The Panthers have reportedly made "significant progress" with free agent Jordan Gross

[pantherclaw]

9 million per year is not cheap. Other than the Long contract which was way out of line with what he was worth, Gorss is going to be one of the highest paid linemen in the game. Gross would make 8.75 million as a franchised player and he would have no guarantee for any more money down the road. With this contract he will likely make at least 20 milion guaranteed and have the potential for another 40 million or so. That is a ton of money especially for a player who only this year was a pro-bowler. Up to now he was a good player but not worthy of top 5 money.

He's been our best lineman for years. You can quantify it however you want to. He's always been a professional, and played well, and stayed relatively healthy. He's earned his money. If you think 9 mil a year isn't cheap, you would have pissed your pants with what he'd had made on the open market.

[X-Clown]

^^^^

Are you talking about the comment on Gantt's blog? That comment is tool worthy for sure. Some of the ones on Schefter's are too, that's why I wasn't sure which you meant.

Great news if it goes through.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about, the you could have had him for 7 million last year comment. Funny, if that had happened last year, how many people at the time would have been saying that it was too much money to pay to a good right tackle/unproven left tackle?

[pantherclaw]

I'm so sick of sarcasm.

I will never tire of sarcasm. It's wonderful. Without it, people take things way to seriously.

[pantherclaw]

Too early to celebrate. Can't be certain until the deal is done.

With that said, it's very good news.

Agree 100%, sir.

[SorthNarolina]

Thank God.

[panthers55]

He's been our best lineman for years. You can quantify it however you want to. He's always been a professional, and played well, and stayed relatively healthy. He's earned his money. If you think 9 mil a year isn't cheap, you would have pissed your pants with what he'd had made on the open market.

Not saying I wouldn't have paid that. If you read my post below the one you quoted, you would see that I think in a few years the 9 million average won't be that high and I agree that he has been generally reliable and durable as well. This original post was in response to someone who said that 9 million was cheap and a deal like a hometown discount. I was pointing out that it makes him the second highest paid tackle in the league and will likely guarantee him almost half of it. I think that is very generous compensation for a tackle that IMHO has been in the top 10 in previous years but isn't the second best tackle in the league. Maybe this year he cracked the top 5 but I was actually surprised he made it to the pro-bowl. After all he gave up 3 sacks and missed a few games with the concussion. Again not bad but was it the best in the NFC?

[thefuzz]

Making him the highest paid in the league, just seems like what we need to do. We need compensation from Peppers, and this is the only way to do it.

[Fiz]

jordan is consistent, never gets in trouble, never gets hurt, can play both tackle spots and is good at them both.

however he won't see the end of this contract from what they're going to have to give him.

[Highlandfire]

He's been our best lineman for years. You can quantify it however you want to. He's always been a professional, and played well, and stayed relatively healthy. He's earned his money. If you think 9 mil a year isn't cheap, you would have pissed your pants with what he'd had made on the open market.

Agreed. LT, QB. RDE are the cornerstones of your franchise. Gross will take up about 7-8% of our cap room with this deal each season. That is a STEAL for a franchise LT.

[Snake]

Im really surprised on this one. Gross must really like Carolina cause he held all the cards. Its gonna be nice to tell pep where he can go and where he cant go and more then likely we want see him in our Div.

[blpanther]

Im really surprised on this one. Gross must really like Carolina cause he held all the cards. Its gonna be nice to tell pep where he can go and where he cant go and more then likely we want see him in our Div.

It's not going to be that easy. If Pepp doesn't like the proposed trade, he can refuse to sign a long term contract. In that case, the deal does not get done. It has to be amicable for all parties - Pepp, Panthers and his new team. It will be fun to explore the opportunities.

[BlueHose]

Well, how about we transition tag Gross and Franchise tag Peppers. I think that would be the best option.

Transition tag would be mistake because then we would have to match the highest offer on the market to keep him.

[Peppers90 NC]

Why is everyone so happy when it hasnt happened yet? Assumption is ignorance.

[bleys]

Why is everyone so happy when it hasnt happened yet? Assumption is ignorance.

so is assuming the sky is falling.