The idea of retiring early has become a common thought in the last five years. Dominant players in the sport they are in only to announce they are done. With the NFL, Andrew Luck announcing his retirement at the start of the season sent shockwaves and a bit of anger. A guy like Luke Kuechly, it shouldn't be a surprise.
With the surprise retirement, some wonder what he will do next. Is he a Hall of Fame guy? I think he could be. But I'll take a reason why he is hanging up the cleats. His health is a big factor. For the last five years, he has battled concussions. There's a point where how much more he can do himself is going to be a factor to wanting to commit to keep playing the game.
It's not just the physical side that guys like Kuechly have to deal with. The mental side is another one. A guy with multiple concussions is going to have mood swings and find themselves in a different place. Not being as sharp is always a thing, but injuries and longevity, they play a role. You can't blame him for leaving the game early. Fans need to understand that. You can't put a price on life after the game. Kuechly will be remembered as one of the greatest Carolina Panthers to be on that team. Hopefully, whatever profession he goes to, he can succeed and accomplish a lot and make the best of the post-football life.
Showing posts with label carolina panthers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carolina panthers. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Who Wants to Coach? NFL 2020
Another year, another set of coaches that got let go. Not as big compared to last year, but some names will be propped up.
Carolina and Washington got rid of their guys before the season ended. Ron Rivera had struggled the past two seasons following a turnaround 2017 season. Quarterback issues and a mediocre defense hurt the end of his tenure. And obviously Washington had enough of Jay Gruden. There was always a problem with the team and this year included everything. Since I've been around in 1992, they've been to the playoffs six times. And the GM Bruce Allen was let go too. I don't know if anyone of my generation will see DC win a Lombardi trophy anytime soon.
Not a huge surprise Giant coach Pat Shurmur was fired. Kind of was expecting a return, but even that was a low expectation. Turnovers and defensive issues hurt his two year tenure. Chicago got rid of four coaches while retaining Matt Nagy as the head coach. Make or break for 2020 if they want a return to glory like 2018. Surprised Freddie Kitchens was fired from Cleveland. Eleven coaches since 1999 for the team. Too much constant change. Whoever takes the job should have it somewhat easy, but needs to make them consistent. GM John Dorsey also parted ways so who know what they'll draft.
Jacksonville retained Doug Marrone after stories sounded like he would be fired. Like Nagy, this will be make or break. Playoffs for 2020 or else he's let go. They need a stable quarterback, draft some defensive guys, and get the ground game back to being good. That's what I predict. And Dallas at this moment has not made their decision on Jason Garrett. I think he'll be fired. Why delay the inevitable? As some said, Jerry Jones is putting on a show. Garrett has great talent on the field, but no results. Two playoff wins in his tenure. Until Jones is gone, I don't think we'll see Dallas win another Super Bowl. Nothing is ever good for him.
The most coveted job is going to be in Carolina and New York. I would add Dallas, but it's a risk taking one solely because of how Jones wants to run the team. Same with Cleveland, but too much ineptitude is the reason. Washington is a last ditch effort unless someone thinks they can turn them around for good. See what happens, I guess.
Carolina and Washington got rid of their guys before the season ended. Ron Rivera had struggled the past two seasons following a turnaround 2017 season. Quarterback issues and a mediocre defense hurt the end of his tenure. And obviously Washington had enough of Jay Gruden. There was always a problem with the team and this year included everything. Since I've been around in 1992, they've been to the playoffs six times. And the GM Bruce Allen was let go too. I don't know if anyone of my generation will see DC win a Lombardi trophy anytime soon.
Not a huge surprise Giant coach Pat Shurmur was fired. Kind of was expecting a return, but even that was a low expectation. Turnovers and defensive issues hurt his two year tenure. Chicago got rid of four coaches while retaining Matt Nagy as the head coach. Make or break for 2020 if they want a return to glory like 2018. Surprised Freddie Kitchens was fired from Cleveland. Eleven coaches since 1999 for the team. Too much constant change. Whoever takes the job should have it somewhat easy, but needs to make them consistent. GM John Dorsey also parted ways so who know what they'll draft.
Jacksonville retained Doug Marrone after stories sounded like he would be fired. Like Nagy, this will be make or break. Playoffs for 2020 or else he's let go. They need a stable quarterback, draft some defensive guys, and get the ground game back to being good. That's what I predict. And Dallas at this moment has not made their decision on Jason Garrett. I think he'll be fired. Why delay the inevitable? As some said, Jerry Jones is putting on a show. Garrett has great talent on the field, but no results. Two playoff wins in his tenure. Until Jones is gone, I don't think we'll see Dallas win another Super Bowl. Nothing is ever good for him.
The most coveted job is going to be in Carolina and New York. I would add Dallas, but it's a risk taking one solely because of how Jones wants to run the team. Same with Cleveland, but too much ineptitude is the reason. Washington is a last ditch effort unless someone thinks they can turn them around for good. See what happens, I guess.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Ron, I Have to Fire You
Kind of surprised. The Carolina Panthers have gotten rid of their head coach, Ron Rivera, after almost nine years of being with the team. I figured his job was on the line a little bit, but I didn't think he was in the hot seat that badly The outlook has been different and the disappointment over these last two seasons might have the been the ultimate reason for him being gone.
When he took over, he became the fourth coach in Panthers history since they started in 1995. That 2011 team was an improvement over an abysmal team a year ago, but still needed work. Improvements on defense and complimenting Cam Newton with competent players got them in the playoffs two years later. In came a five year stretch of making the playoffs four times, including a 2015 Super Bowl run that ended in a loss to the Denver Broncos. This year and last year have had high expectations, but have been disappointments.
You would think they would have gotten rid of Rivera last year. This year, they don't have Newton under center, and even he could be gone after this season. Lots of injuries on both sides of the ball. Playing with guys who aren't used to the workload. Tons of struggle on defense. Maybe the patience is wearing thin for the Panthers owner. You lose to lowly Washington, the hot seat gets hotter. What the new decade will bring for the 25 year team is uncertainty. They have players who can deliver. Can it come at the right time next year to give them a playoff push?
When he took over, he became the fourth coach in Panthers history since they started in 1995. That 2011 team was an improvement over an abysmal team a year ago, but still needed work. Improvements on defense and complimenting Cam Newton with competent players got them in the playoffs two years later. In came a five year stretch of making the playoffs four times, including a 2015 Super Bowl run that ended in a loss to the Denver Broncos. This year and last year have had high expectations, but have been disappointments.
You would think they would have gotten rid of Rivera last year. This year, they don't have Newton under center, and even he could be gone after this season. Lots of injuries on both sides of the ball. Playing with guys who aren't used to the workload. Tons of struggle on defense. Maybe the patience is wearing thin for the Panthers owner. You lose to lowly Washington, the hot seat gets hotter. What the new decade will bring for the 25 year team is uncertainty. They have players who can deliver. Can it come at the right time next year to give them a playoff push?
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Trades of the NFL Pre Draft
The last 72 hours have been an interesting one for the NFL regarding players getting traded to other teams. Yesterday was a crazy one. Some non ones include the Seattle Seahawks releasing a few of their secondary, making it seem like the Legion of Boom era is over. Let's get on to what happened.
Speaking of the Seahawks, they traded defensive lineman Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles and a draft pick for a backup receiver and a draft pick. It would be interesting to see how he fares in his tenth year in a different division. Philly sent receiver Torrey Smith down to Carolina in exchange for Panthers corner Daryl Worley. Unless someone on their secondary is a weak link, I don't know. The city of brotherly love seems to want to avoid the Super Bowl hangover most get after winning one. For Smith, he could still be a home run receiver, but how many more chances will he get?
Alec Ogletree seems like he will fit in with Big Blue. The LA Ram linebacker was sent along with a draft pick to the New York Giants in exchange for two draft picks. He can get tackles and that is something the dreadful defense needs. Outside of 2015, he has been a lights out player despite no Pro Bowls. Last month, The Rams have also gotten corners with Kansas City's Marcus Peters and just recently, Denver's Aqib Talib. If anything, this team is getting serious about making that big push to the Super Bowl next year. How they handle Talib is a different story.
With how infamously bad the Cleveland Browns have been the last two years, they are making waves with their trades. DeShone Kizer, who had a pretty bad rookie year, was sent to Green Bay in exchange for corner Damarious Randall and both teams swapping picks in the middle rounds. They also got Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor for a draft pick. Last was getting Miami's Jarvis Landry in exchange for a couple draft picks. It seems like desperation to cobble up something for this year. That being said, it could be a decent offense, but that's wishful thinking. Adding Randall could help their abysmal defense. It's a wait and see situation and who they get in the draft.
I got a feeling we're not finished with seeing trades yet.
Saturday, January 6, 2018
NFL Wild Card 2018
Another season, another set of NFL playoffs have started once again, beginning today. Here are some quick thoughts and predictions.
Today's games should be an easy one. The early match up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans is one sided favored towards the Chiefs. Offensively, they are an explosive bunch and the defense can hold its own and play well. With questions on both sides for the Titans, Arrowhead should be happy to get a win unless there's some unforseen circumstances like blowing it against the Colts four years ago. On the other side is the LA Rams having their first home playoff game in Los Angeles since the 1989 season against the Atlanta Falcons. Both sides can play with tough running games, defenses that don't give up, and good arms to throw the ball. It all depends if Atlanta can keep up and hang in the game, but the Rams seem destined to get into the Divisional Round. That's who I think advances.
Sunday's matches could see any of these four win. The early game is the Buffalo Bills going up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo could win, but it all depends on LeSean McCoy actually suiting up from last week's ankle injury. They can prevent passing touchdowns, but the run defense is one of the worst. Facing the number one rushing team is a huge task, as well as Tyrod Taylor needing a perfect game. It should be in the books as a Jacksonville win, but don't rule out the Bills entirely. Blake Bortles could throw interceptions and rely on Leonard Fournette to help the Jags. I think it goes to Jacksonville winning. The question is: How much with they win by?
New Orleans and Carolina are the last match of the weekend. For the Saints, a much better defense and a punishing ground game bolstered them into the playoffs. That's who I see going further into the postseason. As strong as Carolina's rushing is, it is inconsistent. The passing is far from great, but not horrible. It all depends on how the defense can perform. They can pull off an impressive win, but every facet has to be near perfect. Any mistakes, and it could be a blowout.
Next week, we will look at the Divisional Round and who should advance to the Championship game.
Today's games should be an easy one. The early match up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans is one sided favored towards the Chiefs. Offensively, they are an explosive bunch and the defense can hold its own and play well. With questions on both sides for the Titans, Arrowhead should be happy to get a win unless there's some unforseen circumstances like blowing it against the Colts four years ago. On the other side is the LA Rams having their first home playoff game in Los Angeles since the 1989 season against the Atlanta Falcons. Both sides can play with tough running games, defenses that don't give up, and good arms to throw the ball. It all depends if Atlanta can keep up and hang in the game, but the Rams seem destined to get into the Divisional Round. That's who I think advances.
Sunday's matches could see any of these four win. The early game is the Buffalo Bills going up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo could win, but it all depends on LeSean McCoy actually suiting up from last week's ankle injury. They can prevent passing touchdowns, but the run defense is one of the worst. Facing the number one rushing team is a huge task, as well as Tyrod Taylor needing a perfect game. It should be in the books as a Jacksonville win, but don't rule out the Bills entirely. Blake Bortles could throw interceptions and rely on Leonard Fournette to help the Jags. I think it goes to Jacksonville winning. The question is: How much with they win by?
New Orleans and Carolina are the last match of the weekend. For the Saints, a much better defense and a punishing ground game bolstered them into the playoffs. That's who I see going further into the postseason. As strong as Carolina's rushing is, it is inconsistent. The passing is far from great, but not horrible. It all depends on how the defense can perform. They can pull off an impressive win, but every facet has to be near perfect. Any mistakes, and it could be a blowout.
Next week, we will look at the Divisional Round and who should advance to the Championship game.
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