I think he's a FA now.  He only had a 3 year contract since he was a 2nd rounder.

crusherl wrote: So when do the Panthers release Clausen or try to trade him for something? He'll never step foot on the field again.

Now that I think of it, not sure anyone wants him.

TimPack10 wrote: Go get Andy Reid right now!

Please God NO!

So, are we all under the assumption that Rivera is coming back? I'm personally not a fan of his but the team probably played well enough down the stretch that he'll be the coach again.

Reid needs to take a year off, but I do not think he's done. He needs to clear his head a refocus.

Reid needs to take time off and fix his family first.

asupackman wrote: Said on the Panthers Broadcast that D Williams set a Panthers single game record with 210 rushing yards today.

I think one thing we've learned is platooning 2 starting running backs, while costing you tons of money also doesn't give either the chance to get in a flow of the game like carrying the ball 21 times does. Deangelo has done much better the last few weeks with Stewart out, and Stewart did better when Deangelo was riding the bench.

I'm not sure who to keep, but keeping both is just not an option, for many reasons. In typical Marty Hurney style, we ended up with 2 starting RB's because the gave up on Deangelo (right before he had his best season ever) and drafted Stewart with the #8 pick. It worked for a short period of time (2008) but instead of understanding that they should have dealt one for value and kept the other, Hurney signed them both to giant contracts, setting up a situation where - by design - you would have one of your highest paid players on the bench at all times.

Now who do you keep? I don't know. They have both been injury prone, Deangelo is getting near 30 which is usually not good for a RB, but he has not ever played a full season of getting 20-30 carrries a game, so who knows. I don't recall Stewart ever playing a 16 game season yet.

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

---------------------------------------------
--- 1321wolf wrote:

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

---------------------------------------------

1321wolf wrote:

asupackman wrote: Said on the Panthers Broadcast that D Williams set a Panthers single game record with 210 rushing yards today.

I think one thing we've learned is platooning 2 starting running backs, while costing you tons of money also doesn't give either the chance to get in a flow of the game like carrying the ball 21 times does. Deangelo has done much better the last few weeks with Stewart out, and Stewart did better when Deangelo was riding the bench.

I'm not sure who to keep, but keeping both is just not an option, for many reasons. In typical Marty Hurney style, we ended up with 2 starting RB's because the gave up on Deangelo (right before he had his best season ever) and drafted Stewart with the #8 pick. It worked for a short period of time (2008) but instead of understanding that they should have dealt one for value and kept the other, Hurney signed them both to giant contracts, setting up a situation where - by design - you would have one of your highest paid players on the bench at all times.

Now who do you keep? I don't know. They have both been injury prone, Deangelo is getting near 30 which is usually not good for a RB, but he has not ever played a full season of getting 20-30 carrries a game, so who knows. I don't recall Stewart ever playing a 16 game season yet.

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

Not true at all.  2008 Williams had over 1500 yds and Stewart had over 800 yds.  28 TDs between the two.  Panthers earned #2 seed overall in the NFC (lost first playoff game to Cardinals after Delhomme's 5 INTS).  The two RB system worked VERY well that season and most teams didn't have an answer for it.  I think problem has been a passing-threat QB to take the load off, in addition to hit and miss injuries.  Now that being said, with Newton as a viable run option the system may not be what the Panthers need right now.

Seemed like they got it going the later part of the season.  They have some holes to fill, especially on the D, but I doubt they fire many if any coaches.

DubPack wrote:

1321wolf wrote:

asupackman wrote: Said on the Panthers Broadcast that D Williams set a Panthers single game record with 210 rushing yards today.

I think one thing we've learned is platooning 2 starting running backs, while costing you tons of money also doesn't give either the chance to get in a flow of the game like carrying the ball 21 times does. Deangelo has done much better the last few weeks with Stewart out, and Stewart did better when Deangelo was riding the bench.

I'm not sure who to keep, but keeping both is just not an option, for many reasons. In typical Marty Hurney style, we ended up with 2 starting RB's because the gave up on Deangelo (right before he had his best season ever) and drafted Stewart with the #8 pick. It worked for a short period of time (2008) but instead of understanding that they should have dealt one for value and kept the other, Hurney signed them both to giant contracts, setting up a situation where - by design - you would have one of your highest paid players on the bench at all times.

Now who do you keep? I don't know. They have both been injury prone, Deangelo is getting near 30 which is usually not good for a RB, but he has not ever played a full season of getting 20-30 carrries a game, so who knows. I don't recall Stewart ever playing a 16 game season yet.

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

Not true at all.  2008 Williams had over 1500 yds and Stewart had over 800 yds.  28 TDs between the two.  Panthers earned #2 seed overall in the NFC (lost first playoff game to Cardinals after Delhomme's 5 INTS).  The two RB system worked VERY well that season and most teams didn't have an answer for it.  I think problem has been a passing-threat QB to take the load off, in addition to hit and miss injuries.  Now that being said, with Newton as a viable run option the system may not be what the Panthers need right now.

What part of "It worked for a short period of time (2008)" did you not understand?

Reading comprehension, it's not just for breakfast any more.

LetsGoState wrote: So, are we all under the assumption that Rivera is coming back? I'm personally not a fan of his but the team probably played well enough down the stretch that he'll be the coach again.

Fox'ed his way into another year

Panthers have #14 pick in 2013 NFL draft
www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000...s-own-no-1-pick

I'm really torn on Rivera.

On the one hand, he has a team full of nobody's and 3rd string DB's and OL's playing well enough to win some games. Outside of a few key positions Marty Hurney left a void of talent at some positions, an overload at others and a giant cap mess for next year. The team hasn't quit on him which is the easiest indicator that a coach should be fired. As a first time head coach he deserves a little time to work through the growing pains and learn from his (many) mistakes. At the beginning of the season his QB was playing like dog doo, and was acting like a 15 year old. Whether it was through Rivera's guidance or not, this situation has improved considerably.

On the flip side, Rivera has made a lot of mistakes and I'm not convinced he has learned from them, although I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt. We still could have lost the last few games at the end by making the same mistakes - getting real conservative at the end and letting the other team move up and down the field and score at will. This seriously concerns me, turned a 17 point lead into a 4 point hold on for dear life win yesterday. That's just too close.

When you step back you have to ask yourself, what is the goal? Every franchise in the NFL should ultimately want to win a Superbowl - the NFL is designed for that kind of parity, so the excuses are few. Is Ron Rivera a Super Bowl winning level coach? I'm really having trouble seeing that right now. As State fans have experienced all too often, focusing in a minute improvements can make you take your eye off the ultimate goal. Just because you went from dreadful to bad to marginal, does that mean you will keep progressing on to great? Or does it mean you have put so much energy into being mediocre that there is nothing left?  

I think he deserves one more year, but I'm not a big fan of ultimatum years, which is what next year will be for Rivera. What if he goes 9-7 or 10-6 and just misses the playoffs? Is that good enough?

1321wolf wrote:

DubPack wrote:

1321wolf wrote:

asupackman wrote: Said on the Panthers Broadcast that D Williams set a Panthers single game record with 210 rushing yards today.

I think one thing we've learned is platooning 2 starting running backs, while costing you tons of money also doesn't give either the chance to get in a flow of the game like carrying the ball 21 times does. Deangelo has done much better the last few weeks with Stewart out, and Stewart did better when Deangelo was riding the bench.

I'm not sure who to keep, but keeping both is just not an option, for many reasons. In typical Marty Hurney style, we ended up with 2 starting RB's because the gave up on Deangelo (right before he had his best season ever) and drafted Stewart with the #8 pick. It worked for a short period of time (2008) but instead of understanding that they should have dealt one for value and kept the other, Hurney signed them both to giant contracts, setting up a situation where - by design - you would have one of your highest paid players on the bench at all times.

Now who do you keep? I don't know. They have both been injury prone, Deangelo is getting near 30 which is usually not good for a RB, but he has not ever played a full season of getting 20-30 carrries a game, so who knows. I don't recall Stewart ever playing a 16 game season yet.

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

Not true at all.  2008 Williams had over 1500 yds and Stewart had over 800 yds.  28 TDs between the two.  Panthers earned #2 seed overall in the NFC (lost first playoff game to Cardinals after Delhomme's 5 INTS).  The two RB system worked VERY well that season and most teams didn't have an answer for it.  I think problem has been a passing-threat QB to take the load off, in addition to hit and miss injuries.  Now that being said, with Newton as a viable run option the system may not be what the Panthers need right now.

What part of "It worked for a short period of time (2008)" did you not understand?

Reading comprehension, it's not just for breakfast any more.

The point I was trying to make was the reason it only worked for a short period of time wasn't because one RB was getting X amount of carries.  Why should they have dealt one for value and kept the other when having both brought results in the running game?    2008 and 2009 were the two best seasons, yardage-wise and TD wise, for both Williams and Stewart.  Once Delhomme left (and had his surgury-why 2009 team didn't make playoffs) is when the running game suffered. Having a post-surgury Delhomme and having mediocre starting QBs like Clausen and Moore, in addition to injuries, was the cause.  Now with Newton at QB I'm not sure if they should have both RB, but my point was keeping both RB all the years before Newton made sense when you saw the results it brought.

DubPack wrote:

1321wolf wrote:

DubPack wrote:

1321wolf wrote:

asupackman wrote: Said on the Panthers Broadcast that D Williams set a Panthers single game record with 210 rushing yards today.

I think one thing we've learned is platooning 2 starting running backs, while costing you tons of money also doesn't give either the chance to get in a flow of the game like carrying the ball 21 times does. Deangelo has done much better the last few weeks with Stewart out, and Stewart did better when Deangelo was riding the bench.

I'm not sure who to keep, but keeping both is just not an option, for many reasons. In typical Marty Hurney style, we ended up with 2 starting RB's because the gave up on Deangelo (right before he had his best season ever) and drafted Stewart with the #8 pick. It worked for a short period of time (2008) but instead of understanding that they should have dealt one for value and kept the other, Hurney signed them both to giant contracts, setting up a situation where - by design - you would have one of your highest paid players on the bench at all times.

Now who do you keep? I don't know. They have both been injury prone, Deangelo is getting near 30 which is usually not good for a RB, but he has not ever played a full season of getting 20-30 carrries a game, so who knows. I don't recall Stewart ever playing a 16 game season yet.

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

Not true at all.  2008 Williams had over 1500 yds and Stewart had over 800 yds.  28 TDs between the two.  Panthers earned #2 seed overall in the NFC (lost first playoff game to Cardinals after Delhomme's 5 INTS).  The two RB system worked VERY well that season and most teams didn't have an answer for it.  I think problem has been a passing-threat QB to take the load off, in addition to hit and miss injuries.  Now that being said, with Newton as a viable run option the system may not be what the Panthers need right now.

What part of "It worked for a short period of time (2008)" did you not understand?

Reading comprehension, it's not just for breakfast any more.

The point I was trying to make was the reason it only worked for a short period of time wasn't because one RB was getting X amount of carries.  Why should they have dealt one for value and kept the other when having both brought results in the running game?    2008 and 2009 were the two best seasons, yardage-wise and TD wise, for both Williams and Stewart.  Once Delhomme left (and had his surgury-why 2009 team didn't make playoffs) is when the running game suffered. Having a post-surgury Delhomme and having mediocre starting QBs like Clausen and Moore, in addition to injuries, was the cause.  Now with Newton at QB I'm not sure if they should have both RB, but my point was keeping both RB all the years before Newton made sense when you saw the results it brought.

It hasn't worked in more seasons than it did work. It's not like the idea that good running backs get better as they get more carries in a game is some wild, unproven theory. It has worked in football since at least the 1920's.

This team has too many holes to tie up $90 million in one position.

1321wolf wrote: I'm really torn on Rivera.

On the one hand, he has a team full of nobody's and 3rd string DB's and OL's playing well enough to win some games. Outside of a few key positions Marty Hurney left a void of talent at some positions, an overload at others and a giant cap mess for next year. The team hasn't quit on him which is the easiest indicator that a coach should be fired. As a first time head coach he deserves a little time to work through the growing pains and learn from his (many) mistakes. At the beginning of the season his QB was playing like dog doo, and was acting like a 15 year old. Whether it was through Rivera's guidance or not, this situation has improved considerably.

On the flip side, Rivera has made a lot of mistakes and I'm not convinced he has learned from them, although I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt. We still could have lost the last few games at the end by making the same mistakes - getting real conservative at the end and letting the other team move up and down the field and score at will. This seriously concerns me, turned a 17 point lead into a 4 point hold on for dear life win yesterday. That's just too close.

When you step back you have to ask yourself, what is the goal? Every franchise in the NFL should ultimately want to win a Superbowl - the NFL is designed for that kind of parity, so the excuses are few. Is Ron Rivera a Super Bowl winning level coach? I'm really having trouble seeing that right now. As State fans have experienced all too often, focusing in a minute improvements can make you take your eye off the ultimate goal. Just because you went from dreadful to bad to marginal, does that mean you will keep progressing on to great? Or does it mean you have put so much energy into being mediocre that there is nothing left?  

I think he deserves one more year, but I'm not a big fan of ultimatum years, which is what next year will be for Rivera. What if he goes 9-7 or 10-6 and just misses the playoffs? Is that good enough?

Well I think the team showed their desire to keep him -- would have been easy to fold after the home Tampa atrocity, where they blew that lead, but they rallied after that, and won all but the KC game. 
I like him, and think he should come back, but there are things that have to get better -- like clock management.  Even yesterday, at end of first half, as they are driving into FG territory, they are in a hurry up mode with 1min+ left.  Why?  Let the clock run to zero, settle for a FG if you have to, but milk that clock to avoid giving the ball back.  So what happens, they kick a FG, but give Brees almost a full minute, and he promptly marches down the field and gets his own FG.  That was just bad bad clock management, and the fact it happens in week 17 after being a known issue is bothersome. 
So, hire a NFL veteran quality control guy, and keep Rivera, then next year e has to make the playoffs.

1321wolf wrote:

DubPack wrote:

1321wolf wrote:

DubPack wrote:

1321wolf wrote:

asupackman wrote: Said on the Panthers Broadcast that D Williams set a Panthers single game record with 210 rushing yards today.

I think one thing we've learned is platooning 2 starting running backs, while costing you tons of money also doesn't give either the chance to get in a flow of the game like carrying the ball 21 times does. Deangelo has done much better the last few weeks with Stewart out, and Stewart did better when Deangelo was riding the bench.

I'm not sure who to keep, but keeping both is just not an option, for many reasons. In typical Marty Hurney style, we ended up with 2 starting RB's because the gave up on Deangelo (right before he had his best season ever) and drafted Stewart with the #8 pick. It worked for a short period of time (2008) but instead of understanding that they should have dealt one for value and kept the other, Hurney signed them both to giant contracts, setting up a situation where - by design - you would have one of your highest paid players on the bench at all times.

Now who do you keep? I don't know. They have both been injury prone, Deangelo is getting near 30 which is usually not good for a RB, but he has not ever played a full season of getting 20-30 carrries a game, so who knows. I don't recall Stewart ever playing a 16 game season yet.

One thing for sure, they finally figured out how to use Mike Tolbert. About time.

Not true at all.  2008 Williams had over 1500 yds and Stewart had over 800 yds.  28 TDs between the two.  Panthers earned #2 seed overall in the NFC (lost first playoff game to Cardinals after Delhomme's 5 INTS).  The two RB system worked VERY well that season and most teams didn't have an answer for it.  I think problem has been a passing-threat QB to take the load off, in addition to hit and miss injuries.  Now that being said, with Newton as a viable run option the system may not be what the Panthers need right now.

What part of "It worked for a short period of time (2008)" did you not understand?

Reading comprehension, it's not just for breakfast any more.

The point I was trying to make was the reason it only worked for a short period of time wasn't because one RB was getting X amount of carries.  Why should they have dealt one for value and kept the other when having both brought results in the running game?    2008 and 2009 were the two best seasons, yardage-wise and TD wise, for both Williams and Stewart.  Once Delhomme left (and had his surgury-why 2009 team didn't make playoffs) is when the running game suffered. Having a post-surgury Delhomme and having mediocre starting QBs like Clausen and Moore, in addition to injuries, was the cause.  Now with Newton at QB I'm not sure if they should have both RB, but my point was keeping both RB all the years before Newton made sense when you saw the results it brought.

It hasn't worked in more seasons than it did work. It's not like the idea that good running backs get better as they get more carries in a game is some wild, unproven theory. It has worked in football since at least the 1920's.

This team has too many holes to tie up $90 million in one position.

Get rid of the guy who can get us back a draft pick, if neither one can net a pick, cut the one who frees up the most money. We have a two back system now, with Cam being the other runner. Tolbert can pick up the slack if there is an injury and maybe get a second or third day RB in the draft. Need Oline help and DB help.

I think it's better than even money that Rivera will be back.

The 'new GM' part throws a question into it, but I imagine based on the finish, that he'll be allowed to return with the expectation from ownership of 'playoffs or else' in 2013.

Part of a coach's battle is getting players to buy in to his game planning and methods of motivation. Obvious, the players sold out for Rivera, even after the 1-6 start where EVERYBODY thought he was going to be fired. The players play for the guy. They won 6 of their last 9. It probably would be a step backward to change staffs now. Let this play out in 2013 to see if he can get this team to the playoffs. Newton could become an MVP candidate in 2013 and the team could win 10 or 11 games. If that doesn't happen, it's time to try something else.

Just think, if they had won the games at Atlanta, at Chicago, and home vs Tampa Bay, they would have been 10-6. ALL of those games were WON.

ThomYorkepack wrote: 

Just think, if they had won the games at Atlanta, at Chicago, and home vs Tampa Bay, they would have been 10-6. ALL of those games were WON.

Thanks for the reminder. If I recall, the Seattle and Dallas games were close too.  

I think Rivera made adjustments a little too late. Part of the problem was the team didn't play with a killer mentality the first half of the year. Down the stretch of the game they'd just lose their focus and choke. 

Fill in a couple of holes and we're a playoff team next year, I'd think. If not, Rivera is gone for sure.

ThomYorkepack wrote: I think it's better than even money that Rivera will be back.

The 'new GM' part throws a question into it, but I imagine based on the finish, that he'll be allowed to return with the expectation from ownership of 'playoffs or else' in 2013.

Part of a coach's battle is getting players to buy in to his game planning and methods of motivation. Obvious, the players sold out for Rivera, even after the 1-6 start where EVERYBODY thought he was going to be fired. The players play for the guy. They won 6 of their last 9. It probably would be a step backward to change staffs now. Let this play out in 2013 to see if he can get this team to the playoffs. Newton could become an MVP candidate in 2013 and the team could win 10 or 11 games. If that doesn't happen, it's time to try something else.

Just think, if they had won the games at Atlanta, at Chicago, and home vs Tampa Bay, they would have been 10-6. ALL of those games were WON.

I think its too much and too late to get a GM in place and then have him fire and go find another head coach. The offseason starts now and this offseason too many things have to happen to replace the whole staff on top of it.

But if you want to play the woulda, coulda, shoulda game, we also could have lost almost every game this year with a few bad bounces. As late as yesterday the Panthers made an effort to blow a game using the same M.O.

I think he deserves one more year, but I want to see the effort of the last couple weeks pick up in week one next year.

fwiw, it's official, Reid is fired.

If I'm the Big Cat, I keep the entire coaching staff in place.  You fired Hurney for a reason, now find out if the reason was correct.

i think that the team has played well enough down the stretch that Rivera probably has earned another season if the organization was not in state of change

i probably would not give him any more time even though it may not be fair;  i lean towards letting the new GM have the authority to pick his own guy as ultimately he will be judged by 
the results period and thus should have input in the coach

espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/881...vera-third-year

The Carolina Panthers announced Saturday coach Ron Rivera will be back next season.

Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton says Rivera met with owner Jerry Richardson Saturday morning and was told he will be back for a third season.

I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

He just needs to work on being a bit more aggressive and having better clock management.

Was he buying a bottle of wine to celebrate?

---------------------------------------------
--- xCainx wrote:

I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

---------------------------------------------

wolfer79 wrote: espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/881...vera-third-year

The Carolina Panthers announced Saturday coach Ron Rivera will be back next season.

Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton says Rivera met with owner Jerry Richardson Saturday morning and was told he will be back for a third season.

Yeah, I talked to Jerry and told him what I thought and he agreed.


Or not.

---------------------------------------------
--- wolfer79 wrote:

Was he buying a bottle of wine to celebrate?

---------------------------------------------
--- xCainx wrote:

I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

---------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------

No, looked like his wife was with him and she had a list, and he was just following and pushing the cart. Just like the rest if us.

xCainx wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- wolfer79 wrote:

Was he buying a bottle of wine to celebrate?

---------------------------------------------
--- xCainx wrote:

I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

---------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------

No, looked like his wife was with him and she had a list, and he was just following and pushing the cart. Just like the rest if us.

if Momma ain't happy, ain't no body going to be happy?

xCainx wrote: I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

sounds like you think that hurney was pretty good at hiring coachs though

---------------------------------------------
--- williewolf wrote:

xCainx wrote: I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

sounds like you think that hurney was pretty good at hiring coachs though

---------------------------------------------

I don't believe Hurney had sole discretion.....he isn't team president, and Richardson has some say.

Hurney had terrible draft picks.....trading 1st rounder for Otah, ....Armanti Edwards so high....jimmy clauses so high.

williewolf wrote:

xCainx wrote: I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

sounds like you think that hurney was pretty good at hiring coachs though

Players play, coaches coach.  It's a playas league.  buh by marty.

agree that hurney was a bit erratic and hard to figure out;........he seemed to know the 
phlosophy/culture that richardson wants for panthers and he had decent luck with his picks in rd 1 like beason, newton, kuechly, stewart, etc. and as we discussed his coaching hires were OK

where he missed was putting too many salary dollars in certain positions;  missing in mid-lower rounds of draft; and overpaying to retain his own picks when their contracts were up; and reaching on certain players and drafting too early (everette brown and armanti come to mind)

i do not recall if otah and clausen were considered major reaches at the time or not

xCainx wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- williewolf wrote:

xCainx wrote: I just saw Rivera in Whole Foods in Charlotte a little while ago. He did look relieved. :)

I think it's a wise move---I think he's a good coach. I thought John Fox was a good coach too. I think Marty Hurney was a terrible GM.

sounds like you think that hurney was pretty good at hiring coachs though

---------------------------------------------

I don't believe Hurney had sole discretion.....he isn't team president, and Richardson has some say.

Hurney had terrible draft picks.....trading 1st rounder for Otah, ....Armanti Edwards so high....jimmy clauses so high.

I sure hope they don't regret not letting him go!

TimPack10 wrote: I sure hope they don't regret not letting him go!

I actually agree with another year.

Being a Dolphins fan, I know my opinion really doesn't matter much but I think they made the right choice.  I do like to see the Panthers win.

I'm OK with another year for Rivera, I think this team is getting better, particularly on defense. With a real GM and Jerry Richardson finally letting the football people run the football team (yet to be seen), this team could be going in the right direction. Could be.

The question that hasn't been answered yet: Just because we improved in the last half of the season, does that mean that Ron Rivera is a coach that can win a Superbowl?

I just can't give a yes to that question from what I've seen so far. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Story

Panthers Have Interviewed 2 for GM Spot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A person familiar with the situation says the Carolina Panthers interviewed New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross and Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp on Tuesday for their vacant GM position.

Good grief... at least get someone from the NFL.