The Panthers have started the offseason, releasing LB Dan Morgan and LG Mike Wahle. No real surprise.
(Update: 5:45 p.m.) Both are going down as post-June 1 designated cuts, meaning they can spread the cap hit over the next two years. Quick math shows a net salary cap savings of around $2.2 million for Morgan and $1.1 million for Wahle. More room could come later with more releases.
Let me talk about Wahle first. I really don't feel bad at all about losing Wahle. He was a huge free agent signing who got to the pro bowl just because Packers fans are insane. He's been decaying since he got here and was constantly injured. If he plays next year he'll probably just fall apart on the field, or explode. Frankly whoever we put in there at his position, in terms of cost/production, will be an upgrade. This also frees up the Panthers to do their favorite thing: overpay for some overrated piece of shit lineman with 1 year left in the off season. You might as well just buy a house in Charlotte, Allen Faneca.
Dan Morgan is a little bit different. I feel something in my chest. It may be sorrow, or sadness. It may be a heart attack. Either way I'm not sure I like it.
Let's go back over the history of Dan Morgan for a moment.
His first season was 2001, and he was part of that epic George Seifert draft that Fox used to get to the Super Bowl in 2003. He went one, Jenkins went two, Smith went three. He came out and quickly set the tune for how his career would go. On a field ripped up by a Rolling Stones concert, he got stiff armed into oblivion by Brett Favre and shattered his leg.
The next year, 2002, he managed to play in 8 hole games, make 54 tackles, and get a sports hernia and send his shoulder into hell.
2003 was his banner year. He stayed healthy for 11 regular season games, raped everything he saw in the playoffs, and had 20 tackles in the Super Bowl. He was a fucking monster.
2004 was the beginning of his concussion fun. 2005 he was relatively healthy and proved to the front office that ten games of Dan Morgan was worth more than 16 from Will Witherspoon, a decision that is painful to think about. I literally wake up screaming in a cold sweat thinking about that mistake. It was like the Panthers raped themselves. They didn't even need Washington this time.
2005 and 2006 were just atrocious. If it weren't for Jon Beason the Superior it would have been a disaster in 2006. The bottom line is he can't be counted on anymore.
I'm going to break shtick for a second here. In all seriousness, Dan Morgan may be the best linebacker the Panthers have ever had. He was a once in a generation type talent; the kind of guy that could read defenses before some of the players on the other side of the ball knew the play. He was a natural leader and a phenomenal athlete. When he was healthy he couldn't be stopped. He made everyone else around him better.
He also set the team back because of his health. Since they committed to him, they overpaid for that fat sack of shit Kemo'eatu because for some reason they thought what they needed was a huge DT. He still got hurt and Kemo sucks. He was the reason they lost Will Witherspoon to the fucking cock sucking Rams. When he went out it set the defense back at least three games while they adjusted.It's sad to see him go, but it's a move the Panthers had to make. Even if he played for nothing, he's blocking the development of younger players. No longer can he stand in the way of the Adam Seward Spectacle, or the Tim Shaw Variety Hour. I'd love to see him in a coaching capacity. Just as long as they keep him out of the training room I don't see a down side.
Farewell you goofy looking fucker. You will be missed.
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