Excerpt from Jerry Richardson article Johnny U to Cam Newton (possible 18 to Carolina trade).

[FireJimCaldwell]

A franchise quarterback

The Panthers have invested a first-round pick on a quarterback twice. Newton was the first player selected in the 2011 draft. In their first draft in 1995 they took Kerry Collins with the fifth pick in the first round.

Collins had a nice career but never became a franchise quarterback, a quarterback who could lift or save a team when little else succeeded.

Did you ever look at a quarterback such as Peyton Manning and say, “What I would give for one of those?”

“I know what I’d give,” says Richardson. “I know how much we offered to trade for Peyton Manning.”

The Indianapolis Colts drafted Manning in 1998. The Panthers proposed a trade for the pick. Richardson remembers offering Collins, wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and a package of draft choices.

Indianapolis president Bill Polian had been Richardson’s general manager in Carolina.

“I thought Bill would do it because he wanted Kerry,” Richardson says.

Says Polian: “There was some back and forth. Kerry, Moose (Muhammad), plus draft choices is what comes to mind. Needless to say, we elected to stay with the choice and Peyton.

Obviously, it worked out for us. I hope the same is true for Carolina with Cam.”

Collins was the second quarterback to start for the Panthers. Newton is the 14th.

Unitas was Richardson’s first quarterback. Newton, says Richardson, will be his last.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/08/3515283/jerry-richardson-from-johnny-unitas.html#storylink=cpy'>http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/08/3515283/jerry-richardson-from-johnny-unitas.html#storylink=cpy

Every morning that was the talk on the morning radio waves...

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/08/3515283/jerry-richardson-from-johnny-unitas.html

Good read with some behind the scenes info on Unitas from a former teammate.

[21isSuperman]

I'm glad Polian stuck with Peyton. Moose and Collins both had some good flashes in their careers, but Peyton is one of a kind