On Sunday, Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich said that Brian Burns deserves better. And you know what? He’s right.
Those words from Reich came after the team’s fifth straight loss to begin the season, an embarrassing 42-24 defeat at the hands of the host Detroit Lions. Somewhere in that struggle came frustration for the star outside linebacker, who reacted angrily to a particularly untimely neutral zone infraction charged to teammate Nick Thurman—one that gifted an already-gifted offense yet another lifeline.
Burns explained his reaction following the game.
“Yeah, I was frustrated,” he told reporters from the visitors’ locker room in Ford Field. “My passion came out. After I did that, I went to my defense, apologized, let ’em know I’m still here. But it’s the passion of the game. But it’s not right for me to lash out because people make mistakes all the time.”
Like Reich, Burns isn’t wrong either.
The Panthers have made plenty of mistakes at the start of what was supposed to be a new, exciting and refreshing era for the franchise. Call it the growing pains of a rebuild, or maybe don’t even call it a rebuild at all, but Carolina was never supposed to start their 2023 campaign at the already-exhausting and even hopeless 0-5 mark they’re at now.
Hey, perhaps it could be some bad juju from how they kicked off their season—without a well-deserved contract extension for the frustrated two-time Pro Bowler. What seemed to be a sure thing, especially after the Panthers reportedly turned down extremely enticing offers for Burns last year, the long-term fusion between the organization and their standout defender has been put on an awkward hold.
Despite some admirable efforts on Burns’ part, including “holding in” when nobody would have blamed him for holding out, it’s felt as though he had never gotten close to a deal. Heck, multiple reports from multiple reporters indicated as much.
So, it’s time to end the frustration. It’s time to come to terms, find a resolution and reach an agreement
It’s time to trade Brian Burns.
Yes, it’s painful to think about—probably for the team and for Burns. But not only are the two sides on a different wavelength, but they’re also on a different timeline now.
Carolina came into the season with some hope for immediate contendership, at least as far as their division was concerned. With an incredibly credible coaching staff, a ready-made defense and the No. 1 overall pick under center, a weak NFC South seemed ripe for the taking.
What has unraveled, however, is a mess of frightening proportions. That coaching staff is still melding, that defense has already lost a handful of key starters and that No. 1 overall pick is desperately trying to find his footing.
Part of that last problem can be attributed to an undermanned offense. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young has, at times, been left to drown behind a stream of pressure with very few, if any, viable options to throw to.
The fact that the Panthers don’t have their first-round pick in the upcoming draft, especially as they sit at an NFL-worst 0-5 record, makes that situation all the more painful. Good luck drafting or trading for a top-tier wide receiver without one.
That, unfortunately, is where Burns can become expendable for Carolina.
A premium player at a premium position is absolute gold in this league, and even more so for real contenders looking for that one big piece to put them over the top. And maybe general manager Scott Fitterer doesn’t get the two first-round picks they were linked to last November, but an ascending 25-year-old pass rusher would certainly bring in some valuable assets for the inconvenient truth.
As much as they may not want to admit it, the Panthers are not close to being serious contenders. They’re closer to a long rebuild. There are a bit too many holes with a discernible lack of depth on a roster that, again, is 0-5.
And as much as they may not want to admit this—Burns has outgrown the Panthers. That realization, ironically enough, comes on the same week DJ Moore had the performance of a career for the Chicago Bears and Christian McCaffrey continued to make his Most Valuable Player case for the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.
So, it’s time for the Panthers to do Burns, and themselves, a solid.
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