Jamal Robertson tendered

I tend a agree with almost all of that. Once we have fixed the O-line :dead-hors we'll probably be good enough at RB, even without Davis. I also think the honeymoon is over with Smart . .. and from what I saw of all three last year I would prefer Robertson to both he and Harris as a RB in our rotation.

 

The Panthers have taken an interesting approach to the rest of their restricted free agents (RFAs).

Rather than waiting to give the other seven of them the low RFA tender of $656,000 (which would give the Panthers compensation based on their original draft round if they were signed away), the Panthers have offered most of the rest of them long-term deals.

For instance, cornerback William Hampton signed up for two more years, garnering a $75,000 signing bonus in the process. Since the minimum salary for players of his tenure is $455,000, his cap number for the coming year is $492,500. While the difference of $163,500 over what he'd have counted if given the low tender seems small, it ends up being significant. If they can talk four of them into such deals, it would effectively be a buy-three, get-one-free approach.

Hampton, wide receiver Micah Ross and offensive linemen Dave Kadela and Bill Ferrario have already taken them up on the long-term, cost-effective contracts. A similar deals has been offered to running back Jamal Robertson. If he doesn't accept, it's unlikely the team would invest the amount of the $656,000 tender on him.

Defensive end Kemp Rasmussen and cornerback Dante Wesley, who serve roles as backups and key special teams players, will likely play for the $656,000 tender this year.

Any RFA not tendered a contract by Tuesday, the final day of the league year, becomes an unrestricted free agent.

 

To me, yes. And I will tell you why.

Nick Goings is ready to start in the league. Laugh all you want, and call me either Captain Obvious or naive, but this is how I feel.


11/14 @SFO--8 car 42 yd / 3 rec 50 yd (92 total yd)

11/21 ARZ--22 car 121 yd 3 td / 3 rec 21 yd (142 total yd)

11/28 TB--23 car 106 yd / 3 rec 17 yd (123 total yd)

12/05 @NO--36 car 122 yd 1 td (122 total yd)

12/12 STL--31 car 108 yd 1 td (108 total yd)

12/18 @ATL--24 car 61 yd 1 td / 3 rec 29 yd (90 total yd)

12/26 @TB--33 car 127 yd / 4 rec 39 yd (166 total yd)

01/02 NO--13 car 46 yd / 6 rec 63 yds 10.5 (109 total yd)


Someone please find me, oh let's say five more productive backs from the second half of 2004 than Nick Goings. He is the complete player, everything you could ask for from a guy. He runs hard, hits the hole fast. He is a very good receiver out of the backfield. He is a good blocker. He is smart. And he is a good character guy. What's more, Goings touched the ball 262 times in 2004. He fumbled once. I like that.

Goings, in the second half of last year, Goings averaged 91 yds/game rushing, but more importantly, he averaged 119 total yds/game in those 8 games. Now, let's project those numbers out to a full season. I will say 14 starts, since I know our backs take a lickin.

1247 yards rushing
10 rushing TD

384 yards receiving

That is a 1600 total yardage season, and that is assuming he would miss a couple of games.

So, if you are asking me if I feel good about going into week one of 2005 with:

HB1--Foster
HB2--Goings
HB3--Smart

My answer would be yep, I feel pretty damn good.