'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' -

Easyt65 · 04-07-2008, 10:24 AM

The Observer wrote it.

Several talking heads said it.

And just this morning, on another board, a buddy of mine parroted it again.

I could not disagree any more with that statement:

"...he's got 'em over a barrel."

From everything I have heard, Carolina can afford to pay Peppers his salary this season and still sign their draft picks. It might be so close that it is uncomfortable, but they supposedly can do it. Pardon the description, but the Panthers are staring the devil in the face, and the loser will be the 1st one who blinks.

NO, I am not comparing JP to or calling him the devil. The 'devil' is the contract situation they currently find themselves in.

Carolina notoriously has a habit of stringing salaries along until the time the huge baloon payment is due, much like what is going on now with Peppers. Are they going to 'blink' and make the same mistake or do they hang tough and do this right?

Last season's performance does NOT warrant the kind of contract he reportedly wants - 'Dwight Freeney' money, which equates to around $12 million a year with a $30 million cash-up-front signing bonus.

The smart thing to do, as long as they CAN afford it, is to let him play this season while paying him his full final season's contract salary. Based on last season's performance and if he does not improve this season, there isn't anyone who will pay that kind of money for him at the end of the season, either. The only one willing to do it is the Carolina Panthers NOW in order to secure his place here while freeing up CAP room - NOT because he deserves it! And the reason, again, Carolina finds itself in this CAP situation with his salary is not because JP put them there but because THEY put themselves there by how they have handled his contract/pay.

IF they CAN wait it out:

- They see if last year was a fluke and/or whatever ailed Peppers has been fixed.

- If it has not and he has another sub-par year, by waiting they potentially save themselves MILLIONS of dollars in re-signing him.

--- From a PURELY business perspective: Remember back to Jake's SB year - he had a great year, leading the team to the SB. He was already under contract at the end of the season; however, Carolina wanted to reward him for his performance that season. Instead of giving him a bonus, they signed him to a 'huge' contract extension. The next season he had a bad season. Again, from a business stand-point, Carolina made a mistake in the throes and glow of their recent SB season that had just passed by, giving Jake a bigger contract than they could have signed him to the very next season.

--- From the loyalty standpoint, they took care of Jake. Jake was not asking for a new contract, especially one that would make him the highest paid QB in the NFL, at the time they offered him the extension, AND he had just taken the team to the SB. In comparison, JP is coming off the worst season of his career after a season where he refused to take the mantle of 'leader' on defense, and after a season that saw the Panthers fail to make the playoffs; yet, his agent is reportedly looking for a deal (after last season's performance) that would make him the highest paid defender in the league.

Sounds a helluva lot like greed instead of loyalty to his team. Heck, everyone ripped Moose for being greedy after taking the money offered to him by Chicago instead of cutting the team a discount after his performance as best WR in the NFL in almost every category that season. Yet, JP isn't cutting the Panthers any breaks after a $ucky season, asking Carolina to make him the highest paid defender in the NFL after THAT season? I love JP and hope he doesn't leave Carolina and returns to form...but with all due respect, he needs to get hammered for his positon on his contract demand...IMO.

- If JP does return to form and has a blow-out year and Carolina could afford to hold-out re-signing him until then/later, then they really haven't lost anything for doing so!

The key is IF Carolina can afford to pay him and sign all their draft picks!

But Carolina is not over a barrel because of Julius Peppers - Carolina is over a barrel (if at all) because of Carolina!

CBDellinger · 04-07-2008, 10:31 AM

I agree, they extended the contract and this is where they are at... that being said I would not be surprised to see a deal come thru before TC starts this summer... at the same time I wouldnt be surprised not to see one either...

bababoey · 04-07-2008, 10:55 AM

Nice post. Good points except for one thing.
The year after Jake signed the big contract was his best year, not a bad one. He had over 3,600 yards and 29 TD and it was the first time he made the Pro Bowl.
The team went 7-9 but you can't blame that on Jake.

Stroupealoop · 04-07-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easyt65

But Carolina is not over a barrel because of Julius Peppers - Carolina is over a barrel (if at all) because of Carolina!

I'm not really understanding this final point. We should have extended Peppers sooner? We should have traded him or cut him? I'm not the biggest fan of Hurney's way of handling contracts, but I don't see how he or the front office did anything wrong here.

Skew · 04-07-2008, 11:05 AM

I think Peppers put Carolina over a barrel when he under performed last year at a time when Carolina wanted to extend his contract.

engine9 · 04-07-2008, 11:19 AM

I think Jake Delhomme is the best damned quarterback ever and you better take back what you said about him having a bad year.

...I also think the we aren't really over a barrel until the player is in free agency. Whats going to really cause a shakeup is if they don't get a contract worked out with Gross.

boxer · 04-07-2008, 11:33 AM

Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember Peppers asking for Freeney money. I just figured that's what everyone has assumed would happen. But this wouldn't be the first time I was clueless about something.

monstercat · 04-07-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stroupealoop

I'm not really understanding this final point. We should have extended Peppers sooner? We should have traded him or cut him? I'm not the biggest fan of Hurney's way of handling contracts, but I don't see how he or the front office did anything wrong here.

I agree...hell they don't HAVE to keep him now, if they don't want to.

Kurb · 04-07-2008, 11:44 AM

Gross has a bigger chance of walking than Peppers IMO.

engine9 · 04-07-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurb

Gross has a bigger chance of walking than Peppers IMO.

if we move him to left tackle and he sucks we can sign him on the cheap

monstercat · 04-07-2008, 11:53 AM

It's funny...everytime anybody from the FO, coaching staff, or one of Peppers's teammates is asked about him, every single one of them say he'll be back in a big way. I still believe they all know something that we don't.

Peppers is a guy who has rarely ever missed a practice and hardly ever comes out of a game because of fatigue in 5 years, yet he was getting oxygen and his heart rate checked in the 1st quarter of a game last year...that is not normal, I don't care what anybody says.

X-Clown · 04-07-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxer

Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember Peppers asking for Freeney money. I just figured that's what everyone has assumed would happen. But this wouldn't be the first time I was clueless about something.

Can't remember where I read it, but shortly after this season his agent was saying that he would not be taking a 'discount' based on this season's play. Lots of published reports are out there from before last season where Peppers was saying he wants Freeney money. So I think people are putting two and two together.

Kurb · 04-07-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monstercat

It's funny...everytime anybody from the FO, coaching staff, or one of Peppers's teammates is asked about him, every single one of them say he'll be back in a big way. I still believe they all know something that we don't.

Peppers is a guy who has rarely ever missed a practice and hardly ever comes out of a game because of fatigue in 5 years, yet he was getting oxygen and his heart rate checked in the 1st quarter of a game last year...that is not normal, I don't care what anybody says.

Some people somewhat close to the situation, back this up completely.

X-Clown · 04-07-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurb

Some people somewhat close to the situation, back this up completely.

How many times has it been posted on this board that there was something besides what the front office was stating that affected his play? 500? 10,000? I swear it comes up in every thread.

Stroupealoop · 04-07-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurb

Some people somewhat close to the situation, back this up completely.

With all due respect, do you expect someone on the guys team or in the front office to say the guy is a dumptruck and they hope he dies?

04-07-2008, 10:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Easyt65 Starter League Vet Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 707 Rep Power: 74	'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' The Observer wrote it. Several talking heads said it. And just this morning, on another board, a buddy of mine parroted it again. I could not disagree any more with that statement: "...he's got 'em over a barrel." From everything I have heard, Carolina can afford to pay Peppers his salary this season and still sign their draft picks. It might be so close that it is uncomfortable, but they supposedly can do it. Pardon the description, but the Panthers are staring the devil in the face, and the loser will be the 1st one who blinks. NO, I am not comparing JP to or calling him the devil. The 'devil' is the contract situation they currently find themselves in. Carolina notoriously has a habit of stringing salaries along until the time the huge baloon payment is due, much like what is going on now with Peppers. Are they going to 'blink' and make the same mistake or do they hang tough and do this right? Last season's performance does NOT warrant the kind of contract he reportedly wants - 'Dwight Freeney' money, which equates to around $12 million a year with a $30 million cash-up-front signing bonus. The smart thing to do, as long as they CAN afford it, is to let him play this season while paying him his full final season's contract salary. Based on last season's performance and if he does not improve this season, there isn't anyone who will pay that kind of money for him at the end of the season, either. The only one willing to do it is the Carolina Panthers NOW in order to secure his place here while freeing up CAP room - NOT because he deserves it! And the reason, again, Carolina finds itself in this CAP situation with his salary is not because JP put them there but because THEY put themselves there by how they have handled his contract/pay. IF they CAN wait it out: - They see if last year was a fluke and/or whatever ailed Peppers has been fixed. - If it has not and he has another sub-par year, by waiting they potentially save themselves MILLIONS of dollars in re-signing him. --- From a PURELY business perspective: Remember back to Jake's SB year - he had a great year, leading the team to the SB. He was already under contract at the end of the season; however, Carolina wanted to reward him for his performance that season. Instead of giving him a bonus, they signed him to a 'huge' contract extension. The next season he had a bad season. Again, from a business stand-point, Carolina made a mistake in the throes and glow of their recent SB season that had just passed by, giving Jake a bigger contract than they could have signed him to the very next season. --- From the loyalty standpoint, they took care of Jake. Jake was not asking for a new contract, especially one that would make him the highest paid QB in the NFL, at the time they offered him the extension, AND he had just taken the team to the SB. In comparison, JP is coming off the worst season of his career after a season where he refused to take the mantle of 'leader' on defense, and after a season that saw the Panthers fail to make the playoffs; yet, his agent is reportedly looking for a deal (after last season's performance) that would make him the highest paid defender in the league. Sounds a helluva lot like greed instead of loyalty to his team. Heck, everyone ripped Moose for being greedy after taking the money offered to him by Chicago instead of cutting the team a discount after his performance as best WR in the NFL in almost every category that season. Yet, JP isn't cutting the Panthers any breaks after a $ucky season, asking Carolina to make him the highest paid defender in the NFL after THAT season? I love JP and hope he doesn't leave Carolina and returns to form...but with all due respect, he needs to get hammered for his positon on his contract demand...IMO. - If JP does return to form and has a blow-out year and Carolina could afford to hold-out re-signing him until then/later, then they really haven't lost anything for doing so! The key is IF Carolina can afford to pay him and sign all their draft picks! But Carolina is not over a barrel because of Julius Peppers - Carolina is over a barrel (if at all) because of Carolina!

04-07-2008, 10:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
CBDellinger I paid fer dis b^tches! Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Charlotte Age: 30 Posts: 4,989 Rep Power: 369	Re: 'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' I agree, they extended the contract and this is where they are at... that being said I would not be surprised to see a deal come thru before TC starts this summer... at the same time I wouldnt be surprised not to see one either...

04-07-2008, 10:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
bababoey Rookie Rookie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: At the corner of Drunk & Stupid Age: 35 Posts: 183 Rep Power: 23	Re: 'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' Nice post. Good points except for one thing. The year after Jake signed the big contract was his best year, not a bad one. He had over 3,600 yards and 29 TD and it was the first time he made the Pro Bowl. The team went 7-9 but you can't blame that on Jake.

04-07-2008, 11:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
engine9 Bo Knows Forum Legend Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bustin some feathers Age: 32 Posts: 15,749 Rep Power: 1559	Re: 'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' I think Jake Delhomme is the best damned quarterback ever and you better take back what you said about him having a bad year. ...I also think the we aren't really over a barrel until the player is in free agency. Whats going to really cause a shakeup is if they don't get a contract worked out with Gross. __________________ REALITY HAS A CONSERVATIVE BIAS

04-07-2008, 11:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
boxer Starter League Vet Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arkansas Age: 43 Posts: 663 Rep Power: 51	Re: 'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember Peppers asking for Freeney money. I just figured that's what everyone has assumed would happen. But this wouldn't be the first time I was clueless about something.

04-07-2008, 11:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
Kurb 1st Round Pick Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Homerville Age: 29 Posts: 32,167,502 Rep Power: 5000	Re: 'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' Gross has a bigger chance of walking than Peppers IMO. __________________ "Our 45 is better than their 45" Norv Turner

04-07-2008, 11:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
monstercat Huddle Legend Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: looking for 74 rocket Age: 41 Posts: 9,982 Rep Power: 469	Re: 'Peppers has Carolina Over a barrel.' It's funny...everytime anybody from the FO, coaching staff, or one of Peppers's teammates is asked about him, every single one of them say he'll be back in a big way. I still believe they all know something that we don't. Peppers is a guy who has rarely ever missed a practice and hardly ever comes out of a game because of fatigue in 5 years, yet he was getting oxygen and his heart rate checked in the 1st quarter of a game last year...that is not normal, I don't care what anybody says.