BY Cory Spiers
coryspiers@gmail.com
Like it or not, the Panthers will have to find a way to live without the services of veteran tight end Greg Olsen for six to eight weeks after he broke a bone in his right foot in the team's Week 2 win over Buffalo.
It's certainly bad news, but definitely not as doom-and-gloom as some on social media would have you believe.
Olsen is a very important part of what the Panthers do offensively. His crisp, clean route running makes him a favorite target, especially on third down, for quarterback Cam Newton.
After amassing 1,073 receiving yards last season, Olsen became the first tight end in league history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
So, yes. Olsen is important to this team, but they'll get by. The silver lining? He should return for the stretch run that features five games (three at home) against NFC opponents to end the season.
Newton really seems to play better when he's without a key weapon. Remember that he garnered league MVP honors and led his team to the Super Bowl in 2015 after wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was lost for the season with a torn ACL before the regular season even started.
Obviously, there are three ways the team can move forward-- sign a free agent, make a trade or stand pat and let the tight end depth flex its muscles.
Free agents?
Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer already reported earlier today that the team was not considering signing free agent Gary Barnidge.
Barnidge made some sense as a rumor because Interim General Manager Marty Hurney drafted him in the fifth round in 2008.
Barnidge played all 32 games over the next two seasons in Carolina before playing four seasons in Cleveland. Barnidge had his best season in 2015 when he crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, finishing with 1,053 yards and nine touchdowns.
I thought Barnidge was a reach just because it's hard to guess what kind of shape he's in at the moment. Plus, remember it's been five seasons since he saw a Panthers playbook-- a ton has changed since then.
The rest of the list of current free agent tight ends is highlighted by former Raven Dennis Pitta and ex-Falcon Jacob Tamme.
Just looking over the list of free agents, I'd be surprised if the Panthers hadn't at least kicked the tires on some of the guys here. However, I'd be even more surprised if they actually signed one.
A free agent seems rather unlikely. Especially two games into the season.
Keep in mind an incoming free agent would have to be in football shape already, learn the offensive playbook on the fly and be ready to contribute right away. I'm not so sure that's something the team is willing to roll the dice on in Week 3 with a 2-0 record.
What about a trade?
Panthers.com reminds us with a recent article that this is the route the Panthers took when defensive end Charles Johnson went down with a lower body injury early in 2015.
Former GM Dave Gettleman gave the Bears a sixth round pick for Jared Allen and that worked out fine.
The first and most tantalizing choice in my mind is Antonio Gates of the Chargers. Bill Voth of Panthers.com was, I believe, alluding to Gates as a possible trade option in a piece earlier this week but said he couldn't say the name because of tampering rules.
Since I'm not bound by those same rules, I can talk about how sweet having Gates would be.
Gates became the all-time leader in touchdown catches by a tight end this past week, passing Tony Gonzalez. The 6-4 Gates would be a wonderful fill-in for Olsen for a month or two and would make a fascinating combination with Olsen once he returns from injury.
Gates is in the final year of a two-year, $11 million contract with the Chargers. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year when he is 38.
Similar to what the Bears did with Allen, the Chargers could be looking to rent Gates out and get some kind of asset before he, likely, hangs it up.
Look, I'm all in on this Panthers team. I think this defense is probably the best we've seen play in this town and it can't afford to be wasted.
As far as I'm concerned, it's all in on a postseason run. I say give the Chargers whatever they want (within reason) to rent Gates for the rest of the regular season. After all, the team would be doing the longtime Charger a favor.
Los Angeles is 0-2 and not going anywhere. Wouldn't it be poetic to give Gates a chance at the elusive ring in what is likely his swan song season? I think it'd be a fine gesture.
Since the beginning of the 2014 season, Gates has racked up 25 receiving touchdowns. Olsen or not, Gates would immediately make the Panthers better offensively, even at 37.
Remember, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera was with San Diego from 2007-2010 as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator before joining the Panthers.
Tyler Eifert of the Bengals is another interesting name. He's also set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Cincinnati (0-2) is in absolute free fall and hasn't scored a touchdown in its first two games.
Could the slumping Bengals be interested in just collecting picks for their inevitable high draft choices coming next spring? Maybe. The only snag with Eifert is he's reportedly dealing with two separate injuries (knee and back).
Of course, that could mean a lower asking price. But it could also mean a delay in him getting onto the field. He's questionable for Week 3.
Eifert is two seasons removed from 615 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns while missing three games.
Jimmy Graham is also set to become a free agent next season. However, with the fact that Seattle should probably have a respectable season combined with the bad blood he has with Carolina dating back to his days as a Saint, I'd say that one is even less likely than the other two.
These are bold, Madden 18-esque moves, but they're food for thought.
Stand pat, stand strong
Ding-ding-ding! Here is the most likely option.
It's very fun to speculate on what adding Gates to the mix would do. It's intriguing to imagine Barnidge in black and blue again. But the Panthers aren't known for shaking things up drastically mid-season, and I don't expect them to start now.
Indeed, the Panthers will likely be carried by backup tight end Ed Dickson and second-year man Chris Manhertz.
The injury also probably means an increased role for wide receiver Devin Funchess, who played tight end collegiality at Michigan and in high school.
The Panthers also claimed rookie tight end Bucky Hodges off waivers earlier this season. If things get really dire, Hodges could be called up to serve as a third-stringer behind Dickson and Manhertz.
Dickson should be fine in the role he'll likely be asked to play. Once upon a time in 2011, he caught 54 passes for the Ravens. He also owns a Super Bowl ring from his time in Baltimore.
Dickson had his best of his first three seasons in Carolina in 2015 when he caught 17 passes for 121 yards and two scores during the team's 15-1 campaign.
Dickson said earlier this week he hopes the team doesn't change the playbook just because Olsen is out. I don't think they will, but success beyond that is very likely contingent on Dickson and Manhertz getting things done and I think they're capable of that.
coryspiers@gmail.com
Like it or not, the Panthers will have to find a way to live without the services of veteran tight end Greg Olsen for six to eight weeks after he broke a bone in his right foot in the team's Week 2 win over Buffalo.
It's certainly bad news, but definitely not as doom-and-gloom as some on social media would have you believe.
Olsen is a very important part of what the Panthers do offensively. His crisp, clean route running makes him a favorite target, especially on third down, for quarterback Cam Newton.
After amassing 1,073 receiving yards last season, Olsen became the first tight end in league history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
So, yes. Olsen is important to this team, but they'll get by. The silver lining? He should return for the stretch run that features five games (three at home) against NFC opponents to end the season.
Newton really seems to play better when he's without a key weapon. Remember that he garnered league MVP honors and led his team to the Super Bowl in 2015 after wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was lost for the season with a torn ACL before the regular season even started.
Obviously, there are three ways the team can move forward-- sign a free agent, make a trade or stand pat and let the tight end depth flex its muscles.
Free agents?
Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer already reported earlier today that the team was not considering signing free agent Gary Barnidge.
Barnidge made some sense as a rumor because Interim General Manager Marty Hurney drafted him in the fifth round in 2008.
Barnidge played all 32 games over the next two seasons in Carolina before playing four seasons in Cleveland. Barnidge had his best season in 2015 when he crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, finishing with 1,053 yards and nine touchdowns.
I thought Barnidge was a reach just because it's hard to guess what kind of shape he's in at the moment. Plus, remember it's been five seasons since he saw a Panthers playbook-- a ton has changed since then.
The rest of the list of current free agent tight ends is highlighted by former Raven Dennis Pitta and ex-Falcon Jacob Tamme.
Just looking over the list of free agents, I'd be surprised if the Panthers hadn't at least kicked the tires on some of the guys here. However, I'd be even more surprised if they actually signed one.
A free agent seems rather unlikely. Especially two games into the season.
Keep in mind an incoming free agent would have to be in football shape already, learn the offensive playbook on the fly and be ready to contribute right away. I'm not so sure that's something the team is willing to roll the dice on in Week 3 with a 2-0 record.
What about a trade?
Panthers.com reminds us with a recent article that this is the route the Panthers took when defensive end Charles Johnson went down with a lower body injury early in 2015.
Former GM Dave Gettleman gave the Bears a sixth round pick for Jared Allen and that worked out fine.
The first and most tantalizing choice in my mind is Antonio Gates of the Chargers. Bill Voth of Panthers.com was, I believe, alluding to Gates as a possible trade option in a piece earlier this week but said he couldn't say the name because of tampering rules.
Since I'm not bound by those same rules, I can talk about how sweet having Gates would be.
Gates became the all-time leader in touchdown catches by a tight end this past week, passing Tony Gonzalez. The 6-4 Gates would be a wonderful fill-in for Olsen for a month or two and would make a fascinating combination with Olsen once he returns from injury.
Gates is in the final year of a two-year, $11 million contract with the Chargers. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent next year when he is 38.
Similar to what the Bears did with Allen, the Chargers could be looking to rent Gates out and get some kind of asset before he, likely, hangs it up.
Look, I'm all in on this Panthers team. I think this defense is probably the best we've seen play in this town and it can't afford to be wasted.
As far as I'm concerned, it's all in on a postseason run. I say give the Chargers whatever they want (within reason) to rent Gates for the rest of the regular season. After all, the team would be doing the longtime Charger a favor.
Los Angeles is 0-2 and not going anywhere. Wouldn't it be poetic to give Gates a chance at the elusive ring in what is likely his swan song season? I think it'd be a fine gesture.
Since the beginning of the 2014 season, Gates has racked up 25 receiving touchdowns. Olsen or not, Gates would immediately make the Panthers better offensively, even at 37.
Remember, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera was with San Diego from 2007-2010 as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator before joining the Panthers.
Tyler Eifert of the Bengals is another interesting name. He's also set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Cincinnati (0-2) is in absolute free fall and hasn't scored a touchdown in its first two games.
Could the slumping Bengals be interested in just collecting picks for their inevitable high draft choices coming next spring? Maybe. The only snag with Eifert is he's reportedly dealing with two separate injuries (knee and back).
Of course, that could mean a lower asking price. But it could also mean a delay in him getting onto the field. He's questionable for Week 3.
Eifert is two seasons removed from 615 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns while missing three games.
Jimmy Graham is also set to become a free agent next season. However, with the fact that Seattle should probably have a respectable season combined with the bad blood he has with Carolina dating back to his days as a Saint, I'd say that one is even less likely than the other two.
These are bold, Madden 18-esque moves, but they're food for thought.
Stand pat, stand strong
Ding-ding-ding! Here is the most likely option.
It's very fun to speculate on what adding Gates to the mix would do. It's intriguing to imagine Barnidge in black and blue again. But the Panthers aren't known for shaking things up drastically mid-season, and I don't expect them to start now.
Indeed, the Panthers will likely be carried by backup tight end Ed Dickson and second-year man Chris Manhertz.
The injury also probably means an increased role for wide receiver Devin Funchess, who played tight end collegiality at Michigan and in high school.
The Panthers also claimed rookie tight end Bucky Hodges off waivers earlier this season. If things get really dire, Hodges could be called up to serve as a third-stringer behind Dickson and Manhertz.
Dickson should be fine in the role he'll likely be asked to play. Once upon a time in 2011, he caught 54 passes for the Ravens. He also owns a Super Bowl ring from his time in Baltimore.
Dickson had his best of his first three seasons in Carolina in 2015 when he caught 17 passes for 121 yards and two scores during the team's 15-1 campaign.
Dickson said earlier this week he hopes the team doesn't change the playbook just because Olsen is out. I don't think they will, but success beyond that is very likely contingent on Dickson and Manhertz getting things done and I think they're capable of that.
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