What do they really want out of this?

[Mr. Scot]

I've asked the question of whether fans would prefer that we get a lesser offer for Peppers just to get rid of him or hold out for the best offer and keep him if we don't get it. Most common answer on that front seemed to be that folks would take a lesser offer just to see him gone. Don't know that I agree with it, but that seems to be the fan sentiment.

Let me turn the question around though.

Do you think that the strategy the front office is currently employing is designed to get the absolute best offer for him or are they deliberately setting the value too high so that no one will make an offer and he'll eventually have to stay on?

When answering, I wouldn't automatically assume it's the first option. Consider carefully the statements you've read from the team and the actions they've taken.

[jramsey4]

I think it all depends on that huge cap number. In that it depends on what we will have to do to get under the cap and who we will have to cut. Once we do this I would have to see what kind of money we will have to sign FA's. If it keeps us from signing the FA we want then I say take the lower offer. If it doesn't hold out for the offer we want. If I had to decide now I would probably take the best offer now instead of dragging it out.

[Snake]

I just want a SB team. What ever it takes to get that im all for it.

[Mr. Scot]

I just want a SB team. What ever it takes to get that im all for it.

So do they. The question is whether they think Peppers is an ingredient in that recipe.

[panther4life]

peppers is gone next season. Why did we trade away kris jenkins again? oh ya he didnt want to be here anymore and some thought he was becoming a cancer.. well jenkins never went as far as peppers has in voicing his desire to leave. Bottom line is Peppers gets traded somewhere, and my guess will be to the highest bidder even if it is an nfc team

[JungleCat]

It depends on whether Peppers gets stuck here and holds out or takes plays off. In that scenario, we'd be better off taking what we can get.

[Mr. Scot]

The Panthers offered to make Peppers the highest paid defensive player in the league based on his current body of work. You could argue that means the team thinks a lot more of his abilities than we fans do.

Is a public tantrum (or two) enough to change those feelings?

[joemac]

The FO is playing poker right now, and they hold all the cards. I think that Peppers will be gone no later than the draft. He pretty much has to because that cap hit is just too damn big. Hell we could sign Haynesworth and 2 or 3 mid tier free agents just for what he is making.....its kinda ridiculous

[magnus]

So do they. The question is whether they think Peppers is an ingredient in that recipe.

they've always thought that. It's just whether or not that remains possible. If it's not, I imagine they're going to get as much as they can.

I do think, if Peppers relents at all from lack of options, they'd take him back. It's never been a question of whether they felt they could win with him, or whether they wanted him, unlike Jenkins.

I don't know that they have as much interest in having him for one year at such an exorbitant price, but it would at least allow them a year to plan. I've had a feeling that the team has struggled to make moves opposite Peppers for fear of upsetting the apple cart, so to speak, and now with or without Peppers they can extend guys on defense (like Gamble, and hopefully Davis) and replace Peppers without that concern.

[Mr. Scot]

they've always thought that. It's just whether or not that remains possible. If it's not, I imagine they're going to get as much as they can.

I do think, if Peppers relents at all from lack of options, they'd take him back. It's never been a question of whether they felt they could win with him, or whether they wanted him, unlike Jenkins.

I don't know that they have as much interest in having him for one year at such an exorbitant price, but it would at least allow them a year to plan. I've had a feeling that the team has struggled to make moves opposite Peppers for fear of upsetting the apple cart, so to speak, and now with or without Peppers they can extend guys on defense (like Gamble, and hopefully Davis) and replace Peppers without that concern.

Gamble's already extended. Did you mean someone else?

Where do you stand on the other side of the question (taking less just to get rid of him vs holding on unless you get what you want)?

[Mesmer]

What the front office wants is to get the player they drafted in 2002. At an absolute freakish size, Peppers combines amazing speed with incredible strength. In fact, he's only gotten stronger since he was drafted.

Peppers should be the best defensive end in the league right now. I'm not saying that because I'm a homer. I'm saying that because it's 100% true. He has all the physical tools to be the best at his position.

The real question, is why isn't he? Perhaps the front office believes that he still has his best performance ahead of him. Maybe, because he was their first selection, they don't want to accept that fact that he didn't pan out quite like they'd hoped. It could be something else, or a combination of factors.

I've watched this guy off the line of scrimmage for almost every down he's played in a Panthers uniform. While I don't record the games and evaluate them later, I have seen more of Peppers than I can honestly remember. Does he get double teamed? Of course. But, it's not all the time. He's the kind of player that should make teams pay when they choose not to double team him. He rarely makes that happen. This was terrible in 2007, but improved a little this season. However, to be honest, he's still not a top notch DE in my opinion.

Does he just not have the motor to give 100% on every play until the whistle blows? Or is he just in the wrong system?

To me, systems are something you can argue when you're talking about a QB or something like that. Defensive ends have very similar responsibilities throughout the league, and the bottom line is that if you can't shed a block, you can't shed a block. Can he control his gap? Sure, he does it well. But, so does Tyler Brayton, as well as every other average to good DE in the NFL. It's time for Peppers to leave and discover for himself that the only thing holding him back is himself. The front office knows this, and I believe he will be gone before the start of next season. If that means getting less than two 1sts, then so be it. But, someone will pay pretty well to give Peppers a chance.

[Mr. Scot]

What the front office wants is to get the player they drafted in 2002. At an absolute freakish size, Peppers combines amazing speed with incredible strength. In fact, he's only gotten stronger since he was drafted.

Peppers should be the best defensive end in the league right now. I'm not saying that because I'm a homer. I'm saying that because it's 100% true. He has all the physical tools to be the best at his position.

The real question, is why isn't he? Perhaps the front office believes that he still has his best performance ahead of him. Maybe, because he was their first selection, they don't want to accept that fact that he didn't pan out quite like they'd hoped. It could be something else, or a combination of factors.

I've watched this guy off the line of scrimmage for almost every down he's played in a Panthers uniform. While I don't record the games and evaluate them later, I have seen more of Peppers than I can honestly remember. Does he get double teamed? Of course. But, it's not all the time. He's the kind of player that should make teams pay when they choose not to double team him. He rarely makes that happen. This was terrible in 2007, but improved a little this season. However, to be honest, he's still not a top notch DE in my opinion.

Does he just not have the motor to give 100% on every play until the whistle blows? Or is he just in the wrong system?

To me, systems are something you can argue when you're talking about a QB or something like that. Defensive ends have very similar responsibilities throughout the league, and the bottom line is that if you can't shed a block, you can't shed a block. Can he control his gap? Sure, he does it well. But, so does Tyler Brayton, as well as every other average to good DE in the NFL. It's time for Peppers to leave and discover for himself that the only thing holding him back is himself. The front office knows this, and I believe he will be gone before the start of next season. If that means getting less than two 1sts, then so be it. But, someone will pay pretty well to give Peppers a chance.

Wasn't it you that said "half-ass Julius" is no better than any other average DE?

[SKULL]

Why keep Peppers ?

Would he not be a F/A again next season?

Would Panthers not have to franchise him again at a higher rate just to trade him ?

If he does not want a Panther contract,then why keep putting off inevitable.

Yes keep talking about keeping him to force a team {Cowboys,Redskins,Jets ect...] to over spend on the idea Peppers is their missing link.

But please trade him somewhere so this is not a [bret Farve} situation again next season .

All over the Media

[Mr. Scot]

Why keep Peppers ?

Would he not be a F/A again next season?

Would Panthers not have to franchise him again at a higher rate just to trade him ?

If he does not want a Panther contract,then why keep putting off inevitable.

Yes keep talking about keeping him to force a team {Cowboys,Redskins,Jets ect...] to over spend on the idea Peppers is their missing link.

But please trade him somewhere so this is not a [bret Farve} situation again next season .

All over the Media

See: Jones, Walter, Seattle Seahawks

The Hawks just kept franchising Jones until he finally signed a long term deal.

Implicit in that action though was the belief that Jones was the best left tackle in the league (and there was evidence to support that belief).

If the Panthers believe that Julius Peppers is the best defensive end in football, then it's conceivable they go the same route.

That's the question at the heart of the issue though. Do they believe that, or is this strategy strictly to ensure that he doesn't leave without us getting something back?