Press Conference was negative

He was not worried about scaring Luck back into school. There are not many 21 year old kids who would watch and want to be here. I think he may have scared Luck back to the friendly confines of Palo Alto. On the other hand, his father knows the business and might view JR's honesty as a breath of fresh air.

Hurney looked as if he had just returned from the woodshed with his Dad and was forced to apologize to the neighbor for stealing apples from their trees. After Jerry said that the playoffs were full of teams who hired assistant coaches, Marty told reporters that he is keeping an open mind, but we will probably hire an assistant coach because we have a history of success doing that. Fox and Capers?

Jerry's handling of the Harbaugh question could be construed as disrespectful. "I would be cordial," suggests that he is indifferent and not interested in his services. He later said (and I liked this), "We are going to hire a coach who meets our needs (wins, fills the seats), not to meet his needs (overpay-give him control)."

Jerry also said that he was not interested in trading the top pick under the present situation, or something like that. The present situation does not include Luck, not unless he was assuming that Luck declares. I think he was sending a message to other teams that he was not going to trade the pick, but the message could have been toward Marty. While he deferred questions about the coaching search to Marty, he answered a question about the draft himself. I thought that was interesting.

Jerry came off like a powerful tyrant. He singled out Morgan Fogerty, which was OK, but he continued throughout the telecast. It was a bad week to be associated with the name FOX, I suppose. However, that made him look petty.

Jerry used several techniques that shrewed public figures do to turn the tables on the press. Reading lines to emailers that were negative in person seems shockingly petty. Asking reporters their names seems family-like, but he is making the speaker identify himself before asking the question, robbing him/her of anonymity. Then he returned questions and waited for answers. It doesn't matter what the reporter would do with the checkbook. He cut Darin off and gave another reporter the floor--this established JR as the authority figure. He later referred to the fact that they had not been in touch with Harbaugh, something DGantt had reported.

He said nothing, other than to scold the press. I think the image of the franchise was damaged today. JR came off like an intelligent, tired, angry, cynic. He grumbled negatives about the CBA, he dissed the coach most of us want. He used his power to embarrass the press, which may be deserved. He was vindictive, sarcastic, and his technology story missed its mark, making him look a bit unbalanced or antiquated at the least.

However, Jerry is very smart, so don't be fooled. I think he wants to win and he wants a Super Bowl. WHen he said he and Fox parted ways, in part, because Fox relied on veterans too much, it is his best point. The more you find young players to produce on the field, the more the Panthers will be able to pay second contract players--the core--and not rely on so many second contract players. Since the CBA is going to have a rookie scale, finding first contract performers is crucial.

In other words, the coaches were not developing talent, and it was costing a lot to fill role positions with free agents.

 

Disagree.

He was honest about it being a business.

He was honest about CBA.

He was honest about wanting to win more than other owners, and I believed him.

He didn't 'dis' Harbaugh, but he did not express interest in him as a candidate. That's his choice.

He is the authority figure, it's his building and team. The press needed to back down. I loved his style.

 

me too.

 

This.

Plus, by making it clear that there's just about zero chance of the Panthers hiring Harbaugh, and also that there is just about zero chance of the Panthers trading away their #1 pick, he certainly gave Luck some more big incentives to stay at Stanford by making it clear that there's just about zero chance for Luck to play for Harbaugh if he comes out.

Plus, the fact that all our HC candidates so far are DC's, which - if he's watched any Panthers games - sure must give Luck the image of an offense that he'd really have a hard time getting excited about playing in.

I could live without Harbaugh as HC, but not being able to draft Luck would be a monumental disappointment.

 

About Harbaugh, "could be construed" as disrespectful. Remember, this was presented from Luck's point of view. He idolizes Harbaugh. After saying Hurney and Danny would be heading the coaching search, he could have said that Harbaugh had a great game and did a great job at Stanford. However, what he said could be interpreted as, I will not go looking for him, but I would be nice if I ever met him." Then they talked about how people have been successful hiring NFL assistant coaches. In other words, Harbaugh is not on our radar. But if you like honesty, say that.

I thought his cell phone and email stories made him look dated and petty. Calling people who sent you emails and asking them about negative comments? Really? If I am Luck, I question the ownership after hearing that.

The comments he made to Morgan F. were excessive and seemed vindictive. I don't know what she did and she probably deserved it because FOX news will border on lying, but the perception of JR was not good. The pereception was not positive for JR.

I, like you, liked the candor and appreciate the facts. I question the perception some of his approaches might project.

 

Harbaugh then closed out his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2001, where he dressed for 6 games but did not compile any statistics.

Maybe they know all they need to know about Harbaugh. Richardson seems to have a certain personality type person in mind and apparently, he ain't it.

 

yeah, if there's anything I know it's that the press is too assertive. Or something.

 

If I were a hot HC candidate I would be a little scared to come here. JR has twice set his coach up to fail and then fired him when he did fail.

Of the 6 non winning seasons under Fox you have to remember:

2002 he took us from 1-15 to 7-9
2004 Steve Smith went out in the first game, Jenkins, Foster, Davis soon followed. That team started off 1-7 but rallied to almost make the playoffs.
2007 is the year Jake went down with the elbow and we had to start Vinny part of the year.
2010 was a roster purge year and with no viable QB I doubt Vince Lombardi could have had a winning season.

Swap out Tom Brady and put in Jimmy Clausen or 98 year old Vinny and see if they do much better.

 

Tom Brady would never play for Fox.

As for the press conference, again I liked JR's candid honesty, but I think he was too blunt at times, thought he (didn't diss Harbaugh) but definitely gave the impression he's not interested, and (maybe Morgan F) deserved what she got but JR truly hung her out in public today.

At this point, if they know something about Harbaugh from 2001 that they definitely don't want him, that is fine,,,,,,,,, but right now despite the fact that we just finished 2-14 I get the sense that Panther fans overall feel a bit of excitement for several reasons (new coach, #1 pick, we actually had numerous key injuries last year so we get them back),,,,,,,,,,,,,,, however, if JR and Hurney bring in another boring-ass assistant with no HC experience just because they get someone cheap, then I'm afraid they will turn into the Hornets and fans will stay away.

IMO (of course I aint JR so what is my opinion worth), but I'm thinking signing Harbaugh and getting Luck in the draft just might be the breathe of fresh air this team and FANBASE needs right now. But again what do I know.

 

The whole 2010 year for the Panthers was negative, this was quite positive!