The departure of Shaq Thompson was not a huge surprise. His now-former Carolina Panthers teammates were nonetheless deeply upset by Dan Morgan’s final result. For ten years, Thompson has been a member of the franchise. He was one of just two players left from their 2015 Super Bowl run. In addition to being a respectable player on the field, he was the undeniable leader of Carolina’s locker room. Unfortunately, the former Washington native who was selected in the first round had two severe injuries in a row.
Thompson will be allowed to try his luck elsewhere by the Panthers. Regarding possible interest, a lot will rely on how well the linebacker recovers from an Achilles tear. A few competing teams ought to be interested in signing him if his medical examination is satisfactory. Chuba Hubbard expresses his displeasure with Shaq Thompson’s departure from the Carolina Panthers. In light of the significant defensive side changes this summer, Carolina believes it is better to go younger. Chuba Hubbard, the running back, was not pleased with that and expressed his disbelief on social media.
Morgan spoke with Charlotte Sports Live’s Gabe McDonald at the NFL Scouting Combine, adding further clarity to the process of going on without Thompson. Although everyone in the organization holds him in high regard, the general manager admitted that it was a tough decision that eventually came down to health.
Morgan is acting in the team’s best interests. He is in charge of the Panthers’ front office with almost no emotion. Eliminating emotion from the situation will only benefit the club in the long run as he works to put them back in the running. If that meant firing a well-liked person like Thompson, then so be it. Hubbard felt let down. In that sense, he was not alone. For Morgan, it’s crucial to successfully replace him. In Thompson’s absence, the leadership role will therefore be taken up by other well-established players in the locker room.
The likes of cornerback Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown are the defensive alphas. Bryce Young and Hubbard — together with offensive linemen Taylor Moton, Robert Hunt, and Damien Lewis — can also keep spirits high from a motivational perspective.
Thompson’s influence was never in question, but this was always a possible conclusion to his time in Carolina. It’s another pillar of the past gone. Morgan is all about the future and what the Panthers could potentially accomplish under his leadership.
Leave a Reply