Hurney knows people and money like a great GM should

In 2003 Panthers GM Marty Hurney was runner-up as NFL Executive of the Year, and the Panthers went to their first Super Bowl, losing to the New England Patriots 31-28. That was Hurney’s second year as GM, although he wore several hats from 1998-2012 in his first tour of duty with the team.

If going to the Super Bowl so quickly is a primary criteria, we’ll have to wait for several months to determine whether—like the Panthers Bill Polian’s back-to-back Exec awards in 1995, 1996 and with the Colts in 1999 —he gets the respect his efforts last year  and his draft class from 2018 should get  for such top-level consideration.

While Hurney gets credit for drafting Julius Peppers (2002), Thomas Davis (2005), Ryan Kalil, Cam Newton (2011), and Luke Kuechly (2012), he’s admitted that personal bonds and loyalty he felt for certain players vs. ‘just’ analytical skills might have come through in some contracts from that first time around. Certainly there was a strong personal relationship with then- Panthers owner Jerry Richardson that allowed him to return within days of Dave Gettleman being terminated last July.

By most accounts, Gettleman was let go after a series of player releases—meaning no compensation to Panthers—for players like Josh Norman (gone after removal of the franchise player tag), DeAngelo Williams (Panthers all-time rushing leader), and crowd favorite Steve Smith (all-time receiving leader), and the signing of Matt Kalil to a 5 year/$55M contract after playing only two games in 2016. There was also the knock that he never provided the support Cam Newton needed with a quality offensive line, fast receivers, and overall depth, plus hardball contract negotiations with high profile good guys and team leaders like Davis and Olsen that bothered Richardson, the players, and fans.

When Hurney arrived just before training camp last year, he immediately and appropriately fixed those contracts, although Olsen’s foot injury meant he didn’t hit any of the incentives that adding another- after three straight 1,000 yard receiving years- would have earned him.

For anyone who have followed the Panthers since then, the differences are impressive, especially his picking up players through free agency– Torrey Smith, Jarius Wright, CJ Anderson, Chris Clark, who started at OLT vs. Atlanta after less than a week of practice (“You have to know where to find those guys who can help you right away”) and Marshall Newhouse (from Buffalo) when an early rash of offensive line injuries caused concern- and the recent acquisition of All Pro safety Eric Reid to fill holes with superior talent at make-good contract prices. Hurney obviously put a solid draft class together that addressed other position needs (DJ Moore, Donte Jackson, Rashaan Gaulden, Ian Thomas), and perhaps most importantly, he should get an extra ration of credit for bringing in Norv Turner to replace offensive coordinator Mike Shula.

Although Hurney can’t take credit for a healthy Cam Newton in 2018 after he semi-rehabbed from surgery during the 2017 pre-season, there’s also no whispers of concern for the team’s inability to put together two seasons in a row over .500 in 24 years the franchise has existed. New owner David Tepper might not be expecting miracles, but getting past that particular fact should be advanced with a pounding of the 1-3 Giants this week vs. the ooops! games the Panthers often dropped when least expected.

After an 11-5 record and first round loss to New Orleans, which swept all three games with the Panthers while winning the NFC South last year, many position players weren’t seen as overwhelmingly better than the league average– Gettleman gets credit for drafting McCaffrey at #8 last spring. CMC’s blossoming into the combination run-pass catching weapon that Turner’s quick-decision offense will rely on for improving Newton’s accuracy, much better offensive weapons, and a defense that figures to get back to being the dominant group it was during their Super Bowl run of three years ago, has raised expectations throughout the organization.

There’s a fingers-crossed hope that Greg Olsen’s running routes in football gear Thursday means he’ll be back on the field much sooner than the ten weeks he missed last year.

Playing the NY Giants this Sunday is part of an AFC North- NFC East (some say ‘Least’) schedule this year, but you won’t hear Head Coach Ron Rivera or defensive coordinator Eric Washington talking down anyone’s record. Washington’s emphasis has been on scoring with turnovers on defense, and after a season when they only picked off ten passes and scored a single TD on turnovers, they have five INTs after just three games. Rookie Donte Jackson has three of those, and his 4.3 speed has been exactly what the secondary required.

Anderson, Dontari Poe (3 yrs./$27M) and the un-drafted but flexible Brendan Mahon on offensive line, while relatively quiet thus far, are solid replacements for Star Loutelili, who took his run-stopping skills to Buffalo for major money (5 yrs./$50M, $13M signing bonus), Jonathan Stewart (six carries for 17 yards so far with the Giants) and former free agent turned All-Pro left guard Andrew Norwell, who also left for phat money (Jacksonville-5 yrs./$66.5M)- are prime examples of the lesson Hurney learned about loyalty vs. economics.

With the return to availability of several players, Thomas Davis serving the last of a four game suspension- and especially the fingers-crossed hope that Greg Olsen’s running routes in football gear Thursday means he might be back on the field much sooner than the ten weeks he was out last year- the Panther faithful have much to look forward to. Whether there’s an NFL Executive of Year award in all that for GM Marty Hurney, well, it’s not voted on until the end of the regular season, but you have to like his chances.