[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none”]There had been a lot of speculation about Charles Godfrey’s fate the last few weeks, but there was really just one way it was going to go. The seventh-year safety, who tore his Achilles in Week 2 last season, had to stomach the significant pay cut that became official Tuesday.Godfrey suffered one of the most devastating injuries for an NFL player, so it’s unlikely other teams would have come calling. And for the cap-strapped Panthers, Godfrey’s $5 million 2014 salary was a prime savings target.The Panthers had all the leverage, but the continued relationship between the two is good for both sides. Godfrey’s best chance to prove he can still play is with the Panthers, who are happy to pay a much lower rate of $750,000 to see if he can regain a starting spot in their suspect secondary.
Of course, the entire situation still contains a gigantic IF. Yup, a bold one.It all hinges on IF Godfrey can get back to his pre-injury form. He’s been on a good pace, and guys are recovering faster from Achilles injuries than they ever have. But as the Panthers saw during linebacker Jon Beason’s comeback, speed and quickness don’t necessarily return at the same time the body recovers.IF Godfrey can make it all the way back into the starting lineup for Week 1, the most likely scenario could be this: He’d start at either free or strong safety, and he’d also be the No. 1 nickel back. Not outside cornerback – he wasn’t a good fit there pre-injury, so post-injury, there’s no way – but nickel back.As one source told me Tuesday, he has no doubt a healthy Godfrey can play both positions because he’s a safety who can play nickel. He’s played some snaps there before, and the Panthers think his skill set is a good fit for a position gaining more importance in today’s game.
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