August 26, 2025 • 46 mins
In the final hour of the show, the guys chat with Hunter Bailey about where Charlotte stands heading into the opener with App State and update you on the cuts as they roll in as the Panthers get down to 53.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You were listening to the Wes and Walker show. I
want to have a barking contest. It's Wes.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is the West Bulldog Bryant what you got? It's
so much better. It's the best and Walker. This is
Fiddy's bark. If Fiddy was a dog behind a fence,
would you enter this cage? Go ahead, Fiddy showing me
your bark.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
That was sind Say. I don't know if I can
beat that.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Only on Sports Radio ninety two point seven FM WFNZ.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
He's back, baby, He's back for his weekly hits. Hunter
Bailey from the Charlotte Observer joining us on West and
Walker Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. He's on the
guest line, ready to talk to Charlotte forty nine or football.
You can also listen to him not only weekly West,
but you can listen to him on the Highway forty
nine podcast as well. Got all the best interviews. He's
(01:06):
talking to all sorts of people like not only Tim Albyn,
Mike Hill, Connor Harrel, former Greats, had a conversation with
Biff Pogi after he was fired. That was a really
interesting pod to listen to again, Hunter Bailey, make sure
you follow him on Twitter at Hunter Underscore Bailey forty five.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
You're ready for football season?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
My man?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Are you ready for this regular season? Shape? You're ready
for this week?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Honey, fellows, fellows, just that time, Man, let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I'm ready, especially with the kickoff that we have against
app State at Bank of America Stadium on Friday. We'll
be out at the doghouse broadcasting from twelve to three
getting you're ready for the big game. And I do
you know Appstate? I got love for y'all other weeks.
But I'm hoping to see a lot of green out
there in the Queen City. All right, Hunter, Let's get
to the biggest new surrounding Charlotte forty nine Ers football.
(01:53):
They just named Connor Harrel, the North Carolina transfer, the
starting QB after he was in a battle with Grayson
loftis transfer portal. Addition, what do you make of Connor
Harrel starting at QB?
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Definitely, man, when you when you look at Connor, It's
played in ten games over two years with the Tar Heels,
started a handful of those, and he actually played his
best game against Charlotte last season. Forty nine Ers fans
should remember that game in Chapel Hill.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
He's been up and.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Down a little bit turnover prone over those two seasons,
completing about sixty percent of his passes with the Tar Heels.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
So I think the.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Main thing to look for him is kind of how
Tim Alvin and Todds issue lies him the offensive coordinator
for the forty nine ers. And if you look back
at Tim Alvin's history a season ago, when they go
on to win the MAC Championship, quarterback Parker Navarro was
that dual threat guy. He rushed for one thousand yards,
through for a couple thousand yards, and it was the
(02:48):
catalyst of their offense, was the backbreaking third down conversions.
And I think that's what you're looking at with Connor.
Harrell is someone that's gonna use his legs a lot.
I fully expect him to be in the RPO game
and let him utilize his strengths. And Tim Alvin said
it today, basically, you got to play to your player's
strengths for calling plays regardless of who's that quarterback to
(03:09):
win the game. I think Connor gives him a chance.
I was a little bit shocked, admittedly, I thought maybe
Loftus had the best upside armed potential wise. But I
do think, and you're one, having that dual threat option
gives them a little bit of a benefit for the offense.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
You shared the same opinion we all did.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I think all of us thought Grayson Loftis would win
the starting QB job when we had word that both
of these guys were going to be in the system.
And yet Connor Harold wins, he beats out Grayson Loftis.
Just focusing on the ladder here for a second, were
you getting any word? Were you seeing anything out there,
Hunter about Grayson just not stepping up to the opportunity.
(03:47):
Was it him looking bad or Connor Harold just looking
really good? But why didn't Loftis fulfill the expectations that
all four of us, at least in this room and
on this phone line had for him.
Speaker 5 (03:59):
Yeah. So the most interesting quote I think I heard
about Loftus with Todd Fitch band that you could put
him out there and he could run the offense. Tod
Fitch could close his eyes and Grayson could run the offense.
When you hear that, that tells me that screens starting quarterback.
I mean, you want that level of comfort, you want
someone you can trust to make good.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Decisions with the ball.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
I think Charlotte is trying to play to their strengths
a little bit. The receiving corps. I'm really interested to
see kind of how it pans out this year because
they've got some older guys coming back, John Brown, Justin Olsen,
but there's a lot of question mark and they'll be
without one of the returnees Adam Hopkins Saturday. He's considered
doubtful with the lower leg injury. Alvin told us today
(04:43):
we lostus himself. I mean, he's if I had to guess,
I think the battle came down to the last two
him and lost or Loftus and Harrow. And it just
sounds like I think whatever Todd Fitch, his goal.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Is for the offense.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Like I say, I think that dual threat aspect is key,
and Loftus is more of the pocket passer. He's got
great patience and we I mean, we've seen it at
Duke and five five games back in twenty twenty three,
and like I said, it's a little bit shocked.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
But Tim Alvin said it today.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
So this doesn't rule out the other guys maybe taking
the field in twenty twenty five which I know you
love to.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Hear that, Walker, I love it.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Yeah, let's let's please just do the same thing we've
always done here at Charlotteville.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, Hannah, that's what I was going to ask you.
How confident are you in this decision? Because I said,
I feel like that this team stands a chance to
see the same movie they saw last year with three
quarterbacks all vying for that spot during the season.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
Yeah, their skill sets are interesting, right, Like I mean
they're Harold's the guy that can break the pocket.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Uses legs.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
I mean, he might be one of the fastest guys
on the team. And then you have Will Kis, who's
kind of a dual threat, maybe not as fast as Harold,
and then Loftus who wants to stand in the pocket.
That's not to say he can't get out. We saw
him use his legs some with the Blue Devils. But
I don't know it, Wes. I think when the bullets
start flying Friday night, we'll get a pretty good idea.
But I do know the biggest thing that Tim Albums
(06:07):
talked about is protecting the ball. And you're talking about
a quarterback. It's been relatively turnover prone in his first
couple of years. I mean Charlotte picked him off last
season through a couple of picks in the Duke's Mayo
BWL against West Virginia in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
So I think protecting.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
The balls is a top priority for Tim Alvins. So
we'll see how it goes. I mean, they've got a
couple of big games right off the rip, and.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Then tell me about this offensive line, because we know
they're going to be the key to making any of
this work. With all of the transfers that they have
up there, who are some of the guys that stood
out and what are your expectations of this offensive line
from what you've seen.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
Yeah, so it's been been a little different as far
as watching practice. I'm able to watch the team periods,
so going off of what I know the film I've watched,
Johnny King is the anchors the center. He's back for
his fifth year at Charlotte. He's like the heartbeat of
the offense. Right then they have Mitchell may who transferred
him from Clubson last season under fifth Pogi played in
(07:04):
every game, was a key staple right beside Johnny King
at guard. He's awaiting NCAA waiver.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
I mean at this point, it's getting.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
A little worse in the seasons in three days, so
you're hoping that gets approved and he's able to suit
up for his final season in college ball. Outside of him,
there's a couple guys coming in, Mason Bowers and then
Jesse Ramble, who started I think it was eleven of
twelve games at left tackle for JMU last year, so
Charlotte fans, he played at Very Richardson Stadium last year.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
So those are some of the standouts.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
But like I say, I think there's gonna be one
of the biggest things that they've talked about his versatility.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
So I'll be interested to see.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Different different fives up front for them and kind of
who is sitting where, because Johnny King is someone that
can play both center and guard that they're going to
need that help. With Mitchell Mays maybe not getting that approval,
we'll see what happens with that.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
And then Jade McGowan out there at wide receiver. He's
been a couple of places, Vanderbilt, Boston College five seven,
one eighty. Is he the guy that's going to take
over that number one spot at receiver in your opinion,
I'll be interested.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
So I think it's going to be really tough to
beat Sean Brown being the number one. Sean Brown's a
six four, two hundred pound guy back for his last
season of college football. He got his way to approve.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
But man, Jade McGowan is a speedster.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
I mean he's five seven. You mentioned small guy that
he's going to blaze the right past to you. I
think he'll be involved in the kickoff game, pick returns,
part returns along with someone like a Henry Rutledge. So
I think in the slot you feel really good about
someone like that being able to create space. Obviously having
some good chemistry with Connor Harrol. They both work together
through the spring and now into the fall. So I'm
(08:45):
looking looking forward to seeing who who is making the
plays on the perimeter. But like I say, I think
Sean Brown's gonna have a really big impact this season.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
All right, Hunter, you brought up Henry Rutledge, he's our guy.
Are we going to have something to stand up for
this season?
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Like?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Is he going to be a bigger part of the
offense under Alvin or do you expect much of the
same gadget player that really doesn't see the field all
that much on offense.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
So Henry, I mean, he told me he wants the
ball twenty to twenty five times in game, which I
assume you could say that for every running back.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
And Tim Alvin said when I brought.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
That up to him, he said, Todd Fish, that's his
responsibility to figure out how to get in the ball.
And I mean, we've talked about it for years now,
like get the ball to your playmakers, let them go
to work. So Charlotte had a lead tailback through the
spring and that Don Cheney Junior started at Miami, transferred
to Louisville. He's no longer with the team due to
(09:36):
academic reasons. So I think the tailback position is wide open.
You've got Henry Rutloode, who's played a ton. He's maybe
hasn't necessarily proven he's in every down back. At the
same time, the opportunity hasn't been there for that. You've
got guys like c J. Stokes who transferred in from Michigan,
Rod Ganey junior, who's back for year two.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
I think they've got some.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Options there and one guy to watch, the Western Illinois
transfer Cameron Smith.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
He is the most.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
Proven back but at the same time it was at
the ses level. So I'll be really interested to see
kind of It's definitely gonna be by committee, man, But
I hope Henry gets some burn honor.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I know Tim Albin spoke with media today. Some other
players did as well, like Conley. What was one of
the bigger takeaways you had from press availability?
Speaker 4 (10:21):
I think just how excited they are.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Man, You're at this point, the nerves are high, and
the jitners are there. I mean, Charlotte's played in one
NFL stadium before, well, I guess if you could sort
of the Georgia Dome back in the day, but one
current NFL stadium in Raymond James Stadium, playing in South Florida.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
So this I mean, you're in.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
The city of Charlotte, You're at Banks in America Stadium,
the Duke's Mayo classes. Charlotte's ready to hit literally anybody else. Man,
when you get through those three four weeks of camp,
you're looking to hit anybody that's not in green and white.
And I think they understand the significance of this game.
I mean, you look at the schedule, look at the
back four. I mean it's ECU always going to be
(10:59):
an interesting game utsa who's going to be a top
the conference. Then you go to Georgia and you go
to tou Lane.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
So it's if.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
You're going to get your wins, it's got to come early.
In my mind at least when I look at the schedules.
So I think this game is massive and it's I've
set up before.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It reminds me a lot of JMU last.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Year, where it's I mean, this is two first year
head coaches lining up a lot of unproven like Apflatcham
State as An announced their quarterback. I think when we
see the bullets start to fly Friday night, you'll you'll
get a sense. But I think just the nerves are
kind of setting in, Like, guys, I'm not gonna lie, Tim,
I haven't seen nervous today, not in like nerves about
(11:38):
the game, but just like it's finally here type of situation.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And the last thing I got for you, this defense
was tenth or worse in pretty much every important category
last year. What are your thoughts on what this defense
looks like heading into game one?
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Yeah, last year it was brutal.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
When you when you look at this team, I think
the strength of the defense is going to be at linebacker,
so leading tackler Reed Williford is back, and he's not
even going to start this season. They've got two guys
coming in from Ohio. Dave Taylor will probably be the
best player on this defense planet middle linebacker, and then
Caden Schmidt's They came over with Nate Fono as a
(12:15):
defensive coordinator, so there's a lot.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Of familiarity there.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
They know the scheme. It's the same exact.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Scheme that Ohio ran last year and.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
They have the number nine defense in the nation, a
top five run defense in the nation, and they went
on to win eleven games in the MAC Title. So
you're hoping the skill set the talent here is as good,
hopefully at least comparable to what they had last year.
You know, you have some guys back in Jacorus Conley.
I mentioned Reid Williford earlier. They've got the leadership. I'm
(12:45):
just really curious how this defensive line is going to look.
Tim Alvin said today he feels like they're going to
be solid in the front four. They've got a couple
of transfers on the edge and just a ton of new.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Faces at defensive tackle.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
So if they can, if they can stop the run,
which is obviously not something that they can do last year.
I think it'll be huge for this team.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Charlotte forty nine Ers football.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
It's back this week, yes, sir, and so is Hunter
Bailey right here on Weston Walker, making weekly hits talking
Charlotte forty nine Ers football all season long. Follow him
on Twitter at Hunter Underscore Bailey forty five. Listen to
his podcast, The Highway Highway forty nine podcast. You can
follow that on Twitter as well Hwy forty nine Podcast, Hunter.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I appreciate it, man, We'll see you out there at
the game.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Tell me yes, sir Taos.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
I excited, man, really excited, and you should be excited
as a listener as well, because I have an opportunity
for you to go to this game. I got tickets people,
all the forty nine Ers fans that might have tuned
in that maybe you don't want to spend all that
money to go out to Bank of America. Okay, I
got an opportunity for you. All you have to do
is text in Niners the Duke's Mayo Classic. It returns
to Charlotte on Friday, August twenty ninth at Bank of
(13:58):
America Stadium. This year's game as a local rivalry with
the app State Mountaineers taking on the Charlotte forty nine Ers,
and we've got your tickets.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Folks.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
There's only one Duke's Mayo Classic, and you don't want
to miss this prime time matchup. Text the word Niners
to seven oh four five seven oh ninety six ten
for a chance to win a pair of tickets to
the Duke's Mayo Classic. App State versus Charlotte Niners. Text
in Niners to seven oh four five seven oh ninety
(14:26):
six ten. I'm hoping you're a Niners fan. I'm hoping
you're going to be wearing green and gold out there.
I can't vet any of this, so I don't know,
but I do hope that you'll be done in the
green and gold, especially if you take these tickets away
from westn Walker one more time. Text in Niners to
seven oh four five seven oh ninety six ten if
you want a chance to win a pair of tickets
to the Duke's Mayo Classic. August twenty ninth, that's this Friday.
(14:50):
We'll be out there. It should be a grand old time,
all right. We got some breaking news regarding the Carolina Panthers.
As we approach the cut deadline at four pm, Corey
Thornton he is a on the fifty three man roster.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Good for him.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Who else is making the fifty three man We'll talk
to you on the other side of the breaks or
Trading ninety two seven WFZ.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Be a part of something powerful.
Speaker 7 (15:11):
Benjamin the Braves Silent Auction and charity golf Tournament Friday,
September twenty sixth. Enjoy beer, wine or DRS and great
auction items. Then Saturday, September twenty seventh, hit the links
at the Carolina Lakes Golf Club. Registration seven thirty, shotgun
start eight thirty. Our mission fund Life Saving Medalo Blastoma
research and support families fighting this disease. Sign up your
(15:31):
foursome or donate today at Benjamin thee Brave dot org
sponsored by Chandler Volta Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
One call That's all.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
WESN.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Walker Backsports Rady ninety two seven WFNZ. I'm gonna give
one clarification on your opportunity to win Duke's Mayo Ball
Classic tickets. A lot of people texting in. I'm going
to try to our ticketulate this as well as I
can and pronounce it as well as I can. A
lot of people are texting in minors, am I A
E S. I just want you to know. I feel
(16:10):
like I'm saying it, Okay, niners nine or nine ers.
I thought you did it like nine to nine except
the mascot of.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
The team that is playing in the game.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
N I N E R S and I at mine
for goal. Folks, I can't try to take it and
flip it. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I was willing, Okay, I got you not now ers,
not minors, not sooners, not the number forty nine, and
then er s not the number nine, and then eer s.
I could see how people would get confused, but we
got a butt like I wouldn't have said anything. Have
we not gotten probably thirty of those text messages, but
we did so anyways, just text in. We got more
(16:52):
miners coming in.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
You guys are just sending it.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
They're doing it on purpose. I hear you. I hear you. Hey,
keep it.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
It only helps us more activity on the text line.
It only helps us. So I appreciate that N I
N eers. If you want a chance to win tickets
to the Duke's Mayo Bowl Classic on Friday, August twenty ninth.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Let's give you more Panthers updates. Here we are on
cut day.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
The deadline to have a fifty three man roster official
is by four pm today, and Jordan Schultz with some
big news about the cornerback position. Jordan Schultz tweets out
that the Panthers undrafted rookie cornerback Corey Thornton out of
Louisville is making the fifty three man roster. One team
source said, quote, he was one of the standouts of camp,
(17:34):
Impressive every day and looking like a real gym end
quote awesome to him, awesome stuff for him, totally earned it.
Played pretty well in preseason games too, so it wasn't
just a training camp a practice type player. We actually
saw some of that stuff displayed in some of the
preseason action against backups whatever you call it. Showed up
(17:55):
when the lights were on at Boa and elsewhere. So
I really like what Corey Thornton did. That's a really
cool story. You know what else I like about this
West what you like? I think there are less questions
about undrafted rookies that make the final roster rather than
undrafted third or fourth year players that are doing a
great job holding on for their career. It's no disdain
(18:15):
for them. It's no disrespect for them. It's just it
feels like, oh, we really do have some unrealized potential,
unrealized by NFL scouts and maybe not by the players.
If you're an undrafted rookie where it's the first time
that everybody is watching, you go up against real NFL
competition and you're playing so well that you deserve to
be on the fifty three man roster, that's more. That's
(18:38):
a little more comforting to me than maybe even a
Bryson Tremaine that we go back to, who has a
lot of ability but has bounced around a couple of
different spots. Doesn't mean that he's not going to blossom here.
It's just he hasn't not worked out other places. In
Corey Thornton's case, Bryson Tremaine has not worked out at
other places. So I like what Corey Thornton could pass
(19:00):
be depth wise, and maybe he gets a little froggy
and takes over Mike Jackson spot when you're ready to
move on from him. I don't know what the possibilities are,
but Jordan Schultz says he's going to make the team.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yeah, I mean it fits your narrative better when you
get a rookie because you feel like, man, they really
overcame the odds to be able to make this roster.
What can they do to Whereas when you have a
guy that's been in the league for a little while,
you feel like that he's probably topped out on his
potential what he's going to be if he hasn't cracked
a starting rotation yet or become a real rotational player,
you feel like, probably that's not going to happen, and
(19:31):
special teams is going to be more the way to go.
But you're just so excited about the seemingly endless or
limitless potentials of an undrafted rookie because we've heard some
great stories about what they could be and we're going
to see another one continue on this year with Jalen Kocher,
who knows the heights that he can climb this year.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, absolutely so, I really like that. And if Corey
Thornton proves to be something. Now we're starting to see
Dan Morgan's reputation unfold even more so and being a
late round or diamond in the rough type of guy.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
That's huge. Yeah, I mean it's like a cherry on
top almost. When you can get an undrafted guy to
come in, it's like a bonus member of your draft class.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Brian is right writing and by the way, he said,
it's the first time he's listened to us in a while.
Shout out to Brian. Don't know if you're out there,
Brian a vacation or whatever, but he's a p one.
We trust him that he's coming back and so we
appreciate it, Brian. But anyways, he says, the Panthers keep
finding these udfagms. It's a testament to Dan Morgan's ability
to find talent. If Corey Thornton actually gets some real run,
(20:32):
then absolutely, I think we can start to take off,
even more so with this reputation that he's starting to develop.
You got to hit on your first round picks, though,
because that's what gets you to the playoffs. You can
find some rotation guys at the back end, and that's
a huge skill to have and good size for Thornton too.
I mean six he fits right in with the makeup
of the you know, top two corners that you have
(20:54):
Mike Jackson and j. C. Horn are both big corners. Again,
we talk about it.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
It's what Dan Morgan likes, big football players at every position.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Size matters today more it does out there on the
football field.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
He wants the big boys.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
He wants the big boys out there on the football field,
and you see it really at every single position. Have
not gotten final word on who makes this team. At
wide receiver. If you're looking at the countdown, how many
more cuts need to be made? Mike Ky says eight
by his count. I don't know if he's taking in
Corey Thornton to consideration, so maybe seven here. There are
(21:31):
still some undrafted guys that could make the final roster.
Fitzgerald's already made it. Jared Harrison Hunt out of SMU
could make it. Don't know. Corey Thornton is another guy.
Ban Martin Scott. I kind of expect all of them
to Maybe Harrison Hunt would be the one that is cut.
I think it's probably fifty to fifty on him right now,
as there's still seven or eight cuts still to be made.
(21:53):
But adding on to more and more of this reputation
that we speak of, maybe some of those other undrafted
guys possibly make the team. Here we are, though, trying
to figure out what's going to happen at wide receiver.
Still don't know there yet.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Yeah, and that's one of the more exciting positions that
we can't wait to see how it's going to shake out.
And then from there you think about what is this
rotation going to look like. The Panthers love to play
three receiver sets. We know that there will be sometimes
where some guys will have to fill in for injuries,
hopefully not too long. But this group looks to have
a lot of depth, a lot of talent, and a
lot of youth. And so I said for a couple
(22:27):
of years ago, and I saw a tweet not too
long ago showing the weapons that Bryce had when he
first got here.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
And a lot of these guys.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Are getting waived and not, oh my god, you know,
any part of any team's future plans. And so now
he's got a plethora of talent around him, and especially
youthful guys that he can continue to grow with.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
I've seen those tweets too. It's Jonathan Bingo getting traded
for a fourth round pick. It's DJ Shark not on
a roster, it's Hayden Hurst still not on a roster.
Some of this is a little cherry picky, but it
does prove to you that if none of the guys
that were the prominent threats outside of Adam Thlen are
making rosters elsewhere two years later, it goes to show
(23:08):
you what Bryce Shung was working with.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
And by the way, the offensive line was terrible.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
On top of these guys that are skill positions getting
cut elsewhere in the league. Rich asked, have you guys
spoken about Adam Thielen yet? Wonder what ends up happening there? Yeah,
we did in the first hour. If you're just joining us,
Wes and I are pretty much of a similar thought process.
What is frustrating to me is Vikings fans or whoever
(23:34):
putting out there on Twitter. Well, damn Caroline, is Adam
like Adam Thalen? Isn't Jerry Rice prodigy and the second
coming of Terrell Owens? Do they want two first round picks?
Goodness gracious, what's it going to take to go get them? No,
we don't have to exaggerate. What we can acknowledge is
that Adam Thlen has been our best receiver for the
last two years.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Now, that's true.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
What else is a fact is that he's been the
most trusted receiver for Bryce Young amidst all of those
other problems that we just talked about. When you're throwing
a mingo and you're throwing a whole bunch of other
dudes that can't make rosters for other team, it's been
thelan who was a thousand yard guy. Whether it's close
to the line of scrimmage two years ago or whether
he's actually catching some targets downfield. Adam Thlen is a
(24:18):
valued wide receiver on this team. Maybe it's a fourth
round value. The Vikings can't trade a fourth round pick.
Maybe it's a third round value. But you know, I
don't care what it is. Honestly, Wes Carolina gets to
make this decision however they want to, Okay, I usually
like listening to the player on what they want just
(24:38):
to gauge it. That matters to me. It does not
matter so much so that I'd be willing to waive
Adam Thielen just for Minnesota to pick them up. It
does not matter so much to me that I'd be
willing to trade Adam Thlen for two six round picks
Minnesota can acquire all the six round picks they want
to It doesn't mean I want four of them. Adam
thlen can help me now more so than I would
(25:00):
trade him for three two six round picks. And I
get to make that call because he's under contract. And
if you want to give me one hundred cents on
the dollar, I'll trade him then. But I get to
make this decision.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Yeah, and going back to blue Chips like I like
to do in this thing. And if you remember when
Nick no t when he called Happy to ask him
if Butcher McCrae aka Penny Hardaway was going to be
able to get out of the deal that he had made,
and he was out there by the pool and he's
screaming into the phone. His mother has got a new
house and a new job, and you tell him whatever
(25:34):
I'm saying, and he just goes off. And that's how
you start to feel at this point about Adam Thiela.
Now I'm sure feeling would be good staying here or
going elsewhere, but if he indeed is really just pining
to go back to Minnesota, you do get a little
frustrated because you're like, we gave you nine million, we
made you a relevant receiver when nobody wanted you. How
dare you come in our office and ask for this, okay,
(25:55):
because that's kind of how you feel. This guy was
left to finish out his career with a whimper. Nobody
expected him to come in here and catch a hundred passes.
Nobody expected him in two seasons to catch over one
hundred and fifty and probably would have been a lot
more had he not been injured. So he's gotten to
me a second life here in Carolina. Not many places
he could go where he would be treated with the
(26:17):
reverence that he gets here. As far as being a
number one receiver, that's what he's going to be this year,
unless proven otherwise, or until proven otherwise for him. So,
like I said, I don't like some of the optics
on how this has gone because it feels somewhat underappreciated
as far as what the Panthers have done for his career.
And I think that the Panthers he is a guy,
(26:38):
because I'm not sitting here in the boat. You can't
just put labels on a team and say what they're
going to be. This is the NFL. You have no clue.
The Panthers could be right, there in the Super wild
card hunt, and you will need a dependable veteran receiver
for a quarterback like Bryce Young, So he could certainly
be an integral part in a playoff run here because
you just don't know what teams are going to be.
(27:00):
Even as bad as we think the New Orleans Saints
could be, they could come out and end up being
a surprise team. So that's why I say with the Panthers,
I'm not, you know, sailing that playoff ship just yet.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Well, and again you're you're absolutely right because the Panthers,
they're trying to be better right than what they were
last year. I still think that the Panthers are really
setting things up to go all in on twenty twenty
six being the playoff year, But it doesn't mean it's
a bad thing if they find themselves in the playoffs
this year. There is a possibility if their defense improves
(27:31):
ten spots, if their offense improves ten spots. And Bryce
Young does look like one of the better qbs in football.
Average Top sixteen guy t mac turns out to be
a at least eight hundred and fifty to one thousand
yard guys. First year with the World, the Sky is
the limit. The next few seasons, we can go down
(27:52):
the list. Carolina might sneak into a wild card spot,
which is only valuable experience for these players. You know
who might help them into a playoff spot. It's Adam Thlen.
So if you want Adam Celin, Adam Thlen, you a ceiling.
Adam Seling. I do like Adam Celin. I just talking
about falling backwards into something. Adam ceiling is great. If
you want Adam Thielen, then pay for him. If you
(28:15):
want him, there is not a sense of urgency for
Carolina to move off of him. You could argue he's
going to retire and you're going to get nothing for him.
If the only compensation coming back for Adam Thlen are
late round draft picks, and instead I could have him
(28:37):
help us get to the postseason, then I'm going to
choose the latter. If you want to give me fourth
round value or a third round pick, cool, I gotta
make that. That's a valuable selection. That's a top one
hundred pick. It's a big deal. Cool, I'll do it.
But you're calling me. I'm calling you to see if
you're interested in Adam Thlen. Let's not get that twisted.
(28:58):
Vikings fans, y'all are calling us. We ain't calling y'all.
So the Panthers are not shopping him. The Vikings are
looking to buy. There is an important text that we
should get to here on the FanDuel text, line seven
oh four writes in I think kJ Osborne getting cut
killed a feeling trade. I think that's at play. kJ
(29:18):
Osborne for Washington did get cut. He had over five
hundred yards a season with Minnesota from twenty twenty one
to twenty twenty three. If they need some help desperately
and they don't want to give up some of those
draft picks, that might just be your option. No, he's
not as good as Adam Thielen, but at that price point,
it might be a better option for you. I do
(29:39):
think that's at play, especially with us an hour and
a half away from the deadline. So maybe that just
nixes everything here. But I do think kJ Osborne is
an important thing to monitor.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Yeah, it could be because we know that coaches like
players they're familiar with, and he could come back and
recapture that magic. Because it is surprising to me what
has happened to him since he's been going really good kid.
I met him at ACC kickoff a couple of years ago,
so I really liked him, along with the Shack quarterman.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
They were hanging out, we were chatting.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Anyway, that's neither here nor there, But the point is
that he looked like a budding kind of not necessarily star,
but he looked like a budding receiver in the league
that was going to be one of those glue guys
in your core, number three, number four that you could
count on and make some big catches for you and
play well in spots when he was starting. And so
with him out there, Minnesota may go back that way.
(30:27):
But you know Thielan, they still you know, the hometown
story that he's got going and all of that that
could be mostly at play as far as why Minnesota
would want to choose him over Osbourne. But as you said,
Osborne is a option for them that is on the
younger side, and he has had some success in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
I think Tired is not trading Adam Thielen to Minnesota
because kJ Osbourne is available. Wired is trading Adam theling
and then picking up kJ Osbourne yourself so you can
collect some draft picks and something to THELN You're good
Minnesota would be. Maybe they wouldn't be as frustrated because
they got theland now. But that's a wired take real quickly,
(31:07):
just updating everybody on who got cut from Carolina. Some
of the more notable names that the Panthers are expectedly
going to try to re sign to the practice squad.
Those names include wide receiver jesseem Red, cornerback Mike Reid,
defensive tackle Sam Roberts. I know that's a guy Flounder likes,
offensive tackle from Oklahoma Michael Tarquin, tight end Bryce Pierre,
(31:28):
and safety Trevion Thomas. Those are some of the names
that the Panthers are reportedly trying to get back onto
the practice squad. Raheem Blackshear. Another notable name that is
cut from this team, Shy Tuttle, the starter at nose
tackle each of the last two years, played a boatload
of snaps on almost historically the worst run defense of
(31:48):
all time. So shy Tuttle no longer on the team.
Not a surprise, but still a notable name. Anything else
interesting from you as it pertains to guys that have
already been cut or guys that you're looking at Mike cut.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
As far as you know, just guys that I haven't
had any surprises, and that's kind of the pettiness of
me is kind of what I was looking for. I
thought the quarterback situation was interesting in the fact that
they weighed both Jack Plumber and Bryce Perkins. So I
think that'll be interesting to see who they find to
be their practice squad.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Got to be that third quarterback.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
I think that's been the most surprising development because I
did think that it was going to come down to
Jack Plumber or Bryce Perkins as far as who was
going to take that third spot.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I thought after the performance against Pittsburgh, I thought the QB,
the third string QB, the practice squad QB might just
be on somebody else's roster. It doesn't look like Perkins.
Perkins could come back, but not sure if he's going
to come back.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
In fact, I would probably bet.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Against it because you feel like if he really was
going to have a real chance in the NFL this season,
I'm not saying this over for him, but he got
signed so late into training camp as.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
Well, and Dave Canalis Joe Person was talking about it too,
like Canalis essentially thanked him for his service, and that
was kind of it, like, Hey, we needed a body
to come in and throw the football around, and we
brought you in, Jack Plumber, wasn't it either. I actually
thought if you were to ask me to bet on
it on Friday after the game, I would have said
both both are cut. Yeah, and the third string QB
(33:15):
is coming from somebody else's roster. That's another thing to
note real quickly before we go to the last segment.
If you are the fiftieth, fifty first, fifty second, or
fifty third player on this roster, that does not mean
you made the team. Because we could see some of
these waiverclaims come in even than that, And yeah, maybe
waiverclaim could come in another pick up a little bit
(33:38):
further down the line. It's tough out here, there's no doubt.
So I don't know who would be just outright safe,
even with your very bottom of the barrel guys that
made the fifty three man. But there are some players
that I do think are going to be added. You know,
Dan Morgan's got his eyes peeled out, and we can
remember last year's waiver claims. He used that first priority
(34:00):
waiver uh having waiver priority excuse me. He used that
a lot. I think he brought in like four guys,
three guys, something like that. So we'll see what happens.
We'll keep you updated, and so will Kyle as he
is on the airwaves from three to six pm. But
we got one more segment to go. It's the walk
Off coming up next. Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
How a challenge for to a walk off?
Speaker 3 (34:32):
Oh yeah, that's a walk off challenge, my friend, it's
a walk off.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
It's a walk off.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
One more segment to go on Western Walker Sports Radio
ninety two to seven WFNZ. And before we get to
what's on tap and get into some more Panthers conversation.
A boy, we're handing out tickets like we're Willie Walker
in the Chocolate pat got it off for you folks.
All you gotta do is text the word Chase. If
you want some NASCAR tickets, Text the word Chase. I'll
spell it for you. If you guys need help, I'll
(35:04):
spell it for you.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
C H A. S. E.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Text Chase to seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety
six to ten to win a pair of tickets to
NASCAR Cup Series Cookout Southern five hundred. That'll be Sunday,
August thirty, first, six o'clock. That's in Darlington at Darlington Raceway,
not too far away from here. All you gotta do
is text Chase seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety
six ten for a chance to win a pair of
(35:27):
tickets to the Cookout Southern at five hundred.
Speaker 6 (35:30):
Can you tell me why I decided to go with
Chase as the keyword?
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Well, does it have to does it not have to
do does it have to do with Chase or does
it not have to do with the Cup Chase.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
That's what I figured to be honest, it does not have.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
To do with the Cup Chase. That is no longer
what they call the playoffs. They just call them the
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. There you go, Smokes in the building.
As you go to smoke, will Smoke will know this answer, Smoke,
Why did I go with Chase as the keyword?
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Turn his mic onto Oh, yeah, I got.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
You, because the winner of last year's seven five hundred
was none other than Chase Briscoe.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Bing out, Oh I forgot about it. I forgot about it.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
So many chases, Man, so many Cup Chase to Chase
Elliott Chase Bristol for that race food wise, like as
far as supplying anything like down there, and that's the
question the area, Yeah, that's the question, like what do
they do worth asking? Do you see? Now, let's make
the Southern five hundred even greater than what it already is.
(36:28):
And what you can do is, as soon as you win,
you just are bathed in a cookout milkshake, just doused
in it.
Speaker 6 (36:35):
Milkshakes too thick though, so it's not going to pour
out of the cup because again.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Well then you get it's not a milkshake, no, but
you get a pool of some kind of cookout milkshake
and then you dive on in.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
That's what you did. Or they can just pour out
Ken's honey Mustard on you.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
That.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Yeah, that Winter gets unlimited trays for a year until
the next Southern five hundred. Oh you just get a
special car. Then you just go buy and flash it
trying to forget what if.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
I Yeah, I have guys looking like Jimmy Spencer out there.
If I could win no offense Jimmy Spencer, if I
could win any race and I could either choose what's
my what's my?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Guy?
Speaker 2 (37:15):
The mountain Man is that Dover, the the mountain Man trophy,
that the monster looking thing.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Yes, oh yeah, that's Dover. Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
So if I could win that race, or if I
could win the Southern five hundred where I get cookout
for a year. I love that trophy. It's one of
my favorite trophies in sports. I still think I would
go with cookout, but it'd be really close. Here you
get a mountain Man out of miles, then the miles
the monster. I'm not remembering mountain Man, that's probably what
(37:47):
it is. Yeah, stones and stuff like that. That's not
that far off. Pretty, But don't bow Jangle sponsor a race.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
I don't know. Does it make me used to the
Southern okay? Baby?
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Speaking of cookout, By the way, I don't know if
anybody knows this too, but when you go so in
the metropolitan area, now they got rid of Wendy's and
instead it's a cookout. As soon as that's that's about
my barber shop. So I saw it and I got
really excited for it. That was my instant reaction. Then
I started to think about it a little bit. You
know how cookout gets a little wild, an't I?
Speaker 4 (38:26):
So?
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Now, because you know, Cookout's gonna stay open until four am,
even at the metropolitan area, Like, do they know over
there in Metro what they're getting from a late night
spot like cookout over there?
Speaker 1 (38:40):
And like a nicer, pinky out part of town.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Right there that's inside of a cookout before I.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Actually have Yeah, so maybe you could do that, But
I just is it actually is it still a good
thing that cookout exists in the metropolitan area or is
it still something you're a little afraid of giving?
Speaker 1 (38:57):
What cookout?
Speaker 3 (38:58):
I don't think it could be anywhere because Wendy stays
open late too, so it's gonna be about the same thing.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
But there's not a whole lot of loitering at Wendy's.
There's a lot at cookout. People.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Man, I have been allowed to hang out late night
and quite sometimes.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Well I know you're not.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
But if you're over there in the Metro area, they're
gonna have a lot of college kids, like high school kids.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Going out there. They're gonna be reving up their trucks.
That you got queens out there, so you'll have queens
kids out. That's what I'm trying to think of. How
many clubs or places, because is it convenient to where
the nightlife is really clough close enough. I think it's
close enough to where when you're exiting uptown it's like
you're drunk.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Where do we go? Cookouts always the answer, and so
now it's just overheating. Well, we got okay Panthers news.
What we got found?
Speaker 6 (39:44):
The Carolina Panthers, according to multiple sources, starting with Tom
Pelasaro of NFL Network, have released veteran wide receiver Hunter
renfernt Oh.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Now, it is a little bit of a surprise because
I did fit and not because of the Clemson acc love,
but I did feel like Hunter Renfro was a guy
that stood a strong chance to make the roster. I
wouldn't say a lock, but I thought he's stood a
strong chance.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Yeah, Tom Pelsero, Ari meirov also putting out there that
the Panthers have released Hunt of Renfro. We did go
through the POI the safest guys you had, David Moore
and Jimmy Horn safer than Renfro I did. So it's
a surprise, but it's notable because any of them could
have made it. You and I both agreed that David
Moore and Jimmy Horn were probably the safest. Bryce and Tremaine.
(40:33):
He became a big part of this wide receiver corps
after he didn't play against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
I read a lot into that.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Then you start to do some research, you read Joe Person,
Mike Cayes fifty three man projections. They both have bryceon
Tremaine on the fifty three man. So after we started
to get the latest intel, it did feel like Hunter
Renfro was going to be the guy on the outside
looking in, especially with some people saying, hey, Renfro is
not a lock. Would I have kept him. I would
(41:00):
have kept him. I would have found a way to
keep him on the roster. But they did it, and
I feel like he would have had something to offer
this team. I do think he gets picked up with
the way that he played in camp. What say you
on Renfro being released, Well, it.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Feels like, you know, youth is kind of the order
of the day with this receiving corps, so I think
that you have that at play and for Renfro, you know,
I hate it for him because it felt like a
lot of the guys on the back end of the
receiving room didn't get a chance to shine that much.
Because the offensive line wasn't great. Then they playing with
Jack Plummer, you know, on Bryce Parkin. So it didn't
(41:36):
feel like that any of those guys really got a
shot to show what they could do, because Hunter Renfro
was targeted a decent amount versus Pittsburgh, but they just
couldn't make anything shape what you got platter.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Just coming from Mike Kay. So.
Speaker 6 (41:50):
Along with Hunter Renfro, John Radigan has also been released
the standout on special teams. They have also waived Jared
Harrison Hunt as well as, of course, my phone decided
to close out right there as I was looking at it.
Jared Kingston along the offensive line. Another name that we
heard could possibly make the roster, Mas Wantza at cornerback.
(42:14):
Schamar Bartholomew and guard j Tyree Carter also are gone.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Marquez Vodis Gantlin also released. I just wanted to throw
that in now because he broned me in fantasy football,
So good riddance to Youston.
Speaker 6 (42:28):
The pecer Radler named the starter in New Orleans too,
So okay, so lots of news coming in here. In
the final segment of Weston Walker to reiterate what Flounder
just said in case you're getting ready for the Kyle
Bailey Show, you're tuning in. Panthers release Hunter Renfro the
biggest release that we've seen, and it was always going
to come from that wide Receiver room, but it's a
monster release.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
Here.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
Here's Hunter Renfro gone from the Panthers at least as
of right now. Perhaps he clears waivers and he comes
back and there's some practice squad stuff there. I kind
of think he's going to get picked up though. Linebacker
John Radigan gone. Jared Grison hunt my guy, my name
is Project. Thought he was good enough to possibly make
the team.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
He'll be a.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Practice squad guy if he's not claimed off of waivers,
but there's a possibility that he is. Jared Kingston mos
wantsa another one of my my name is guys. I
think he came in from the what's it called the
Global the Global Pathway, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yes, I think they were talking about just having a
player in that program, just smaller but freakazoid type of
athlete like track star who just picked up football really late.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
The International Pathway guy also no longer on the team.
Shamar Bartholomew. Some of the tougher cuts. Guys, I got
a lot of run preseason. They are now not on
the fifty three man. We'll continue to update everybody as
some of this news comes in, but we only have
a couple more segments to go, and we need to
tell you what's on tap. It's presented by Twin Peaks.
Twin Peaks has locations in Concord and Fort Mill. Twin
(43:53):
Peaks at your local sports lodge. You could come in
from made from scratch food and signature twenty nine degree
draft beers. The US Open is going on. In case
you care anything at all about the world of tennis,
shout out to Francis Tiafo for winning his match yesterday.
And of course, in the world of baseball. The Atlanta
Braves they do face the Miami Marlins Tonight Braves on
(44:13):
the road. They're fifty nine and seventy two. Marlins are
sixty two and sixty nine six point forty. First pitch time,
Hirston Waldrip on the mound for Atlanta. Sandy al Contera
on the mound for the Sandy al Contra Al Contra.
It's like al chnst Love Contra back in the data
video game. Contra now boysn't knowing about that. No, I've
(44:34):
heard of contraband, but I wouldn't say I was a
big fan of contraband.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
Something that's any get me in trouble over there.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Final thoughts here on cut day any eighth, I guess,
are we close to fifty three man?
Speaker 1 (44:46):
Do we have it out right now? Gotta be very close.
Speaker 6 (44:48):
I would think that they maybe have to make like
one more cut. I don't do the math in my head,
but they're very very close to having their roster complete.
By the way, one of the guys that won walking
out to practice. According to Joe Person if you were
wondering if he was on the roster, Bubble Cam Jackson
was walking out to practice. So it looks like he
has made the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (45:09):
Man roster, which means all of the draft picks will
have made it as long as Jimmy Horn stays on
this team.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
Mitchell mays too.
Speaker 6 (45:16):
That's the other one that dat one spot that we
haven't seen. Tight end is still an area to watch
if they end up releasing James Mitchell or if they
go with Mitchell Evans.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
Mitchell Evans the other guy there as well as you mentioned. Yep,
So yeah, either one of those two tight end. They
still have that cut. As you mentioned, you're right, So
we'll see exactly what happens here. Kyle Bailey gonna take
you the rest of the way. He will have the
final fifty three man practice at four thirty adam. Because
Hunter Renfro's cut does feel like that might have been place. Yeah,
(45:48):
it's good, you know, it feels like that might have
happened here. Kyle Bailey, Show Smoke Ludwig coming up next.
Sports Rated ninety two to seven WFNZ.
You were listening to the Wes and Walker show. I
want to have a barking contest. It's Wes.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is the West Bulldog Bryant what you got? It's
so much better. It's the best and Walker. This is
Fiddy's bark. If Fiddy was a dog behind a fence,
would you enter this cage? Go ahead, Fiddy showing me
your bark.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
That was sind Say. I don't know if I can
beat that.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Only on Sports Radio ninety two point seven FM WFNZ.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
He's back, baby, He's back for his weekly hits. Hunter
Bailey from the Charlotte Observer joining us on West and
Walker Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. He's on the
guest line, ready to talk to Charlotte forty nine or football.
You can also listen to him not only weekly West,
but you can listen to him on the Highway forty
nine podcast as well. Got all the best interviews. He's
(01:06):
talking to all sorts of people like not only Tim Albyn,
Mike Hill, Connor Harrel, former Greats, had a conversation with
Biff Pogi after he was fired. That was a really
interesting pod to listen to again, Hunter Bailey, make sure
you follow him on Twitter at Hunter Underscore Bailey forty five.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
You're ready for football season?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
My man?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Are you ready for this regular season? Shape? You're ready
for this week?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Honey, fellows, fellows, just that time, Man, let's go.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I'm ready, especially with the kickoff that we have against
app State at Bank of America Stadium on Friday. We'll
be out at the doghouse broadcasting from twelve to three
getting you're ready for the big game. And I do
you know Appstate? I got love for y'all other weeks.
But I'm hoping to see a lot of green out
there in the Queen City. All right, Hunter, Let's get
to the biggest new surrounding Charlotte forty nine Ers football.
(01:53):
They just named Connor Harrel, the North Carolina transfer, the
starting QB after he was in a battle with Grayson
loftis transfer portal. Addition, what do you make of Connor
Harrel starting at QB?
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Definitely, man, when you when you look at Connor, It's
played in ten games over two years with the Tar Heels,
started a handful of those, and he actually played his
best game against Charlotte last season. Forty nine Ers fans
should remember that game in Chapel Hill.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
He's been up and.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Down a little bit turnover prone over those two seasons,
completing about sixty percent of his passes with the Tar Heels.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
So I think the.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Main thing to look for him is kind of how
Tim Alvin and Todds issue lies him the offensive coordinator
for the forty nine ers. And if you look back
at Tim Alvin's history a season ago, when they go
on to win the MAC Championship, quarterback Parker Navarro was
that dual threat guy. He rushed for one thousand yards,
through for a couple thousand yards, and it was the
(02:48):
catalyst of their offense, was the backbreaking third down conversions.
And I think that's what you're looking at with Connor.
Harrell is someone that's gonna use his legs a lot.
I fully expect him to be in the RPO game
and let him utilize his strengths. And Tim Alvin said
it today, basically, you got to play to your player's
strengths for calling plays regardless of who's that quarterback to
(03:09):
win the game. I think Connor gives him a chance.
I was a little bit shocked, admittedly, I thought maybe
Loftus had the best upside armed potential wise. But I
do think, and you're one, having that dual threat option
gives them a little bit of a benefit for the offense.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
You shared the same opinion we all did.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I think all of us thought Grayson Loftis would win
the starting QB job when we had word that both
of these guys were going to be in the system.
And yet Connor Harold wins, he beats out Grayson Loftis.
Just focusing on the ladder here for a second, were
you getting any word? Were you seeing anything out there,
Hunter about Grayson just not stepping up to the opportunity.
(03:47):
Was it him looking bad or Connor Harold just looking
really good? But why didn't Loftis fulfill the expectations that
all four of us, at least in this room and
on this phone line had for him.
Speaker 5 (03:59):
Yeah. So the most interesting quote I think I heard
about Loftus with Todd Fitch band that you could put
him out there and he could run the offense. Tod
Fitch could close his eyes and Grayson could run the offense.
When you hear that, that tells me that screens starting quarterback.
I mean, you want that level of comfort, you want
someone you can trust to make good.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Decisions with the ball.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
I think Charlotte is trying to play to their strengths
a little bit. The receiving corps. I'm really interested to
see kind of how it pans out this year because
they've got some older guys coming back, John Brown, Justin Olsen,
but there's a lot of question mark and they'll be
without one of the returnees Adam Hopkins Saturday. He's considered
doubtful with the lower leg injury. Alvin told us today
(04:43):
we lostus himself. I mean, he's if I had to guess,
I think the battle came down to the last two
him and lost or Loftus and Harrow. And it just
sounds like I think whatever Todd Fitch, his goal.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Is for the offense.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Like I say, I think that dual threat aspect is key,
and Loftus is more of the pocket passer. He's got
great patience and we I mean, we've seen it at
Duke and five five games back in twenty twenty three,
and like I said, it's a little bit shocked.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
But Tim Alvin said it today.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
So this doesn't rule out the other guys maybe taking
the field in twenty twenty five which I know you
love to.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Hear that, Walker, I love it.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Yeah, let's let's please just do the same thing we've
always done here at Charlotteville.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, Hannah, that's what I was going to ask you.
How confident are you in this decision? Because I said,
I feel like that this team stands a chance to
see the same movie they saw last year with three
quarterbacks all vying for that spot during the season.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
Yeah, their skill sets are interesting, right, Like I mean
they're Harold's the guy that can break the pocket.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Uses legs.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
I mean, he might be one of the fastest guys
on the team. And then you have Will Kis, who's
kind of a dual threat, maybe not as fast as Harold,
and then Loftus who wants to stand in the pocket.
That's not to say he can't get out. We saw
him use his legs some with the Blue Devils. But
I don't know it, Wes. I think when the bullets
start flying Friday night, we'll get a pretty good idea.
But I do know the biggest thing that Tim Albums
(06:07):
talked about is protecting the ball. And you're talking about
a quarterback. It's been relatively turnover prone in his first
couple of years. I mean Charlotte picked him off last
season through a couple of picks in the Duke's Mayo
BWL against West Virginia in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
So I think protecting.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
The balls is a top priority for Tim Alvins. So
we'll see how it goes. I mean, they've got a
couple of big games right off the rip, and.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Then tell me about this offensive line, because we know
they're going to be the key to making any of
this work. With all of the transfers that they have
up there, who are some of the guys that stood
out and what are your expectations of this offensive line
from what you've seen.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
Yeah, so it's been been a little different as far
as watching practice. I'm able to watch the team periods,
so going off of what I know the film I've watched,
Johnny King is the anchors the center. He's back for
his fifth year at Charlotte. He's like the heartbeat of
the offense. Right then they have Mitchell may who transferred
him from Clubson last season under fifth Pogi played in
(07:04):
every game, was a key staple right beside Johnny King
at guard. He's awaiting NCAA waiver.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
I mean at this point, it's getting.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
A little worse in the seasons in three days, so
you're hoping that gets approved and he's able to suit
up for his final season in college ball. Outside of him,
there's a couple guys coming in, Mason Bowers and then
Jesse Ramble, who started I think it was eleven of
twelve games at left tackle for JMU last year, so
Charlotte fans, he played at Very Richardson Stadium last year.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
So those are some of the standouts.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
But like I say, I think there's gonna be one
of the biggest things that they've talked about his versatility.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
So I'll be interested to see.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Different different fives up front for them and kind of
who is sitting where, because Johnny King is someone that
can play both center and guard that they're going to
need that help. With Mitchell Mays maybe not getting that approval,
we'll see what happens with that.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
And then Jade McGowan out there at wide receiver. He's
been a couple of places, Vanderbilt, Boston College five seven,
one eighty. Is he the guy that's going to take
over that number one spot at receiver in your opinion,
I'll be interested.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
So I think it's going to be really tough to
beat Sean Brown being the number one. Sean Brown's a
six four, two hundred pound guy back for his last
season of college football. He got his way to approve.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
But man, Jade McGowan is a speedster.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
I mean he's five seven. You mentioned small guy that
he's going to blaze the right past to you. I
think he'll be involved in the kickoff game, pick returns,
part returns along with someone like a Henry Rutledge. So
I think in the slot you feel really good about
someone like that being able to create space. Obviously having
some good chemistry with Connor Harrol. They both work together
through the spring and now into the fall. So I'm
(08:45):
looking looking forward to seeing who who is making the
plays on the perimeter. But like I say, I think
Sean Brown's gonna have a really big impact this season.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
All right, Hunter, you brought up Henry Rutledge, he's our guy.
Are we going to have something to stand up for
this season?
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Like?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Is he going to be a bigger part of the
offense under Alvin or do you expect much of the
same gadget player that really doesn't see the field all
that much on offense.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
So Henry, I mean, he told me he wants the
ball twenty to twenty five times in game, which I
assume you could say that for every running back.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
And Tim Alvin said when I brought.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
That up to him, he said, Todd Fish, that's his
responsibility to figure out how to get in the ball.
And I mean, we've talked about it for years now,
like get the ball to your playmakers, let them go
to work. So Charlotte had a lead tailback through the
spring and that Don Cheney Junior started at Miami, transferred
to Louisville. He's no longer with the team due to
(09:36):
academic reasons. So I think the tailback position is wide open.
You've got Henry Rutloode, who's played a ton. He's maybe
hasn't necessarily proven he's in every down back. At the
same time, the opportunity hasn't been there for that. You've
got guys like c J. Stokes who transferred in from Michigan,
Rod Ganey junior, who's back for year two.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
I think they've got some.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Options there and one guy to watch, the Western Illinois
transfer Cameron Smith.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
He is the most.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
Proven back but at the same time it was at
the ses level. So I'll be really interested to see
kind of It's definitely gonna be by committee, man, But
I hope Henry gets some burn honor.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I know Tim Albin spoke with media today. Some other
players did as well, like Conley. What was one of
the bigger takeaways you had from press availability?
Speaker 4 (10:21):
I think just how excited they are.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Man, You're at this point, the nerves are high, and
the jitners are there. I mean, Charlotte's played in one
NFL stadium before, well, I guess if you could sort
of the Georgia Dome back in the day, but one
current NFL stadium in Raymond James Stadium, playing in South Florida.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
So this I mean, you're in.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
The city of Charlotte, You're at Banks in America Stadium,
the Duke's Mayo classes. Charlotte's ready to hit literally anybody else. Man,
when you get through those three four weeks of camp,
you're looking to hit anybody that's not in green and white.
And I think they understand the significance of this game.
I mean, you look at the schedule, look at the
back four. I mean it's ECU always going to be
(10:59):
an interesting game utsa who's going to be a top
the conference. Then you go to Georgia and you go
to tou Lane.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
So it's if.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
You're going to get your wins, it's got to come early.
In my mind at least when I look at the schedules.
So I think this game is massive and it's I've
set up before.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It reminds me a lot of JMU last.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Year, where it's I mean, this is two first year
head coaches lining up a lot of unproven like Apflatcham
State as An announced their quarterback. I think when we
see the bullets start to fly Friday night, you'll you'll
get a sense. But I think just the nerves are
kind of setting in, Like, guys, I'm not gonna lie, Tim,
I haven't seen nervous today, not in like nerves about
(11:38):
the game, but just like it's finally here type of situation.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And the last thing I got for you, this defense
was tenth or worse in pretty much every important category
last year. What are your thoughts on what this defense
looks like heading into game one?
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Yeah, last year it was brutal.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
When you when you look at this team, I think
the strength of the defense is going to be at linebacker,
so leading tackler Reed Williford is back, and he's not
even going to start this season. They've got two guys
coming in from Ohio. Dave Taylor will probably be the
best player on this defense planet middle linebacker, and then
Caden Schmidt's They came over with Nate Fono as a
(12:15):
defensive coordinator, so there's a lot.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Of familiarity there.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
They know the scheme. It's the same exact.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Scheme that Ohio ran last year and.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
They have the number nine defense in the nation, a
top five run defense in the nation, and they went
on to win eleven games in the MAC Title. So
you're hoping the skill set the talent here is as good,
hopefully at least comparable to what they had last year.
You know, you have some guys back in Jacorus Conley.
I mentioned Reid Williford earlier. They've got the leadership. I'm
(12:45):
just really curious how this defensive line is going to look.
Tim Alvin said today he feels like they're going to
be solid in the front four. They've got a couple
of transfers on the edge and just a ton of new.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Faces at defensive tackle.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
So if they can, if they can stop the run,
which is obviously not something that they can do last year.
I think it'll be huge for this team.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Charlotte forty nine Ers football.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
It's back this week, yes, sir, and so is Hunter
Bailey right here on Weston Walker, making weekly hits talking
Charlotte forty nine Ers football all season long. Follow him
on Twitter at Hunter Underscore Bailey forty five. Listen to
his podcast, The Highway Highway forty nine podcast. You can
follow that on Twitter as well Hwy forty nine Podcast, Hunter.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I appreciate it, man, We'll see you out there at
the game.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Tell me yes, sir Taos.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
I excited, man, really excited, and you should be excited
as a listener as well, because I have an opportunity
for you to go to this game. I got tickets people,
all the forty nine Ers fans that might have tuned
in that maybe you don't want to spend all that
money to go out to Bank of America. Okay, I
got an opportunity for you. All you have to do
is text in Niners the Duke's Mayo Classic. It returns
to Charlotte on Friday, August twenty ninth at Bank of
(13:58):
America Stadium. This year's game as a local rivalry with
the app State Mountaineers taking on the Charlotte forty nine Ers,
and we've got your tickets.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Folks.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
There's only one Duke's Mayo Classic, and you don't want
to miss this prime time matchup. Text the word Niners
to seven oh four five seven oh ninety six ten
for a chance to win a pair of tickets to
the Duke's Mayo Classic. App State versus Charlotte Niners. Text
in Niners to seven oh four five seven oh ninety
(14:26):
six ten. I'm hoping you're a Niners fan. I'm hoping
you're going to be wearing green and gold out there.
I can't vet any of this, so I don't know,
but I do hope that you'll be done in the
green and gold, especially if you take these tickets away
from westn Walker one more time. Text in Niners to
seven oh four five seven oh ninety six ten if
you want a chance to win a pair of tickets
to the Duke's Mayo Classic. August twenty ninth, that's this Friday.
(14:50):
We'll be out there. It should be a grand old time,
all right. We got some breaking news regarding the Carolina Panthers.
As we approach the cut deadline at four pm, Corey
Thornton he is a on the fifty three man roster.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Good for him.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Who else is making the fifty three man We'll talk
to you on the other side of the breaks or
Trading ninety two seven WFZ.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Be a part of something powerful.
Speaker 7 (15:11):
Benjamin the Braves Silent Auction and charity golf Tournament Friday,
September twenty sixth. Enjoy beer, wine or DRS and great
auction items. Then Saturday, September twenty seventh, hit the links
at the Carolina Lakes Golf Club. Registration seven thirty, shotgun
start eight thirty. Our mission fund Life Saving Medalo Blastoma
research and support families fighting this disease. Sign up your
(15:31):
foursome or donate today at Benjamin thee Brave dot org
sponsored by Chandler Volta Injury Lawyers.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
One call That's all.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
WESN.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Walker Backsports Rady ninety two seven WFNZ. I'm gonna give
one clarification on your opportunity to win Duke's Mayo Ball
Classic tickets. A lot of people texting in. I'm going
to try to our ticketulate this as well as I
can and pronounce it as well as I can. A
lot of people are texting in minors, am I A
E S. I just want you to know. I feel
(16:10):
like I'm saying it, Okay, niners nine or nine ers.
I thought you did it like nine to nine except
the mascot of.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
The team that is playing in the game.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
N I N E R S and I at mine
for goal. Folks, I can't try to take it and
flip it. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I was willing, Okay, I got you not now ers,
not minors, not sooners, not the number forty nine, and
then er s not the number nine, and then eer s.
I could see how people would get confused, but we
got a butt like I wouldn't have said anything. Have
we not gotten probably thirty of those text messages, but
we did so anyways, just text in. We got more
(16:52):
miners coming in.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
You guys are just sending it.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
They're doing it on purpose. I hear you. I hear you. Hey,
keep it.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
It only helps us more activity on the text line.
It only helps us. So I appreciate that N I
N eers. If you want a chance to win tickets
to the Duke's Mayo Bowl Classic on Friday, August twenty ninth.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Let's give you more Panthers updates. Here we are on
cut day.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
The deadline to have a fifty three man roster official
is by four pm today, and Jordan Schultz with some
big news about the cornerback position. Jordan Schultz tweets out
that the Panthers undrafted rookie cornerback Corey Thornton out of
Louisville is making the fifty three man roster. One team
source said, quote, he was one of the standouts of camp,
(17:34):
Impressive every day and looking like a real gym end
quote awesome to him, awesome stuff for him, totally earned it.
Played pretty well in preseason games too, so it wasn't
just a training camp a practice type player. We actually
saw some of that stuff displayed in some of the
preseason action against backups whatever you call it. Showed up
(17:55):
when the lights were on at Boa and elsewhere. So
I really like what Corey Thornton did. That's a really
cool story. You know what else I like about this
West what you like? I think there are less questions
about undrafted rookies that make the final roster rather than
undrafted third or fourth year players that are doing a
great job holding on for their career. It's no disdain
(18:15):
for them. It's no disrespect for them. It's just it
feels like, oh, we really do have some unrealized potential,
unrealized by NFL scouts and maybe not by the players.
If you're an undrafted rookie where it's the first time
that everybody is watching, you go up against real NFL
competition and you're playing so well that you deserve to
be on the fifty three man roster, that's more. That's
(18:38):
a little more comforting to me than maybe even a
Bryson Tremaine that we go back to, who has a
lot of ability but has bounced around a couple of
different spots. Doesn't mean that he's not going to blossom here.
It's just he hasn't not worked out other places. In
Corey Thornton's case, Bryson Tremaine has not worked out at
other places. So I like what Corey Thornton could pass
(19:00):
be depth wise, and maybe he gets a little froggy
and takes over Mike Jackson spot when you're ready to
move on from him. I don't know what the possibilities are,
but Jordan Schultz says he's going to make the team.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yeah, I mean it fits your narrative better when you
get a rookie because you feel like, man, they really
overcame the odds to be able to make this roster.
What can they do to Whereas when you have a
guy that's been in the league for a little while,
you feel like that he's probably topped out on his
potential what he's going to be if he hasn't cracked
a starting rotation yet or become a real rotational player,
you feel like, probably that's not going to happen, and
(19:31):
special teams is going to be more the way to go.
But you're just so excited about the seemingly endless or
limitless potentials of an undrafted rookie because we've heard some
great stories about what they could be and we're going
to see another one continue on this year with Jalen Kocher,
who knows the heights that he can climb this year.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, absolutely so, I really like that. And if Corey
Thornton proves to be something. Now we're starting to see
Dan Morgan's reputation unfold even more so and being a
late round or diamond in the rough type of guy.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
That's huge. Yeah, I mean it's like a cherry on
top almost. When you can get an undrafted guy to
come in, it's like a bonus member of your draft class.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Brian is right writing and by the way, he said,
it's the first time he's listened to us in a while.
Shout out to Brian. Don't know if you're out there,
Brian a vacation or whatever, but he's a p one.
We trust him that he's coming back and so we
appreciate it, Brian. But anyways, he says, the Panthers keep
finding these udfagms. It's a testament to Dan Morgan's ability
to find talent. If Corey Thornton actually gets some real run,
(20:32):
then absolutely, I think we can start to take off,
even more so with this reputation that he's starting to develop.
You got to hit on your first round picks, though,
because that's what gets you to the playoffs. You can
find some rotation guys at the back end, and that's
a huge skill to have and good size for Thornton too.
I mean six he fits right in with the makeup
of the you know, top two corners that you have
(20:54):
Mike Jackson and j. C. Horn are both big corners. Again,
we talk about it.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
It's what Dan Morgan likes, big football players at every position.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Size matters today more it does out there on the
football field.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
He wants the big boys.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
He wants the big boys out there on the football field,
and you see it really at every single position. Have
not gotten final word on who makes this team. At
wide receiver. If you're looking at the countdown, how many
more cuts need to be made? Mike Ky says eight
by his count. I don't know if he's taking in
Corey Thornton to consideration, so maybe seven here. There are
(21:31):
still some undrafted guys that could make the final roster.
Fitzgerald's already made it. Jared Harrison Hunt out of SMU
could make it. Don't know. Corey Thornton is another guy.
Ban Martin Scott. I kind of expect all of them
to Maybe Harrison Hunt would be the one that is cut.
I think it's probably fifty to fifty on him right now,
as there's still seven or eight cuts still to be made.
(21:53):
But adding on to more and more of this reputation
that we speak of, maybe some of those other undrafted
guys possibly make the team. Here we are, though, trying
to figure out what's going to happen at wide receiver.
Still don't know there yet.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Yeah, and that's one of the more exciting positions that
we can't wait to see how it's going to shake out.
And then from there you think about what is this
rotation going to look like. The Panthers love to play
three receiver sets. We know that there will be sometimes
where some guys will have to fill in for injuries,
hopefully not too long. But this group looks to have
a lot of depth, a lot of talent, and a
lot of youth. And so I said for a couple
(22:27):
of years ago, and I saw a tweet not too
long ago showing the weapons that Bryce had when he
first got here.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
And a lot of these guys.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Are getting waived and not, oh my god, you know,
any part of any team's future plans. And so now
he's got a plethora of talent around him, and especially
youthful guys that he can continue to grow with.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
I've seen those tweets too. It's Jonathan Bingo getting traded
for a fourth round pick. It's DJ Shark not on
a roster, it's Hayden Hurst still not on a roster.
Some of this is a little cherry picky, but it
does prove to you that if none of the guys
that were the prominent threats outside of Adam Thlen are
making rosters elsewhere two years later, it goes to show
(23:08):
you what Bryce Shung was working with.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
And by the way, the offensive line was terrible.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
On top of these guys that are skill positions getting
cut elsewhere in the league. Rich asked, have you guys
spoken about Adam Thielen yet? Wonder what ends up happening there? Yeah,
we did in the first hour. If you're just joining us,
Wes and I are pretty much of a similar thought process.
What is frustrating to me is Vikings fans or whoever
(23:34):
putting out there on Twitter. Well, damn Caroline, is Adam
like Adam Thalen? Isn't Jerry Rice prodigy and the second
coming of Terrell Owens? Do they want two first round picks?
Goodness gracious, what's it going to take to go get them? No,
we don't have to exaggerate. What we can acknowledge is
that Adam Thlen has been our best receiver for the
last two years.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Now, that's true.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
What else is a fact is that he's been the
most trusted receiver for Bryce Young amidst all of those
other problems that we just talked about. When you're throwing
a mingo and you're throwing a whole bunch of other
dudes that can't make rosters for other team, it's been
thelan who was a thousand yard guy. Whether it's close
to the line of scrimmage two years ago or whether
he's actually catching some targets downfield. Adam Thlen is a
(24:18):
valued wide receiver on this team. Maybe it's a fourth
round value. The Vikings can't trade a fourth round pick.
Maybe it's a third round value. But you know, I
don't care what it is. Honestly, Wes Carolina gets to
make this decision however they want to, Okay, I usually
like listening to the player on what they want just
(24:38):
to gauge it. That matters to me. It does not
matter so much so that I'd be willing to waive
Adam Thielen just for Minnesota to pick them up. It
does not matter so much to me that I'd be
willing to trade Adam Thlen for two six round picks
Minnesota can acquire all the six round picks they want
to It doesn't mean I want four of them. Adam
thlen can help me now more so than I would
(25:00):
trade him for three two six round picks. And I
get to make that call because he's under contract. And
if you want to give me one hundred cents on
the dollar, I'll trade him then. But I get to
make this decision.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Yeah, and going back to blue Chips like I like
to do in this thing. And if you remember when
Nick no t when he called Happy to ask him
if Butcher McCrae aka Penny Hardaway was going to be
able to get out of the deal that he had made,
and he was out there by the pool and he's
screaming into the phone. His mother has got a new
house and a new job, and you tell him whatever
(25:34):
I'm saying, and he just goes off. And that's how
you start to feel at this point about Adam Thiela.
Now I'm sure feeling would be good staying here or
going elsewhere, but if he indeed is really just pining
to go back to Minnesota, you do get a little
frustrated because you're like, we gave you nine million, we
made you a relevant receiver when nobody wanted you. How
dare you come in our office and ask for this, okay,
(25:55):
because that's kind of how you feel. This guy was
left to finish out his career with a whimper. Nobody
expected him to come in here and catch a hundred passes.
Nobody expected him in two seasons to catch over one
hundred and fifty and probably would have been a lot
more had he not been injured. So he's gotten to
me a second life here in Carolina. Not many places
he could go where he would be treated with the
(26:17):
reverence that he gets here. As far as being a
number one receiver, that's what he's going to be this year,
unless proven otherwise, or until proven otherwise for him. So,
like I said, I don't like some of the optics
on how this has gone because it feels somewhat underappreciated
as far as what the Panthers have done for his career.
And I think that the Panthers he is a guy,
(26:38):
because I'm not sitting here in the boat. You can't
just put labels on a team and say what they're
going to be. This is the NFL. You have no clue.
The Panthers could be right, there in the Super wild
card hunt, and you will need a dependable veteran receiver
for a quarterback like Bryce Young, So he could certainly
be an integral part in a playoff run here because
you just don't know what teams are going to be.
(27:00):
Even as bad as we think the New Orleans Saints
could be, they could come out and end up being
a surprise team. So that's why I say with the Panthers,
I'm not, you know, sailing that playoff ship just yet.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Well, and again you're you're absolutely right because the Panthers,
they're trying to be better right than what they were
last year. I still think that the Panthers are really
setting things up to go all in on twenty twenty
six being the playoff year, But it doesn't mean it's
a bad thing if they find themselves in the playoffs
this year. There is a possibility if their defense improves
(27:31):
ten spots, if their offense improves ten spots. And Bryce
Young does look like one of the better qbs in football.
Average Top sixteen guy t mac turns out to be
a at least eight hundred and fifty to one thousand
yard guys. First year with the World, the Sky is
the limit. The next few seasons, we can go down
(27:52):
the list. Carolina might sneak into a wild card spot,
which is only valuable experience for these players. You know
who might help them into a playoff spot. It's Adam Thlen.
So if you want Adam Celin, Adam Thlen, you a ceiling.
Adam Seling. I do like Adam Celin. I just talking
about falling backwards into something. Adam ceiling is great. If
you want Adam Thielen, then pay for him. If you
(28:15):
want him, there is not a sense of urgency for
Carolina to move off of him. You could argue he's
going to retire and you're going to get nothing for him.
If the only compensation coming back for Adam Thlen are
late round draft picks, and instead I could have him
(28:37):
help us get to the postseason, then I'm going to
choose the latter. If you want to give me fourth
round value or a third round pick, cool, I gotta
make that. That's a valuable selection. That's a top one
hundred pick. It's a big deal. Cool, I'll do it.
But you're calling me. I'm calling you to see if
you're interested in Adam Thlen. Let's not get that twisted.
(28:58):
Vikings fans, y'all are calling us. We ain't calling y'all.
So the Panthers are not shopping him. The Vikings are
looking to buy. There is an important text that we
should get to here on the FanDuel text, line seven
oh four writes in I think kJ Osborne getting cut
killed a feeling trade. I think that's at play. kJ
(29:18):
Osborne for Washington did get cut. He had over five
hundred yards a season with Minnesota from twenty twenty one
to twenty twenty three. If they need some help desperately
and they don't want to give up some of those
draft picks, that might just be your option. No, he's
not as good as Adam Thielen, but at that price point,
it might be a better option for you. I do
(29:39):
think that's at play, especially with us an hour and
a half away from the deadline. So maybe that just
nixes everything here. But I do think kJ Osborne is
an important thing to monitor.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Yeah, it could be because we know that coaches like
players they're familiar with, and he could come back and
recapture that magic. Because it is surprising to me what
has happened to him since he's been going really good kid.
I met him at ACC kickoff a couple of years ago,
so I really liked him, along with the Shack quarterman.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
They were hanging out, we were chatting.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Anyway, that's neither here nor there, But the point is
that he looked like a budding kind of not necessarily star,
but he looked like a budding receiver in the league
that was going to be one of those glue guys
in your core, number three, number four that you could
count on and make some big catches for you and
play well in spots when he was starting. And so
with him out there, Minnesota may go back that way.
(30:27):
But you know Thielan, they still you know, the hometown
story that he's got going and all of that that
could be mostly at play as far as why Minnesota
would want to choose him over Osbourne. But as you said,
Osborne is a option for them that is on the
younger side, and he has had some success in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
I think Tired is not trading Adam Thielen to Minnesota
because kJ Osbourne is available. Wired is trading Adam theling
and then picking up kJ Osbourne yourself so you can
collect some draft picks and something to THELN You're good
Minnesota would be. Maybe they wouldn't be as frustrated because
they got theland now. But that's a wired take real quickly,
(31:07):
just updating everybody on who got cut from Carolina. Some
of the more notable names that the Panthers are expectedly
going to try to re sign to the practice squad.
Those names include wide receiver jesseem Red, cornerback Mike Reid,
defensive tackle Sam Roberts. I know that's a guy Flounder likes,
offensive tackle from Oklahoma Michael Tarquin, tight end Bryce Pierre,
(31:28):
and safety Trevion Thomas. Those are some of the names
that the Panthers are reportedly trying to get back onto
the practice squad. Raheem Blackshear. Another notable name that is
cut from this team, Shy Tuttle, the starter at nose
tackle each of the last two years, played a boatload
of snaps on almost historically the worst run defense of
(31:48):
all time. So shy Tuttle no longer on the team.
Not a surprise, but still a notable name. Anything else
interesting from you as it pertains to guys that have
already been cut or guys that you're looking at Mike cut.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
As far as you know, just guys that I haven't
had any surprises, and that's kind of the pettiness of
me is kind of what I was looking for. I
thought the quarterback situation was interesting in the fact that
they weighed both Jack Plumber and Bryce Perkins. So I
think that'll be interesting to see who they find to
be their practice squad.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Got to be that third quarterback.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
I think that's been the most surprising development because I
did think that it was going to come down to
Jack Plumber or Bryce Perkins as far as who was
going to take that third spot.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
I thought after the performance against Pittsburgh, I thought the QB,
the third string QB, the practice squad QB might just
be on somebody else's roster. It doesn't look like Perkins.
Perkins could come back, but not sure if he's going
to come back.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
In fact, I would probably bet.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Against it because you feel like if he really was
going to have a real chance in the NFL this season,
I'm not saying this over for him, but he got
signed so late into training camp as.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
Well, and Dave Canalis Joe Person was talking about it too,
like Canalis essentially thanked him for his service, and that
was kind of it, like, Hey, we needed a body
to come in and throw the football around, and we
brought you in, Jack Plumber, wasn't it either. I actually
thought if you were to ask me to bet on
it on Friday after the game, I would have said
both both are cut. Yeah, and the third string QB
(33:15):
is coming from somebody else's roster. That's another thing to
note real quickly before we go to the last segment.
If you are the fiftieth, fifty first, fifty second, or
fifty third player on this roster, that does not mean
you made the team. Because we could see some of
these waiverclaims come in even than that, And yeah, maybe
waiverclaim could come in another pick up a little bit
(33:38):
further down the line. It's tough out here, there's no doubt.
So I don't know who would be just outright safe,
even with your very bottom of the barrel guys that
made the fifty three man. But there are some players
that I do think are going to be added. You know,
Dan Morgan's got his eyes peeled out, and we can
remember last year's waiver claims. He used that first priority
(34:00):
waiver uh having waiver priority excuse me. He used that
a lot. I think he brought in like four guys,
three guys, something like that. So we'll see what happens.
We'll keep you updated, and so will Kyle as he
is on the airwaves from three to six pm. But
we got one more segment to go. It's the walk
Off coming up next. Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
How a challenge for to a walk off?
Speaker 3 (34:32):
Oh yeah, that's a walk off challenge, my friend, it's
a walk off.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
It's a walk off.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
One more segment to go on Western Walker Sports Radio
ninety two to seven WFNZ. And before we get to
what's on tap and get into some more Panthers conversation.
A boy, we're handing out tickets like we're Willie Walker
in the Chocolate pat got it off for you folks.
All you gotta do is text the word Chase. If
you want some NASCAR tickets, Text the word Chase. I'll
spell it for you. If you guys need help, I'll
(35:04):
spell it for you.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
C H A. S. E.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Text Chase to seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety
six to ten to win a pair of tickets to
NASCAR Cup Series Cookout Southern five hundred. That'll be Sunday,
August thirty, first, six o'clock. That's in Darlington at Darlington Raceway,
not too far away from here. All you gotta do
is text Chase seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety
six ten for a chance to win a pair of
(35:27):
tickets to the Cookout Southern at five hundred.
Speaker 6 (35:30):
Can you tell me why I decided to go with
Chase as the keyword?
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Well, does it have to does it not have to
do does it have to do with Chase or does
it not have to do with the Cup Chase.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
That's what I figured to be honest, it does not have.
Speaker 6 (35:42):
To do with the Cup Chase. That is no longer
what they call the playoffs. They just call them the
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. There you go, Smokes in the building.
As you go to smoke, will Smoke will know this answer, Smoke,
Why did I go with Chase as the keyword?
Speaker 1 (35:56):
Turn his mic onto Oh, yeah, I got.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
You, because the winner of last year's seven five hundred
was none other than Chase Briscoe.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Bing out, Oh I forgot about it. I forgot about it.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
So many chases, Man, so many Cup Chase to Chase
Elliott Chase Bristol for that race food wise, like as
far as supplying anything like down there, and that's the
question the area, Yeah, that's the question, like what do
they do worth asking? Do you see? Now, let's make
the Southern five hundred even greater than what it already is.
(36:28):
And what you can do is, as soon as you win,
you just are bathed in a cookout milkshake, just doused
in it.
Speaker 6 (36:35):
Milkshakes too thick though, so it's not going to pour
out of the cup because again.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Well then you get it's not a milkshake, no, but
you get a pool of some kind of cookout milkshake
and then you dive on in.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
That's what you did. Or they can just pour out
Ken's honey Mustard on you.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
That.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Yeah, that Winter gets unlimited trays for a year until
the next Southern five hundred. Oh you just get a
special car. Then you just go buy and flash it
trying to forget what if.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
I Yeah, I have guys looking like Jimmy Spencer out there.
If I could win no offense Jimmy Spencer, if I
could win any race and I could either choose what's
my what's my?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Guy?
Speaker 2 (37:15):
The mountain Man is that Dover, the the mountain Man trophy,
that the monster looking thing.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Yes, oh yeah, that's Dover. Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
So if I could win that race, or if I
could win the Southern five hundred where I get cookout
for a year. I love that trophy. It's one of
my favorite trophies in sports. I still think I would
go with cookout, but it'd be really close. Here you
get a mountain Man out of miles, then the miles
the monster. I'm not remembering mountain Man, that's probably what
(37:47):
it is. Yeah, stones and stuff like that. That's not
that far off. Pretty, But don't bow Jangle sponsor a race.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
I don't know. Does it make me used to the
Southern okay? Baby?
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Speaking of cookout, By the way, I don't know if
anybody knows this too, but when you go so in
the metropolitan area, now they got rid of Wendy's and
instead it's a cookout. As soon as that's that's about
my barber shop. So I saw it and I got
really excited for it. That was my instant reaction. Then
I started to think about it a little bit. You
know how cookout gets a little wild, an't I?
Speaker 4 (38:26):
So?
Speaker 2 (38:26):
Now, because you know, Cookout's gonna stay open until four am,
even at the metropolitan area, Like, do they know over
there in Metro what they're getting from a late night
spot like cookout over there?
Speaker 1 (38:40):
And like a nicer, pinky out part of town.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Right there that's inside of a cookout before I.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
Actually have Yeah, so maybe you could do that, But
I just is it actually is it still a good
thing that cookout exists in the metropolitan area or is
it still something you're a little afraid of giving?
Speaker 1 (38:57):
What cookout?
Speaker 3 (38:58):
I don't think it could be anywhere because Wendy stays
open late too, so it's gonna be about the same thing.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
But there's not a whole lot of loitering at Wendy's.
There's a lot at cookout. People.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Man, I have been allowed to hang out late night
and quite sometimes.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Well I know you're not.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
But if you're over there in the Metro area, they're
gonna have a lot of college kids, like high school kids.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Going out there. They're gonna be reving up their trucks.
That you got queens out there, so you'll have queens
kids out. That's what I'm trying to think of. How
many clubs or places, because is it convenient to where
the nightlife is really clough close enough. I think it's
close enough to where when you're exiting uptown it's like
you're drunk.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Where do we go? Cookouts always the answer, and so
now it's just overheating. Well, we got okay Panthers news.
What we got found?
Speaker 6 (39:44):
The Carolina Panthers, according to multiple sources, starting with Tom
Pelasaro of NFL Network, have released veteran wide receiver Hunter
renfernt Oh.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Now, it is a little bit of a surprise because
I did fit and not because of the Clemson acc love,
but I did feel like Hunter Renfro was a guy
that stood a strong chance to make the roster. I
wouldn't say a lock, but I thought he's stood a
strong chance.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Yeah, Tom Pelsero, Ari meirov also putting out there that
the Panthers have released Hunt of Renfro. We did go
through the POI the safest guys you had, David Moore
and Jimmy Horn safer than Renfro I did. So it's
a surprise, but it's notable because any of them could
have made it. You and I both agreed that David
Moore and Jimmy Horn were probably the safest. Bryce and Tremaine.
(40:33):
He became a big part of this wide receiver corps
after he didn't play against Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
I read a lot into that.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Then you start to do some research, you read Joe Person,
Mike Cayes fifty three man projections. They both have bryceon
Tremaine on the fifty three man. So after we started
to get the latest intel, it did feel like Hunter
Renfro was going to be the guy on the outside
looking in, especially with some people saying, hey, Renfro is
not a lock. Would I have kept him. I would
(41:00):
have kept him. I would have found a way to
keep him on the roster. But they did it, and
I feel like he would have had something to offer
this team. I do think he gets picked up with
the way that he played in camp. What say you
on Renfro being released, Well, it.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Feels like, you know, youth is kind of the order
of the day with this receiving corps, so I think
that you have that at play and for Renfro, you know,
I hate it for him because it felt like a
lot of the guys on the back end of the
receiving room didn't get a chance to shine that much.
Because the offensive line wasn't great. Then they playing with
Jack Plummer, you know, on Bryce Parkin. So it didn't
(41:36):
feel like that any of those guys really got a
shot to show what they could do, because Hunter Renfro
was targeted a decent amount versus Pittsburgh, but they just
couldn't make anything shape what you got platter.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Just coming from Mike Kay. So.
Speaker 6 (41:50):
Along with Hunter Renfro, John Radigan has also been released
the standout on special teams. They have also waived Jared
Harrison Hunt as well as, of course, my phone decided
to close out right there as I was looking at it.
Jared Kingston along the offensive line. Another name that we
heard could possibly make the roster, Mas Wantza at cornerback.
(42:14):
Schamar Bartholomew and guard j Tyree Carter also are gone.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Marquez Vodis Gantlin also released. I just wanted to throw
that in now because he broned me in fantasy football,
So good riddance to Youston.
Speaker 6 (42:28):
The pecer Radler named the starter in New Orleans too,
So okay, so lots of news coming in here. In
the final segment of Weston Walker to reiterate what Flounder
just said in case you're getting ready for the Kyle
Bailey Show, you're tuning in. Panthers release Hunter Renfro the
biggest release that we've seen, and it was always going
to come from that wide Receiver room, but it's a
monster release.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
Here.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
Here's Hunter Renfro gone from the Panthers at least as
of right now. Perhaps he clears waivers and he comes
back and there's some practice squad stuff there. I kind
of think he's going to get picked up though. Linebacker
John Radigan gone. Jared Grison hunt my guy, my name
is Project. Thought he was good enough to possibly make
the team.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
He'll be a.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Practice squad guy if he's not claimed off of waivers,
but there's a possibility that he is. Jared Kingston mos
wantsa another one of my my name is guys. I
think he came in from the what's it called the
Global the Global Pathway, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yes, I think they were talking about just having a
player in that program, just smaller but freakazoid type of
athlete like track star who just picked up football really late.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
The International Pathway guy also no longer on the team.
Shamar Bartholomew. Some of the tougher cuts. Guys, I got
a lot of run preseason. They are now not on
the fifty three man. We'll continue to update everybody as
some of this news comes in, but we only have
a couple more segments to go, and we need to
tell you what's on tap. It's presented by Twin Peaks.
Twin Peaks has locations in Concord and Fort Mill. Twin
(43:53):
Peaks at your local sports lodge. You could come in
from made from scratch food and signature twenty nine degree
draft beers. The US Open is going on. In case
you care anything at all about the world of tennis,
shout out to Francis Tiafo for winning his match yesterday.
And of course, in the world of baseball. The Atlanta
Braves they do face the Miami Marlins Tonight Braves on
(44:13):
the road. They're fifty nine and seventy two. Marlins are
sixty two and sixty nine six point forty. First pitch time,
Hirston Waldrip on the mound for Atlanta. Sandy al Contera
on the mound for the Sandy al Contra Al Contra.
It's like al chnst Love Contra back in the data
video game. Contra now boysn't knowing about that. No, I've
(44:34):
heard of contraband, but I wouldn't say I was a
big fan of contraband.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
Something that's any get me in trouble over there.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Final thoughts here on cut day any eighth, I guess,
are we close to fifty three man?
Speaker 1 (44:46):
Do we have it out right now? Gotta be very close.
Speaker 6 (44:48):
I would think that they maybe have to make like
one more cut. I don't do the math in my head,
but they're very very close to having their roster complete.
By the way, one of the guys that won walking
out to practice. According to Joe Person if you were
wondering if he was on the roster, Bubble Cam Jackson
was walking out to practice. So it looks like he
has made the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (45:09):
Man roster, which means all of the draft picks will
have made it as long as Jimmy Horn stays on
this team.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
Mitchell mays too.
Speaker 6 (45:16):
That's the other one that dat one spot that we
haven't seen. Tight end is still an area to watch
if they end up releasing James Mitchell or if they
go with Mitchell Evans.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
Mitchell Evans the other guy there as well as you mentioned. Yep,
So yeah, either one of those two tight end. They
still have that cut. As you mentioned, you're right, So
we'll see exactly what happens here. Kyle Bailey gonna take
you the rest of the way. He will have the
final fifty three man practice at four thirty adam. Because
Hunter Renfro's cut does feel like that might have been place. Yeah,
(45:48):
it's good, you know, it feels like that might have
happened here. Kyle Bailey, Show Smoke Ludwig coming up next.
Sports Rated ninety two to seven WFNZ.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.