SB Nation User Blog: the bomb dot com

Richardson #3 in Yahoo Owner Rankings

the bomb dot com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:54:12 -0000

Panthers owner, Jerry Richardson, was ranked #3 in this article by Yahoo!Sports' Michael Silver.

The article is actually more interesting than just that ranking, however. It gives some insight into the recent resignation of Richardson's sons and subsequent hiring of TCU AD, Danny Morrison.

3. Carolina Panthers – Jerry Richardson: Until a couple of days ago, this was going to be a feel-good tribute to a small-market owner who survived a serious health scare and resumed his place among the NFL’s elite owners. Then came Tuesday’s shocking announcement that Richardson’s two sons, Mark and Jon, had resigned from their high-level posts, and now comes the story behind it: According to a source familiar with the situation, team president Mark Richardson, a member of the NFL’s competition committee, and older brother Jon, who headed up Bank America Stadium, had clashed in recent years – partly over business-related issues, and partly over Jon’s resentment that his younger sibling had a higher-profile position. As their father’s health declined last year, ultimately resulting in Jerry Richardson’s heart-transplant operation last Super Sunday, Mark and Jon escalated their battle for control. When Jerry recovered and reclaimed his role as the franchise’s prime mover and shaker, he saw that some of the team’s minority owners were uncomfortable with the situation and warned his sons to start getting along, or else. Richardson backed up his threat Tuesday; rather than choosing one son over the other, he got rid of both of them, announcing Mark’s replacement as team president (Danny Morrison) the following day. Gulp. This will make for a reasonably awkward Thanksgiving dinner, don’t you think? Beyond that, it will cause the league’s other owners to feel far less secure about the Panthers’ succession plan. Whereas Mark was a highly regarded heir apparent, no one in league circles knows anything about Morrison, who had been serving as TCU’s athletic director, or what might happen after Jerry is no longer running the team (both sons retain ownership interest). My first reaction after all of this drama was to drop Richardson in the rankings, but the more I thought about the situation, the more I could see his perspective. Richardson, while the controlling partner, is part of an ownership group. Though I’m sure he didn’t relish the thought of firing his sons, doing so sent a message to his partners that he’s putting the business ahead of his personal interests. It’s all very Tony Soprano, and a part of me absolutely digs it. If Morrison turns out to be an unsuitable replacement, Jerry will get dinged in next year’s rankings, but for now I’m leaving him in the No. 3 slot. As the chair of the NFL’s Management Council Executive Committee, he’ll play a pivotal role in the crucial labor showdown that will play out over the next 18 months (or, quite possibly, into a lockout-interrupted 2011 season). I don’t know how the NFLPA will react to his presence across the table, but after what just went down in Charlotte, I have to admit I’m kind of scared of the guy.

National Football Post's Robert Boland seems less enthused about the move.

On April 16, in ranking NFL owners and franchises, I gave the Panthers the somewhat low ranking of No. 18. Chief among my reasons were questions about Jerry Richardson’s health and the plan for his sons to succeed him, given that so much of the Richardson family wealth is tied up in the Panthers and the potential inheritance tax issues his sons might face. The departure of both from an active role in running the franchise and stadium raises even more questions about the team’s future. That both sons retain ownership interests in the team and will remain as members of the Panthers ownership group further clouds the situation.

I'd like to open it up to the peanut gallery: what do those of you closer to ground zero seem to think about this? This is potentially bigger than Peppers, Delhomme, injuries, terrible preseason play, etc., but hasn't garnered as much attention.

Sorry about the terrible formatting- I couldn't get anything to look how I wanted it.

Panthers Rushing Attack Ranked #1 by Foxsports

the bomb dot com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:25:46 -0000

From FoxSports:

Does anyone outside of Charlotte even know what DeAngelo Williams looks like? Maybe not, but someone put this dude on a poster — check his obscene numbers from '08: 1,515 rushing yards (third in NFL), 5.5 yards per carry (first among No. 1 RBs, only the Giants' Derrick Ward was better) and 20 total touchdowns (most in NFL). And John Stewart's not just a cable talk-show host. Carolina's No. 1A RB scored 10 rushing TDs and nearly reached 1,000 yards on his own. The Panthers also really like rookie Mike Goodson after his strong OTAs, plus Brad Hoover gives the run-heavy team solid depth as a blocker, runner and receiver when his number is called.

I usually don't like hype surrounding our team, but the guys have really earned it. No love to our OL, but they are a great asset and will be a humongous reason for our success.

Thoughts?

The rest of the Top 10 is as follows:

2. Vikings

3. Titans

4. Falcons

5. Giants

6. Chargers

7. Ravens

8. Cowboys

9. Dolphins

10. Jets

(and the Browns were #32)

All Time Panthers Team

the bomb dot com — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:46:56 -0000

I saw another site that had no Panthers headed to the hall of fame (minus guys who finished their careers in Charlotte).

So I wanted to see what other people thought about making the best Panther starting squad in their short history.

A few positions are easy, but some are tough.

Which two of these DEs would you put on the team: Peppers, Rucker, Greene?

Who would you start at RB? Foster (most yards) or Stephen Davis (TD machine)?

I know it's such a small sample size, but I'm curious what everyone thinks. I'm thinking about guys at their peak, but if you think it should be their whole career, go for it.

We'll have the offense in an I-form, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 FB, 1 RB; the defense in a 4-3.

OFFENSE:

QB:

RB:

FB:

TE:

WR1:

WR2:

LT:

LG:

RG:

RT:

DEFENSE:

DE1:

DE2:

DT1:

DT2:

OLB1:

MLB:

OLB2:

CB1:

SS:

FS:

CB2:

Interview with former Panthers GM Bill Polian

the bomb dot com — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:57:43 -0000

Football Outsiders (a pretty awesome site in its own regard) has a great interview with former Bills' GM (1986-1993), Panthers' GM (1994-1996) and current Colts President (1997-), Bill Polian.

The interview itself is pretty short, but this guy's resume speaks for itself, and his answers are actually really insightful, rather than just fluff. Rather than put my two cents in, I'll just let his words speak for themselves. Here are the excerpts that have to do with his time in Carolina.

FO: Why did Carolina choose to build a veteran team that could contend immediately, but only for a short period, rather than building slowly with younger talent like Jacksonville, Houston, and Cleveland?

Bill Polian: We had to sell Personal Seat Licenses in the new Carolina stadium and therefore had to win right away.

FO: What player improved the most, on any of your teams, compared to how good he was when you first acquired him?

Bill Polian: On our team here in Indianapolis, I would say cornerback Kelvin Hayden. On our team in Carolina, I would say running back Anthony Johnson and wide receiver Mushin Muhammad. On our team in Buffalo, I would say future Hall of Famer Andre Reed.

FO: If Kerry Collins had been surrounded by Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, and Reggie Wayne, would he have been a perennial Pro Bowler and borderline Hall of Famer?

Bill Polian: I can’t speak to Pro Bowls or Hall of Fame but I have no doubt that with our offensive line and the skill group you mentioned including Dallas Clark at tight end, Kerry Collins would be a big winner. We would be a much different style offense and football team, but we would win.

FO: Other than Super Bowl XLI and the other games during the 2006 playoffs, what is the most satisfying wins any of your teams has had?

Bill Polian: In Carolina it would be our win in San Francisco against the 49ers in December 1996 which clinched a Division Championship for us and vaulted us into contender status in the NFL in our second year of existence.

Your "AFC Team"

the bomb dot com — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:03:53 -0000

I wouldn't ever ask a real Pantha fan to pull for someone else in the NFC in the middle of the season- but who do you pull for in the other conference (obviously not when they're going up against our boys), if anyone?

...ok, the post has to be 30 more words long...

I'd say the least likely choice -call me crazy- is going to be the Patriots.

I'm also pretty sure that my "true" fanhood will be called into question, but I'm bored at work and need something to pass the time.

And in my GIS, I found this gem I had never seen before...(can you spot the remaining Panthers- and Sir Purr's bitchass doesn't count!)

via www.panthers.com