Someone smarter than I am needs to explain to me why the Carolina Panthers signed Travelle Wharton to a six-year deal today.Seriously, am I just giving Wharton too hard a time for his complete inability to block Falcons defensive end John Abraham, thus leading to Jake Delhomme's season-ending (and season-killing) elbow injury in Week 3 last season? Is he really good enough to warrant a six-year deal? And why exactly weren't terms disclosed? How much are they giving this guy?
The only reason I can see Wharton staying in Carolina is if they move him from left tackle to left guard and put Jordan Gross, who is expected to be franchise tagged any day now, at left tackle. That's where Gross and Wharton played in 2004. That O-line gave up 33 sacks that season -- the exact same number of sacks it gave up in 2007.
Which begs the question: shouldn't John Fox and Marty Hurney be trying to make this O-line better? How exactly does preserving the status quo do that?
UPDATE (2/15): Darin Gantt is reporting that Wharton is getting $35 million over 6 years. He calls it "Mike Wahle money" and thinks Wharton will only remain at tackle if the Panthers can't get one in the draft. Otherwise, he's a guard now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-14-2008 @ 6:34PM
jackofalltrades1977 said...
Delhomme's elbow has been injured for several seasons, Abrahams sack was the straw that broke the QB's elbow.
So one DE has Wharton's number, he did pretty well against other top DE's, such as Dwight Freeney, Chris Canty, and others.
Wharton may have been resigned to move inside to guard since many suggest that's where his true strength lies. With the release of Wahle I think this is a possible, if not probably, scenario.
Lastly, little else is as important as continuity among the O-line. The Giants had a very pedistrian line and through working together and gelling, they wound up with a pretty decent season. Continuity and consistency go a long way with the offensive line. It was as 6 year down that's very likely loaded at the back end, so it should prove to be cap friendly and I doubt seriously they broke the back.
It's a solid move, even if the fans fail to see it.
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2-14-2008 @ 7:55PM
ray said...
Two words: RYAN CLADY. Don't like those two? How about these two: JEFF OTAH. One of those two stud LTs will be available when the 13th pick in the draft rolls around, and that's the position the Panthers need to invest in with their first round pick. Enough with struggling the make do with a decent OL. I think the team brass finally has the chance to solidify the line for the next decade and even to make it exceptional. This is the first step in that process. Well, the second step, as releasing Wahle was the first.
So that's the plan, as far as I can tell. Move Wharton in to RG, draft a stud LT, we've got the league's best RT, we got our long-term C in last year's draft, and we've got four good people to compete for RG (Hartwig, Bridges, Hangartner, Mathis). Really, too much talent along the line is not a problem. I can envision us rivaling Kansas City's recent teams.
Now, we just need to get Bryant Johnson, Ken Hamlin and Justin Smith in free agency, and we can go ahead and print those super bowl tickets.
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2-14-2008 @ 8:07PM
Dave said...
Ray: Did you happen to see Pete Prisco's column on CBSSports.com? He's thinking the exact same way you are. He had the Panthers picking Otah 13th in his mock draft, with Clady going 12th to the Broncos.
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