Revisiting Marty Hurney's Offseason Mistakes

You can't win an NFL title in March and April, but you can certainly lose one, and if you want to know how the Carolina Panthers went from the NFC title in 2003 to the dregs of the NFC South in 2007, look no further than some of the offseason moves made by Panthers general manager Marty Hurney. Here's just a sampling of some of Hurney's blunders since Super Bowl XXXVIII:

1. Letting Muhsin Muhammad go. The Panthers had a solid, proven NFL receiver to complement Steve Smith. Hurney decided Muhammad was too old and let him leave as a free agent to Chicago, thinking that Keary Colbert and Drew Carter could do Muhammad's job. That hasn't worked out so well, has it? (Hurney may have let Keyshawn Johnson go a year too soon as well.)

2. Signing David Carr. This last decade or so has shown NFL teams the importance of having a quality backup quarterback. Carolina decided to cut the ineffective Chris Weinke -- a good idea -- and ended up signing somebody much, much worse. A 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde plays rings around Carr. Joey Harrington, who was available, probably could have done better. Perhaps this wouldn't have been necessary if 4th-round pick Stefan LeFors had been any good.

And speaking of the NFL draft ...

3. A litany of draft busts. The 2004 draft alone -- Chris Gamble, Colbert, Carter, Travelle Wharton, Sean Tufts and Michael Gaines -- ought to be grounds for termination. Throw in LeFors and Eric Shelton in 2005, James Anderson and Rashad Butler in 2006, and Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson in 2007, and you have a lot of high-profile picks that look like busts. Even DeAngelo Williams was a bad pick -- not because Williams is a bad running back, but because he's absolutely the wrong back for John Fox's offensive philosophy. Fox wants a workhorse like Stephen Davis, not a jackrabbit like Williams. (Joseph Addai was available there, and while he's not Stephen Davis, he might have been a better fit.)

4. Questionable free agent signings. Beyond Carr, Justin Hartwig and Ma'ake Kemoeatu haven't exactly lit the world on fire, have they? Keyshawn Johnson only lasted one year and was dumped as soon as Dwayne Jarrett was picked. Ken Lucas was good for one year and has struggled to return to form ever since.

5. Failing to address the safety position until the last minute. We knew the Panthers needed help at safety. Mike Minter was getting old, Nate Salley was untested, and there wasn't anyone behind those two. Did Hurney sign a free agent? No. Did Hurney get a good safety in the draft? No. He waited until a day before Minter's retirement to pull Chris Harris out of Chicago. Oh, by the way, Hurney also let Marlon McCree go after 2005. Show of hands: who would rather have Deke Cooper over McCree? Anyone?

6. Not resigning Will Witherspoon. You can say what you want about Witherspoon's recent performance in St. Louis, but the fact of the matter is that he just as important an asset to the Panthers' defense as the concussion-prone Dan Morgan, and he could have moved inside last season when Morgan went out with an injury -- had he been here. Yes, we have Jon Beason now, and he's already a good one, but again, Hurney appeared to wait until the last minute to fill an important hole in the defense.

7. Ignoring Wes Welker. You can argue that Welker is shorter than Smith and would not have made a good complement. I disagree. Welker is quick and versatile, he's a dangerous return man -- something the Panthers needed after 2006 -- and he might have been just the kind of slot receiver Carolina hasn't had since Ricky Proehl retired. He could have been had for a 2nd round pick. Instead, Hurney spent two draft picks on Jarrett and Robinson. (Seriously, how bad are Dwayne Jarrett's work habits if he can't get a start ahead of Keary Colbert, whose route-running is as good as Emmitt Smith's commentary on ESPN?)

8. Not taking care of Julius Peppers. If Peppers had the long-term deal he wanted last spring, he might not have anyone asking if he's hoofing it. Given his performance this year, Hurney might just decide to let him go, too. Do the Panthers have anything behind him? Mike Rucker's on his last legs, and Stanley McClover and Charles Johnson haven't really panned out yet.

All told, it's a pretty lousy track record. This team needs someone in the front office to turn it around. I don't think Marty Hurney is the guy. Here's hoping the Carolina Panthers replace him soon.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-28-2007 @ 1:41PM

Justin said...

As for the QB situation:

I rather have Tim Couch playing QB for Carolina then Carr. At least he was halfway decent with the Browns and led them to the playoffs in 2002. I hope that they wise up and draft Matt Ryan in the draft cause who knows if Delhomme will be fully healthy in time for next season.

As for Julius Peppers

Peppers, I think, is worth a pretty high pick considering all that he have accomplished in his career. But the thing is, if they trade him who would replace him?

And what was he thinking when he let Witherspoon and Muhammad go?

11-28-2007 @ 1:42PM

Dave said...

Justin: He was thinking that Moose and Will cost too much. He didn't stop to think they might be worth it.

11-28-2007 @ 3:46PM

JLYON1975 said...

I'm in agreement that Marty needs to go, but I'm going against the growing tide in Charlotte and hoping that Fox can stay. I think Fox is stand up guy and is taking blame for some personell decisions that may have been pushed on him. I'd like to see a really good talent evaluator come in, keep Fox and then focus on free agency and the draft this year to fill the following three areas of need:
1.) Offensive Line (need dominating Gaurd and left tackle)
2.) Defensive line (need a legitimate pass rush threat)
3.) Running back (I'd love to see Darren McFadden in a Panthers uniform and he can return kicks).

It all starts with the O-line, because no-running back will look good without holes to run through, but then we also need a back who can take it to the house with speed, which neither Foster nor Williams has proven to do (Wiliams is quick, but I haven't seen the break-away speed I expected).

I think we should use free agency for the o-line and then the draft for the other two spots.

11-28-2007 @ 4:27PM

JLYON1975

And I would love to see Matt Ryan in a Panthers uniform. Their running would be good if Williams were starting and their O-line were playing better football.

Dave

Exactly, he didn't stop to think about it and look at how it came back and bit him in the butt. And by the way, their best offseason decision ever in the entire history of that franchise was when they signed Jake Delhomme, thats my opinion by the way.

11-29-2007 @ 9:00AM

gene said...

I totally agree with that cutting the moose loose was a big mistake, he WAS the perfect compliment to smith, what was he thinking, as for witherspoon
i think we replaced him pretty good with 2 potentally great linebackers in Beason and Davis so no loss there, Carr? at the time everybody thought it was a good move, including me, most posters thought he would challenge Jake, most people figured he would do better behind a better offensive line, but guess what? we don t have a better offensive line than houston, hindsight is
20/20 on Carr, i m still not convinced it is all his fault, when Jake plays its the same almost, no time to pass, can t run, i don t think the blame rests entirely with Carr or Testaverde or Jake.
Remember last year wasn t much better, we would
have been 7-9 if the Falcons would have cared
the last game, instead of 8-8.

11-29-2007 @ 9:01AM

But i do agree hurney has done a poor job. And i m
am on the new coach bandwagon also.

11-29-2007 @ 9:49AM

Have to agree with Justin on the pick-up of Jake Delhomme being the best free agent move in team history. Got him for virtually nothing and although he can be streaky, when he is on he is AMAZING to watch and the consumate leader on the field. He is a risk taker and when it breaks bad my wife and I are the first ones yelling at the TV, but this year he really seemed to have turned the corner and was willing to throw a ball away, rather than force something that really wasn't there.

The focus this offseason has to be on an offensive line that can protect Jake and the young QB's (we should keep Basanez and Moore), while opening holes CONSISTENLY for our backs. Once the o-line is force to be reckoned with (heck I'd settle for the line just being slightly above average at this point), I think the rest of the offense falls into place. I want to sit back and watch us on a 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 and KNOW we are going to be able to get it.

Also, I like Ryne Robinson. My wife and I met him at training camp and he is a really nice guy, but I'm just one sure that he is fast enough (he's quick, not sure he's fast) enough to be real return threat?

11-29-2007 @ 12:04PM

soulcitysigma1914 said...

i agree with 90% of this but I absolutely hate this overrating of Moose that goes on among Panthers fans today. Don't get me wrong, yes Moose was probably the second best WR in panther history behind Smith but that's not saying too much when there have really only been 4 really good Panther WRs since the team started play: Smith, Moose, Proehl and Patrick Jeffers (no I don't count Rae Carruth he was unproven).

What people forget is that Moose had a horrible habit of dropping balls throughout the majority of his career. Those drops went away back in 2004 when Moose had that breakthrough season and priced himself out of Carolina after Smith got hurt, but knowing the history of the team means knowing that Moose dropped a lot of balls before that one season and that combined with his age and that high price did in fact make him expendible.

oh, and Pep might be hoofing it but I honestly do think it is layover from that bronchitis he had

11-30-2007 @ 12:39AM

John said...

Soul City nailed it! You guys are putting way too much credit on Moose's resume...he really stepped up in his contract year but aside from that he was a prone pass dropper....how many times did he drop the 3 and 2 pass right in his chest but make a circus catch late in the game when it did not matter.

He could have been kept, but it was too much $. Keyshawn filled that gap, but WTF were we thinking letting him walk prior to kicking the tire on Jarrett? Colbert is a POS!

I totally agree with the analysis of D Williams..good back, wrong back. So is Foster. Where are our draft picks? Dan Morgan over Will Spoon is just another knotch in Marty's fire me belt. The buckle is David Carr. I would rather wake up with my face sewn to the carpet than have to watch his sorry ass play QB.

It is over, move the F on...please.

In regards to Peppers, I totally disagree with your point Dave (which is rare). I don't think that giving him a deal should ensure that he plays better or would have ensured that he would be playing better. hell, his numbers have fallen every year for the last three...and you would think that he would be balls out this year...but he is a loafing POS. The entire D-line needs to hit the bricks....I say, FIRE SALE the whole lot of them. Start over.

Fox stays..this is on Marty.

12-12-2007 @ 4:53PM

unclebigbad said...

The Panthers are almost unwatchable..as you can tell by the thousands of no-shows..here are some moves i think will help.

make the following moves

1.Dan Morgan...
2.Deshaun Foster...fumbles too much my buddies and I can usually predict when hes gonna fumble..
3.Kerry Colbert..
4.David Carr..one of the NFL's alltime busts
5.I hate to say it cuz I like the guy but Fox must go..people say go after Bill Cowher I say go after Marty Shottenheimer (sp) hes a winner
6.DeAngelo Williams is a dynamic player but drowning in the wrong system.
7.Cut Julius Peppers...he was the 2nd coming lf Lawrence Taylor now he looks lazy on the field..and you can find someone on the 2nd day of the draft for less money for the same production.
8.This hurts my heart trade Steve Smith(youd be doing him a favor)hes the only player of value we have..hes by far my favorite NFL player but hes never gonna get good numbers here we are dysfunctional at he qb position with no light at the end of the tunnel..im not sold on Delhomme..I think he blew 4-5games himself last season..go after a qb in free agency..Derek Anderson,Mcnabb,Culpepper,Pennington...all could be available..