PantherFanz Tailgating Club

Hurney defends decision to re-sign Delhomme, franchise Peppers on the air!


Panthers GM Marty Hurney talked about the decision to franchise DE Julius Peppers on Charlotte's 610-AM The Fan Thursday. Hurney had the guts to go on live radio Thursday afternoon with Mark Packer from Primetime with the Packman (610 AM, The Fa...n) and talk about the decisions he’s made over the past year or so that have impacted the long-term future of the franchise. Hurney fielded direct, pointed questions from Packer for an hour and then spent another 30 minutes taking calls from fans.

Predictably, the top two topics were the decision to give Jake Delhomme a contract extension -- one that Hurney says is really a three-year deal and not a five-year deal -- and other being the thought process behind using the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers and paying him $16.683 million this season, both of which he defended.
When asked about Peppers’ salary handcuffing what the Panthers can do under the NFL salary cap, Hurney told Packer, “I’ve learned that, right or wrong, from being in this league 20 years, that you do not let good football players, difference-makers, leave your franchise. You don’t do that."Read More

GOOD News on Smitty - Observations from a wet Wednesday - Steve Smith was there, without a sling supporting his injured right shoulder. He spent some time on an exercise bike, and handled the boredom that comes with that by reading a book. Couldn't tell what the title was. Smith walked around and was able to move his r...ight arm fairly freely. Don't know how much pain he's in, but that seemed like a good sign.Read More

Maake Kemoeatu lasted fewer than 30 minutes in Carolina's first training camp practice Monday before tearing his right Achilles tendon, leaving the Panthers in disarray at the position where they entered with the least depth. The mammoth defensive tackle's Achilles tendon snapped while he was running in a non-contact p...osition drill. He was carted to the locker room, then taken to Charlotte, where the tear was discoveRead More

Kemoeatu, his injury might be a little more serious. According to a team source, he was sent back to Charlotte for X-rays on his ankle. He injured it during "pursuit drills" where the defense is NOT working against the offense. They are basically just running to the spot where they're supposed to be. So there was no c...ontact during his injury. It actually happened on the first play of practice. According to coach FoxRead More