Clayton says he beieves Peppers is not going anywhere

[carolinarolls]

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.

locker room guy

gifted edge rusher

experience

=

not willing to lead on the field

is a freak in the gym and has shown periods of dominance..at times

is old and may not have a lot left

jus sayin

this is how a GM gets beaten down and this is how a players value gets dropped

maybe somebody has their eye on him but I'll be surprised if he yields a #1 or two #2's

[panthers55]

The big names in free agency are gone unless you are crazy enough to pick up guys like Owens, or pay 2 1sts for Peppers. The next best time to pick up guys is right at the draft or a few day after. Teams that pick up guys they want in the draft will let a veteran go which they were keeping in case they didn't land the right guy. There are plenty of opportunities to find some guys who can play. After all we are looking for mostly back-ups and fill-ins not starters. Right now we are pretty well set at most positions. If Peppers stays the D line just improved significantly. If he leaves then we can pick up some guys in the draft and afterwards.

[sml1950]

Not quite sure if responders on the thread understand how the franchise tag works. Until he signs the tender, he remains a FA and the Panthers FO CANNOT initiate trade discussions. Peppers has total freedom to negotiate a long term contract with any team. Once/if he does, he brings this offer sheet to the Panthers along with 2 #1s. The Panthers have the right to match the offer(assumming there is no "poison pill" clause in the contract). The Panthers also have the right to accept lower draft choices if they choose, but can nix the deal.

If Peppers cannot negotiate an acceptable contract with an acceptable team, I think he would ,at least, sign the tender and participate in OTAs, training camp, etc. and maybe start talking extention with the FO. However, if the FO nix a deal that he wants because of drafts choices , things could get contentious. Until he signs the tender he is not obligated nor can he be fined for not attending OTAs/camp. I wouldn't expect things to get this bad, but you never know.

[Snake]

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

Really it all boils down to money. If the right amount is give in the short term he will stay and all that crap that was thrown around will dissipate till next time he is a FA. Remember how we were gonna cut Delhomme and now poof noting.

[unicar15]

locker room guy

gifted edge rusher

experience

=

not willing to lead on the field

is a freak in the gym and has shown periods of dominance..at times

is old and may not have a lot left

jus sayin

this is how a GM gets beaten down and this is how a players value gets dropped

maybe somebody has their eye on him but I'll be surprised if he yields a #1 or two #2's

I wouldn't be...there are a lot of "win now" organizations out there who will mortgage their future in a second.

Take the Vikings for example. They had a taste of success by getting AP and having him explode so what was their next move? They wanted to dominate on defense so they go out and pay a 1st, a 3rd, and the richest defensive contract in league history for a guy who was a CONSTANT PR problem with his drunken binges and DUIs. Pep is 2 years older than Jared Allen, I get that. But Strahan was a man-beast until he was 35 and he and Pep are a lot alike with their athleticism.

Pep said 2 things to effect his trade before the offseason.

1st he said that we didn't use him properly and he can be even better in another scheme. As much as it pisses us off this actually helps our cause in trading him. He has an issue with "desire" ever since that 07 season but if Hurney can convince teams that the only reason his production lacked was because of our system then that is actually a pretty good selling point.

The 2nd thing he said was that he wants to play in a 3-4 where he is an unknown commodity. That ultimately has probably hurt us a little bit but I still maintain that he (like a lot of other DEs) is atheltically capable of playing 3-4 OLB.

A trade is going to get done unless Hurney really just doesn't want to give him up. He is getting offers and he is playing the waiting game so that the desire builds up.

When Peppers gets into a new system he will be hailed as DMVP candidate, best defender in the league, most athletically gifted blah blah blah...just watch his production is going to be through the roof after he leaves Carolina.

[MadHatter]

I find it amusing how so many on here think every player that leaves the Panthers will "blow it up" and have monster careers after leaving our franchise. Heard the same sh*t about Foster, Morgan, etc... How has it worked out so far?

Peppers is an athletic freak. He has more raw ability than any DL in the league. However, he does not have the drive or heart to be a dominating beast on the field. It is as simple as that. I am not saying Peppers will be a failure elsewhere. But, he will not be any more of a force than he was here. He continues to want to look at others as the reason he has not "achieved his potential". The one place he needs to look is inward...he is the only thing holding himself back.

[TNPanthersFan]

Amen!!

[o803oVaDeR]

If Pep does stay, will you boo him during player intro. or will you still cheer for him. I bet it is not near as loud as it usually is when he comes out.