Not just for the season, not just of the Niffle. We’re talking epic Los Angeles Clipper franchise dysfunction becoming the norm for the Carolina Panthers. Ask yourself one question and see if you can conjure an answer.
What is Jerry Richardson’s plan?
Far too many Panther fans assume that the Big Cat is gonna spend big money on a “big name” head coach. Why? How? When? Richardson is gonna spend $15m. to $20m. on a multi-year deal for one of the Names on the eve of the lock-out he is leading the owners toward? Then Richardson is gonna tell that Name that they can turnover the roster, just don’t spend any money doing it — oh and don’t spend too much on that Top 5 pick either.
The Panthers come January or February might be a singularly unattractive place to try to put together a winning professional football team. Veteran free agents have already seen what the Richardson-Hurney regime thinks of vets via this year’s purge. Do you think that their willingness to play for Carolina will go up or down after the Big Cat drives a CBA position which demands that the players give millions back to the owners?
Call me nuts, but I think the Big Cat already knows who he is going to hire, maybe already has a hush-hush agreement in principle with an assistant or coordinator. Because of the Lig’s Rooney rule that candidate might be a minority, if not the Panthers will have to do the interview thing before announcing any replacement for John Fox.
