What do they really want out of this?

[Mesmer]

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

Probably.

But I honestly believe it. He's probably on par with the average DE when he decides to take the week off. That in itself is a testament to how much potential the guy has with his physical skills. Like I pointed out above, he has #1 DE written all over him. He's just got to get the motivation to go with it. It's not going to happen in Carolina. The only chance that he finally realizes his potential is if he goes somewhere else that he's really happy with. But, I'm not sure it's going to happen exactly the way that Julius wants, as the FO has all the control in the matter.

[OneBadassCat]

I think above all they want to keep Peppers. However at this point I think they will eventually settle for less than 2 1st rounders. Honestly some early round picks sound pretty good compared to keeping a guy that could hold out or just half ass again.

[magnus]

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)?

Gamble wasn't extended but a few weeks before the end of regular season (and therefore not terribly far before Peppers' comments).

I'd probably sit in the middle - look for a first plus something else - a player and a third - and try to get him out ASAP so we could make some waves with the money available from his trading.

That's on the assumption he won't be here - I don't have the intent of the team of course.

[The Answer]

In my opinion, I think they would be open to looking at good offers and considering them, if they were setting out to just inflate the value so nobody would take him they would have stayed with the franchise rule of two first rounders.

[BlueHose]

If the Panthers really wanted to keep him, they would have made him an exclusive franchise player...not non-exclusive. If someone wants to pony up 2 first rounders they'll part ways with him in a heartbeat.

[Woodie]

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.

No way would I accept a lesser offer just to get rid of him. He still has too much value on the field, even at the tag price. And even if he's not happy about being here another year, I have no doubt he would still perform as he always has. First of all, he would essentially be in a contract year, and would need to show the rest of the league he's worth either trading for and/or signing to a big contract. Also, despite his desire to get out, he still gets along with his teammates, and I don't think he would bail on them just because the team forced him to stay.

As for the FO's strategy, I think in an ideal world they would like Peppers to stay, but if that's not going to happen, they want to get the most out of him they can. And the first part of that is making the rest of the league believe they don't have to get rid of him. That way they can start negotiations at two firsts rather than something a lot les since the perception would be that they are negotiating from a position of power instead of weakness. And in truth, if they didn't get what they feel is fair value, I'm sure they wouldn't be at all disappointed having to keep him around for another year.

[panthersphan]

Give me the MOST we can!

[Mr. Scot]

If they were setting out to just inflate the value so nobody would take him they would have stayed with the franchise rule of two first rounders.

They did.

During a conference call, Panthers GM Marty Hurney is stressing the notion that they're waiting for franchise-tagged DE Julius Peppers to solicit offers, and if anyone wants to pony up the two first-round picks required under the CBA, they're willing to consider matching or not.

He's not thinking trade right now, regardless any list of four teams.

Hurney: Looking for two firsts

[BlindSite]

Honestly? I'd be pretty happy with a 2nd and a decent player.

I'd rather we get a first, or a headline player, but anything is better than we'd get if he just walked.

[AKPantherFan]

The FO is bluffing. They will stick to it up until the Draft.

I dont blame them though, but with Pep saying he doesnt intend to play here, and his non comment on "holding out" tells me that he is gone.

The PAnthers will not want a distraction.

I think they will "stay classy" and let Pep be happy while getting back into the 1st round.

Plus with 16million against the cap, we could better spend the money on getting players who will want to play long term in Carolina.

Its really sad that Peppers has turned his back on the team who gave him the world.

[Doc Holiday]

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.

I have Considered carefully the information and the question and the answer is Yes and Yes, for all we know they could be doing either one or the other or both at this point, the only people that know exactly what they want to do at the moment is Marty Hurney and John Fox and I doubt we are going to hear anything until it's almost over.

*Note to self read your posts after you finish them

[goncrazi]

I'll weigh in on the whole Peppers vs. Panthers issue in one shot:

From Peppers' point of view: No doubt he was hoping that the tag would not be applied to him but assumed all along it probably would. Saying he would only accept a trade to four teams was most likely posturing, hoping to give the Panthers pause. If a deal can be reached with any team that Peppers may believe he can excel with, he will take the deal rather than stay where he doesn't want to be.

I've read that Peppers has no say in where he is traded to, and that may be true if some team is willing to pony up two first round picks and a $17 million check for a one year contract on a player who will jet to his choice of teams the following year or get franchised for another huge payday. No team is that stupid, not even the Lions under Millen (though Jerry Jones might consider it.) As such, Peppers' input will not only be welcome, it will be essential.

From the Panthers' point of view: I'm not reading anything into Hurney's statements regarding the rules of the franchise tag. The tag... it is what it is. The rules state that compensation for signing a franchised player is two first rounders. No team, epecially the Panthers who won't even comment on contract negotiations for camp fodder, would tip their hand at what is acceptable in a trade this early on and any discussions about trades would be held in private until the deal is done. For all we know, Hurney and/or Fox have already been in discussions with other teams.

People who believe that the Panthers franchised him as a means to keep him with the Panthers at all costs are deluded. Had the Panthers wanted to ensure that Peppers stayed with Carolina, they could have put an exclusive rights franchise tag on him which would have kept him from seeking an offer sheet from anyone else. As it is, they are encouraging Peppers to seek an offer sheet. They would love to see that happen, I'm sure. They would profit two first-round picks and have the whole matter settled.

I don't think the Panthers want to tie up all that money in Peppers this year, but I certainly believe that they would indeed welcome "back" Peppers if no trade is reached. They were prepared to make him the wealthiest non-QB in NFL history so it's unlikely they would blink when signing the check. If Peppers were to stay, he and the Panthers could conceivably work out a two-year deal to spread the cap hit out and not kill us this year. In order for Peppers to agree to it, however, the contract would have to have a voidable second year if a contract extension is not reached before the beginning of the league year in 2010. Pep's agent would probably also require a clause stating that the Panthers could not tag him again next year.

As far as Peppers' lack of consistency, I didn't want to believe it but I watched a bit more closely this year than I normally do. He doesn't seem to give it his all every snap. I know I shouldn't judge him, particularly since I have never played organized football, much less professional football. But I do think it is fair to compare him to his peers and what I see is a guy who should be feasting on even the best OTs but is often shut out by back-up and/or rookie tackles. He's an exceptional athelete and he knows it. Instead of motivating him to be a phenom, it seems to have made him complacent, believing that he doesn't have to work hard to be great but failing to realize just how great he could be if he really wanted to.

What do I think will happen? I think the Panthers will trade him for a first and second (first and third at worst... no way Jared Allen is worth more than Peppers) and life will go on without him. What would I like to see happen? I would love it if Peppers would stay and realize his true potential here. I think a change of coaching could help (meaning the new defensive coaches; I approve of John Fox despite his flaws) and probably would. Trgo didn't seem to inspire much fire in his defenses. Maybe the new defensive staff can restore that to 2002-2004 levels.

Sorry for the long post.

[carpanfan96]

I'd expect at least a 1st in this years draft a couple of other draft picks. Maybe spread between this season and next season. 1st, 4th this year and a 2nd and 4th next.

[ladypanther]

.......He's an exceptional athelete and he knows it. Instead of motivating him to be a phenom, it seems to have made him complacent, believing that he doesn't have to work hard to be great but failing to realize just how great he could be if he really wanted to.

Pep says the team held him back. We'll see. But, think how Fox will look if Pep does go somewhere else and is the phenom we all thought he would be here.