Tag: Shaq Thompson

Panthers GM Dan Morgan asked if Trevin Wallace is Shaq Thompson’s successor

Was the Panthers’ selection of LB Trevin Wallace a succession plan for 30-year-old Shaq Thompson?

Carolina Panthers president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan may know a thing or two about being a linebacker—seeing as though he was one. So Friday’s selection of Trevin Wallace will surely be one to keep an eye on.

Morgan and head coach Dave Canales spoke to reporters following their second day of action in the 2024 NFL draft. He was asked if the choice of Wallace, a promising youngster at the linebacker position, is the start of a succession plan to veteran Shaq Thompson.

“I don’t know if it’s like Shaq’s successor,” Morgan replied. “Shaq’s played at a high level for a long time. Obviously, we think a lot of Shaq, we think a lot of Josey [Jewell]. We’re really excited about those guys.”

Thompson, who turned 30 years old last week, will be entering his 10th NFL campaign in 2024. He’ll also be entering the final year of his contract, which could mean the end of his long tenure in Carolina.

If that’s ultimately the case, the Panthers may have a potential replacement with the 72nd overall pick in Wallace. But for now, Morgan is hoping the 21-year-old just finds his place as a pro.

“I just want Trevin to come in here—and I think Dave would say the same thing—come in here, learn, compete, earn the respect of these veterans out there. I think that’s the main thing just coming in as a rookie—just growing, getting behind the right veteran leadership, just kinda find his way.”

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Panthers LB Shaq Thompson switching back to No. 54

We hope you saved your No. 54 jerseys!

Shaq Thompson is breaking out the throwback threads for his 10th season with the Carolina Panthers.

On Thursday evening, the Panthers’ social media squad confirmed what the soon-to-be 30-year-old linebacker hinted at almost two weeks ago . . .

Thompson spent his first six NFL campaigns in the No. 54 uniform. While donning those digits, the 2015 first-round pick amassed 470 combined tackles, 9.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 70 games.

He’d dial it down to No. 7 beginning in 2021. Thompson stayed in the single digit for three years—recording 247 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in 33 outings.

Even with the Panthers entering a fresh era under president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, the team restructured Thompson’s deal to keep him around for the 2024 season. The move reduced his base pay this season to $3.1 million, with $1.7 million guaranteed, and cleared up approximately $3 million in cap space for the team.

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Panthers restructure Shaq Thompson’s contract for 2024 season

Shaq Thompson will be back in Carolina for a 10th season.

Shaq Thompson is about to make it an even decade in the Queen City.

According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Carolina Panthers have recently restructured Thompson’s contract. The move reduces his base pay this season to $3.1 million, with $1.7 million guaranteed, and clears up approximately $3 million in cap space for the team.

The Panthers reworked Thompson’s deal last offseason, which gave him an extra year with the organization. Prior to that adjustment, the contract was set to a $24.4 million cap hit for 2023 and would have sent him into free agency after the season.

Thompson will be entering his 10th campaign in Carolina, a run that began as the 25th overall selection of the 2015 NFL draft. He’s started in 108 of his 119 career games—having amassed 717 combined tackles, 12.0 sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles.

His 2023 season was cut painfully short after he sustained a fractured fibula in the Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

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Panthers CB Jaycee Horn after eventful start to free agency: ‘Ima miss my dawgs’

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn is feeling the effects of a painful start to free agency.

Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan may on the hunt for some dawgs right now, but he’s still lost a few in the process.

On Monday, the home locker room over at Bank of America Stadium picked up a few very painful vacancies. After we learned that the Panthers were planning to part ways with safety Vonn Bell, they fell short in trying to retain linebacker Frankie Luvu and then traded two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants.

The losses hit quite hard for many involved with the organization, including starting cornerback Jaycee Horn . . .

Horn wasn’t the only player to feel the effects of the eventful day. Longtime Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson posted, in a since deleted tweet, a similar sentiment—stating that it was a “sad day.”

Along with Bell, Luvu and Burns, the Panthers defense is also expected to be without corner Donte Jackson in 2024. All four were starters for the unit this past season.

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Panthers LB Shaq Thompson: ‘It’s a sad day’

Shaq Thompson summed up a pretty rough day for Panthers fans.

Shaq Thompson was all of us on Monday.

The opening of this year’s legal tampering period brought some punishing blows for the Carolina Panthers and their fans. We started the eventful and exhausting afternoon by taking the expected release of safety Vonn Bell on the chin and went on to eat two gut punches with the loss of linebacker Frankie Luvu and the trade of pass rusher Brian Burns.

With the defense losing three key members, one of its leaders tweeted this in the painful aftermath:

 

Thompson then went on to see another fellow backer in Yetur Gross-Matos find a new home, as he reportedly has a two-year, $18 million deal in place with the San Francisco 49ers. The dearly departed will also include tight end Hayden Hurst, center Bradley Bozeman and cornerback Donte Jackson—all of whom are expected to be let go before March 16.

Sadly enough, the second-longest tenured Panther may be next. Thompson, who turns 30 years old in April, is entering the final season of a reworked pact.

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Panthers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominees since 2014

Here are the last 10 Panthers who have bene nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Only one Carolina Panther is up for some hardware at tonight’s NFL Honors—and that’s center Bradley Bozeman, who is the team’s nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The “White Rhino” has not only exhibited excellence on the field, but he’s been a presence in the community off of it—through the charitable work of the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation.

So, to bring him a little luck, let’s get some good vibes going and look back at the organization’s last 10 nominees for the prestigious honor.

Shaq Thompson on if Panthers want him in 2024: ‘That’s on them’

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson: Does Carolina want me here? That’s on them.

2023 was, by far, the most painful season Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson has had to endure. Nonetheless, he may still want to run it back in Charlotte for 2024.

The nine-year defender had his ninth year cut short, as he fractured his fibula in just the second game of the season. But Thompson, who recently spoke with DaShawn Brown of WSOC-TV, said he’s looking forward to the next chapter with new general manager Dan Morgan.

“I’m excited,” he said of Morgan. “If I was an owner of a team, I would definitely want somebody who played the game at a high, high level. Because that guy knows what type of players to get, because he was that player. That guy knows who to scout, what we need—and Dan, to me, is the perfect fit.”

But will the Morgan-led front office end up keeping the veteran backer around for next season?

Brown also asked Thompson if he wants to stick around.

“Definitely where I wanna be,” he replied. “Does Carolina want me here? That’s on them. Let’s just keep it real. It’s a business.”

Thompson, who turns 30 years old in April, has one year of playing time left on his contract. After 2024, the contract—which was reworked last offseason—holds three voided years through 2027.

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Shaq Thompson on David Tepper’s drink toss: ‘You can’t do that’

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson on David Tepper’s drink toss: ‘You can’t do that’

Shaq Thompson has probably seen quite a bit during his nine-year tenure with the Carolina Panthers. But what happened at EverBank Stadium this past Sunday may have been a first for him.

Soon after the team’s 26-0 loss on New Year’s Eve, a video of owner David Tepper tossing his drink towards Jacksonville Jaguars fans had emerged. On Wednesday, the elder statesman of the team was asked about his thoughts on the incident.

“You can’t do that,” Thompson said, per ESPN’s David Newton. “I don’t advise nobody to throw a drink on nobody. That’s just what it is. But I’ll let him address that.”

Tepper, after two days, finally addressed it in a statement on Tuesday evening:

I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday. I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the League’s discipline for my behavior.

The league fined Tepper $300,000 for what they classified as “unacceptable conduct.”

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Panthers still trying to work through replacing Shaq Thompson

The Panthers and DC Ejiro Evero are still trying to figure out how to replace LB Shaq Thompson.

Shaq Thompson has been a Carolina Panther for almost a decade—and that’s not by happenstance. So, it may not be easy to just replace him.

Unfortunately, that’ll be the task for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his unit—as the 29-year-old linebacker and team captain is likely lost for the season due to a fractured fibula. Evero was asked on Thursday about how he plans on filling the huge void in the middle of his defense.

“We are still trying to work through all those different things,” he replied. “We felt really good about how Kamu [Grugier-Hill] played in the game. Debo [Deion Jones], obviously, is gonna be up now. He’s gonna provide some depth, and we’re kinda workin’ through all those rotational things. Chandler Wooten is in play. So, we’re kinda considerin’ everybody.”

After Thompson was carted away in the first quarter of Monday night’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints, Grugier-Hill stepped up with an impressive relief appearance. The eighth-year defender, who’s really considered more of a special teamer, recorded six tackles and a sack in Carolina’s 20-17 loss.

Evero then spoke about what Grugier-Hill, and Jones, can bring in an expanded role.

“Very athletic, very smart, very stable,” he replied. “But, ya know, him and Debo are very similar type of players. They’re both guys that are . . . really good skill set in terms of coverage, runnin’ to the ball. Both smart guys.”

Jones was signed to the active roster on Wednesday. The former Pro Bowler had spent the last week and change as a member of the team’s practice squad.

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