Carolina Panthers: Oher Extended, Peace at Left Tackle
The Carolina Panthers have moved extend the contract of left tackle Michael Oher to keep protecting the ‘blind side’ of Cam Newton.
The Carolina Panthers made a move to lock down the left side of their offensive line when they extended the contract of tackle Michael Oher. Oher had been the last year of a prove it deal that he signed before last season. Now he can play comfortably knowing that he will be getting 21 million with about 9.5 million being guaranteed over the next three years.
Regardless of how the Super Bowl turned out, this should be all you need to know about Oher’s impact last season. The Panthers didn’t jerk him around or subject him to a training camp challenge for his job. They simply locked him up.
Oher, for his part, is grateful. According to reports from David Newton of ESPN, he had nothing but nice things to say about the Panthers franchise. He included a mention that this was the kind of stuff you’d want to be around your entire career.
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This makes sense for Oher’s personality. He’s a guy that does best when he feels loved and wanted and then he will show that for others. Ever since Newton’s first text message to him, the Panthers have treated him that way.
With Oher’s contract extended, the only question left on the offensive line is overall depth. If the Panthers wanted to they could reach out to former Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe. Monroe was cut by the Ravens over his injuries. Monroe also suspects that they cut him due to his promotion of medical marijuana and his advocacy to the League to take it off the banned substances list.
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Monroe was a starter when he was healthy, although that was a couple of years ago. If the Panthers brought him in it would be as a depth play, not an attempt to unseat Mike Remmers at the right tackle. Monroe’s first choice would seem to be the New York Giants, so the Panthers might not even get to talk to him.