Carolina Panthers Say Adios to Antoine Cason

Antoine Cason looked like another successful ‘bargain bin’ signing earlier this year when GM Dave Gettlemean reunited the veteran cornerback with Ron Rivera.

Not so much.  The 28-year old veteran corner was released by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday morning, according to NFL.com.

Cason started the season off with such promise in Tampa.  He picked off a pass in the season opener against the Buccaneers, and then followed it up the following week with two forced fumbles, and ten tackles against the Lions.

However, all good things must come to an end, and Cason’s season with the Panthers came to a crashing halt.

More from Cat Crave

• 4 easy decisions the Carolina Panthers can make in 2023 free agency
• What would it cost the Carolina Panthers to land Jalen Ramsey?
• Panthers 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft: Worst-case scenario edition
• 3 Panthers players that can thrive under new coaching staff in 2023
• Duce Staley’s bonafide fire can ignite the Carolina Panthers in 2023

The seven-year veteran CB has been benched multiple times during games, due to his horrid play.  He often missed tackles and took terrible angles on plays.  If it wasn’t for Roman Harper‘s even worse play this year, Cason would win the cake for most disappointing defensive back.

After a terrible year in Arizona last year, the Panthers were hoping that a change of scenery and being reunited with a familiar face on the coaching staff, would help Cason.

Negative.

Heading into the Minnesota game, Cason was the 111th-ranked cover corner.  Let’s just say, he didn’t improve after this past weekend’s performance.

For the Carolina Panthers, this could be the first of a few personnel facelifts over the final four weeks.  It began two weeks ago with the release of veteran-WR, Jason Avant.  This was to give players like Philly Brown, Brenton Bersin and DeAndre Presley a look.

An aging safety-duo of Thomas DeCoud and Roman Harper should be on the same boat as Cason.  All three players have contributed to poor defensive play on the backend.

There are a few younger, and potentially more hungry players like James Dockery, Melvin White, Tre Boston and Robert Lester that should get the nod now thatCason is no longer in Carolina.

Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

James Dockery is the guy that I hope gets a true shot at being Josh Norman’s running mate.  Dockery knows the system well, and came back from his most recent stint as a civilian, hungry and focused.

Norman, like Dockery bounced back from the Panthers’ doghouse and has been their best DB this season.

Imagine if the Panthers’ two best corners were already on the roster, but due to poor evaluation and decision making, were tossed on the scrap heap.

Considering that Head Coach Ron Rivera stated that there weren’t going to be any changes on the roster or coaching staff after the game, I guess his words fell on deaf ears.  It just goes to show that this locker room, coaching staff, players and leadership are not on the same page.

Now, if there was just a way to un-hitch our wagons from the turtle-like offensive gameplans.  I don’t know, perhaps a way of holding a coordinator accountable the same way the players are.

Nah, that is too easy, and makes too much sense…..Not the Panthers way.