CHARLOTTE, N.C. – You know it’s a slow period in the NFL when we’re debating which team has the best uniform.

But there apparently is something to debate for Carolina Panthers fans based on ESPN’s annual Uni Watch NFL Power Rankings that were released on Thursday.

According the power rankings executive committee, only five teams have worse uniforms than Carolina. Fortunately for the Panthers, two of them are in the NFC South, so they rank second in the division behind New Orleans.

Carolina is given kudos for consistency, having stuck with basically the same black, white or blue jersey with silver pants with a predominantly silver helmet since the team began playing in 1995.

Team owner Jerry Richardson chose the silver-and-black look initially because it was clean and popular. He compared the look to that of the Oakland Raiders, whose uniform is second in the Power Rankings.

The committee likes the look in Oakland that really hasn’t changed much over the years. It calls the look classic.

But in Carolina’s case, the committee says the pointed pants piping, divergent helmet stripes and color scheme “all feels badly dated.’’

Too bad the all-black look Carolina’s worn less than a handful of times since it debuted in 2012 was not a part of this evaluation.

Two years ago, that look won an NFL.com fan vote for the “Greatest Uniforms in NFL History." Yes, history. There were some questions about the voting being stacked or rigged, but that’s another debate.

That Carolina had worn that combination only once before the controversial vote was more intriguing.

Nevertheless, the 2015 Power Rankings and the suggestion for an update got me to thinking: What would I change?

I personally like a few variations of the all-black helmet instead of the current silver one, although a new 2013 NFL policy governing alternate helmets apparently takes that out of the equation.

I also like the 2014 proposal made by a graphics artist from Chicago in which the Panthers wore blue pants with a white jersey that had black claw marks on the shoulders.

Regardless, I agree the Panthers could use a new look.

Here’s what a few suggested when I asked for input on Twitter:

@DNewtonespn I would like to see more black. I would go black pants with the black and blue jerseys. I would also like a black helmet.

— Robert Carlson (@rcarlson85) May 21, 2015

@DNewtonespn Changes that I would make. Blue jerseys as primary and black as alternate. I would also use silver pants w/white jersey

— Norm Caudell (@NormCaudell) May 21, 2015

@DNewtonespn Easy. Blue jerseys are made regular home uni; whites away; and black alternate. Panthers wear the whites waaaaay too much.

— Jeremy Fisher (@Big_Eaters_Club) May 21, 2015

@DNewtonespn Panthers have the nicest uniforms in sports.

— dusty (@papapanthers) May 21, 2015

@DNewtonespn our color scheme is some of the best in pro sports.

— SalesMan (@95KeepPounding) May 21, 2015

But it makes for a good debate during a slow period.