Panthers busy at deadline

Panthers busy at deadline
By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Don't be surprised if Julius Peppers is back in a Carolina Panthers uniform next season.

That's precisely what the Panthers had in mind Thursday when they signed left tackle Jordan Gross to a mega-contract and put their franchise tag on Peppers.

Gross received a front-loaded, six-year deal worth close to $60million, including $30.5million in the first three years, the most ever for an offensive lineman.

Tagging Peppers required the team to make him a one-year tender offer of $16.683million – an average of more than $1million per regular-season game for next season.

The moves on a whirlwind day of activity will require the Panthers to cut some other players to get under the NFL salary cap, but amounted to a coup for general manager Marty Hurney by lessening the chances that Peppers' desire to be traded to another team will actually happen.

In a conference call with reporters, Hurney gave a strict recitation of NFL rules regarding franchise players and declined to discuss any scenarios outside of those boundaries.

Hurney said the Panthers put a non-exclusive franchise tag on Peppers, giving Peppers the option to sign an offer sheet with another team. But it left the Panthers with the right to match such an offer and keep Peppers long-term, or decline to match and receive two first-round picks as compensation.

The last time a team gave up two first-round picks for a franchise player was in 2000, when Dallas traded Seattle first-round selections in 2000 and '01 in exchange for receiver Joey Galloway.

In recent years, teams have negotiated trades for franchise players for less compensation, such as last season when Minnesota gave Kansas City a first-rounder and two third-round picks for defensive end Jared Allen.

When asked if the Panthers would consider a trade involving something less than two first-round picks, Hurney refused to budge.

“The franchise tag is the franchise tag,” said Hurney. “With it, go those rules.”

Hurney also bristled at the suggestion that the Panthers wouldn't improve themselves in the free agency signing period because Gross' new contract and Peppers' tender offer counted so much against their salary cap.

“If you retain those two players, you've helped your team a lot,” said Hurney.

Hurney said he has maintained a good relationship with Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, and that the team is steadfast in its desire to keep Peppers.

“We've said many times how much we value Julius and we would like him to play here,” said Hurney.

The next move belongs to Peppers.

Will he seek an offer sheet from another team? Will he continue to press for a trade, perhaps with a minicamp holdout? Or will he be content to play under the one-year tender offer?

Apparently, Peppers has not decided yet. When asked late Thursday afternoon if Peppers would sign an offer sheet with another team, Carey released this statement:

“Julius will engage in a similar thought process that he engaged in when he made the decision that he wanted to continue his career outside of Carolina. That process was lengthy and it was methodical and thoughtful.”

Peppers is likely to receive significant interest when the free agency signing period opens Feb.27, but finding a team he wants to play for, with the salary-cap room to meet his contract requirements, and with the desire and wherewithal to satisfy Carolina's compensatory needs could be difficult.

Earlier this week, a source close to Peppers told the Observer that Peppers had a list of four potential new teams – three from the NFC and one from the AFC. One of the NFC teams is Dallas, but it seems clear the list does not include any of Carolina's NFC South rivals because none of those teams (Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay) employ the 3-4 defense that most intrigues Peppers.

The Panthers' strategy in tagging Peppers – albeit at an enormous price – was to keep him at least for next season.

Though he has said money isn't his priority, the $16.683 million tender offer probably would make him the league's most highly compensated non-quarterback. The offer represents a 20percent increase over his salary-cap figure for '08. However, it's substantially more than the $9million cash he actually received in '08 in base salary and roster bonus funds.

Peppers could agree to play next season under his tender offer and then resume his attempt to move to another team a year from now, which could lead to him being franchised again.

Peppers, 29, has said he won't sign a long-term extension with the Panthers.

Gross said if Peppers were to return to the Panthers next season, teammates would “welcome him with open arms.”

Carolina signed Gross hours before a 4p.m. deadline to designate their franchise player. Both Pro Bowlers were eligible to become unrestricted free agents.

When asked if he felt a burden to complete a deal with the Panthers so they could be free to tag Peppers, Gross said: “Yes and no. I really felt good that they could do that if they wanted to.

“I don't think it's a terrible situation for (Peppers) to be in. I don't know what Pep thinks about it, but I can't imagine he would be too upset by that deal.”

Carolina will need to trim at least $10million from its salary cap to reach the league maximum of $123million by Feb.27. They could save about $7.35million by cutting cornerback Ken Lucas, offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges, receiver D.J. Hackett and linebacker Landon Johnson.

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