Peppers staying? Not necessarily.

[Squirrel]

Pull the Tender see if he can get signed somewhere now.

[manwithcake]

Wouldn't bother me at all.

It's not what I expect to happen, but I'd definitely be okay with it.

As to the DT issue, I'd say don't be surprised if we see DeWayne Robertson or Darwin Walker picked up soon.

This :wink5:

[jpniner]

unless Brown turns out to be a stud, fast, it will be imperative to get a First Rounder for next yrs draft.

[panthers55]

Brown is going to play some this year just like Taylor but will get rotated in on passing downs. Neither of them need to start if we keep Peppers. It will help them to have a year in the pros to learn the game. Defensive rookies are notorious for having poor hand and foot technique when they come into the league. Most do little or nothing at least until the second half of their rookie year.

Hurney knows that if Peppers doesn't sign a long term contract we are going to let him go as some point. He is not the future. Brown is though. If Peppers holds out or doesn't do much then we have replacements. If he does sign the tender and play, then he can mentor Brown. In the end we needed a DE either way.

[MadHatter]

Brown is going to play some this year just like Taylor but will get rotated in on passing downs. Neither of them need to start if we keep Peppers. It will help them to have a year in the pros to learn the game. Defensive rookies are notorious for having poor hand and foot technique when they come into the league. Most do little or nothing at least until the second half of their rookie year.

Hurney knows that if Peppers doesn't sign a long term contract we are going to let him go as some point. He is not the future. Brown is though. If Peppers holds out or doesn't do much then we have replacements. If he does sign the tender and play, then he can mentor Brown. In the end we needed a DE either way.

Taylor will be lucky to even make the team. We typically carry 4 DE's (especially given we carry a LS and 2 kickers). we have Peppers (assuming not traded) Brayton, Johnson, and Brown. Taylor will be living on the bubble all offseason.

[Boston]

Brown is not the "clear" starter. He's not even close to being the "clear" starter in my opinion. Charles Johnson and Brayton (Especially after flashes of Brayton's abilities last year) are clearly in that position. Plus, and this is big, Brown played RE predominantly at FSU. He's more comfortable from that position. He's not just gunna hop in and start at LE his first season, I just don't see that. He's gunna be spelling Peppers when he needs it, and floating in the rotation at LE. I like our Pass down setup now though. We can have Peppers at Right. Brayton at Tackle. Brown at Left. on 3 DL formations during 3rd/4th and longs. That would be fierce.

As for Peppers "ruining his career" (not trying to quote any single person) by doing what he has been, or worse, holding out.. I just don't see that. Sure, 25 of 32 teams might say "Well, we don't want a guy like this." but, there's ALWAYS those 7 or so teams, with huge cap room, that have no problem pulling the trigger on a perennial pro-bowler such as Peppers. Especially at a premium position.

I agree it sucks what he's doing. But "Ruining his career"? I think not. If he holds out until we release/trade him.. there's always someone out there with a lot of money that will pull the trigger.

Lemme know what you guys think.

[mantal]

i say he comes back..and plays here thinking he walks free next year..i men can we afford to tag him next year..

In an uncapped year, I think so...

[carolinarolls]

Not at all.

Carey convinced Peppers he was great?

Carey phucked Peppers. How exactly?

Now Peppers doesn't think he's worth that much? Enough to "resign"?

Now Peppers doesn't have a problem with the direction of the team? he realizes he's not that great of a player and suddenly has a fear of venturing out?

I would love to see even a little of that backed up.

[Squirrel]

Peppers thought he was a high commodity but when it came time no teams offered up anything for him.

[House]

Peppers thought he was a high commodity but when it came time no teams offered up anything for him.

You keep saying that but do you have any proof that nobody offered anything for Pep?

If you really think that NO team in the NFL was interested in aquiring a perenial Pro-bowl DE that had 14.5 sacks last year and has averaged 10 a year his entire carreer, they you are crazy.

Pep hadn't signed his tender. Teams could only talk to Carey and that is always risky because just about anything you do is going to cause Carolina to call "Tampering" on your ass. The last thing a team wants is to lose draft picks for "Tampering".

I'm sure some teams put out feelers but if they were not serious and willing to give up 2 1st rounders then they were not going to risk a "Tampering" charge. If Pep signs his tender then he may get traded but until he signs it he is going to be a Panther.

If Carolina was to fold to Carey and Pep it would have set a precedent for future tagged players and thier agents. That is, if you play hard-ball the FO will fold and give you what you want, even if they come out on the bad side.

Now everyone knows that the FO is not going to blink.

[blpanther]

Actually, Pepp hasn't lost any leverage. Whether he signs the tender or not, no team is going to make the trade unless he agrees to a long term contract. He controls that situation. By not signing the tender, his agent is responsible for brokering the deal. Otherwise, the Panthers could be shopping him as well.

I still think it is better than 50/50 that a deal gets done including a first round pick next year. The 2010 draft is loaded with good players, especially QBs. I'd love for the Panthers to have a top 12 pick next year.

[Fireball77]

House, I see your points, but it has been reported that no one offered anything for him. Now, I think what that means with Pep not signing the tender is that Carey either a) got offers but didn't think them worthy enough to consider discussing with Carolina he got no offers at all or c) got offers from teams NOT on Pep's list and still is holding out for one of those teams to come through. It would be foolish of Pep's agent to get an offer they liked and not bring it to Carolina for consideration, regardless of Carolina's stance on how much it would take to sign him away (the two first rounders that are the de facto price of a franchise tagged player). Especially if Pep wants out as badly as has he has been said to. I don't think any team has actually received two first rounders for a tagged player, but I could be wrong. Hence, it wouldn't really make the FO look bad if they took a lesser offer, IMO.

[CRA]

Brown is going to play some this year just like Taylor but will get rotated in on passing downs. Neither of them need to start if we keep Peppers. It will help them to have a year in the pros to learn the game. Defensive rookies are notorious for having poor hand and foot technique when they come into the league. Most do little or nothing at least until the second half of their rookie year.

Hurney knows that if Peppers doesn't sign a long term contract we are going to let him go as some point. He is not the future. Brown is though. If Peppers holds out or doesn't do much then we have replacements. If he does sign the tender and play, then he can mentor Brown. In the end we needed a DE either way.

Brown is a better caliber player than Taylor entering the NFL. If Pep plays, I could see him getting alot of time on the opposite end on 3rd downs and even more time later in the year.

[Squirrel]

Brown needs to bulk up more once he does he will see more playing time but at the beginning of the season he will see spot duties.