CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ron Rivera's answer was predictable when asked on Monday if the Carolina Panthers made a mistake in parting with Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman.

"That's 20-20," the Elite Amari Cooper Jersey sixth-year head coach said with a smile. "It's called hindsight. I ain't going there."

He doesn't have to.

Statistics will tell you it was a huge mistake, and one that didn't have to happen.

The Panthers simply could have let Norman play under the franchise tag of $13.95 million and slowly developed rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zack Sanchez, who are part of a defense that is allowing embarrassing numbers during a 1-5 start.

If a long-term deal couldn't be reached after that, so be it. Part ways then, but you will have provided stability in the secondary and given yourself a chance to return to the Super Bowl.

You almost certainly wouldn't be languishing with a 1-5 record heading into the bye.

But general http://www.authenticfootballs.com/amari-cooper-jersey-c-1_1054_1076.html manager Dave Gettleman opted to rescind the franchise tag in April because of the flexibility it gave him under the salary cap and the unlikelihood that a long-term deal would be reached. The latter probably is true, understanding Gettleman's history of taking the cheap route in the secondary. He's spending less than $10 million this year -- on the entire secondary.

"He was significantly disciplined by the Vikings," the team said in a statement. "George has fulfilled both his legal obligations as well as the additional team-imposed discipline."

The St. Paul Pioneer Press first reported the incident, the same day the Vikings released practice squad guard Isame Faciane after his misdemeanor DWI during the team's bye week last week. Faciane's incident, Zimmer said on Monday, was "one of the things that I'm trying to get rid of around here."

That's a league low.