Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman obviously didn’t expect to be 15-1, and didn’t expect to be getting as much praise as he’s getting.
But as he reflected on the construction of the team that took the top seed in the NFC playoffs, he was careful to point out the benefit of the stability he inherited.
Of the 10 players the Panthers are sending to the Pro Bowl, Gettleman inherited eight of them from previous General Manager Marty Hurney, along with a coach of the year in Ron Rivera. So without having to overhaul the roster, he’s been able to get their cap situation back into order and establish the Panthers as a perennial contender (having won three straight division titles).
“As I have said a number of times, Marty left some really good pieces, and through the draft and I think we have made some very judicious signings in free agency.,” Gettleman said, via Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review. “We had the cap issue at first and we’re working through that. We’ve been able to extend the guys we feel are the core — Cam [Newton], Luke [Kuechly] and Greg [Olsen] and TD [Thomas Davis].
“You always have work to do but I think we have used every avenue — we’ve traded for players, taken guys off the waiver wire and practice squads. We’ve used every avenue available to us. [Pro personnel director] Mark Koncz and his staff on his pro side and [college scouting director] Donny Gregory and his staff have done a great job.”
Gettleman has been able to dig the team out of salary cap problems, problems which stemmed from owner Jerry Richardson’s CBA-drive pre-lockout decision to not spend money, followed by spending all of it at once after the lockout.
Now, Gettleman’s problem will be retaining key pieces, as cornerback Josh Norman (another inherited piece) is on the verge of becoming an unrestricted free agent, and defensive tackle Kawann Short is entering the final year of his rookie deal next year.
But a large part of the reason they’re viable now and into the future is the stability, as he stuck with Rivera when many wouldn’t have, and is now enjoying the rewards.
“The Steelers, the Giants have proven what continuity does,” Gettleman said. “I haven’t had one moment where I have regretted anything in terms of Mr. (Richardson) keeping Ron and working with Ron has been just a joy. We communicate and the continuity is huge. Again there are so many moving parts to what we’re doing that when you disperse more moving parts it just doesn’t work.”
With seven teams changing coaches this offseason, that’s a lesson other teams might do well to learn.