Of Hangman and Gross

[panthers55]

From what I read Gross is likely gone. And honestly he hasn't been that great this year. Good but not great. After seeing how well Otah came in and played i would have a problem picking someone up i FA of through the draft. There are players like Nicks and Baker who are starting this year who were not first rounders. I also think we could work with guys like Omiyale like we did with Bridges and develop them.

If it comes down to Pep or Gross it is no contest. Gross is replaceable, Pep not so much. When it is said and done I think that pep might still want to play here but Gross for whatever reason doesn't seem to or he would signed already.

[mountainpantherfan]

From what I read Gross is likely gone. And honestly he hasn't been that great this year. Good but not great. After seeing how well Otah came in and played i would have a problem picking someone up i FA of through the draft. There are players like Nicks and Baker who are starting this year who were not first rounders. I also think we could work with guys like Omiyale like we did with Bridges and develop them.

If it comes down to Pep or Gross it is no contest. Gross is replaceable, Pep not so much. When it is said and done I think that pep might still want to play here but Gross for whatever reason doesn't seem to or he would signed already.

I couldn't disagree more. Gross will not be easily replaced. There is no one in FA that even comes close his talent. As for the draft, you really want to draft a tackle late in the second round and have him start? It's one thing to start a rookie first rounder at RT but a late 2nd rounder at LT, now way. And while Omiyale and Bridges are good backups, they are backups and neither is capable of starting at LT next season.

As for Gross not wanting to play here, most guys bitch and complain about being tagged. Gross on the other hand seemed relieved that he got the tag and was able to stay in Carolina this season. Just because a player is trying to get the best deal possible doesn't mean he no longer wants to play for that team. If anything, I would be more worried about Peppers not wanting to play here. I think he does but I can also see how someone who has spent his entire life in North Carolina would like to get away.

I think Gross could be the easier to sign. He might just be looking to get the best deal possible in Carolina. Where as no amount of money might keep Peppers from leaving. But all of this is just speculation and I hope that both want and will stay.

[Murph]

Omiyale is an UFA after this season also. OL depth next year is a major issue especially with Bridges off field issues.

[Murph]

Bump.

Well, in the end, Gross and his agent made the smart gamble by not signing his extension. Remember both sides said they were in 90% agreement in prinicpal but could not come together on the fine details last summer. Well Gross is now in the pro bowl (as a left tackle to boot) and his value has shot up even more....much more.

Keeping him and Peppers just got a lot tougher. There is a good chance Gross will be offered the highest contract ever at the OT spot next March. If we could extend Peppers before March, we could franchise Gross and it might be cheaper than what the average per year contract would be with another team. Still someone might just give us a 1st and 3rd round pick for him which would be fine with me.

[mountainpantherfan]

Bump.

Well, in the end, Gross and his agent made the smart gamble by not signing his extension. Remember both sides said they were in 90% agreement in prinicpal but could not come together on the fine details last summer. Well Gross is now in the pro bowl (as a left tackle to boot) and his value has shot up even more....much more.

Keeping him and Peppers just got a lot tougher. There is a good chance Gross will be offered the highest contract ever at the OT spot next March. If we could extend Peppers before March, we could franchise Gross and it might be cheaper than what the average per year contract would be with another team. Still someone might just give us a 1st and 3rd round pick for him which would be fine with me.

I still think that Gross wants to stay in Carolina and that will go a long way in re-signing him. But overall, the chances of Carolina re-signing both of them are a lot lower now that both made the pro-bowl.

[Delhommey]

Kurb, the fact that it's a thin year for OT FA's will be offset by the back to back unbelievably deep draft classes for OT's.

Gross will still command good money, but not as much as he thinks.

[Murph]

Rookie OT's are having a huge impact on the NFL as our own Otah and Sam Baker have shown.

Another factor that will help Gross in the market is his amazing ability to remain healthy. I wouldn't be surprised to see a team offer him an 80 million contract.

[mountainpantherfan]

Kurb, the fact that it's a thin year for OT FA's will be offset by the back to back unbelievably deep draft classes for OT's.

Gross will still command good money, but not as much as he thinks.

His penalies, I think, will also drop his number a bit. Teams will figure a rookie will make the same mistakes but for a lower price.

[Delhommey]

Rookie OT's are having a huge impact on the NFL as our own Otah and Sam Baker have shown.

Don't know if you've checked it out, but this year's class might be better than last year's.

[Murph]

The class is huge although two of the biggest names, Oher and Loadholt are slipping a little. Others have emerged.

I know Fox has loosened up his loyalty to veterans lately but I have hard time believing he would want the starting OT's next year to have a combined one year of NFL experience.

[bleys]

I know money makes a huge impact on this decision, but continuity on the line is huge as well. I would love to see Gross come back next year...

[hepcat]

I would be overjoyed to see the Panthers cut Ken Lucas. He has a big salary and is obviously past his prime. He is turning into the Deshaun Foster of the defense. His lost salary would open up a good bit of space to resign at least one of the two collosal UFA's we have. Landon Johnson is an obvious cut. He was a FA bust from day 1. Nick Goings should be gone, and so should DJ Hackett. I think not having a first round pick to sign this year should really put a precedence on resigning two former first round picks. With some cuts and contract restructurings I think it is possible.

[X-Clown]

Rookie OT's are having a huge impact on the NFL as our own Otah and Sam Baker have shown.

Another factor that will help Gross in the market is his amazing ability to remain healthy. I wouldn't be surprised to see a team offer him an 80 million contract.

Don't forget the best one of all thus far in Clady.

[panthersphan]

For some reason...I see Gross going to Denver