Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 10, 2015 20:49:50 GMT
Linebacker Luke Kuechly worth every penny the Panthers pay him
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Luke Kuechly’s life didn’t change Thursday.
With reports swirling that he’d agreed to a five-year, $62 million contract that will make him the highest-paid middle linebacker in NFL history, Kuechly was focused totally on the Carolina Panthers’ Sunday opener at Jacksonville.
That he wouldn’t discuss anything other than the Jaguars was in part because the deal hasn’t been signed, but mostly because that’s who he is.
Kuechly eats, sleeps and lives football arguably more than any player in the NFL. His favorite part of the week other than game day is picking up chicken pad Thai and bringing it to Bank of America Stadium to watch film.
Mention that he’s had more tackles (473) than any player in the NFL since the Panthers made him the ninth pick of the 2012 draft and he’ll tell you about his weaknesses.
But his weaknesses are like an A-plus student getting an A on an exam.
Kuechly is worth every penny of what he’ll get paid. It’s no coincidence that the Panthers have ranked among the top 10 defenses in the NFL since he arrived.
It’s no coincidence that when Carolina finished second in the NFL in total defense behind Seattle in 2013 that Kuechly was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Again, Kuechly downplays his role. He’s not even sure where the award is, other than at his parent’s home in Cincinnati.
To know the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker's real value is to talk to his teammates and coaches. They can’t put a price on his value to the team.
“You can’t," outside linebacker Thomas Davis said. “It’s one of those things when you look at what Tom Brady does for the Patriots, that’s Luke to us.
“To me, he deserves to be the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL for what he’s capable of doing and what he has done."
There isn’t an ounce of jealousy or envy in Davis’ body when he says this.
“I get to personally watch this dude work day in and day out," he said. “So I can say that and truly mean it and understand what he brings to this defense, what he’s done for this league since he’s been here.
“And he’s one of the nicest guys you ever want to meet. And he’s been that way since Day 1 and I don’t expect him to change."
Neither does outside linebacker A.J. Klein.
“He’s the best player and the best linebacker in the NFL for a reason," he said. “Day in and day out, the hardest-working guy in this building.
“Obviously, his athletic ability on the field is something that is unmatched throughout the NFL at the linebacker position."
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott calls Kuechly the “servant leader we look for."
“I would be hard-pressed to find a guy, if that were the case, that would handle it any better than Luke would," he said of a large contract. “A class young man. He’s been raised the right way by his parents.
“On a day-to-day basis he models that around here. He’s a leader by example."
Carolina offensive players recognize Kuechly’s value as well.
“Luke Kuechly, besides a football player, he’s a tremendous person," running back Jonathan Stewart said. “You don’t get to be around many guys like that.
“He’s got a gift, not just on the football field."
And Stewart doesn’t expect money to change that.
“He is going to be the most consistent person you know," he said. “And that’s why he’s such a good football player."
Carolina cornerback Charles Tillman, who played with middle linebacker Brian Urlacher at his best in Chicago, says Kuechly is “the same, if not better."
He doesn’t get an argument from Carolina coach Ron Rivera, who coached Urlacher and played at Chicago with one of the all-time great linebackers in Mike Singletary.
“Luke has one of the best first steps I've ever seen," Rivera said.
The one thing about Kuechly that has surprised Rivera is “his complete command of what we do."
“When you find a guy like that, that’s pretty special and you want to keep him around," he said.
A five-year extension would assure that.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Luke Kuechly’s life didn’t change Thursday.
With reports swirling that he’d agreed to a five-year, $62 million contract that will make him the highest-paid middle linebacker in NFL history, Kuechly was focused totally on the Carolina Panthers’ Sunday opener at Jacksonville.
That he wouldn’t discuss anything other than the Jaguars was in part because the deal hasn’t been signed, but mostly because that’s who he is.
Kuechly eats, sleeps and lives football arguably more than any player in the NFL. His favorite part of the week other than game day is picking up chicken pad Thai and bringing it to Bank of America Stadium to watch film.
Mention that he’s had more tackles (473) than any player in the NFL since the Panthers made him the ninth pick of the 2012 draft and he’ll tell you about his weaknesses.
But his weaknesses are like an A-plus student getting an A on an exam.
Kuechly is worth every penny of what he’ll get paid. It’s no coincidence that the Panthers have ranked among the top 10 defenses in the NFL since he arrived.
It’s no coincidence that when Carolina finished second in the NFL in total defense behind Seattle in 2013 that Kuechly was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Again, Kuechly downplays his role. He’s not even sure where the award is, other than at his parent’s home in Cincinnati.
To know the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker's real value is to talk to his teammates and coaches. They can’t put a price on his value to the team.
“You can’t," outside linebacker Thomas Davis said. “It’s one of those things when you look at what Tom Brady does for the Patriots, that’s Luke to us.
“To me, he deserves to be the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL for what he’s capable of doing and what he has done."
There isn’t an ounce of jealousy or envy in Davis’ body when he says this.
“I get to personally watch this dude work day in and day out," he said. “So I can say that and truly mean it and understand what he brings to this defense, what he’s done for this league since he’s been here.
“And he’s one of the nicest guys you ever want to meet. And he’s been that way since Day 1 and I don’t expect him to change."
Neither does outside linebacker A.J. Klein.
“He’s the best player and the best linebacker in the NFL for a reason," he said. “Day in and day out, the hardest-working guy in this building.
“Obviously, his athletic ability on the field is something that is unmatched throughout the NFL at the linebacker position."
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott calls Kuechly the “servant leader we look for."
“I would be hard-pressed to find a guy, if that were the case, that would handle it any better than Luke would," he said of a large contract. “A class young man. He’s been raised the right way by his parents.
“On a day-to-day basis he models that around here. He’s a leader by example."
Carolina offensive players recognize Kuechly’s value as well.
“Luke Kuechly, besides a football player, he’s a tremendous person," running back Jonathan Stewart said. “You don’t get to be around many guys like that.
“He’s got a gift, not just on the football field."
And Stewart doesn’t expect money to change that.
“He is going to be the most consistent person you know," he said. “And that’s why he’s such a good football player."
Carolina cornerback Charles Tillman, who played with middle linebacker Brian Urlacher at his best in Chicago, says Kuechly is “the same, if not better."
He doesn’t get an argument from Carolina coach Ron Rivera, who coached Urlacher and played at Chicago with one of the all-time great linebackers in Mike Singletary.
“Luke has one of the best first steps I've ever seen," Rivera said.
The one thing about Kuechly that has surprised Rivera is “his complete command of what we do."
“When you find a guy like that, that’s pretty special and you want to keep him around," he said.
A five-year extension would assure that.