This time last year the Carolina Panthers entered the post season with all the hope in the world. They had one of the best records in the league. One of the most potent running attacks in the game. With little or no debate, the best receiver in the game-- Steve Smith. The team also had a vaunted defense with a rising star at linebacker John Beason and an All-Pro defensive-end Julius "the Big Lazy" Peppers who was surrounded by a decent supporting cast. It felt good to be a fan. For most fans that season felt as good as any of their previous seasons, at least at this point. It felt like we had a decent chance to win it all.
Then the bottom fell out. Their once "swashbuckling" quarterback Jake Delhomme had cruised through the season of weak opponents, and behind his dynamic backfield teammates. He had won over the fans with his devil-may-care attitude, and ability to make the big play throwing off the back of his feet in the most uncomfortable of situations. In their Super Bowl run in 2003 he threw so many cringe-worthy heaves that were miraculously caught he had garnered the support of the Panther nation, and won over many doubters as the clear-cut leader of the then "Cardiac Cats".
Back to the whole bottom fell out, Jake's niche and calling card soon became the Panther's Achilles' Heel. His cringe-worthy passes gravitated down from the heavens, eschewed any miracle, and landed usually in the hands of the other team's player. Jake hadn't returned to form, a form that was in question by many before his injury and subsequent elbow surgery, since in my opinion 2003. His style was reckless from the beginning. He was Brett Favre, minus the arm. Jake was the fun loving, team-oriented, "character" guy. One that happened into a situation where he was surrounded by some of the league's best talent, and by an organization in which the leadership was loyal—to a fault. That season crumbled before our eyes in a game where the Panthers were favored to win by more than one touchdown. It was hard to watch. Then the Panther's Head Coach John Fox decided to let Jake destroy his confidence and his team's confidence play after play as the clock wound down. If it was a prize fight, the referee would have called it early in the third quarter.
The Panthers had suffered a devastating loss to the Arizona Cardinals, who went on to lose the Superbowl to the New York Giants. They moped into the locker room that night, and stumbled into the offseason with a lot of big questions to answer. One of which, do we still feel confident in Jake as our quarterback? The entire team, from the top to the bottom, came out rank and file to say yes. It wasn't recommended they cut the guy, but what happened next abandons all logic and reason. They re-signed him to a long-term contract with over twenty-million in guaranteed money. A clear, unambiguous YES. They were putting the proverbial eggs into the singular basket. John Fox and the general manager Marty Hurney hooked their caboose to the Delhomme express, destination of pass-unknown, and did it unabashedly.
Amongst other key questions, to sign or not-to-sign Julius Peppers? The panthers played it safe and signed him to a one-year "Franchise" agreement. A salary-cap- gorging annual salary that taps any latitude the team hoped to have entering the off-season and draft to sign other talent. The strategy was pretty much stay- the- course, with the exception of a change of Defensive-Coordinator to Ron Meeks of the Indianapolis Colts when his predecessor stepped down. Status-quo it was, and the hopes of another Divisional Championship.
Here we are, the NFL playoffs. With one exception to last year, no Carolina Panthers. The naysayers were right, and not to the greater good. The season looked to be the last for John Fox, and rumors swirled of a change in leadership. He was resolved not to change horse midstream despite a losing record, until fate stepped in and he had to. Jake got hurt, and was able to bow out gracefully on what was the worst season he had ever had in a NFL uniform. The one guy that everyone wanted to see get a shot, the man that stepped in and played admirably for Jake two season ago sat quietly at the end of the bench. He was without guile or agenda, he stepped in when asked. The team salvaged an eight and eight season with wins in their last few games. The one man that Fox didn't have the confidence in became his saving grace. Matt Moore saved John Fox's panther career and saved the organization's face with a .500 record.
Now the Panthers are at a similar juncture, with some similar questions to answer. Beyond the blunder of resigning Jake to the monster contract last year, the team is able to free up a lot of salary cap space by changing the answers from last season. As Bank-of-America stadium sits quietly in repose, the fans demand action. Even though there are questions surrounding John Fox's destiny with the team it doesn't seem that he will be leaving with his fateful late season turnaround. Peppers grievances from last year are going to be the same because nothing has changed. He is coming off a dubious pro-bowl nomination from a lackluster year, but with that comes leverage. To "franchise" him again would place the panthers in even worse salary-cap territory. They have some younger, more productive players to address now before it gets too late and they lose them like they have done in the past. They have some older players that are going to want to get a ring while they still have a chance and can contribute, that are going to get anxious especially without a strategy change. They have a young quarterback that has an agent foaming at his mouth and anxious to renegotiate his deal after his late season heroics. All of this is going to unfold in front of us, while great coaches that are available are signing elsewhere. Teams whom are still playing right now will have an opportunity to get better next season, and build on an already fruitful season. Meanwhile, here in Carolina, the panthers will attempt to repeat mediocrity in motion.
It's hard to be a Panthers fan. They have done a decent job of collecting talent over the years, in fact some great talent. But the ballad of Jake and Foxxy will go on until Richardson decides to break in and make a change. We, get to watch the playoffs and pull for another team without ardor and with indifference. Thanks for that, by the way—more reason to DVR-it.
"You can't see tomorrow with yesterday's eyes"
Ryan Adams
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Albert Einstein
"Jakes still our guy."
John Fox
No comments:
Post a Comment