The future of the Carolina Panthers is looking pretty bright. Apparently owner Jerry Richardson knew what he was doing when he gutted the team in 2010. The Carolina Panthers were mired in meritocracy and fans were mad at Jerry Richardson.

What Jerry Richardson did was to prepare the Carolina Panthers for the NFL lockout and force a youth movement on the team. To keep from paying two coaching staffs Richardson let John Fox finish his contract rather than firing him.

The Jerry Richardson hired Ron Rivera and a good staff of assistant coaches for the Carolina Panthers. Knowing this is a quarterback driven game Jerry Richardson drafted Cam Newton when Andrew Luck opted out of the 2011 NFL draft.

Cam Newton of course proved Jerry Richardson right and had a hugely successful rookie season. The Carolina Panthers youth movement will really begin to pay off in 2012 and the team should be in the playoffs.

With the quick signing of Jeremy Shockey before the 2011 season Jerry Richardson showed he will sign checks for selected veteran free agents. Thus the fans who thought Jerry Richardson was going to be a cheap owner had to revise their thinking.

I really believe Jerry Richardson wants to win ball games and a Super Bowl ring. Richardson is the only NFL owner who was also a player and used to catch passes from Johnny Unitas. Pretty cool also that the Charlotte Bobcats are owned by a former NBA player, Michael Jordan as well.

With the ability of Cam Newton to attract free agents I expect Mr. Richardson to spend a little more this season. But I also expect the Panthers to continue the youth movement that will pay off. The Carolina Panthers can become competitive year in and year out if they play their cards right.

I just hope that the Panthers can resign Cam Newton and keep him in Carolina for his entire career. Jerry Richardson will find a way to do that and see his plan for the Panthers come to fruition.

The only mistake I think Jerry Richardson and the Panthers made recently was resigning DeAngelo Williams. Now I think Williams is talented and he forms a nice team wit Jonathan Stewart. However I think that NFL running backs are a dime a dozen and that money and cap space could have been spent better. But all in all I approve of Jerry Richardson’s plan for the Carolina Panthers.