Despite what Marty Hurney says, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer isn’t convinced that he’ll leave after one year if the Panthers wind up making the playoffs. Of course, if the Panthers fall flat and finish with a losing record again, it’s likely that the team follows through on the plan to hire a successor.
As unorthodox as the entire situation may be, Person believes that hiring Hurney was the right move for Carolina.
“I think one of my strengths is dealing with people and I do have a familiarity with a lot of people here,” Hurney said at his introductory presser. “Anytime you’re leading or managing you have to have that ability to communicate with people. Not only talk to people, but listen to people. So I do think that’s a strength and I’m hoping that’s one of the reasons I’m here.”
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- Panthers tight end Greg Olsen says contract talks with Dave Gettleman were never contentious and he doesn’t believe that Gettleman’s negotiations with him or Thomas Davis were tipping points in his standing with the team (Twitter links via Person). Olsen added that he never had a problem with Gettleman and says he respects the fact that he stuck to his guns in contract dealings. Some believe that Olsen is more likely to get the revised deal that he is seeking now that Hurney is in charge. For what it’s worth, Hurney says he is going to be more practical and less emotional in his second stint running the Panthers.
- We haven’t heard any updates on Falcons running back Devonta Freeman over the last few weeks, but Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com still expects a deal to happen either before or during training camp. Earlier this summer, Freeman said that he was willing to wait patiently for the right extension offer to come his way. Meanwhile, both sides have expressed confidence in striking a deal.
- There’s not a lot of pressure on the Saints to extend Drew Brees, one beat writer opines.
- Depending on who you ask, running back Charles Sims may or may not be on the Buccaneers‘ roster bubble.
Interesting they extend Turner with no comment about Davis or Olsen