The Panthers are apparently in the running for the services for former Green Bay defensive back Charles Woodson. He's ancient by league standards, at age 36, but he would also undeniably improve a secondary that remains one of the team's biggest question marks.
According to The Denver Post, Woodson met with the Broncos Wednesday but left without a contract. He is believed to have an offer already from the Oakland Raiders, his former team, and apparently the Panthers have at least inquired about getting him. Coach Ron Rivera was coy about that Wednesday night.
Why not more NFL-wide interest in Woodson, who has made eight Pro Bowls -- including as recently as 2011? Because he was hampered throughout the 2012 season with a collarbone injury, he will probably still want a healthy salary and he's going to have to cover players who were in elementary school when he first came into the league.
The Panthers went down this road once before, signing a Packer in his late 30s with an enormous reputation and a recent AP NFL Defensive Player of Year award, hoping he could push them to a playoff berth. That was the late Reggie White, and that one didn't work out well. White started every game and was a steady locker room presence, but the team dropped from 8-8 in 1999 to 7-9 the year he played.
But that Panther team in 2000 was not as talented as this one is, and Woodson would be very helpful to a team that released cornerback Chris Gamble in the offseason and has questions at both safety and cornerback (Woodson has played both -- he can play pretty much every position in the secondary, including nickel corner).
If there's any shot at all at getting him -- assuming he is healthy -- the Panthers need to make a serious offer. This is quite an opportunity.
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9 years ago
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18 comments:
After D-Will restructuring his contract, we have more cap room to work with. There's no question we need all the help we can get in the secondary, but would signing Woodson be our best use of cap space? I understand he's hands down the most talented DB on the free agent market right now, I just don't know if the money he will require for the 1 year, 2 year max, contract would be our best investment. Just my perception. Thanks.
Panthers need Woodson. Carolina might have the worst secondary in the NFL it was painfully obvious this area needed help more than any last year and they did nothing to address this need in free agency or the draft. I don't care how old Woodson is and if he's past his peak. He would be the best player in the secondary from day one.
Got to stick up for my man, White.
"White started every game and was a steady locker room presence, but the team dropped from 8-8 in 1999 to 7-9 the year he played."
So Reggie White was the sole reason, or a main reason why the Panthers dropped to 7-9 the year he played? One man can do that?
How about this for an excuse - the rest of the players stunk it up as well. Here's your stats for that year: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2000.htm
We have 1 advantage in that we'll have a better D-Line than the other teams he's looking at. He theoretically wouldn't have to cover as long here, which would mean more opportunities to make plays. If is demands aren't too outrageous, I say make a run at him. Gettleman won't get into a bidding-war and overpay for him though, he's actually smart with money!
It would completely shock me if Getts signed Woodson. Unlike a lot of Panther fans, he sees the end result and that doesn't include signing an over the hill, banged up player that MIGHT make us better this year. Hopefully he does the smart thing and invests in Hardy. Young talented pass rushers aren't easily found and they make your secondary look good. Dude was a freak with one good hand last year. They wait till after this year and they won't be able to afford him.
With improvement to the d-line and their ability to put pressure on opposing QBs, the Panthers don't need Woodson. The high d-line draft picks should help in that regard.
Comes down to price. Panthers desperately need any help they can get in the secondary. If Woodson's salary demand is at all reasonable, sign him. If not, pass.
Sign Sean Gilbert
Well Scott, based on your journalistic standards, Woodson isn't openly gay therefore he wouldn't help us nor show how tough and tolerant we are so why are you lobbying for him?add
Can't we go back to Chris Gamble and offer him a 1 year contract????
Hold off and wait until the NFL teams have to trim their rosters. There will be some value to be had at DB/S without spending what Woodson is going to want.
Where`s Kevin Greene?
I agree with the comment above about trying to bring back Chris Gamble in some way. I don't know, clearly Panthers brass seems to know something we don't (?), but as it currently stands, the secondary is going to be really big problem for a team that seems pretty solid everywhere else.
This is a no brainer. We need Woodson and he needs a team. I like the fact that we're not falling at his feet, but we do need to be a little bit more aggressive and at least put in some effort. It would be one thing to have tried and not gotten him. But to have to look back and say that the team should have tried harder...that would suck.
All this stuff about him being too old and the salary cap problem doesn't hold a candle to the simple fact that the panthers need a presence in the secondary. And Woodson at 50% is (I hate to say it) better than most of our secondary at its best.
He's so old, Lombardi was his first coach.
To the last post: We have plenty of 3rd tier castoffs from other teams already. Why sign another DB who has been cut from another team? Gettleman will probably make a one year offer to Woodson...the question is will Woodson accept it? But that's about all we can do because the team has to save some cap money to resign Cam to a bigger contract for next year.
We need a fear factor on the defense side of the ball! Male the team beat us on the run not the passing game. We need respect on the secondary... Qb's need to fear and question the pass cw in the back feild. Gp
If we can get Woodson for the right price (we wont) But if we can then yea it's a no brainer.He can still contribute on the field w/ our vastly improved "D" Line, and without question his leadership skills and locker room presance will help our young DB's. Question for those who might know better tha me, are ther any ROT out there worth the cap space Gett Man has cleared? Because you all know what that could do for our RB's oh yea and CAM's a runner to.
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