4 critical observations from the Panthers win vs. Broncos in Week 12
By Luke Gray
Brian Burns giving the Carolina Panthers a career year
As the season continues, the decision from Carolina Panthers’ general manager Scott Fitterer to reject the trade offer from the Los Angeles Rams for Brian Burns seems to be the correct choice. The defensive end is heading toward a massive contract in the offseason and his performances over the last few weeks indicate he’ll be worth every cent.
Burns finished the game in Week 12 with a pair of sacks, one of them a critical strip sack as the Denver Broncos were deep in Carolina territory. These took the former Florida State star to 10 on the year, which has eluded him throughout a prolific NFL career so far.
Last season Burns was voted into the Pro Bowl for the first time. It seems the player has taken his game to a level this season where he can be talked about in the same circle as some of the league’s most elite pass rushers.
Burns had Russell Wilson under constant pressure. It was only when he temporarily left the game following a low hit from tight end Greg Dulcich that the team struggled to get after the troubled signal-caller.
With Burns now taking his game to a borderline elite level coupled with the compensation the Panthers’ reportedly rejected for the player, his team will be coming to the negotiating table expecting Carolina to pay top dollar.