The Carolina Panthers made news this week by announcing plans to retain head coach Matt Rhule for 2022, though Jay Glazer reported that he’d have to get his new offensive coordinator hire right in order for him to actually not get his ass canned. Whether he stays or goes is completely irrelevant to what we’re here to talk about this fine morning. Nope – I want to draw attention to this clip from a Rhule press conference during which someone asks him why the Panthers scooped up the fifth-year option of Sam Darnold the way they did. His response is like watching an ant squirm under a microscope on a hot summer day. I’d laugh, but it’s almost too sad – I don’t feel good about myself watching this.
Matt Rhule was asked why the team felt compelled to sign Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option as quickly as they did.
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) January 10, 2022
Here’s his response: pic.twitter.com/yg0S7iciP8
Tough scene. It’s really hard to adequately describe the range of emotions that come across this man’s face while answering this question. He looks like he absolutely knows that was a stupid decision, dare I say he probably even realizes that the franchise has to move on from Darnold. He looks like he knows he’s on the hot seat and the answer to this question probably isn’t going to help. And, there’s even a little bit of “please help me I’m dying here” in it. Remember when everyone reamed Nick Sirianni for his cringe-inducing awkward press conference about installing systems? See, THAT was funny. He said something dumb, we ran with it, and then he came out and got the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs and now we’ve forgotten all about that. This, though….THIS is just sad….because I think we all know how it ends. We’re watching a man on his last legs unless he can pull off a miracle.
I’ll admit it – I was a big time Rhule guy when the Panthers signed him out of Baylor. I thought Darnold could work with a fresh start, a much better group of weapons to work with, and a hot shot offensive coordinator in Joe Brady, who was red hot after working on that historic LSU Tigers offense in 2019. But, it turned out that Darnold was just a cheap option, and hey – shocker, I know – maybe he just really isn’t all that good. And, maybe….just maybe…Rhule isn’t quite the program-builder he was thought to be. It hasn’t taken long to see that it’s not quite working – there’s a ton of talent in Carolina, and that defense is good enough to win with…but it comes down to quarterback, and if this program is really going to roll with Darnold….well….oh boy.
Put this man out of his misery – none of us want to see this man dying inside at press conferences anymore. Cut your losses. Move on, Carolina.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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