Matt Rhule to Sign with Carolina Panthers

[Links242]

Woah!!!!!!!!!

This is a big surprise to me.
I thought for sure he will sign with NY Giants.

[popsandcards]

A lot of years and money too. 7 years 60 which can rise to 70 mil.

[Links242]

From Schefter's Tweet.

Panthers are giving former Baylor HC Matt Rhule a seven-year - seven year - deal worth $60 million that with incentives could be worth up to $70 million, per league sources.

thats a huge deal for first time NFL HC.

[xbignick]

Apparently called the Giants to see if they wanted to match but they declined and had their HC pick made last night.

Will be interesting to see how this all works out.

[zonacats8]

Now just need to get Wade Phillips as DC and I’ll be even more excited

[mfw13]

A lot of years and money too. 7 years 60 which can rise to 70 mil.

That's a lot of money, especially for someone who has zero experience as a head coach or coordinator in the NFL.

My prediction is that things won't work out, he'll be fired before year five, and the Panthers will end up eating a lot of $$$.

[Noles939913]

To think this guy was the Temple coach three years ago.

[asujbl]

He's about to be one of the Top 10 highest paid coaches in the NFL depending on what the 70 million requirement is.

Not bad for a rookie.

[zonacats8]

That's a lot of money, especially for someone who has zero experience as a head coach or coordinator in the NFL.

My prediction is that things won't work out, he'll be fired before year five, and the Panthers will end up eating a lot of $$$.

That's the nice thing about having the richest owner in the NFL, he can toss money around if he wants to, and Tepper wants to win at any cost.

[aaron2]

That's the nice thing about having the richest owner in the NFL, he can toss money around if he wants to, and Tepper wants to win at any cost.

Exactly, I like the hire a lot.

Will be interesting who he decides on it QB next year.

[zonacats8]

Exactly, I like the hire a lot.

Will be interesting who he decides on it QB next year.

It's gotta be Cam, saw something that Rhule had said his ideal NFL situation would already have a QB and he's already turned down NFL jobs once that weren't a good fit for him.

So my guess is he wouldn't be taking the job if he felt he had to start over at QB in year 1.

[AwesomeBrian]

Says a lot that he'd rather deal with Cam than even take a call from the team where Baker plays

[zonacats8]

Says a lot that he'd rather deal with Cam than even take a call from the team where Baker plays

I'd say it says even more that he never went to his interview with the Giants and their promising young QB.

Rhule was never going to Cleveland

[whynotme012]

Hope he does well. Everyone deserves an opportunity

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[rman112]

It's gotta be Cam, saw something that Rhule had said his ideal NFL situation would already have a QB and he's already turned down NFL jobs once that weren't a good fit for him.

So my guess is he wouldn't be taking the job if he felt he had to start over at QB in year 1.

Sounds like a surefire way to start off Year 1 on a bad note.

Couldn't it be that he just followed the money?

[LC2nine10]

Sounds like a surefire way to start off Year 1 on a bad note.

Couldn't it be that he just followed the money?

100% money, he basically indicated as much when he asked the giants if they wanted to match. Carolina wasnt even his 1st choice or he wouldnt have done that.

Healthy cam is better than anythig out there, and 21 million isnt a bad caphit compared to other qbs.

[zonacats8]

100% money, he basically indicated as much when he asked the giants if they wanted to match. Carolina wasnt even his 1st choice or he wouldnt have done that.

Healthy cam is better than anythig out there, and 21 million isnt a bad caphit compared to other qbs.

From what I've read today, there is a good chance that supposed call to the Giants to see if they wanted to match the deal never actually happened and it was just the Giants putting it out there to not look bad that their top option didn't even get to their interview.

But as you said, a healthy Cam is better than anyone they can get to replace him, and his salary for the season puts him in the bottom half of starting QB's, there is no reason to trade or cut him.

[rman112]

100% money, he basically indicated as much when he asked the giants if they wanted to match. Carolina wasnt even his 1st choice or he wouldnt have done that.

Healthy cam is better than anythig out there, and 21 million isnt a bad caphit compared to other qbs.

I just don't see how Cam being healthy is realistic after what we've seen the past 2 years.

[rman112]

From what I've read today, there is a good chance that supposed call to the Giants to see if they wanted to match the deal never actually happened and it was just the Giants putting it out there to not look bad that their top option didn't even get to their interview.

But as you said, a healthy Cam is better than anyone they can get to replace him, and his salary for the season puts him in the bottom half of starting QB's, there is no reason to trade or cut him.

2 million dead cap if he's cut

vs.

Banking on him getting healthy, while absorbing a 21 mil cap hit.

[E B]

Tepper is going to be a great owner. Rhule was probably the best coaching candidate out there.

[zonacats8]

I just don't see how Cam being healthy is realistic after what we've seen the past 2 years.

So..... he was playing at an MVP level for the first half of last year until an illegal hit injuries his shoulder.

Then this year he injured his foot and came back too soon and re-injured it, he's had the surgery and is supposed to make a 100% recovery.

He's actually been very durable in his career, until this year i think he only missed like 4 games or so and one of them was because he got hurt in a car accident a few days before a game.

2 million dead cap if he's cut

vs.

Banking on him getting healthy, while absorbing a 21 mil cap hit.

They aren't going to get any QB better than Cam with the saved $19 million, just not gonna happen.

So why wouldn't you give him the season and see if he is healthy again and has his game back?

Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to let him walk just doesn't understand the economics of the QB salaries in the game right now (or is just someone who has always been a Cam hater so it's an easy argument for them).

[zonacats8]

I just looked, currently he'll be the 16th most expensive QB next year, that's before Dak is either franchised or signs a new deal and also before Mahomes and Watson sign their new deals with will likely happen, as well as the likely hood that Tannehill signs for more than that by Tennessee.

So he's looking at being the 21st highest paid QB next year, as a former MVP you can't get anything better than that to take a shot with him and see what happens.

[Links242]

From what I've read today, there is a good chance that supposed call to the Giants to see if they wanted to match the deal never actually happened and it was just the Giants putting it out there to not look bad that their top option didn't even get to their interview.

But as you said, a healthy Cam is better than anyone they can get to replace him, and his salary for the season puts him in the bottom half of starting QB's, there is no reason to trade or cut him.

^^^ 100%

[JeremyNick]

Tepper is going to be a great owner. Rhule was probably the best coaching candidate out there.

We’ll see. Tepper likes to stir the pot. He also wants to call the shots and be seen. It was pretty well known that a couple years ago when “minority owners” wanted Tomlin fired, that is was Tepper and Tepper alone leaking that to the media to try and build ground swell. Not a very smart move try to upset the apple cart on top the Rooneys. I’m glad he’s gone from the Steelers ownership, though it sounds like he wants to raid their front office now.

[E B]

We’ll see. Tepper likes to stir the pot. He also wants to call the shots and be seen. It was pretty well known that a couple years ago when “minority owners” wanted Tomlin fired, that is was Tepper and Tepper alone leaking that to the media to try and build ground swell. Not a very smart move try to upset the apple cart on top the Rooneys. I’m glad he’s gone from the Steelers ownership, though it sounds like he wants to raid their front office now.

Never any guarantees but he seems to be an advantage over the family owned teams who too often inherited the team and never are held accountable and the maniacal businessmen like Snyder and Haslam who live in a bubble and have no common sense whatsoever.

Also, I dont view it as a bad thing that he wanted to move Tomlin. Tomlin should've been held accountable for overlooking the Jaguars and underachieving in general. I understand he's beloved in Pittsburgh but sometimes a change is better for everyone.

[rman112]

So..... he was playing at an MVP level for the first half of last year until an illegal hit injuries his shoulder.

Then this year he injured his foot and came back too soon and re-injured it, he's had the surgery and is supposed to make a 100% recovery.

He's actually been very durable in his career, until this year i think he only missed like 4 games or so and one of them was because he got hurt in a car accident a few days before a game.



They aren't going to get any QB better than Cam with the saved $19 million, just not gonna happen.

So why wouldn't you give him the season and see if he is healthy again and has his game back?

Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to let him walk just doesn't understand the economics of the QB salaries in the game right now (or is just someone who has always been a Cam hater so it's an easy argument for them).

That was my point. His shoulder looked awful since he came back, and now the foot problem. He already threw with a "tight shoulder" even before injuring it. I see a guy that is done as far as being a good QB.

Even if you don't think that $ gets you QB help (just draft one..), you certainly can use that to improve a really bad defense.

Rhule getting 7 suggests a rebuild. An older, injured QB making money doesn't fit.

From seeing him play after the shoulder injury, what makes you think he recovers to even be halfway decent again?

[LC2nine10]

^^^ 100%

Ian rapoport reported it, so who knows.

[zonacats8]

That was my point. His shoulder looked awful since he came back, and now the foot problem. He already threw with a "tight shoulder" even before injuring it. I see a guy that is done as far as being a good QB.

Even if you don't think that $ gets you QB help (just draft one..), you certainly can use that to improve a really bad defense.

Rhule getting 7 suggests a rebuild. An older, injured QB making money doesn't fit.

From seeing him play after the shoulder injury, what makes you think he recovers to even be halfway decent again?

So, in short, no.

But here is why...

You say his shoulder didn't look good since he came back, the problem with that is the only thing you'd have seen of him would be week 1 and 2 where his throwing had nothing to do with his shoulder, but his injured foot as he couldn't step into his throws at all.

All reports were that his shoulder looked strong and was throwing really well in camp. Since the foot and shoulder were two separate injuries, and he has been pretty healthy his whole career until these, there is no reason to not see what happens if he's fully healthy next year, especially at only $20 million.

And yes, $20 million could be used to improve other places, more than the defense would be the OL where it's needed.

However, again we're talking about if Cam is healthy you have a difference maker at QB, something that every team in the NFL is looking for. At that price with just 1 year left on the deal, you let him play it out and see what happens because it's one of two things....

1. He shows that he's healthy and an elite QB still and you resign him to a new contract after the season or at worst, franchise him, and be thrilled you didn't let a franchise QB who wants to be there walk away.

2. He can't stay healthy, the team is garbage again because of it and you get another top 10 pick to go after a new QB on a rookie deal and then you free up the extra $20 million in cap space for that summer.

Putting $20 million into the team in other places without a serviceable replacement at QB just makes zero sense unless you're trying for the number 1 pick the next year, which didn't work out too well for Miami this year, they were a little too good. And with someone like McCaffery on the team, you don't want to waste his prime and he's probably going to carry that team to enough wins to not get the top pick.

I don't think at 7 there is a sure fire franchise QB, I really do NOT want Tua as he can't stay healthy in college, he's screwed in the NFL.

Since you can't get that QB this year, you ride with Cam and see how it plays out, you either get a franchise QB or you get a great pick and $20 million in cap space next year.

And the 7 year contract is exactly why this makes sense to do it, because you're saying that next year is a "free" year to try Cam and if it doesn't work, we basically start with a 6 year deal for a rebuild next year. Tepper is hoping and expecting Rhule to be there for the next 20 years, so to him the contract is just a way of saying I believe in you.

[rman112]

The shoulder injury was last year, was it not?

I was able to tell that Luck's shoulder was jacked up before it came out. And that was just by watching him throw. Newton's shoulder flexibility (which was never good to begin with) was worse. That's not a foot problem. His shoulder isn't what it was. That's why he had to try and change his mechanics.

If you believe he can be good again, so be it. We'll see what happens.

[rman112]

And "we'll get our guy in the draft next year" is just as dangerous a game to play as one where teams overdraft a QB out of desparation.

[JeremyNick]

Never any guarantees but he seems to be an advantage over the family owned teams who too often inherited the team and never are held accountable and the maniacal businessmen like Snyder and Haslam who live in a bubble and have no common sense whatsoever.

Also, I dont view it as a bad thing that he wanted to move Tomlin. Tomlin should've been held accountable for overlooking the Jaguars and underachieving in general. I understand he's beloved in Pittsburgh but sometimes a change is better for everyone.

It wasn’t just wanting to move Tomlin. It was leaking his displeasure to the media and trumping up a “movement” against Tomlin because Rooney wasn’t listening to him personally. Trust me, Tomlin is not beloved in Pittsburgh.
The grass is always greener. I don’t trust Tepper to put the team above himself. Generally when owners take a front seat, it’s to the detriment of the team.

[E B]

It wasn’t just wanting to move Tomlin. It was leaking his displeasure to the media and trumping up a “movement” against Tomlin because Rooney wasn’t listening to him personally. Trust me, Tomlin is not beloved in Pittsburgh.
The grass is always greener. I don’t trust Tepper to put the team above himself. Generally when owners take a front seat, it’s to the detriment of the team.

Nice insight. Didn’t realize Tepper was a rabble-rouser.

[Whodatiz]

So, in short, no.

But here is why...

You say his shoulder didn't look good since he came back, the problem with that is the only thing you'd have seen of him would be week 1 and 2 where his throwing had nothing to do with his shoulder, but his injured foot as he couldn't step into his throws at all.

All reports were that his shoulder looked strong and was throwing really well in camp. Since the foot and shoulder were two separate injuries, and he has been pretty healthy his whole career until these, there is no reason to not see what happens if he's fully healthy next year, especially at only $20 million.

And yes, $20 million could be used to improve other places, more than the defense would be the OL where it's needed.

However, again we're talking about if Cam is healthy you have a difference maker at QB, something that every team in the NFL is looking for. At that price with just 1 year left on the deal, you let him play it out and see what happens because it's one of two things....

1. He shows that he's healthy and an elite QB still and you resign him to a new contract after the season or at worst, franchise him, and be thrilled you didn't let a franchise QB who wants to be there walk away.

2. He can't stay healthy, the team is garbage again because of it and you get another top 10 pick to go after a new QB on a rookie deal and then you free up the extra $20 million in cap space for that summer.

Putting $20 million into the team in other places without a serviceable replacement at QB just makes zero sense unless you're trying for the number 1 pick the next year, which didn't work out too well for Miami this year, they were a little too good. And with someone like McCaffery on the team, you don't want to waste his prime and he's probably going to carry that team to enough wins to not get the top pick.

I don't think at 7 there is a sure fire franchise QB, I really do NOT want Tua as he can't stay healthy in college, he's screwed in the NFL.

Since you can't get that QB this year, you ride with Cam and see how it plays out, you either get a franchise QB or you get a great pick and $20 million in cap space next year.

And the 7 year contract is exactly why this makes sense to do it, because you're saying that next year is a "free" year to try Cam and if it doesn't work, we basically start with a 6 year deal for a rebuild next year. Tepper is hoping and expecting Rhule to be there for the next 20 years, so to him the contract is just a way of saying I believe in you.

Cam has been in the league for nine years now and still overthrows receivers. His injuries are another concern to add to the mix.

If the Panthers were smart, they’d cut bait, sign a veteran on the cheap and draft someone. Both Tua and Fromm are now leaving. Plenty of options.

[aaron2]

Just brought Joe Brady in, I like it.