Fox comments

Besides the fact that he cancelled tomorrow's session, I thought these were intersting statements:

On Patrick Jeffers: That's more of a wait-and-see. He's had some knee problems. It's something that's been hampering to him. We've tried to get it fixed, but again that's more of a wait-and-see. It's like speculating the stock market. In medical areas, there's a timeframe, and sometimes it varies from that. We'll figure that out when we get to camp.

On challenge of changing team's personality: This game is about 90 percent mental. It's confidence and the preparation factor. It's something where you're trying to train their minds, because if you get the minds right, the bodies will follow. We've spent a lot of time as a coaching staff with the leaders on this football team. I feel good about where we are right now.

On his rapport with the players: I have a great respect for what these guys do. This is a tough livelihood. They're well compensated. That's pretty well documented. But it's still a tough way to earn a living. When you get to know them on a more personal level, they respond to that. This is all about motivation and getting people to do something that's potentially harmful to them. It's just who I am. It's how I like to motivate. It's all I know.



He's the anti-Seifert. It don't sound good for Pat.

 

You're right. Maybe we're reading too much into it but that hardly sounds like a ringing endorsement of Jeffer's recovery.
Otherwise, you have to feel good about Fox's handling of the team so far. I don't see us as playoff bound this year but I certainly believe we're headed in the right direction.

 

The good news is it isn't going to get any worse.

 

Could it have gotten any worse? OK, maybe just a little.

 

I just get this nagging feeling Jeffers isnt going to be around much longer. Every quote from Fox is basically the same. He'll give a nice endorsment for Rucker or Hoover and then the subject comes to Jeffers and its like the whole mood changes. I am sure Fox is getting tired of the same response to the same question day after day, and most importantly I am sure he is frustrated to have a good but injured player. I don't have anything other than a hunch.

 

Does anyone here know what Jeffers is making this year . . . in other words, what is our cap break when we cut him loose to get both Tolhurst and Bright on the roster?
Doesn't it sound like those two (aside from Smith) are our best shot at deep threats this season?

 

I'm going off memory, but seems like I remember a 4 year/8 mill contract after that 99 season. But that could be wrong. Yes, reports outta camp have Bright catching everything thrown his way. And he's greased lightning too.

 

/$10 million. I don't remember if it has ever been extended but it's been renegotiated twice, or actually renegotiated once and he took a cut this year. Nothing is charged if he's cut and the only savings is his salary, which is a minimum.

 

And he lets everyone go a day early...

21:36 PT: Steve Reed reports for the Gaston Gazette the Carolina Panthers finished up their coaching sessions one day early Wednesday and the team is now off until training camp. Coach John Fox decided to give the team Thursday off. "In locker room lingo that’s known as throwing the guys a bone," Fox said. "I think guys will give you about everything you have as long as you’re fair to them." Panthers SS Mike Minter said the decision to let players go a day early will be something the players file away in their memory.

 

Other Fox comments (Observer):

For the past five seasons, the Panthers have been widely regarded as weak in the trenches. Fox said he now considers the offensive and defensive lines to be the strength of the team.

Players Fox singled out for having impressive voluntary camps were Wesley Walls at tight end, Brad Hoover and Kris Mangum at the H-back position and defensive linemen Julius Peppers, Brentson Buckner, Sean Gilbert and Mike Rucker.