Carolina Panthers: Scifres to Bolster Punting
The Carolina Panthers may have solved their punter problem with the acquisition of former Charger Mike Scifres.
If there was one question mark that the Carolina Panthers had going into OTAs and training camp it was probably the punter position. With Brad Nortman signed away by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Panthers had seemingly satisfied themselves with having a competition of two relative unknowns. That is no longer the case.
Yesterday the Panthers signed thirty-five year old punter Mike Scifres, formerly of the San Diego Chargers. That Chargers link is where former defensive coordinator and current Panthers head coach Ron Rivera would have met Scifres.
Scifres was considered the best punter in the league in 2012 and continued to be consistently good despite injury in 2014. The Chargers cut ties this past off season over fears about his salary and age. The Panthers are flush enough with money that a one year prove-it deal for Scifres won’t be the worst thing ever.
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It is also better to go with the devil you know than the devil you don’t. Michael Palardy found that out the tough way, as the former Tennessee punter was the man cut to bring in the veteran. Even if Scifres is not the 2012 version, his other versions have reliably kicked the ball about 43 yards per punt with something like a 38.6 net after return.
The Panthers are still a defense first team and field position is important to their game management style. If Scifres can play into that then his acquisition will be worth the cost. Speaking of cost, those details have not yet been revealed.
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If Scifres’ age concerns you, just remember that the Panthers should be in a win now mode. Scifres is a solution that will work this year and might work into the next. Ultimately the Panthers will have to bring in a long term solution, but that can now wait.