Just a good summary article...

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I liked this article as it pertains somewhat to what we are looking at going forward. It's nothing special but interesting to see what the guys upstairs are saying as I usually miss those things.

Looks like a lot of trades and tenders coming.

Labor uncertainty means 1-year deals for Panthers

(AP) — CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Even though the Carolina Panthers decided against giving Julius Peppers a giant one-year contract, the team will have plenty of people left over next season working in the last year of their deals.

From general manager Marty Hurney to coach John Fox and all his assistants to perhaps the starting quarterback, running back, tight end, a key linebacker, cornerback and numerous other players, you might as well call the Panthers the short-timers.

No security here. Blame it on the uncertain labor climate and owner Jerry Richardson's leading role in the potential showdown with the players after the 2010 season.

"These are uncertain times, so it does make it a little bit more complicated to put all of the pieces together as far as the future goes," Hurney said when announcing this week the team wouldn't use the franchise tag to retain Peppers, the team's five-time Pro Bowl defensive end.

With Peppers out after 81 sacks in eight years, the Panthers face a hole on the defensive line. But that is just one of several issues.

Hurney and Fox were in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the scouting combine working with no long-term security either. Hurney has a year left on his deal, while Richardson denied Fox a contract extension past 2010 after Carolina went 8-8 last season.

After being peppered with questions after the season finale about being a potential lame-duck coach, Fox canceled his end-of-season news conference the next day and hasn't answered questions since. He was absent from the podium Tuesday when Hurney announced $20.1 million for one season was too much to pay for Peppers, Fox's first draft pick in Carolina.

"I know John probably as well as anybody and I know our assistants and I know that will have no effect on how we perform this season," Hurney said. "We have people with a lot of pride, and every one of them is a competitor up there. There is a business aspect to this game that we all deal with, but the bottom line is it will not affect any performance."

Richardson's decision could be due to his desire not to pay a coach big money if there's a work stoppage in 2011. The threat of a lockout has meant a snail's pace in contract negotiations.

Linebacker Thomas Davis, cornerback Richard Marshall and tight end Jeff King are among the hard-luck players with less than six years of NFL service who will be restricted free agents if, as expected, there is no salary cap next season. Under the salary cap rules, they would've been unrestricted free agents.

That means the Panthers can almost certainly keep them with one-year tenders for far less than they'd get on the open market.

The Panthers could give Davis, who many felt was having a Pro Bowl season until he suffered a season-ending knee injury last season, a one-year, $3.3 million tender. Any team wanting to sign Davis would then have to surrender first- and third-round draft picks to Carolina.

Marshall and King are in similar spots. Agent Rick Smith, who represents King, said there have been no discussions on a long-term deal and expects his client to be hit with the second-round tender of $1.76 million for a second straight season.

"This year is not going to be kind to players," Smith said Wednesday. "The uncertainty of the 2011 year plus the 4-6 year free agency and no minimum spending, all three things have really put teams in an advantageous situation. They're going to play the system until it's closed."

Quarterback Matt Moore, who replaced Jake Delhomme at the end of last season, also will be a restricted free agent. Hurney was noncommittal on who will open next season as the starter-and if he'll try to sign Moore long-term.

"It's too early to say," Hurney said. "The tenders have to be in next week, but we'll see."

Besides the hole on the defensive line left by Peppers' departure, the Panthers' No. 2 receiver, Muhsin Muhammad, is on the list of Carolina's unrestricted free agents. The Panthers likely need an upgrade at that position after Steve Smith, but it's uncertain how much long-term money the Panthers will commit.

"There is really no incentive for teams to do it right now." said Rick Smith.

Richardson, who has declined interview requests for months, has become more active as he regains strength following a heart transplant and is expected to play a major role in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. He has lamented the impact the current deal has had on owners, and the Panthers don't seem to be ready to spend wildly in a year without a salary cap.

In past years, the Panthers may have also made a strong effort to extend running back DeAngelo Williams. Coming off his first Pro Bowl season, Williams will be entering the final year of his contract.

Join the crowded one-year club.

"Hesitant is the wrong word," Hurney said on the team's long-term contract policy. "It's difficult trying to figure out what the landscape will be, and you always want to try to do the right deals, both for the club and the player."

http://www.nj.com/sportsflash/index.ssf?/base/sports-239/1267045995240740.xml&storylist=football&thispage=1

Oh and Jake will be our QB in 2010. You know I had to say that.

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dp