Continuing with their purge of veteran players, the Carolina Panthers released another veteran player who is over 30 years old on Monday. This time it was longtime fullback Brad Hoover who had to take off his Panthers jersey.
"I want to thank the organization for 10 great years and the fans that supported me," Hoover said in a statement released by his agent, Tim Irwin. "I leave with a heavy heart, but I will be trying to play somewhere else."
Releasing 33-year-old Hoover will save the Panthers nearly $1 million in payroll for the 2010 season and ends his 10-year stay with the Panthers. The Panthers has gotten everything ready, with a plan to have second-year pro Tony Fiammetta replace Hoover.
During the one week before Hoover was released, the Panthers had already cut quite a few veterans including defensive end Julius Peppers, quarterback Jake Delhomme, defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu and linebackers Na’il Diggs and Landon Johnson.
Showing posts with label the Panthers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Panthers. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Julius Peppers will be no more Panthers DE?
According the Julius Peppers’ agent, Carl Carey, the Carolina Panthers may lose Peppers for the 2010 season because of their silent treatment to one of the best defensive ends. To be an unrestricted free agent soon, Peppers will enter the free agent market looking for a better team for him.
Carey said he talked with Panthers team officials on the day of the regular-season finale against New Orleans on Jan. 3, then initiated contact with the team shortly thereafter. Being told that they would make contact the following week, however, Carey and Peppers have not heard from the Panthers since.
Carey acknowledged that the situation is a bit complex between the Panthers and Peppers. The Panthers used the restrictive franchise tag and paid Peppers an NFL-high $18.2 million, counting a $1.5 million bonus for making the Pro Bowl after he recorded 10 1/2 sacks. If they use the tag again next season, they will have to pay him about $20.1 million, plus another $1.5 million for the Pro Bowl and $250,000 for each playoff win. And signing a long-term contract will mean that they have to pay the 30-year-old player up to $15 million a year. Even if Peppers has spent his entire eight-year career with the Panthers and have the third most sacks in NFL during the span, the Panthers just have to reconsider about the deal. Carey understands that but just thinks it unacceptable for the Panthers to give them silent treatment.
With tremendous speed and agility for his size, Peppers was always disruptive on field. Actually he was so disruptive while playing against the Minnesota Vikings in a December game that Vikings Coach Brad Childress wanted to take out Brett Favre to avoid injury. Furthermore, he is not picky with what defense he plays in. According to Carey, Peppers is willing to play in any type of defense next season. So I guess Peppers would put on a new team’s NFL jersey soon once the Panthers let him go.
Carey said he talked with Panthers team officials on the day of the regular-season finale against New Orleans on Jan. 3, then initiated contact with the team shortly thereafter. Being told that they would make contact the following week, however, Carey and Peppers have not heard from the Panthers since.
Carey acknowledged that the situation is a bit complex between the Panthers and Peppers. The Panthers used the restrictive franchise tag and paid Peppers an NFL-high $18.2 million, counting a $1.5 million bonus for making the Pro Bowl after he recorded 10 1/2 sacks. If they use the tag again next season, they will have to pay him about $20.1 million, plus another $1.5 million for the Pro Bowl and $250,000 for each playoff win. And signing a long-term contract will mean that they have to pay the 30-year-old player up to $15 million a year. Even if Peppers has spent his entire eight-year career with the Panthers and have the third most sacks in NFL during the span, the Panthers just have to reconsider about the deal. Carey understands that but just thinks it unacceptable for the Panthers to give them silent treatment.
With tremendous speed and agility for his size, Peppers was always disruptive on field. Actually he was so disruptive while playing against the Minnesota Vikings in a December game that Vikings Coach Brad Childress wanted to take out Brett Favre to avoid injury. Furthermore, he is not picky with what defense he plays in. According to Carey, Peppers is willing to play in any type of defense next season. So I guess Peppers would put on a new team’s NFL jersey soon once the Panthers let him go.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Panthers LT Gross will be out for season with broken ankle
The Carolina Panthers lost another key player to injury after winning Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. This time Pro Bowl LT Jordan Gross was lost to a broken ankle and won’t be available for playing any game for the remaining season.
LG Travelle Wharton was moved outside to replace the starting left tackle. A good and essential move that did not let losing Gross cause a game loss, as Wharton had started 33 games at left tackle before being moved inside in 2008. The team chose Mackenzy Bernadeau, who was in his second year of wearing NFL jersey, to replace Wharton at left guard.
"It’s going to be tough," Wharton said of losing Gross. "He’s a leader, and not only in the offensive line room, but for the team. It’s something that’s hard to swallow, but guys are just going to have to step up."
Losing Gross is a huge blow to the Panthers, but the team is by no way on the edge of being disabled as they have experienced depth.
LG Travelle Wharton was moved outside to replace the starting left tackle. A good and essential move that did not let losing Gross cause a game loss, as Wharton had started 33 games at left tackle before being moved inside in 2008. The team chose Mackenzy Bernadeau, who was in his second year of wearing NFL jersey, to replace Wharton at left guard.
"It’s going to be tough," Wharton said of losing Gross. "He’s a leader, and not only in the offensive line room, but for the team. It’s something that’s hard to swallow, but guys are just going to have to step up."
Losing Gross is a huge blow to the Panthers, but the team is by no way on the edge of being disabled as they have experienced depth.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Cardinals vs. Panthers: will history repeat?
The Arizona Cardinals made it to the NFC championship game by beating the Carolina Panthers 33-13 on Jan. 10, 2009 in Charlotte. And it was since then the Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has been on a downward spiral. As the two teams will meet again this Sunday, will history repeat?
Not sure but obviously the upstart Cardinals are more confident than the Panthers in winning the game. The Cardinals was riding a three-game winning streak and coming off one of its biggest regular-season wins, 24-17 last Sunday night at the New York Giants. While the Panthers, still with Delhomme as the starting quarterback, is coming off a painful home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Delhomme, throwing five interceptions in that playoff loss to the Cardinals as the starting quarterback wearing Panthers jersey and having an NFL-worst 13 this season, has said that memories of the playoff debacle have been flushed away. I hope forgetting the debacle will work for winning the game but I have not seen evidence showing that Delhomme will lead his team to win an Arizona defense that brings blitzes from all directions, a defense that bewildered Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck and New York’s Eli Manning.
Not sure but obviously the upstart Cardinals are more confident than the Panthers in winning the game. The Cardinals was riding a three-game winning streak and coming off one of its biggest regular-season wins, 24-17 last Sunday night at the New York Giants. While the Panthers, still with Delhomme as the starting quarterback, is coming off a painful home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Delhomme, throwing five interceptions in that playoff loss to the Cardinals as the starting quarterback wearing Panthers jersey and having an NFL-worst 13 this season, has said that memories of the playoff debacle have been flushed away. I hope forgetting the debacle will work for winning the game but I have not seen evidence showing that Delhomme will lead his team to win an Arizona defense that brings blitzes from all directions, a defense that bewildered Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck and New York’s Eli Manning.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Panthers Coach Fox is considering benching QB Delhomme
Last Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills left the Carolina Panthers 2-4 and quarterback Jake Delhomme in danger of losing his starting job. Panthers Coach John Fox did not back Delhomme as he used to do but acknowledged that he is considering benching the Panthers’ long-time starter and giving the job either to Matt Moore or A.J. Freeley.
“I still believe Jake is our best quarterback. I have no reason to believe otherwise, truth be told,” Fox said Monday. “But collectively we’ll do whatever it takes for us to improve. What that is I can’t honestly tell you at this second.”
The 34-year-old Delhomme did not give satisfying performance this season. He has committed 15 turnovers and thrown only four touchdowns and his passer rating of 56.5 ranks 32nd in the league. His performance in Sunday’s game was most disappointing: two of his three interceptions were badly overthrown and directly led to 14 Buffalo points in the Bills’ 20-9 win. So it is no surprise Fox wants to try someone else in Panthers jerseyeven Delhomme has been always the best choice for the team’s starting quarterback since 2003.
“I still believe Jake is our best quarterback. I have no reason to believe otherwise, truth be told,” Fox said Monday. “But collectively we’ll do whatever it takes for us to improve. What that is I can’t honestly tell you at this second.”
The 34-year-old Delhomme did not give satisfying performance this season. He has committed 15 turnovers and thrown only four touchdowns and his passer rating of 56.5 ranks 32nd in the league. His performance in Sunday’s game was most disappointing: two of his three interceptions were badly overthrown and directly led to 14 Buffalo points in the Bills’ 20-9 win. So it is no surprise Fox wants to try someone else in Panthers jerseyeven Delhomme has been always the best choice for the team’s starting quarterback since 2003.
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