CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman knows what a Super Bowl hangover feels like. He experienced what he calls a "huge" one in 2012 and another in 2001 as the pro personnel director with the New York Giants.
He doesn't anticipate one with the 2016 Panthers.
Not that Gettleman is predicting a return to the Super Bowl, something no team that lost the title game the year before has done since the 1992-93 Buffalo Bills.
But Gettleman likes the roster, he likes what head coach Ron Rivera has done in preparing the team to rebound mentally and what he's seen from players in general in terms of their preparation.
"These guys are hungry. You get thiiiis close," Gettleman said on Tuesday, holding his forefinger and thumb an eighth of an inch apart to make his point. "I don’t see any difference in the work ethic, their approach or anything. Ron and I are very pleased. We’re very encouraged with where they are mentally."
This is why Gettleman was willing to trade a fourth-round pick to Cleveland for punter Andy Lee. This is why Gettleman was willing to invest a salary-cap figure in Lee that is higher than he was willing to invest to keep Brad Nortman, now with Jacksonville.
Gettleman saw most of the pieces were in place for a return to the playoffs and another Super Bowl run -- with the exception of a proven punter.
That became evident when offseason acquisition Mike Scifres suffered an injury to his kicking knee in Friday’s preseason game against New England. The only option on the roster was Kasey Redfern, who hasn’t kicked in an NFL game.
"To have a team like this and to go into the season with a rookie punter is really rolling the bones," said Gettleman, referring to dice. "Andy Lee is a Pro Bowl punter. People talk about checking boxes. Well, that was a huge box to check.
"He's an outstanding holder as well as a great punter. It was something we felt we needed to do."
The Browns traded Lee and a 2017 seventh-round pick to Carolina for Redfern and a 2018 fourth-round pick because they are rebuilding under first-year coach Hue Jackson.
The Panthers accepted Lee's $2.833 million cap figure for 2016 -- a figure that will rise to $4.134 million in 2018 -- because they are reloading for another championship run.
Gettleman doesn't want to see what happened to the Giants following the 2000 Super Bowl loss to the Ravens and the 2011 Super Bowl win against New England happen to the Panthers. New York finished 7-9 in 2001 and 9-7 in 2012, missing the playoffs both years.
"As a general manager, every night I say to myself, 'Have I given Ron the players that he can win with?'" Gettleman said. “I constantly ask myself that question, because at the end of the day that's my job.
"I felt it was a necessary move, and I felt it was a really strong move."
