Clayton says he beieves Peppers is not going anywhere

[Darth Bobo]

Next year, Peppers will be 30, a very symbolic number, especially in the NFL. Both Peppers and Carolina understand that 2009 is a pivotal career year, being the last of his twenties. If NFL common sense holds true, this is basically the last offseason opportunity Peppers has to truly define his league worth for the remainder of his career, because at 29, his age still cannot be used against him at the contract table. There's no need to overhype the number(superficial), but don't think it isn't mentioned in player/franchise negotiations, because it is.

Everything Peppers or his agent may have said about 4 selected teams, or moving to OLB in a 3-4 defense, its all part of the player marketing mind-f*ck game. It actually means nothing. If the money is right, nothing else matters. If the money is so~so, then everything else matters. If he only gets a short contract, then he wants to see the cash. If he gets a long term contract, then he must evaluate his potential to actually receive the full contract amount. Its all about the details, just as it is for any NFL player. There is no huge underlying rule or set of conditions that are absolute dealmakers, or dealbreakers. NFL players know that when they choose professional football as a career. So nevermind the media bullocks.

Carolina would not have franchised Julius Peppers if they were not prepared to pay him 16.5 million dollars in 2009. But other teams know that 16.5m is too much for any team to pay any player in a year, save maybe one or two elite performers in the league. Competing franchises believe they can hold back on making an offer: 1) because they believe that as time goes on the Panther's salary cap becomes a bigger and bigger problem, as it squeezes our free agent opportunities, which in turn lowers the Panthers' expectations for compensation. and 2) Worries Julius Peppers and his agent, so that they will lower their compensation expecations, because he is asking a lot.

In silence, the Panthers front office exhibits the utmost confidence in their position. In silence, Peppers and his agent do the same.

Any prospective team who thinks they can sit around and twiddle their thumbs, hoping either the Panthers or Peppers will flinch are sorely mistaken. The worst case scenario for the Panthers is that a fan favorite is overpaid by about 5 million dollars, but its not so bad when you consider that in the beginning he was slightly underpaid. Our man still commands double teams into the 2009 season. And if we overpay for Peppers this year, it is far more likely we will save that money in return next year after he has turned the terrible NFL age of 30.

If we get no offer, then our front office has very little bargaining money for the free agency, but I don't see this being a big free agency year for us anyway. And its actually a blessing that we do not have a first round draft pick, because those sometimes cost more than all the other picks combined, and we wouldn't have the money unless Peppers left. So our ducks are in a row.

New England is the team with the highest likelihood of signing Peppers. They let Vrabel go, so theres an open position. They let Cassel go, so they have the money. They need a better defense, and Peppers would be an upgrade to OLB. He is proven, and they are willing to pay for big time free agents sometimes. If not them, then we wait till draft day. Bellichick may think waiting raises our blood pressure. He may be right about Carolina fans, but not about our front office. Our FO is prepared and has a plan whether Peppers stays or whether he goes. Honestly, they don't really need to know one way or the other.

[jramsey4]

Next year, Peppers will be 30, a very symbolic number, especially in the NFL. Both Peppers and Carolina understand that 2009 is a pivotal career year, being the last of his twenties. If NFL common sense holds true, this is basically the last offseason opportunity Peppers has to truly define his league worth for the remainder of his career, because at 29, his age still cannot be used against him at the contract table. There's no need to overhype the number(superficial), but don't think it isn't mentioned in player/franchise negotiations, because it is.

Everything Peppers or his agent may have said about 4 selected teams, or moving to OLB in a 3-4 defense, its all part of the player marketing mind-f*ck game. It actually means nothing. If the money is right, nothing else matters. If the money is so~so, then everything else matters. If he only gets a short contract, then he wants to see the cash. If he gets a long term contract, then he must evaluate his potential to actually receive the full contract amount. Its all about the details, just as it is for any NFL player. There is no huge underlying rule or set of conditions that are absolute dealmakers, or dealbreakers. NFL players know that when they choose professional football as a career. So nevermind the media bullocks.

Carolina would not have franchised Julius Peppers if they were not prepared to pay him 16.5 million dollars in 2009. But other teams know that 16.5m is too much for any team to pay any player in a year, save maybe one or two elite performers in the league. Competing franchises believe they can hold back on making an offer: 1) because they believe that as time goes on the Panther's salary cap becomes a bigger and bigger problem, as it squeezes our free agent opportunities, which in turn lowers the Panthers' expectations for compensation. and 2) Worries Julius Peppers and his agent, so that they will lower their compensation expecations, because he is asking a lot.

In silence, the Panthers front office exhibits the utmost confidence in their position. In silence, Peppers and his agent do the same.

Any prospective team who thinks they can sit around and twiddle their thumbs, hoping either the Panthers or Peppers will flinch are sorely mistaken. The worst case scenario for the Panthers is that a fan favorite is overpaid by about 5 million dollars, but its not so bad when you consider that in the beginning he was slightly underpaid. Our man still commands double teams into the 2009 season. And if we overpay for Peppers this year, it is far more likely we will save that money in return next year after he has turned the terrible NFL age of 30.

If we get no offer, then our front office has very little bargaining money for the free agency, but I don't see this being a big free agency year for us anyway. And its actually a blessing that we do not have a first round draft pick, because those sometimes cost more than all the other picks combined, and we wouldn't have the money unless Peppers left. So our ducks are in a row.

New England is the team with the highest likelihood of signing Peppers. They let Vrabel go, so theres an open position. They let Cassel go, so they have the money. They need a better defense, and Peppers would be an upgrade to OLB. He is proven, and they are willing to pay for big time free agents sometimes. If not them, then we wait till draft day. Bellichick may think waiting raises our blood pressure. He may be right about Carolina fans, but not about our front office. Our FO is prepared and has a plan whether Peppers stays or whether he goes. Honestly, they don't really need to know one way or the other.

That was some good reading.

[Snake]

The way I see it right now we are so bunkered up that no one knows what we are gonna do. Im gonna say its a 50\50 split that Pep gets traded. IMO it would be in best interest of both the Panthers and Peppers to sign a short deal. Im still not convinced that peppers would not stay if Meeks used him in different ways.

[dpanthersman]

i was just reading pat yas nfc south chat and he still seems to think that pep will be traded around draft time. so its pretty clear no one know whats gonna happen

[carolinarolls]

The way I see it right now we are so bunkered up that no one knows what we are gonna do. Im gonna say its a 50\50 split that Pep gets traded. IMO it would be in best interest of both the Panthers and Peppers to sign a short deal. Im still not convinced that peppers would not stay if Meeks used him in different ways.

I agree on the 50/50

problem is that if we keep him we are screwed and if we don't trade him until the draft we are screwed

IMO

[unicar15]

One thing that is probably playing into our favor at the negotiations with other teams is that there is not really anyone in this draft that can be compared to Julius Peppers. Its not like in 06 when Mario Williams came out...there just aren't that many good DL prospects. I wish that Pep wanted to play in the 4-3 because if that were the case I think that a ton of teams would be contacting us about him. That said, giving up a first rounder this year when your biggest need is DE/OLB wouldn't be that hard to part with when you consider you can either have Julius Peppers or Everrette Brown (assuming Orakpo is a top 10 pick which we won't get). It wouldn't even really be a decision for me. The thing that makes it tricky is the extra compensation...but if you are willing to part with a first rounder then why not part with a 3rd rounder as well?

[carolinarolls]

that may help us unicar.

I hopeit helps us sooner than later

[Doc Holiday]

I agree on the 50/50

problem is that if we keep him we are screwed and if we don't trade him until the draft we are screwed

IMO

no, if don't trade him until the draft we will be fine, are we forgetting about the June 1st cuts already, and that not every single player out there is going to be signed before the draft either, personally I don't expect and have never expected anything to happen until right before the draft, especially with our asking price

[carolinarolls]

no, if don't trade him until the draft we will be fine, are we forgetting about the June 1st cuts already, and that not every single player out there is going to be signed before the draft either, personally I don't expect and have never expected anything to happen until right before the draft, especially with our asking price

maybe so. If it were me I'd want my cap space and cash asap instead of banking that the pickings will still be good after the draft

that's just me

right now we cannot even lay any groundwork or express serious interest anywhere because we cannot be taken seriously considering their situation.

[unicar15]

no, if don't trade him until the draft we will be fine, are we forgetting about the June 1st cuts already, and that not every single player out there is going to be signed before the draft either, personally I don't expect and have never expected anything to happen until right before the draft, especially with our asking price

Exactly...

Everyone that is buying into what John Clayton says is just getting worked up for nothing. The Panthers are being extremely tight-lipped as we all know and what is John Clayton going to say..."I have no idea even tho its my job to know." No..hes going to guess (at best) or make something up just to be newsworthy. That is his job as an employee of ESPN. If you go back and read the Jared Allen articles from last year nobody in the media thought that the Chiefs would actually trade him. Well...they did for a pretty nice asking price. That trade happened around April 18th which was 10 days before the draft. A lot of these GMs haven't even had ample time to pull their assessments together for the draft and see who they really want to go after. All we need are 2 teams (even 1 team) to realize that they don't have a concrete target for their defense and they feel like they should acquire Peppers. That can happen overnight...but probably won't happen for another month or so.

[carolinarolls]

Exactly...

Everyone that is buying into what John Clayton says is just getting worked up for nothing. The Panthers are being extremely tight-lipped as we all know and what is John Clayton going to say..."I have no idea even tho its my job to know." No..hes going to guess (at best) or make something up just to be newsworthy. That is his job as an employee of ESPN. If you go back and read the Jared Allen articles from last year nobody in the media thought that the Chiefs would actually trade him. Well...they did for a pretty nice asking price. That trade happened around April 18th which was 10 days before the draft. A lot of these GMs haven't even had ample time to pull their assessments together for the draft and see who they really want to go after. All we need are 2 teams (even 1 team) to realize that they don't have a concrete target for their defense and they feel like they should acquire Peppers. That can happen overnight...but probably won't happen for another month or so.

I have to admit that I am becoming a bit hopeful. But what do we potentially miss in the next "month or so" and what about Peppers makes you feel confident in the gamble?

[unicar15]

I have to admit that I am becoming a bit hopeful. But what do we potentially miss in the next "month or so" and what about Peppers makes you feel confident in the gamble?

Gamble from the other GMs side?

If thats the case then his instant upgrade to the defense, NFL experience, solid locker room guy, and maybe the most athletically gifted edge rusher in the history of the game. Every coach thinks that they are the ones that can unleash the untapped upside of every player they coach...Pep (according to him) has a ton of untapped potential.

[Snake]

I agree on the 50/50

problem is that if we keep him we are screwed and if we don't trade him until the draft we are screwed

IMO

We are more screwed if we trade him. The draft is weak and FA is also.

[carolinarolls]

We are more screwed if we trade him. The draft is weak and FA is also.

that remark is definitely plausible. Unfortunately he wants out and we don't have a choice outside to tying him down in Charlotte.