this offseason. According to this report out of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers arranged a visit with Oakland Raiders defensive end Tyler Brayton. Brayton was a first round pick in the league, and has been a solid player in the oft-overlooked Oakland defense. While Oakland has had big problems on offense, their defense has remained fairly stout (at least comparative to the offense), and Brayton was a big cog in that machine. With the possible retirement of veteran Mike Rucker, the Panthers will need a replacement.
Even if Rucker decides to come back for one more season, the Panthers certainly could use a capable replacement. Rucker is certainly not the same player he was a few years ago. The Panthers need to replenish their defensive line, and signing someone like Brayton would be a great step toward doing just that. No matter what happens in this free agency period, the Panthers are certainly being aggressive, and their fans must be happy about that. There are a great many teams in the NFL who need some help to get over the hump who aren’t being nearly as aggressive as the Panthers, and I believe those teams will suffer in 2008 for their apathy.
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Panthers Sign Muhammad
We reported yesterday that the Carolina Panthers were close to signing a deal with former Bears’ receiver Muhsin Muhammad, and today ESPN.com reports that the Panthers have inked a deal with Muhammad that will last two years. The financial portion of the contract has not been disclosed as of yet, but since the Panthers also took the time yesterday to cut QB David Carr, they should have enough money to pay Muhammad for a two-year deal. The wide receiver should be a solid fit in Carolina as a larger possession receiver to take some pressure off of Steve Smith.
This is a great move by the Panthers, in my opinion. Muhammad certainly still has at least a year left in the tank. He’s a much better option as a number 2 to Steve Smith than anyone they had last year, and signing him allows the Panthers to continue to focus on some of the other areas in which they need to shore up certain positions. While the Panthers could have made a bigger splash by offering one of the high-profile free agent wide receivers larger contracts, this signing was the best thing for them. Muhammad should be a great fit in Carolina. He might be a solid fantasy sleeper as well.
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Muhammad and Panthers Close to a Deal
According to ESPN.com’s undisclosed sources, the Carolina Panthers and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad are close to completing a deal that would bring the veteran back to Carolina. Of course, Muhammad spent the early part of his career playing for the Panthers, so this was his first choice for a team with whom he will likely finish out his season. The Panthers will be adding an important piece to their offensive puzzle if they land Muhammad, as the team feels he will be a very solid compliment to playmaker Steve Smith. The two sides expect to reach a deal by the end of the week.
While the Bears were quick to let Muhammad walk away, the Panthers obviously see something in the veteran receiver they can use. The Bears were unable to utilize Muhammad’s size to their advantage as the larger receiver was always meant to a compliment to the younger, faster Bernard Berrian. However, one could argue that the Bears’ issues at quarterback always kept Muhammad from really being able to perform. The Panthers had QB problems of their own last year, but they are hopeful those days are behind them, and that Muhammad will provide the perfect compliment to Steve Smith.
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Panthers Not Likely to Make Big Splash
According to this article out of HeraldOnline, the Carolina Panthers are not likely to make a huge free agent signing this offseason. There are many reasons for this given by the author. He cites a lack of funds, lack of real need, and other mitigating factors. Darin Gantt, in his writing of this article, also notes that many teams are working harder and more aggressively to keep their own star players in-house. This is making it harder and harder for teams to pick up big names in free agency during the offseason, says Gantt. He also maintains that the Panthers don’t truly have a pressing need.
I must disagree. I believe that the Panthers have at least one pressing need, and likely two. While Mr. Gantt mentions one need - a defensive lineman to help out and take some of the pressure off Julius Peppers - one must wonder how many actual Panthers games he has seen if he missed their second glaring need. The Panthers need another receiver. I personally don’t care if they pull KeyShawn Johnson out of retirement, sign either of the fleeing Bears’ receivers, or just plain throw down large jack for Randy Moss. The Panthers need another receiver.
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Muhammad Wants to be a Panther Again
This story out of the Charlotte Observer should make many Panthers fans very happy. It would appear that Muhsin Muhammad - once a Panther, then a Chicago Bear - would like to return to his old team to finish out his career. At the age of 35, Muhammad is certainly on the tail end of his very productive career, but he still certainly has some gas in the tank. He’s been playing for the Chicago Bears, so he’s been mostly doing 3-and-outs and standing on the sidelines. I believe this should help his career’s longevity, and I also believe the Panthers would be nuts not to sign him.
There are better, younger wide receivers on the market. This much is true. However, the Panthers have multiple needs across the board, and Muhammad gives them the large possession receiver they need to take some heat off of Steve Smith. The two veteran wide receivers could help to mold the younger players in the corps. With the maturity issues the receivers had last year, this would be a definite benefit. Add to that Muhammad’s excellent blocking skills and this seems like a no-brainer to me. The Panthers are currently in talks with Muhammad. There will be more on this story as it develops.
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Panthers Release Running Back Foster
Let no one ever say that the Carolina Panthers are not truly committed to moving forward in a new direction in 2008. ESPN.com is reporting that the Carolina Panthers have released veteran running back DeShaun Foster after trying to shop him around for a trade in the past week or so. The Panthers will now move forward with DeAngelo Williams as their feature back, as the youthful runner has shown flashes of greatness in his limited playing time since the Panthers drafted him. Hall backed up Foster for the past few seasons, but will finally get his chance to prove he can start in the NFL.
I love this move by the Panthers, and not just because I’ve been calling for it for an entire season. DeAngelo Williams has always had what it takes to be a starting running back in the NFL, and his numbers have been better than Foster’s, even with his limited touches. I’m amazed the Panthers couldn’t get anything in return for Foster, given that the back is only 28 years old. But, that’s just the business of the league, I suppose. Now Foster will move on to another team, and the Panthers will move on without him, into a very exciting offseason that will likely see many more moves.
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Panthers Make Another ESPN List
ESPN.com has made yet another list, this one being a list of all the teams who need to address their issues at quarterback this offseason, and sure enough the Carolina Panthers made the list. The recent QB troubles of the Panthers have been well-documented on this blog, with a seeming revolving door and changing cast of quarterbacks coming in and out for the duration of the 2007 season, keeping the offense from every developing a real rhythm and preventing the Panthers from having a chance to make the playoffs last season.
While no one would ever argue that the Panthers 2007 campaign was doomed by their failure to provide a decent backup for Jake Delhomme, I wouldn’t say their situation is nearly as dire as some other teams in the NFL. First of all, Delhomme should be 100% for the first time in at least three seasons, which should help his durability. Secondly, the Panthers lost their main backup in the preseason last year, and Matt Moore showed real potential. I believe that the Panthers are in fine shape when it comes to QBs, but releasing David Carr and signing a solid backup wouldn’t hurt.
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Panthers Still Trying to Sign Gross
I had to pull this story off of Topix, because the link to the Charlotte Observer story is defunct for some reason at the moment. However, I felt the story was worth a look anyway. In case you haven’t heard yet, the Carolina Panthers have yet to sign a long-term contract with offensive tackle Jordan Gross. There are many unrelated issues coming into play with this situation, not the least of which being the fact that the Panthers have more than one issue to address this season, and signing Gross to a long-term contract has been bumped down a bit.
While I totally understand the business side of this decision, I’m not sure I agree with it on principle. Franchising Gross all but guarantees the Panthers that he will suit up for them next year (it would take a hefty sum and some draft picks for any other team to take him at that point), but I’m not sure it gives them the best chance to sign Gross long-term. Gross wants to stay in Carolina at the moment. However, if the Panthers pass on their chance to give him financial stability and plenty of money to take care of his family for the rest of his life when they had it, a player like Gross doesn’t have to give them a re-do at the end of the 2008 season.
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Panthers Interested in Crumpler
In a story that should please every fan of Carolina Panthers football in the country, it is being reported that the Panthers are showing interest in signing veteran tight end Alge Crumpler. Crumpler was recently waived by the Atlanta Falcons. While some people might say that the Panthers should be looking for receivers who haven’t been recently cut by their former teams, Crumpler’s release was more a product of the Falcons’ rebuilding effort than it was a reflection upon the tight end. The Panthers certainly need more receivers to compliment Steve Smith.
I like the addition of Crumpler to the Panthers, if it does indeed go through. The Panthers have only had one target through the air, and they need some possession receivers to compliment Steve Smith. Alge Crumpler is no spring chicken, but he was the only reliable target Michael Vick had when he was throwing footballs in Atlanta, and he will be a great check-down target for Jake Delhomme. If the Panthers really don’t have faith in their young receivers yet, they could also try to pull KeyShawn Johnson out of retirement as well. They should probably make a play for Bernard Berrian first, but if that doesn’t work out, they shouldn’t rule out any options.
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Special President’s Day Panthers Blog Spectacular!
Because this is President’s Day, we’re coming at you today with a President’s Day Blog Spectacular! We’re going to name the top five Panthers players with Presidential-sounding names. We got the list of players on the 2007-’08 Panthers roster from pro-football-reference.com. Here they are. Enjoy and happy President’s Day!
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TOP FIVE PANTHERS BY THEIR PRESIDENTIAL-SOUNDING NAMES
5. Richard Marshall (Thomas Marshall [Vice President under Woodrow Wilson])
4. Drew Carter (Jimmy Carter)
3. Travis Taylor (Zachary Taylor)
2. C.J. Wilson, (Woodrow Wilson)
1. Brad Hoover (Herbert Hoover)
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