As the Panthers' purge continues....
Carolina traded starting strong safety Chris Harris on Tuesday for Chicago backup linebacker Jamar Williams. Harris made news (again) on his Twitter page, announcing the trade before either team announced it.
This means the Panthers will have at least nine new starters out of 22 next season, as Sherrod Martin is expected to step in for Harris. It continues Carolina's tendency to get younger this offseason. Here's Darin Gantt's excellent story about the deal.
Will Harris's departure make a huge on-field difference? Probably not. Martin is pretty darn good. Harris had a great streak last season of being involved in at least one turnover for five straight games, but he also doesn't have the sort of speed that I think defensive coordinator Ron Meeks most values in that position.
Still, I'll miss Harris -- and his Twitter account. Now he knew how to use Twitter! He didn't use it just to post what he had for breakfast (and I saw him once at a Charlotte pancake house, so I can tell you the man liked his breakfast). He broke news on that thing -- first the release of Brad Hoover, then news of his own trade. (Harris and kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd were by far the most entertaining Panthers to read on Twitter; now both are gone. Somebody in that locker room needs to step up!).
Harris also was a stand-up guy in that locker room and also a smart guy. Bet you didn't know he had a twin brother who is a university professor. When he began his career with Carolina, he had an uncanny knack for causing fumbles, but that dissipated some over time.
What a good guy, though. The Panthers still have a number of those, but they sure have gotten rid of a bunch of them this offseason.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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(Harris and kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd were by far the most entertaining Panthers to read on Twitter; now both are gone. Somebody in that locker room needs to step up!).
Yeah, that would be smart.
It almost seems as though the Panthers have lost their personality-- their face. Sure, Williams, Smith, and Stewart are still there but they were never the face of the franchise. Those have left. Now I'm kind of searching to define what it is that we're looking at.
sure you guys are gonna miss reading their stuff on Twitter... now you are gonna have to actually find resources and try to get a story before all the other papers/espn
I really don't care about his Twitter account. Fowler do something else in your free time. Checking twitter accounts of average nfl players and posting what they posted on observer.com just to have a story.
Isaiah writes: Ok, yea thanks Chris, you gave good effort, good leadership, and were straight up with the press as far as we can tell. Now, Jamar Williams, yea was stuck behind all pro Lance Briggs, started 2 games last year and had 7 and 18 that's right eighteen tackles in one game with 2 passes defended. Obviously Rams said Briggs out, we'll test Williams and he responded. Runs a 4.65 40 as well (Diggs ran 4.74). Martin at safety can be the same or better turn over force Harris was, remember in his first game he intercepted Kurt Warner twice. Young, fast and hungry is what this new Panther squad is looking like, i like it!
PS - Beason is more than capable of being the face of the franchise, DeAngelo will become that more, and the successful starting QB will become as well.
I'll miss gettin to see him at the Paperdoll every weekend
I find Twitter to be annoying at best and incredibly narcisistic at worst. Lloyd and Harris are exceptions; most people do use it only to post what their last meal was. Pretty useless, in my opinion.
All the national pundits (and a lot of local curmudgens) will declare the Panthers are going to go 3-13 because they will have so many starters they haven't heard of. And of course, most people think, "I haven't heard of you, therefore you suck." But I think the youth and speed will serve us well. We still have plenty of seasoned vets (Smith, Double Trouble, Beason, Gamble) that can help the new kids along. We'll be fine. I'm not expecting a Super Bowl this year, but a winning record is definitely achievable.
I only follow 4 Panthers and Harris and Lloyd were 2 of them. Jonathan Stewart is pretty interesting, but Lloyd was the best.
Sorry to see Chris go,but at the end of the season you could see Meeks' success reshaping the defense, so maybe all these changes will work in the grand scheme. One other observation, Twitter may be narcissistic, but it's fun to have some people to liven up the place, also including another media darling Hollis Thomas. I felt he really contributed in many ways last year, and am sorry to see he won't be back either.
What do you mean you don't see the face of this franchise...Well Ill show you it...That offensive line and those two running backs( that's what this franchise lives off of) that and it's MLB Jon Beason, and really, even B4 Peppers left, I already saw Beason as the new defensive leader...maybe Peppers did too, that's why he left...another thing I was wondering about Pep, why would you leave Carolina and go to the Chicago Bears when you say you wanted to win a championship...they are about 4 or 5 steps behind us.
The guy was great for a team - a true steal for a fifth round pick. We'll miss him, but I don't think we'll see a drop off in play - Sherrod Martin was amazing in the opportunities he was given. Godfrey might be the 'weak link' - he's got to step up or we need to upgrade!
He is a sencond string player on any other team. No big loss
He was a good safety but nothing that isn't replaceable. Chemistry DOES matter, however, and thats what concerns me about our defense. Its not that I think we are lacking in talent, we've got plenty of that. I'm just corncerned about how well they will all play together. But we'll see. Sometimes a major shakeup can give a massive jolt to the team and sometimes it can give a negative impact (i.e. last years Bucs after they cut all their vets)
oh...you will really like Jamar Williams....he will go to the pro bowl with the Panthers....I guarantee you that. That poor man has been stuck behind good linebackers...he is really good..., we needed Harris, and he belonged to us...but you got some one one tier above Harris in return...good trade for both teams................go bearrrrrrrrsz!
-and thanks forgetting rid of Jake for us..now we can beat you.
Right on Scott. I will miss Harris too - the best trade Hurney ever made (and there havent been many).
How about an article about the LB we got in return for Harris?
Harris did say he will be traded when Panthers Brass made the 3 season late to cut Dumbhome,Duh..Home whatever Peppers,Kemp, Hoover.. miss u Harris.
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