More Drama with the Carolina Panthers
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00:00 This is Desmond Johnson on the Believe in Carolina Panthers Podcast, here on the Believe
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00:52 I got all kinds of nonsense going on today.
00:53 Welcome to the Believe in Carolina Panthers Podcast.
00:55 I'm your host, Desmond Johnson, joined by Sports Illustrated beat writer Skylar Callahan
00:59 and the Panthers all-time lead in rusher, Jonathan Stewart.
01:02 It is open mailbag.
01:03 I'm sure you guys have plenty that you want to talk about.
01:06 After this came from last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Carolina Panthers 26 to
01:11 zero.
01:12 It wasn't even that close, to be honest.
01:14 Probably the worst offensive outing, maybe defense, might be the worst outing period
01:18 for the Panthers this entire year.
01:20 We'll kind of get into what we can with the box score with that.
01:22 We all know why you're here.
01:24 The whole Teppergate, David Tepper throwing a drink on a player, I mean, on a Jaguars
01:29 fan caught from his booth on social media on a video late Sunday afternoon.
01:35 We'll get into that.
01:36 Ramifications from it, if any.
01:37 So as of this time at 1022 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, January 2nd, no word from the NFL and
01:46 no word from the Panthers regarding this also.
01:50 So we'll kind of figure, we'll try to find out why.
01:52 Why has there been nothing mentioned about this?
01:55 And we were supposed to do the trial of Scott Fitter today.
01:57 So we'll kind of get into that as well in terms of what he has done in terms of being
02:04 responsible for this.
02:05 If he is at all, he may not be that all responsible for it.
02:08 And maybe some of the things we just saw on Sunday kind of prove that.
02:10 So we're getting all that and more.
02:12 Again, it's open mailbag.
02:14 Of course, tell them why you're mad.
02:15 The Panthers are 2 and 14 right now.
02:18 So with one game to go against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, it's flexed.
02:23 So we don't have a time at the moment.
02:24 It could be a one o'clock start or a four o'clock start.
02:26 Or maybe the NFL just says, you know what, you guys only need to play that one.
02:29 Just don't even, you're good.
02:30 Just stay at the house.
02:31 You're good.
02:32 We'll find all that and more.
02:34 Before we get into anything else, let's get into our sponsors over at Bet Online.
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02:59 Bet Online where the game starts.
03:01 And typically we usually start with the box score.
03:04 But again, the Panthers didn't really have a whole lot to hang their hat on here in this
03:11 game.
03:12 So I'm going to go ahead and get a little nosy, throw it real quick, and we'll get your
03:13 you guys thoughts on what you saw.
03:16 Travis and TN scored twice.
03:17 The Jaguars ended a four game skid with a 26 to nothing shutout of the woeful Panthers.
03:23 Stu, let's start with you.
03:26 What was that on a on Sunday?
03:28 Is this just, is this a team that's just gotten to the end of the year or was it just a buzzsaw?
03:33 They ran into it.
03:34 What's his name?
03:35 Trevor Lawrence didn't even play.
03:36 So like what, what happened on Sunday?
03:39 Man, you know, when you're two and what, 14, two and 14, you know, you can only hope for
03:50 the best.
03:52 And I think going into that game coming off last week, feeling kind of hopeful, being
03:57 able to score points.
04:01 You go into Jacksonville, but you're playing against a team that actually has something
04:06 to play for.
04:07 You know what I'm saying?
04:09 So I think that's obviously the difference.
04:14 You know, you have a team that is in playoff contention and they're not about to lose to
04:22 the other cat basically.
04:24 Right.
04:25 No, no pun intended.
04:28 Panthers versus Jaguars.
04:31 So I think, you know, there's a lot of negative, a lot of negative.
04:39 There's been nothing but negatives this year for the Panthers with hints of positives,
04:47 but I'm just glad that our boy Bryce Young got a, got out of there unscathed.
04:54 You know, it's, you know, it's a positive to see how tough he is.
05:03 And you know, there's really nothing else to say.
05:06 I really wish I can, I can, I can beat this like a, you know, a dead horse.
05:11 I wish we would have ran the ball more, you know, Chuba Hubbard ran 4.5 yards per carry.
05:17 11 carries, 45 yards.
05:20 Yep.
05:21 So why aren't we, you know, just let him tote the bag, but you know.
05:28 It was nine to zero at half.
05:30 Yeah.
05:31 It wasn't like it wasn't out of reach and whatnot.
05:34 You know, just stay the course of what you know.
05:38 You're you're on the road running the balls.
05:42 Your best friend when you're on, when you're on the road, especially this late to the season
05:47 against a team that is in playoff contention.
05:50 So they're going to do everything they can to win.
05:53 I can guarantee you that.
05:54 If you're going to put a product on the field, put one that you know is worth watching and
06:02 gives the players an opportunity to be in position to execute to the best of their ability.
06:10 Skylar, what did you see on Sunday?
06:12 Like what, what?
06:16 Like look, I told a story on Facebook.
06:21 I waited till halftime.
06:22 I need to run out to Harris Teeter to grab some stuff.
06:25 And I was like, I'll wait till after the game.
06:26 But the way the game was going, I was like, I'll be OK.
06:28 So I left at halftime, went to Harris Teeter, picked up a couple of things, grabbed a pizza,
06:33 came back.
06:34 Harris Teeter is only five minutes from my house.
06:35 I came back to the house, realized I left my phone in a buggy somewhere or just somewhere
06:40 wherever I left it.
06:42 So I'm freaking out.
06:43 So I made it all the way back to the house.
06:45 Turned around, went back to the two spots that I was trying to get stuff from.
06:49 The pizza place didn't have it.
06:51 Harris Teeter didn't have it.
06:52 I come back to the house a second time.
06:54 As soon as I walked through the door, my wife was on the phone.
06:56 It's like, hey, Harris Teeter just found your phone.
06:58 So I have to go back to Harris Teeter a third time, get my phone.
07:01 I come back into the house.
07:03 The Carolina Panthers have had two first downs in that entire time that I was gone back and
07:08 forth having to deal with all this stuff with my phone.
07:11 They had seven, I think, total for the game, if I'm not mistaken.
07:15 >> Yeah, what were your thoughts on this, man?
07:19 >> Yeah.
07:20 >> They had a stretch of three and outs too.
07:21 I think it was like six, three and outs or so after that first drive where they
07:26 actually moved the ball.
07:27 It was like a 15 play drive.
07:29 And then because of the field goal situation with Eddie Panera,
07:33 they had to go for it on fourth and seven.
07:35 But here's kind of what I took away from it is,
07:38 regardless of the success they had a week ago on Christmas Eve,
07:43 I think the moment you start to revert back to your old habits or
07:48 the second you start doubting yourself and
07:51 you've had weeks of ineptitude on that side of the ball,
07:55 you're just gonna go back right into your old stuff.
07:59 And it's hard to dig out of that.
08:02 And I think with Bryce, it's not really all on him as we've said all year,
08:08 but the offensive line was horrendous in this game, man.
08:12 The left side of that line, Icky Akonu, wow.
08:16 >> We need to talk about Icky.
08:18 >> We gotta have a conversation about Icky.
08:20 And that left guard spot, I mean, it's been rotating all year round.
08:22 And I think something everyone's forgetting is Brady Christensen not
08:27 playing this year outside of the first game.
08:30 Does he make that big of a difference?
08:33 And that's a big question too, because for a guy that didn't play all year,
08:37 you know you have to go into next offseason upgrading the offensive line.
08:42 And we talked about this I think last week, who are you upgrading?
08:46 Because you invested a first round pick in Icky Akonu.
08:49 You invested a three year contract in Bradley Bowes and
08:52 Taylor Merton's not going anywhere.
08:54 And Austin Corbett's on a multi-year deal, but he's been injured.
08:57 So maybe you try to move off of Corbett, where are these pieces coming?
09:00 So I almost feel bad for Brady because he didn't have a chance to show himself this
09:05 year, and now he may just be the automatic guy that they just try to upgrade.
09:10 I left guard, so I don't really know, but I will say this.
09:14 >> You don't think they might switch Christian to left tackle,
09:16 which he played in college and move Icky inside?
09:19 >> They could, and I wrote about it yesterday about moving Icky inside.
09:23 I think if there's a guy there that's a proven commodity that you can go and
09:28 get and you feel good about, and you know 100% he's gonna be an upgrade over Icky,
09:33 you bring him in.
09:35 But if there's no clear cut answer and
09:37 you have to spend a godly amount of money to do it, you just go forward with Icky for
09:43 one more year and that be his make it or break it year as a left tackle.
09:47 I don't think it's a deal.
09:49 >> I think you're selling yourself short if you're not going into this offseason
09:54 with the mindset, the offensive line, the offensive line, the offensive line.
09:59 >> Everything I'm asking for.
10:01 >> And not just finding the players, finding the right system.
10:06 Find the right system for this offensive line that can protect and
10:12 do the things necessary to get Bryce Young fighting chance.
10:17 Because that's what we've seen all throughout this year.
10:20 The inconsistencies have been at the offensive line.
10:23 And to not making excuses when you do have injuries,
10:28 when you do have coaching changes, when you do have system changes.
10:34 I mean, some of these guys have been through three different systems.
10:39 Taylor Moten's been through, I don't know how many systems he's been through.
10:42 You know what I'm saying?
10:42 So when you talk about guys being on the same page, which page?
10:50 Are we on page one?
10:51 Are we on page 12?
10:53 Are we on page 133?
10:55 Like, what are we doing?
10:57 You know what I'm saying?
10:58 So it's hard for guys to find rhythm.
11:01 It's hard for guys to find a gel when you've gone through what this team has
11:07 gone through.
11:09 So if you're going into this offseason and
11:13 your mindset is not where is the best offensive line?
11:17 What is the best scheme?
11:21 Like, how can we put these guys in the best position to be successful?
11:28 Because then you can put anybody back there and
11:32 it's gonna be up to that person that's back there to make the decision.
11:36 Get rid of the ball on time.
11:38 We can start critiquing other things, right?
11:41 Hit the hole, but for right now, there's none of that.
11:47 >> It all starts with the O line.
11:49 >> Yeah, it all starts with the offensive line.
11:51 >> I don't wanna hear anything about getting a receiver until
11:55 the offensive line is fixed.
11:57 I understand there are some serious issues in that receiver room, but
12:02 you can't do anything unless he is protected.
12:06 So that's the first priority.
12:07 Second of all, I do wanna mention though,
12:09 because this is gonna be an episode full of negatives.
12:12 Let's praise Derrick Brown for a second.
12:14 >> Yes.
12:15 >> Yes.
12:16 >> Is playing his R soft.
12:19 >> He should be in a Pro Bowl or not the Pro Bowl.
12:22 >> May Derrick Brown go both ways, man.
12:24 >> [CROSSTALK] >> See what he does left tackle.
12:28 >> [LAUGH] >> I heard tossing people like raggae.
12:30 >> They started tossing people out the club.
12:32 >> So something that made me sad, we've gotta tell them why you're mad.
12:36 I don't have to tell them why you're sad, but
12:38 I saw last night a poll somebody put up on Twitter.
12:41 Which line is better, the Alabama or which one line would you rather have?
12:44 The Alabama offensive line or the Carolina offensive line?
12:47 And I was like, that's not fair, these are pros, come on, man.
12:51 >> These are pro fans.
12:52 >> I clicked Panthers and it was like 33%.
12:54 [LAUGH] Like those California fans, 70% of them, I was like, wow.
12:58 >> I don't care who you is, there's no college offensive line out there that's
13:02 better than professional offensive line.
13:05 >> I always laugh at that conversation, like, we're a set of felt team.
13:09 >> I will say this, we sit here, we're saying fix the offensive line,
13:13 fix the offensive line.
13:15 We don't even know what that looks like.
13:19 It may be getting more players.
13:23 It may just be getting the right scheme.
13:25 It legitimately might be that.
13:28 Like, hey, look at what you have.
13:31 Heal up this offseason.
13:33 And you bring somebody in here that says, hey, we're gonna do things this way.
13:37 This is the Panther way.
13:39 Offensive line, this is the Panther way.
13:42 You protect and you make sure that you protect the quarterback and
13:46 you make way for runners to run.
13:49 Because I'm gonna sit here and say this with Icky.
13:51 He's had a down year, but I'm not gonna go out there and
14:00 say there's like 20 offensive linemen that's better than him.
14:06 You know what I'm saying?
14:08 That's out there just sitting on the couch somewhere.
14:11 >> Yeah, like at home or whatever.
14:12 >> You know what I'm saying?
14:13 So like, yeah, so as far as finding a replacement and
14:18 jumping to that conclusion and all those things, I mean, we've seen what he can do.
14:24 He has the talent.
14:25 Somewhere along the way, the communication, the dialogue,
14:31 the scheme has gotten in the way.
14:34 And there's the identity of what we're trying to accomplish.
14:37 It's been missed.
14:40 And I think that is a lot that needs to be talked about going into this offseason
14:46 rather than making irrational decisions on players.
14:51 And having irrational expectations as well.
14:56 >> He just doesn't look like somebody that's sure of himself.
14:59 You know what I mean?
15:00 >> Right. >> Second guessing everything.
15:02 >> Right. >> Yeah.
15:03 >> The twist game, the stance like- >> He's getting the basic stuff.
15:08 >> Yeah, and he can't do it.
15:10 We've seen him do it.
15:11 It's just a level of trust.
15:13 I think too with the rotating guys at left guard, and
15:17 then maybe the trust in the system.
15:18 Because like we've said many, many times on here, you go back and
15:22 watch the first four or five games of last year.
15:24 When Matt Rule was still here and they went spread offense, he struggled.
15:28 Now granted, it was his first few games and he was going up against the Miles
15:30 Garrets and Kayvon Tibbitt, I swear it wasn't an easy start.
15:34 But then when they transferred over or
15:36 transitioned over to that downhill run heavy attack, you saw it.
15:40 He kind of come together.
15:42 And then you go back to this offense, which is similar to what they did in
15:47 the first four weeks last year, and it's been nothing but struggles.
15:50 I think it's a very big part of scheme.
15:53 >> Yeah, it's a huge part of scheme.
15:55 If you think about it, think about, you hear the rumblings of
15:59 the offensive line coach getting upset and whatnot on the sideline.
16:04 I've seen offensive line coaches go to back for their guys.
16:08 That was a situation where the coach feels like he's a little bit like, hey,
16:14 look, we're trying our best in this scheme.
16:17 We're trying to do all that we can.
16:20 It's not just all on us, even though it's like a double edged sword, right?
16:27 In order for the train to move, you gotta have the tracks laid down, right?
16:34 The offensive line is exactly that.
16:37 And so it's hard to say that you could not to put it all on the opposite
16:42 line when you're getting blown up in the backfield,
16:45 because we're not seeing the tracks laid down.
16:49 And basically, they running on the wrong tracks.
16:55 The same, it's not built for them, you know what I'm saying?
16:57 So- >> That's what I'm saying,
17:00 I'll give a shout out to Bryce, cuz at this point of the season,
17:03 if I was Bryce Young, my immediate reaction whenever I take a snap,
17:07 whether it's shotgun, under center, wildcat, whatever, I'm immediately.
17:11 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm looking to my left,
17:13 as soon as I get it, I'm like, y'all good over there?
17:15 What's going on?
17:16 >> [LAUGH] >> What's happening?
17:17 I need to know, cuz there's been so many times where he doesn't look that way,
17:21 cuz he just has his blind trust in Icky, and Icky lets him down.
17:24 It's always like a one on one, one of those sacks on Sunday.
17:28 >> That was scary.
17:29 >> Adam Solo, yeah, the one where the dude got hit in the back.
17:33 I was like, man, that's it, that's it.
17:36 We went back and forth on should we sit him, should we not sit him?
17:39 Damn it, that's it.
17:40 They just showed us both sides.
17:42 Yeah, and he just kinda crumbled.
17:45 But to his credit, he got right back, well, he went to the tent,
17:48 went right back in the game, didn't miss a snap.
17:50 I'm like, Bryce Young crazy.
17:52 Bryce Young is crazy, he's still going out, wild bullets.
17:57 He is nuts.
17:58 So I appreciate the kid for doing that.
18:00 And yeah, Hunter, I wanted to talk about how tough Bryce was.
18:04 Bryce has took over 58 sacks this year, what a game to go.
18:08 So I'm curious if they tried him out there Sunday at this point,
18:12 after what happened last week.
18:14 >> All I know is Baker Maybank, he about to come out here and
18:20 call for Mayday, boy.
18:22 [LAUGH] >> He's got none of that.
18:24 He's got none of that.
18:25 >> And listen, I just want y'all to know,
18:28 Baker Mayfield asked to be let go last year.
18:32 Hey, let me out of here.
18:33 >> Yeah, let me leave.
18:34 >> And he is in a situation right now where he's about to go to the playoffs.
18:40 >> Totally different player.
18:42 >> Yeah.
18:43 >> Totally different player from what we saw last year.
18:45 >> And credit to him for betting on himself, really, you know what I'm saying?
18:49 But- >> Yeah.
18:51 >> You got a shot to go to the playoffs and win the division.
18:56 Win the division, fellas.
18:59 You can't let that happen as a Panther.
19:05 You cannot let that happen as a Panther.
19:07 If you go into this game Sunday with nothing to play for,
19:13 you gotta find it within yourself to ruin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers day and season.
19:21 So- >> You know how that feels.
19:22 >> I'm gonna put it in your watch.
19:24 >> I'm gonna pull up the real quick, the standings.
19:28 For those who don't know, and that's it, you know what?
19:34 Just looking at this.
19:34 >> I'm gonna tell you why we mad, son.
19:35 I'm gonna tell you why we mad, son.
19:37 >> We're going to the last week of the season.
19:40 Tampa and New Orleans are tied at the top of the division at eight and eight.
19:43 Like Atlanta seven and nine, and we're the reason why they're seven and nine.
19:48 This division is the most winnable division in all of football.
19:53 Well, maybe they have some south.
19:55 >> And everyone said that in the very beginning of the season, right?
19:58 Like it's a very winnable- >> Very winnable division.
20:01 But I mean, I didn't expect it to be like,
20:03 I thought one team would pull away from everybody.
20:05 But it's just the vision of just mediocrity.
20:08 Like everybody's just like right here, but we're like right here.
20:12 [LAUGH] So it's like that's why I'm mad.
20:15 >> You want me to give you the brutal honest truth right now?
20:18 The Panthers, as bad as it seems right now,
20:22 they're still at least three years away.
20:25 I hate to say it, but I mean, when you don't have a first round pick.
20:30 I'm not saying one player- >> I just want y'all to know,
20:33 when Skyler starts talking like this, y'all better listen.
20:36 >> Yeah, cuz his track record is impeccable.
20:39 Like usually- >> Skyler's track record is on pessimism.
20:42 Pessimist vibes.
20:44 It's months ahead of whatever's gonna happen.
20:46 Listen to him, because whatever he's about to say is gonna happen probably next three
20:49 or four months.
20:50 We're gonna be like, where did we hear that from?
20:52 It was on Believe in Panthers, Kyle Callahan said it.
20:53 And we didn't wanna believe him because it was all negative, but we're here.
20:57 This is the dark times, we're here.
20:59 >> It's the truth, they are so far behind the eight ball this thing.
21:04 Because you don't have a number one pick.
21:06 And again, like I said,
21:07 one guy's not gonna change the course of this thing.
21:09 But it would definitely help.
21:12 And when you don't have- >> Especially-
21:15 >> Yeah, especially this year.
21:18 >> Right, and when you have the amount of question marks on the offensive line,
21:24 you don't have Brian Burns locked up yet.
21:26 You don't have Frankie Luivi locked up yet.
21:29 JC Horn still cannot stay healthy.
21:32 There's a, I almost said a bad word there, but
21:35 there's so many question marks with this team.
21:38 The depth, which I talked about all the way back in what,
21:41 last April or May or June, is still an issue.
21:45 It's going to be an issue for the next two years until the new staff comes in and
21:49 gets their depth built up through the draft.
21:52 You don't have an absurd amount of draft picks this year.
21:55 You don't really have a great amount of draft capital the following year.
22:00 It's going to be a process.
22:01 And before you really start competing for division titles,
22:05 you have to be competitive.
22:07 And right now, the Panthers are still a year away from even being competitive,
22:11 maybe two years away.
22:12 So it's a three year thing.
22:13 >> Let's talk about free agency.
22:14 Talk about free agency right now too, right?
22:16 >> Yeah.
22:17 >> Matter of fact, let me go try to pull up.
22:18 >> If you're a free agent and you have a place to go,
22:22 do you want to come to the Carolina Pan?
22:24 >> Right.
22:25 >> Right. >> What's appealing about that right now?
22:28 >> Especially after what happened on Sunday, then the game.
22:31 I'm not gonna show the video cuz all of us have seen it enough.
22:33 If you haven't seen it, go to Believe in Panthers Twitter account.
22:35 It's there. >> I'll reenact it for you.
22:36 >> [LAUGH] I'll reenact it.
22:40 >> For me, it was the cut flip, the cut flip.
22:42 >> Yeah.
22:43 >> He had just splashed the Curry 35 footer.
22:46 He literally just walked off.
22:48 And then it's the non-reaction from Scott Fitter,
22:52 who we're supposed to have on trial today.
22:54 >> He doesn't even look.
22:55 >> Doesn't even look. >> He's just staring straight down at
22:57 the fan.
22:57 >> Right at it.
22:58 >> And to me, that told me that is not the first time he has seen that behavior.
23:03 That is not abnormal.
23:06 >> Scott was focused, man.
23:07 >> [LAUGH] >> I didn't see it.
23:09 I did not see it.
23:10 I did not see it.
23:12 >> This was not good for me.
23:13 This was- >> He didn't even look.
23:16 Normally, if something like that happens,
23:17 you're gonna kinda look at the person that threw it, right?
23:18 You're gonna, especially the right beside you.
23:20 You're gonna go, what's going on?
23:21 Yeah, what's happening?
23:22 But there's no audio, so you can't really,
23:25 you can kinda decipher sorta what's going on.
23:28 It doesn't look like, and I saw a little bit more of that video last night that I
23:31 didn't see at the beginning and the end of it.
23:33 I didn't realize that the Jaguars fan, and it is a Jaguars fan.
23:35 I thought it was a Panthers fan, but it was an old Jaguars jersey that he's wearing.
23:39 He's not even facing the booth.
23:41 He's looking out at the field.
23:42 And I guess they can overhear him through the window.
23:45 Cuz you can see Scott Fitterer standing there looking out the window and
23:49 he's nodding at something like he can hear something or somebody's talking to him.
23:52 >> You can see his mouth move too.
23:53 Scott said something, but it was in a very calm manner.
23:56 >> Right, and then all of a sudden, Tepper just comes out of screen and just, so
24:01 clearly he was close enough to hear what was going on, but he wasn't on.
24:04 And another thing too, the fact that whoever in that other booth decided to
24:08 tape what was going on tells me that had been going on for
24:10 a little bit before they decided to tape.
24:11 You don't just pull out a phone and start- >> Or they were provoking the situation.
24:15 >> Yeah, so I'm just going on where somebody was like,
24:17 let me pull out his phone real quick and see what I was going on.
24:19 [LAUGH] >> Make it worse.
24:22 >> So because of that now, I was defending it like, people were like,
24:26 why would anybody come and coach the Carolina Panthers right now?
24:28 I'm like, why wouldn't they?
24:29 You got guaranteed money sitting here.
24:31 And if you only work for a year, you can get paid for four years.
24:34 That's the best job in sports.
24:35 Come on in here.
24:36 Come on in here, Charlotte, and we'll treat you right.
24:38 Now I'm like, did he just mess this up?
24:41 Did he just mess this up?
24:42 >> A week before this church starts.
24:43 >> A week before.
24:44 [LAUGH] So now it's like, I know Ben Johnson was the hot name everybody was
24:49 talking about we wanted to go after or whatever.
24:51 I've been on record saying, look, I was rooting for Michigan last night.
24:55 I'm hoping Harbaugh finishes off on Monday.
24:57 He can walk off into the sunset, leave Michigan, come to the NFL, and
25:00 come to Charlotte.
25:01 But I'm pretty sure him, Ben Johnson, everybody else,
25:05 I've seen that now and they're thinking in their head, do I wanna come here?
25:09 Do I wanna go there and deal with that?
25:11 >> There's too much drama, you're gonna have to outbid everybody.
25:16 That's gonna have a head coach opening game.
25:18 >> Chargers, yeah.
25:20 >> On Black Monday comes, it's gonna be like the Grim Reaper knocking on about
25:24 eight or nine, ten doors.
25:26 >> And there was only like six openings last year with us being one of them.
25:29 There was like six, this year's gonna be eight or nine, and we had a head start.
25:32 We let Frank go early to have a head start in this, and
25:35 now it's almost like that's head start.
25:38 >> Won't even matter.
25:39 >> And another thing to say, why is Fitterer still here?
25:42 >> I will say this though,
25:44 I'm not really sure what the Dan Snyder situation was in total.
25:49 >> That's large.
25:51 >> What it was like in that organization.
25:53 >> That's a deep hole.
25:54 >> But they were able to hire some people, you know what I'm saying?
25:59 And now, granted the organization sucked because of him, but
26:05 like, and just all the inside stories that came out about what transpired with him.
26:12 And understanding the toxicity of that whole ordeal,
26:18 but there's got to be something to be said
26:22 about the opportunity that the Carolina Panthers present, right?
26:29 You can come in here and actually have a game plan, right?
26:36 Have, if you're a coach that's coming in here, you're gonna be a coach that is
26:41 confident and knows what the hell he's doing, basically.
26:46 You have to be one of those coaches.
26:48 You can't be someone that is unsure.
26:52 >> Not like naive, timid, don't deal with crazy people.
26:55 You need somebody.
26:56 But all the good coaches are good coaches because they're not naive.
27:01 They're very sure.
27:03 They know what they want.
27:04 They know and trust their system.
27:07 And they know how to hire people.
27:09 They know how to staff.
27:11 They know the ins and outs of people and how to delegate people and
27:16 to put confidence into people.
27:21 So you can say all day, who's gonna wanna come here to coach?
27:27 I'm talking about these players.
27:28 Who's gonna wanna come here to play?
27:31 And so, because if you look at the track record for
27:35 the last six years, five years, if I'm a player,
27:41 does this team have an opportunity to legitimately go to the playoffs next year?
27:49 If I'm a vet, I'm not trying to go to a team that doesn't have a shot at
27:54 playoff contention.
27:55 >> And so- >> That's gonna depend on that coach.
27:57 Cuz look at the players that came this year.
27:59 They came cuz of Frank Wright, right?
28:01 So those vets came cuz they believe in his vision.
28:04 And you saw the Panthers just break Frank Wright down to the point where,
28:09 I mean, all of his hair was gray and- >> Whoever the new coach is has to bring
28:13 a culture, an identity.
28:16 >> An identity. >> And they have to have that alpha
28:17 presence.
28:18 They don't, any of those three- >> There's only one or
28:21 two out there, Harbaugh, right?
28:23 I mean, how many actually fit that description?
28:25 Cuz as much as I like the idea of Ben Johnson, you kinda were doing it,
28:29 it was like a package deal.
28:30 People were like, let's get Ben Johnson but
28:32 keep Ivaro as the defensive coordinator and go from there.
28:35 And I'm like, you still kinda have the same problem if you do that.
28:37 It's not one single voice.
28:39 >> The second he steps in that building, he demands attention and respect.
28:45 And that's gonna- >> It's not gonna work.
28:48 >> That's gonna require restraint on Tepper's part, which I think at this
28:53 point, I don't know if that exists in terms of him being able to stay out of it.
28:57 And I've always been one of the ones, people are like, he's tinkering too much,
28:59 blah, blah, blah.
29:00 I'm like, it's his team, he can do whatever he wants.
29:01 If he wants to be out there on the practice field watching every day, fine.
29:04 If he wants to talk to the individual coaches and
29:07 be involved in the process, fine.
29:09 Some owners don't do that at all.
29:10 Some owners just kinda put people in between themselves and
29:14 the football operations and they don't really touch any of it.
29:17 Until they're able to stand on stage with a trophy, and that's fine too.
29:20 So I've never been one to tell a man that owns a business,
29:23 you're doing too much with your business.
29:25 >> It shows he cares.
29:26 >> Yeah, it shows he cares, I mean, clearly cares.
29:28 He wants to win, that's not a question.
29:31 But I feel like you were talking earlier about the limited number of picks
29:36 we're gonna have.
29:37 I feel like that's gonna be the result of what happened Sunday.
29:39 I think they're gonna take draft picks.
29:40 They're gonna end up taking draft picks from us, from what happened.
29:43 Cuz how else can you hurt him?
29:45 You can't fine him.
29:46 I mean, you can't fine him an outlandish amount.
29:49 The owners will- >> They could, maybe.
29:52 But I don't really know what all that would look like.
29:54 I mean, these kinds of things don't really pop up all that often.
29:58 >> I think I saw the Titans owner, was it Bud Walton or whoever it was?
30:02 He did a double middle finger salute to a fan a couple years back.
30:06 And I think they took a draft pick away and
30:09 fine him $250,000 or something like that.
30:12 Now, that's just giving the middle finger to somebody.
30:15 That's not assault.
30:18 You know what I mean?
30:18 That's not something where the police have to really get involved.
30:21 So I'm not really sure.
30:22 And again, it's 10.51 AM.
30:24 I haven't checked Twitter while we've been on.
30:26 I haven't seen anything from the NFL or the Panthers team,
30:29 the organization, addressing this.
30:31 And as we get further and further away from Sunday,
30:34 it's making me feel like they're not gonna address it.
30:35 And they're just gonna get to the end of the season and just go from there.
30:38 But that can't be, you can't do that.
30:41 You can't set that precedent of just not doing anything,
30:44 where the owners can do whatever they want.
30:46 Tepper seems to not fully grasp the idea that, and
30:51 I speak of this being the fan on this panel, fans take ownership in their teams.
30:55 Fans feel like they are a part of the team.
30:57 They buy tickets, they buy merchandise, they go to the games,
31:00 they defend them in public.
31:03 The fans feel like they're part owners too.
31:05 And you can't look at it like, I'm the owner, you're the fan.
31:09 I'm the king, you're the peasant.
31:11 Whatever I do is cool.
31:13 You guys are in your basements talking junk about Panthers all week.
31:15 You can't do it that way.
31:17 You're alienating the fan base.
31:18 And you're not even trying to, but you're doing it.
31:21 And I don't know, this might be the first week ever.
31:28 I've been a Panther fan since day one, since 95.
31:31 And this is probably the first week where I don't wanna wear a Panther hoodie
31:35 this week.
31:35 I don't feel like, you know what I mean?
31:38 I don't feel like representing them this week.
31:39 I don't feel like they deserve me representing them from what happened on
31:42 the field and what happened in the stands with the owner.
31:45 You're a reflection of the fan base when you do stuff like that.
31:48 And that's why Jerry Richardson was so quick to be kicked out of here,
31:52 because you're starting to affect the shield.
31:54 And that's what I'm wondering with the NFL.
31:56 Do they feel like what he did Sunday affects the shield?
31:59 Cuz if they feel that way, that's a different type of reaction from the rest
32:02 of the owners than if they feel like it's just a one off and
32:06 nothing's gonna come of this.
32:07 Cuz I didn't even see a whole lot of it on national media on Monday.
32:10 Granted, it was New Year's Day, college football playoffs are going on.
32:13 You had all these sport things going on.
32:15 And I see a whole, I saw Skip Bayless talk about a little bit on Undisputed.
32:19 The first day crew's off, so I haven't seen them talk about it at all.
32:22 Maybe they talked about it today, I just haven't seen it.
32:24 But it all adds up to a situation where we went back to the beginning of
32:28 the show about the offensive line.
32:30 It's impossible for us to know what scheme for
32:32 the offensive line will be, cuz we don't know who the coach is gonna be.
32:35 We don't know what their philosophy is gonna be.
32:36 Are they gonna be a defensive minded guy, offensive minded guy?
32:39 Are we running downhill?
32:40 Are we spread?
32:41 What are we doing?
32:41 So we don't know.
32:43 And because of that, you can't attract free agents.
32:45 So it's all running around in a circle, and
32:48 I don't know how you get out of it.
32:50 I think the only people that are happy with what's going on here
32:53 are Chicago Bears fans, cuz they told us in the preseason that we sucked.
32:56 And we were like, nah.
32:57 [LAUGH] Like, no, we're good, bro.
32:59 We're gonna win the division.
33:00 They're gonna end up with DJ Moore on one side,
33:04 Marvin Harrison Jr. on the other side, Justin Fields as quarterback.
33:09 They got two starters out of that trade, but the other picks that they got from us
33:13 that are playing right now in their defense, if I'm not mistaken.
33:15 And they're gonna be in a position to win the division next year,
33:18 because of us, we did it.
33:19 [LAUGH] Like, almost all of it, it's us, we did it.
33:22 So this is new territory, man.
33:26 Like, I can't remember feeling like this as a Panther fan.
33:29 >> What makes it worse is, like I said with the three-year thing,
33:35 what have we seen in the last four or five years, or even really this year,
33:41 that makes you say, you know what, there are only a few things away?
33:46 This thing is so- >> I don't feel like that since Matt Ruhl.
33:50 When Matt Ruhl was here, I was always like, we're a couple things away.
33:52 But we have pieces, and he inherited pieces.
33:55 He inherited- >> And now you know-
33:56 >> He inherited-
33:57 >> My biggest piece,
33:58 you still don't have a long-term deal with.
34:01 >> Yeah. >> So that's what I'm saying,
34:03 if something happens to where these two can't agree to terms, and
34:08 Burns walks away scotch-free, man.
34:12 >> My gosh, when you could have got two firsts and a third for him.
34:16 >> [CROSSTALK] >> Ball out, he's gonna be mad.
34:20 >> When that meme of the kids punching the air.
34:22 >> It's true, it's true.
34:24 >> If you're Burns, we just talked about players want to play here.
34:28 Why would you want to play here if you're Brian Burns?
34:30 >> He did say, well, this was before Sunday.
34:32 He did say that he hates change and that kind of stuff.
34:35 So he kind of indicated he wouldn't mind staying here.
34:37 But losing, he's got to wear on you after a while.
34:39 This will be a straight losing series.
34:41 >> If Burns leaves, you gotta think about some of the other guys on that side of
34:45 the ball, like Frankie Louvu.
34:47 If Burns isn't here, does Frankie want to be here?
34:49 Does Dante want to be here long term?
34:51 Does Shaq want to be here long term?
34:53 Does Eric Brown want to be here long term?
34:57 >> Man. >> What's gonna happen is things are
34:59 just gonna get expensive, right?
35:00 Like guys will demand certain pay or what not and
35:05 their abilities and efforts on the field.
35:10 But man, it's a tough deal all the way around.
35:15 And they gotta figure it out this offseason.
35:18 They gotta figure out who they're gonna coach, who's gonna be the coach.
35:22 And like you guys said, your key guys, you gotta figure out that nucleus.
35:27 If you don't have that nucleus going into the offseason,
35:31 it's gonna be hard to get guys here.
35:34 And then with Tep, man, he's a human.
35:40 Let's not forget.
35:41 >> Yeah. >> Everybody.
35:42 >> Everybody's emotional.
35:44 >> He's a human being.
35:46 And I'm pretty sure right now he's thinking to himself, man,
35:49 I wish I wouldn't have done that.
35:51 Just like a lot of guys have done in professional sports.
35:55 We've seen it throughout the course of history.
35:58 Where right now we're looking at an owner and
36:02 saying to ourselves, he shouldn't have the audacity.
36:06 Well, there's a lot of times where players shouldn't have the audacity.
36:10 There's a lot of times where fans definitely don't have the audacity.
36:14 >> Yo, it's 2024.
36:15 Everybody's got a camera.
36:17 >> Yeah.
36:17 >> Everybody's got a camera.
36:19 Everybody's got a camera now, so ain't no telling what we missed over time.
36:22 >> My gosh.
36:23 >> But- >> Jerry Jones back in like-
36:25 >> When it comes to emotions, we're not robots.
36:33 And this is a reminder at the end of the day that everyone's human.
36:38 It doesn't give you the right to act out and
36:43 to carry on in the public in certain matters.
36:47 Because to whom much is given, much is required, right?
36:50 So I think anyone that's a grown up understands that.
36:57 And I think you should be able to understand too that these players,
37:01 coaches, owners invested day in and day out.
37:06 Trying to protect the shield, trying to put on a show, entertainment for
37:14 fans and understanding the expectations and the demands on certain outcomes.
37:22 And for the Panthers this year, the outcomes haven't been great.
37:25 But I think this is a good reminder going into the new year, 2024.
37:32 We're gonna have to find some grace,
37:35 cuz if not, it's gonna be a long road.
37:40 >> Man, we already on that long road,
37:42 cuz this has been ongoing for six years.
37:45 Like some people, I think they think we parachuted into mediocrity.
37:49 We've been here, and we've been denying it for a while.
37:51 And now I'm like- >> Yeah, and
37:53 apparently to Skyler we got three more years.
37:55 >> Yeah, and I believe him.
37:57 >> [LAUGH] >> I completely believe him.
37:58 I will say this though, I don't think David Tepper regrets what he did because
38:02 of that cut flip.
38:03 That cut flip at the end, that was the chef's kiss on him throwing it.
38:09 That was, yeah, I did it, yeah, it was me.
38:13 I threw it, and then he gets out of screen.
38:14 [LAUGH] So I'm like, what is happening to my team?
38:18 I've never seen this happen before in any sport.
38:20 I couldn't think of anything else close to this in terms of an owner-fan
38:24 interaction.
38:25 And it's crazy because I was seeing clips before that,
38:29 at the beginning of the game, where Tepper's on the field.
38:32 And there's a fan- >> Sign an autograph.
38:33 >> Yeah, there's a fan in the crowd, like two, and-
38:35 >> Which he does about every game with it.
38:37 >> Yeah, and he was- >> Which he does about every game.
38:38 >> Went over, talked to him, signed an autograph, did the owner thing.
38:41 And I'm like, yeah, you're getting it.
38:43 This dude has stuck out the whole season.
38:45 He knows it's been a bad season.
38:46 You know it's been a bad season.
38:47 And you're going over to acknowledge that he's in Jacksonville.
38:50 And he went over, talked to him, signed his jersey and everything.
38:53 Three and a half hours later, no one's gonna remember that.
38:56 Don't even worry about that.
38:57 That's not even the story, so- >> That's the sad reality.
39:00 >> Yeah. >> Ain't nobody gonna
39:01 remember the good.
39:02 They're gonna remember that bad.
39:03 >> No. [LAUGH]
39:04 So Willie Smith, a super fan for Believe in Panther, says,
39:07 in my mind, Harbaugh, if you have a staff member stealing signs as the head coach,
39:11 he is responsible.
39:12 And to me, it reflects on his character, i.e., Sean Payton and
39:14 Bounty Gate, hard known Harbaugh.
39:16 Stealing signs is a little bit different than paying out money to hurt players.
39:19 [LAUGH] So- >> Everybody pretty much does it.
39:24 >> Yeah, we've addressed it here.
39:24 Pretty much everybody does it, Willie.
39:26 We're not saying it's okay, but everybody does it.
39:28 So it's not the same level of cheating as, I don't even think people-
39:32 >> And if you're not cheating,
39:33 you're not trying.
39:33 >> [LAUGH] But look, Bounty Gate was a whole different thing.
39:36 They're like, yo, $10,000, you put Brett Hall on the bench.
39:39 Yeah, that's a whole other area.
39:43 Too bad Tapper has bad history with Tomlin because Mike would be a perfect fit here.
39:47 I was thinking about that too.
39:49 If the Steelers- >> If the Steelers let Tomlin go, man,
39:52 it's gonna be a sad day.
39:54 >> He gonna get hired before he leaves the parking lot.
39:56 Like someone go, hey, we just heard the terrible news.
39:59 Why don't you come interview for, and that's what we need.
40:02 >> I would overpay either Rue for Tomlin, boy.
40:06 Man, you remember back in the good old days when we would be complaining about
40:09 going seven and nine with Ron Rivera?
40:11 And like, what is this?
40:12 We're over eight and eight, the good old days when we were competitive and
40:16 [LAUGH] you know what I mean?
40:17 Had a shot like every year.
40:18 If Tomlin comes, we'd get a little of that.
40:21 Now I have Steelers friends and they're upset with him.
40:24 They're like, I've had enough of Mike Tomlin.
40:26 I'm like, boy, y'all don't even know how good you got it.
40:28 >> Well, I mean, basically because their offensive woes have suffered
40:31 through the identity of the team, right?
40:33 The identity of the team is defense oriented, which is the reason why
40:38 everyone's so high on offensive minded coaches.
40:42 Because that's how you win games these days, by scoring points.
40:45 >> Yeah.
40:46 >> But who's the dark horse right now?
40:50 >> For the coach, for our coach?
40:51 >> No, the dark horse in this whole NFL season.
40:56 Playoffs, Super Bowl.
40:59 >> Buffalo's looking pretty good right now at the moment.
41:03 It's funny, I know they won the other day, but Kansas City,
41:08 something's wrong with Kansas City.
41:11 >> I ain't gonna write them off.
41:15 >> Yeah, me neither.
41:16 I learned my lesson.
41:16 >> They're gonna have to pay a little bit to me.
41:18 >> No, they're gonna have to go on the road.
41:19 I didn't realize they haven't played any road playoff games since Pat Mahomes became
41:23 the starter, they've all been at Arrowhead, so.
41:26 >> Yeah, we're gonna see.
41:26 >> Yeah, we're gonna find out.
41:28 >> And the NFC, I don't know if there is any surprises in the NFC.
41:34 The Eagles have kind of fallen back to earth a little bit.
41:37 I think the 49ers are the best.
41:39 I wouldn't say Dallas is a dark horse.
41:42 They can't win on the road.
41:43 I don't know, the NFC seems kind of weak sauce to me.
41:47 I'm trying to figure out.
41:49 >> I'm gonna give you it here right now.
41:52 You ready?
41:52 >> Yeah.
41:54 >> The Los Angeles Rams.
41:56 >> I forgot about them.
41:57 >> Yeah, they're playing pretty well.
41:59 >> Man, listen, that running back?
42:02 >> Eckler, yeah.
42:04 >> No, the Rams, not the Chargers.
42:06 The Los Angeles Rams.
42:09 What's his name?
42:12 I can't, what's his, Kyron Williams?
42:16 >> I'll go look it up, but yeah.
42:20 >> And then they got the- >> Pukunukuwa, the receiver.
42:24 And obviously got Koop.
42:29 >> Yeah.
42:30 >> But right now they're playing on cylinders, boy,
42:32 that I don't really see how they don't win playoff games.
42:38 >> Yeah. >> It's all about peaking, right?
42:40 It's all about when are you going to peak?
42:43 And I don't feel like they really peaked yet.
42:45 >> And they're not scared of the 49ers, that's a division rival.
42:47 >> Yeah.
42:48 >> I mean, right now you got Purdy hurt with his shoulder.
42:53 Ain't no really telling kind of how that's going to fan out.
42:58 But man, the Rams, I'm going to give you another one.
43:03 And the Cleveland Browns.
43:05 >> Yo, their defense.
43:06 >> Joe Flacco.
43:08 >> Yeah, what does Flacco do?
43:10 What is he, 38?
43:11 He just got off the couch.
43:12 >> Joe Flacco just came out of nowhere.
43:15 >> Koopa. >> He just said, yeah, I'll put on a helmet.
43:18 I guess I'll come play quarterback.
43:20 I guess I'll throw the offense a little bit.
43:24 Yeah, I'll just throw a couple touchdowns a game, that's it.
43:27 All right.
43:28 >> I got the number one defense or number two defense in all football behind me.
43:31 I got some running backs, a line.
43:33 Yeah, I mean, Flacco, we can do this.
43:36 We can do this now.
43:39 >> So it's very interesting, man.
43:40 Like just how much of a difference a player makes, right?
43:50 >> Yeah, we've always said one player don't make a difference in NFL, but
43:54 one player can turn.
43:55 >> I say Joe Flacco and I say for the Rams, it's Kyron Williams.
44:01 You know what I'm saying?
44:02 Like, is it Kyron or Kieran?
44:05 >> I think it's Kieran.
44:06 I think it's Kieran.
44:06 >> Kieran Williams.
44:08 >> Yeah, that's him.
44:08 See, and I've seen that comparison too.
44:10 I think I put it up on Twitter where the Rams haven't had a first round pick in
44:13 like four years or something like that.
44:15 So people were like using it to equate it to us like they're still hope.
44:17 They haven't had a first round pick.
44:19 Look at them.
44:19 Like, yeah, but they had everything already.
44:21 >> They had some dogs.
44:22 >> Yeah, they already had a suitball team.
44:24 Like, that's why they don't have any first round picks because they went for it.
44:27 And now they got a Sean McVay at head coach too.
44:30 Like that, I mean, you've got to, when you have a young guy like that,
44:33 like a McVay or Mike McDaniels in Miami or Kyle Shanahan.
44:38 If it's offensive minded guy, cool.
44:40 If he knows his system and he believes in the system and
44:42 gets his players to play for his system, that's different.
44:45 Now, me personally, I'd rather have a defensive minded head coach.
44:49 And you go find a offensive coordinator.
44:52 But to the point that we made week before, you're only gonna have
44:55 an offensive coordinator for a year and a half and
44:56 he's gonna be out the door for a head coaching job.
44:58 So you almost kind of have to look at it from the offensive side.
45:01 And I think that's where the issue is gonna be with us because
45:04 our talents on the defensive side, like in terms of what we can retain.
45:07 Like, and that's the mistake to me.
45:09 But what they should have did in hindsight was build the defense and
45:15 keep the pieces we had on offense until we were in a position to get a quarterback.
45:19 They press fast forward and that's, and they did it and
45:22 got rid of players to get the quarterback.
45:24 And now you're in a point where you might lose pieces of your defense because of
45:29 the results on the field from you losing everybody on offense to get that quarterback.
45:34 So now the quarterback looks bad as a result.
45:35 There's nobody to throw to or hand it off to.
45:37 Offensive line looks bad because you're not moving the ball or whatever.
45:41 It all goes hand in hand.
45:42 The defense is just tired at this point, week 16, week 17.
45:46 >> Yeah, defense is tired.
45:47 That's what I saw this past game.
45:49 >> They were wore out.
45:50 >> Like they're tired and the Jaguars got something to play for.
45:53 >> Yeah, the Jaguars trying to win a division.
45:55 So I mean, it's a whole different mentality.
45:57 We were gonna do trial Scott Fitter today.
45:59 Scott had to step out.
45:59 He had a Sports Illustrated meeting he had to get to.
46:02 We'll save Scott Fitter, thanks.
46:03 We'll have offseason for that.
46:05 Matter of fact, by the time we get to this point next week, Scott Fitter might even
46:08 be here.
46:08 So we'll, I don't know, I've said I think he's gonna stay,
46:11 [LAUGH] to be honest, cuz he's still here.
46:13 >> I think he's good.
46:14 I think everyone's jumping the gun and- >> I think they want him.
46:16 >> Trying to find a blame.
46:18 And I think that's basically it, right?
46:20 With a season like this, you wanna figure out who can I blame for all this?
46:24 And the answer is, you won't know until you know.
46:29 [LAUGH] >> You know what I'm saying?
46:31 We won't know until next year, two years.
46:34 I guess that person that got cut or that person that got fired was the reason.
46:39 You won't know until you know.
46:42 And I think too, everyone that thought that things were gonna change went
46:46 to jail, and Frank Wright got fired.
46:49 No, that was just part of the process.
46:50 You know what I'm saying?
46:52 So it wasn't a system or a decision made to say, well,
46:56 if we get rid of him, then- >> It'll get better.
47:00 >> This is gonna change everything.
47:01 No, this is part of the process of implementing a new staff for next year.
47:07 >> I hope that they make a movie or something out of this season,
47:10 like 10 years, 15 years down the road.
47:12 And we get to see behind the scenes what happened, and
47:15 Kevin Costner's playing Frank Wright or something.
47:18 And we can see this drama, cuz I feel like there's so
47:21 much left out that we just don't know, cuz some of it don't make any sense.
47:25 Why would you do this then?
47:27 Why didn't you do that then when you did that?
47:28 There's parts of the whole map from the media where we don't know exactly what
47:33 the plan is.
47:33 And that's the frustration with the media that I talk to in North Carolina,
47:38 whether it's Joe Person or Jim Zoki or whoever.
47:41 Where it's like, we've always known as a franchise where we were,
47:45 where we're going or where we're at.
47:47 And we know where we're at, but we don't know where we're going,
47:51 how we're gonna get out of it.
47:52 And I don't think that the fan base is comfortable with that.
47:55 They don't wanna abandon the team, but the apathy level is the highest I've ever
48:00 seen it in terms of, I'm not gonna waste my Sunday watching this because of what
48:05 I'm seeing on the field.
48:06 And that's just the production of the entire year here towards the end.
48:10 I know some of that will go away, new season, off season,
48:13 the excitement comes back at zero, zero, all that good stuff.
48:16 But they gotta nail this head coach and hire.
48:19 And if Fitter is gonna be here,
48:21 that means he's gonna be a part of the process again to hire.
48:24 And I wouldn't be stuck on offense, offense, offense.
48:28 Cuz like we all said, you gotta fix things on the offense where you can do anything
48:31 regardless of who the coach is.
48:32 I would focus on who are my best players on this roster?
48:36 Derrick Brown, Brian Burns, Frankie Lou Vu, maybe JC Horn, they're all defense.
48:42 Lock up your defense so you have that and start putting some pieces together with
48:46 what you have draft wise for your offense.
48:48 You already had your quarterback.
48:50 You've got a couple years to figure this out while he's on a rookie deal.
48:53 If it takes three years, like Skyler said, to get this together,
48:56 then drafting Bryce was pointless.
48:58 Because at that point, he's gonna be up for his suspension.
49:00 And at that point, you're either giving him a bunch of money or
49:03 you're letting him go.
49:04 And so what did you just do for three or four years?
49:06 You've got to get this right, this 12, 18 month window, right now.
49:10 You have to get this right.
49:12 If you don't get it right, I mean- >> You need a culture guy for sure.
49:18 >> You need a culture guy.
49:19 >> You need a culture guy.
49:20 >> It doesn't even have to be Panther's culture.
49:24 It just needs to be a culture that can be adapted within the Panthers.
49:27 >> Yeah.
49:28 >> Jim Harbaugh.
49:28 >> It just needs to be football winning culture.
49:30 >> Jim Harbaugh.
49:32 >> I did not think Michigan was gonna lose that football game at any time,
49:36 which was a great game, by the way.
49:38 I don't know if you watched that.
49:39 >> Yeah, that was a wonderful game.
49:39 >> Yeah, good football.
49:41 >> Both games were great.
49:42 >> Yeah, I fell asleep in the Washington game.
49:43 >> How about that?
49:44 So University of Washington,
49:47 the last time they won a championship was against Michigan.
49:52 >> Yeah, 91.
49:54 >> 91.
49:55 And what a way to send off into the Big Ten next year.
50:02 >> The Pac-12, man.
50:03 >> Leaving the Pac-12.
50:04 >> The Pac-12.
50:06 >> So it's gonna be like, hey, Michigan, the Big Ten, this is the future.
50:10 >> My gosh.
50:11 >> We'll be doing this more often.
50:14 >> My gosh.
50:15 >> We're gonna have- >> USP and USEC.
50:17 >> SEC.
50:18 >> If you think about it, bro, think about this.
50:21 Michigan, UW, Oregon, this could be a new thing.
50:29 It could be almost kind of like the SEC.
50:32 >> I think so.
50:32 >> In the sense of you have those big powerhouse names and-
50:37 >> And UCLA.
50:38 >> And all this, and I have contention.
50:39 >> UCLA and USC are going to the Big Ten too, right?
50:41 >> Yeah.
50:42 >> What in the world?
50:43 [LAUGH] So the Big Ten, it just literally just picked out states they weren't in,
50:49 like across the whole map.
50:51 And we're like, California, we're not in there, let's just grab those.
50:54 The Northwest, let's just grab Oregon, grab Washington, and
50:57 get that Nike money, let's get all that over here.
51:00 What else do we have?
51:01 >> We have Oregon, SC, UW, UCLA.
51:05 >> They got 18 teams?
51:09 >> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 teams.
51:17 >> 18 teams, and the SEC will be at 16 teams because they're bringing in
51:21 Oklahoma and Texas.
51:22 >> Wow. >> UW plays Michigan next year.
51:28 We play Michigan next year.
51:29 Or the Oregon Ducks play Michigan next year.
51:33 >> And for those that are wondering why the ACC doesn't make the same amount of
51:36 money as the SEC or Big Ten,
51:38 this little two minute conversation part of this podcast, that's why.
51:40 [LAUGH] They don't have that.
51:42 They got Florida State and Clemson and that's it.
51:45 They don't have the same brand name.
51:48 Yeah, so when people are like, the ACC messed up,
51:50 they didn't get the same amount of money.
51:52 They weren't going to.
51:53 [LAUGH] They're not the same thing.
51:54 They don't attract the same eyeballs.
51:56 So that conversation is weird to me.
51:59 And Florida State, I don't know what will happen to y'all.
52:01 >> Hopefully it will be fun next year.
52:02 >> Yeah, it's gonna be wild getting out of the Big Ten and
52:04 the SEC with Texas going in there.
52:06 >> I'm gonna figure out how to get into this Big Ten conference media schedule here.
52:13 >> Yeah, that's gonna be awesome.
52:15 So the National Championship set, Michigan, Washington.
52:18 I've been on the record.
52:18 I think they've been the two best teams all year.
52:20 The only two undefeated teams that got in the playoff.
52:22 It kind of fitting that at the end of the season we get there.
52:24 Can Harbaugh finish the story?
52:26 Can he, he's done everything he wanted to do at Michigan except win a national
52:29 championship for the Wolverines.
52:31 Can he finish that off?
52:32 Or will this young coach from Washington come in here and
52:36 win an actual championship?
52:37 So that's next week.
52:38 >> I think either way, it's gonna be sweet for the Big Ten.
52:41 >> Yeah, they've already won.
52:43 >> [LAUGH] >> Hey, come to the Big Ten if you wanna
52:46 be a champion.
52:47 >> [LAUGH] >> [INAUDIBLE]
52:51 >> Hey, if you don't want them all
52:51 dancing in your videos like the SEC.
52:53 >> Yeah, you don't want them in videos and all this other stuff.
52:57 >> [LAUGH] >> You wanna make some money,
52:59 come to the Big Ten.
53:01 >> Man, so we'll find out from that at this point next week,
53:04 we're gonna stop it right here.
53:06 We'll find out at this point next week, the season,
53:08 the regular season will be over.
53:10 We will go on through Black Monday.
53:12 So we'll find out how many teams have openings.
53:14 We'll find out how many GM openings there are.
53:17 We'll find out if we have one here.
53:19 We'll know who the national champion is by the time we come back next week cuz
53:22 they'll play on Monday night.
53:23 We'll be on Tuesday.
53:23 So we got a lot of different things for you for next week.
53:26 The regular season's over, but we ain't going anywhere.
53:28 Of course, we're kind of used to it at this point.
53:30 We'll keep you around during the playoffs and
53:32 give you our opinions on the playoff matchups or whatnot.
53:35 And of course, there's gonna be Panther front office things going on
53:38 once we get to Monday of next week that we'll have to keep you abreast on.
53:42 There's the draft, there's the offseason, the coaching search,
53:45 all this stuff that hopefully they'll have kind of put together before we get to
53:48 the Super Bowl in February.
53:50 So still got a little ways to go here.
53:52 Got one game left to go in the regular season.
53:55 Just buckle up and hopefully the Panthers can put on a good performance for
53:58 those that do appear at Bank of America Stadium for the last game of the year.
54:02 Against a division rival in Tampa who was actually playing for the NFC South.
54:05 So we kind of got a little bit to play for too.
54:07 We can ruin Tampa's whole thing by winning that football game.
54:11 Cuz I don't think it's guaranteed they get in as a wild card if whoever loses on
54:15 Sunday.
54:16 So we'll get all that more next week.
54:18 Again, Scott Carlin had a bounce a little bit earlier,
54:21 meaning he needed to get to.
54:23 But for Jonathan Stewart and for myself, Desmond Johnson, you've been watching and
54:26 listening to the Believe in Carolina Panthers podcast on Believe Podcast Networks,
54:30 brought to you by Bet Online, where the game starts.