TalkingApes

Lot’s of thoughts, lots of possibilities. The two signings this week have been going through my head nonstop. Do the Panthers think that “the window” is closing faster than first thought? It’s very uncharacteristic of them to make such high-profile and lucrative signings. What’s going to happen next year when you’ll have potentially Will Witherspoon, Dan Morgan, and DeShaun Foster (amongst others) as Free Agents. Will they draft in preparation of losing these players? Will they have to make some tough cuts next season because of this week’s signings?

Rodney Peete
How old is Peete? 39? And he just had another baby to go along with the 3 he has at home (or is it 4?). The Panthers cut him, and it’s been reported that he’s coming back to rejoin the team at the vet minimum. Is this necessary? Perhaps they will cut Weinke after June 1st, spread the cap hit out over this year and next, and then re-sign Peete. That saves another million against the cap there… however, I’d rather have Weinke than Peete at this point if Delhomme ever went down with an injury.

Mark Fields and Linebackers heading into Free Agency
Mark Fields will be 33 in November and is still a year and a half removed from Hodgkins Disease. Will the Panthers really sign him to a long term deal? I’ve got to think that they signed Short last season in preparation of losing Fields. If we don’t re-sign Fields, it’s possible that we can’t afford Morgan in ‘06 as a FA and if we only sign Witherspoon to a 1 year deal, he then becomes a UFA in ‘06 as well, so we could be seeing a 100% turnover in our LB corps. Perhaps this is closing the window prematurely as I mentioned above.

Daily Draft Lean
Today’s daily draft lean is towards Heath Miller, TE from Virginia. I can’t help to think this guy is going to be automatic in the red zone. If you look at the Panthers and the way they stack up now, we have no Red Zone Receiving threat. Miller would give us the weapon. Either he or Mike Williams.