Tag: Carolina Panthers

Report: Panthers owner eyeing Steelers GM Kevin Colbert

The Steelers front office could take a big hit soon.

According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper could be considering current Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert as part of his rebuild of the Panthers.

Tepper was a former minority owner of the Steelers and knows Colbert well. According to Schefter, Tepper could also be looking to poach vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan. If fans don’t know who Khan is, he’s the salary cap genius who keeps this team competitive from a financial standpoint.

You hate to get all conspiracy theory but Colbert chose not to work on a new contract this offseason and is working this year without any ties to the Steelers for the next season. This could be something Colbert has been pondering and this was why he chose not to get a new contract.

The Steelers have been through tremendous roster turnover in the past year. But if they lost Colbert and Khan, it could really reset the team in terms of development.

[vertical-gallery id=455714]

[lawrence-related id=455854]

Panthers Week 14 inactives: Greg Olsen, Christian Miller out vs. Falcons

The Panthers and Falcons will kick off in about 90 minutes. Here’s a look at the team’s inactive list for today’s game.

The Panthers and Falcons will kick off in about 90 minutes. Here’s a look at the team’s inactive list for today’s game.

TE Greg Olsen
OLB Christian Miller
DT Woodrow Hamilton
OT Greg Little
OL Chris Reed
DT Stacy McGee
CB Corn Elder

Only Olsen (concussion) and Little (ankle) are injured. The rest are healthy scratches.

Olsen is still in the protocol after taking a head shot in last Sunday’s loss to Washington. Interim coach Perry Fewell told reporters this week we’ll see a tight end by committee approach, which means both Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz could play meaningful snaps.

On defense, outside linebacker Marquis Haynes will be active in place of the rookie Christian Miller, who has only played seven games this season.

As for the Falcons, they will be a bit short-handed in the trenches. Offensive linemen Jamon Brown, Ty Sambrailo and James Carpenter have all been ruled out. Atlanta allowed nine sacks on Matt Ryan against the Saints last week, so this is a prime opportunity for Carolina’s pass rush to feast.

[lawrence-related id=615287]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

5 Panthers who need to step up vs. Falcons Week 14

Here are five guys who need to step it up in today’s game.

The Carolina Panthers embark on a new era in today’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. For the first time in almost nine years, someone other than Ron Rivera will be coaching the team. That means opportunities for new coaches and players to prove themselves.

Here are five guys who need to step it up in today’s game.

OC Scott Turner

The Panthers are mixing things up on both sides of the ball in the wake of Rivera’s exit. Norv Turner is now a special assistant to the coach, opening up room for his son Scott (QBs coach) to take over offensive play-calling duties. Turner was reported to be Kyle Allen’s biggest cheerleader last year, so it will be interesting to see what he can get out of him.

TE Ian Thomas

Another key change will take place at tight end. Greg Olsen has been ruled out with a concussion, so we’ll finally get to see more of the other tight ends on the roster like 2018 fourth-round pick Ian Thomas. Last season, Thomas showed flashes as well as some rough edges. If he can prove himself, the Panthers can feel much better about their future at this position.

LB Shaq Thompson

Thompson just signed a four-year contract extension that makes him one of the top-five off-ball linebackers in the league in terms of annual salary. Thompson has done everything he’s been asked so far, but now Carolina is paying for elite production at this spot. Thompson has to earn it.

CB Donte Jackson

Last time these two teams played, Jackson was handily beaten in his one-on-one matchups with Calvin Ridley. He caught all eight of his targets, totaling a season high 143 receiving yards and a touchdown. Jackson may have been battling an injury last time. Either way, he has to do better this time around.

HC Perry Fewell

Nobody will be under the spotlight more than interim head coach Perry Fewell, who will become the first black head coach in franchise history. Fewell’s background is as a defensive backs expert and he’s part of the reason that unit has exceeded expectations this year. If nothing else, Fewell should have this team as motivated as they’ve ever been in recent years.

[lawrence-related id=615281]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

Report: Panthers open to trading Cam Newton at right price

According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL.com, the Panthers are expected to trade Cam Newton this offseason provided they can get a large haul.

According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL.com, the Panthers are expected to trade Cam Newton this offseason provided they can get a large haul.

“Newton is due just $18.6 million for 2019, a cheap asset that Carolina hasn’t ruled out holding onto if he can show he can be himself again. In today’s game, nearly $19 million for a starting QB is not expensive. However, the expectation is that the Panthers will attempt to trade Newton this offseason provided they can get a large deal to make it worth their while.”

Consider us skeptical about this report. We’re cynical but fans should always take game-day trade reports and rumors with a grain of salt. It also goes against what we have heard from the organization.

Owner David Tepper has said that no decision will be made about Cam Newton’s future until he’s 100%. He’s having surgery to repair his injured foot this week. How long it takes for Newton to recover depends, but until it happens it would come as a shock to see Newton get traded.

If Rapoport is right, then the Panthers are likely on the verge of a major rebuild. Whether they trade Cam or not, the roster is going to look dramatically different in 2020 given all the pending free agents they have. The team will also be starting over with a new head coach, so in some ways it makes sense to clean the slate and let them pick their own QB.

That said, talented franchise quarterbacks like Newton don’t come along very often. If they do the deal, this front office group might be looking for his successor for a long time.

[lawrence-related id=615165]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

Ryan Anderson fined for helmet-to-helmet hit on Greg Olsen last week

Anderson was ejected from last week’s game against Carolina after a hit to the head of Greg Olsen, and now he’s being fined as well.

Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Anderson was fined for $28,075 this weekend after being called for an unnecessary roughness penalty in last week’s win over the Carolina Panthers.

Anderson was ejected from the game after the hit, which came as a surprise to many Redskins fans, considering a player for Carolina egregiously hit WR Trey Quinn in a similar fashion earlier in the game, and it received no penalty.

Despite Anderson’s absence, the Redskins were able to hold onto their lead and win the game. After the play, Panthers’ TE Greg Olsen, who was the subject of the hit, entered the concussion protocol.

Anderson is expected to play on Sunday.

[vertical-gallery id=26323]

Panthers WR DeAndrew White fined by NFL for penalty vs. Washington

A couple of fines were just reported stemming from last week’s game between the Panthers and the Redskins.

Friday news dumps are now Saturday news dumps, at least as far as the NFL is concerned. A couple of fines were just reported stemming from last week’s game between the Panthers and the Redskins.

First up, wide receiver/kick returner DeAndrew White has been fined $28,075 for his unnecessary roughness penalty that knocked Washington return specialist Trey Quinn out of the game.

Here’s a look at the hit in question.

Clearly a case of assault.

In related news, Redskins linebacker Ryan Anderson was fined the exact same amount for the head shot he gave to tight end Greg Olsen that knocked him unconscious and out of the game.

Olsen is still in the concussion protocol and has been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Falcons.

[lawrence-related id=615264]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

Did the Panthers overpay for Shaq Thompson’s new deal?

Linebacker Shaq Thompson has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth up to $57 million, according to Adam Schefter at ESPN.

With the 2019 season officially written off, the Panthers began turning their attention to 2020 and beyond this week. First, they fired coach Ron Rivera after nearly nine years at the helm and named Perry Fewell the interim head coach. Today, Carolina followed that move by securing one of the cornerstones of its defense.

Linebacker Shaq Thompson has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth up to $57 million, according to Adam Schefter at ESPN. While paying Thompson was never a question, the sum is significant enough to raise concerns. Some Panthers fans on Twitter are openly wondering if the team overpaid.

Let’s open this up to a vote. Do you think Thompson got more than market value, or was it a fair deal?

[polldaddy poll=10474158]

Thompson’s new contract ranks him among the top-five best paid off-ball linebackers in the NFL.

The timing is a bit strange and he’s coming off a rough game against Washington. Thompson also hasn’t made the impact we expected from him in a contract year. Then again, Thompson (along with the rest of the defense) may be suffering in part due to Rivera’s shift to 3-4 looks, which have often put the linebackers out of position to make the stops they normally would.

We expect Thompson to bounce back over these last four weeks and start next season strong. If he doesn’t, we may hear familiar tones about GM Marty Hurney being too generous once again.

[lawrence-related id=615229]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

Panthers announce 4-year extension for LB Shaq Thompson

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a four-year contract extension with linebacker Shaq Thompson, per the team website.

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a four-year contract extension with linebacker Shaq Thompson, per the team website.

According to Adam Schefter at ESPN, Thompson’s new deal is worth up to $57 million that includes $28 million in guaranteed money plus a $16 million signing bonus.

Thompson is one of the most integral parts of Carolina’s defense and signing him to an extension was always going to be a no-brainer.

Since they picked him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, Thompson has played in 68 regular season games for the Panthers, totaling 9.5 sacks, 331 combined tackles (27 for a loss) and 19 QB hits.

With Thompson locked up, the next guy in line for an extension should be cornerback James Bradberry. He’s playing in the last year of his rookie contract and has earned a significant pay-raise.

[lawrence-related id=615229]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

Ron Rivera thanks Panthers, fans in public farewell letter

A class act until the end.

You can question any number of decisions Ron Rivera made in his last season as the Panthers’ head coach. You can’t question his character, which has shown through again these last few days despite the circumstances.

Today, Rivera took out a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer, thanking the Carolina organization that just fired him as well as the fans.

A class act until the end.

[lawrence-related id=615185]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]

Panthers waive WR Donte Moncrief, promote Greg Dortch from practice squad

Donte Moncrief, we hardly knew ye.

Donte Moncrief, we hardly knew ye. The Panthers have released the wide receiver only a few weeks after claiming him off waivers from the Steelers. Moncrief appeared in three games for Carolina, playing just 25 total snaps on offense. He saw zero targets and did not record a stat.

The move was made to make room for return specialist Greg Dortch, who has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.

Dortch is listed as a wide receiver as well, but if he sees the field it will be on special teams. This is his second run on the roster this year. He previously played against the Titans and looked strong as a returner.

[lawrence-related id=615240]

[vertical-gallery id=615133]