Kuechly, Panthers agree to 5-year, $62M extension

[PizzaTheHutt]

This calls for a sexy party!

[KB_fan]

Just curious...did anyone think this deal wouldn't get done? Does this deal make him a better player?

I think he was gonna play lights out no matter the status of his contract. Yes it's better for our peace of mind, but the team is in the exact same spot it was in yesterday,  is it not?

For the record, I would literally break down and cry like a 2 month old baby if Kuechly ever left Carolina. I just believe he is giving his best effort as a professional already, and throwing a few $$ at him won't improve his play, IMO.

Never doubted it for a second.  Luke has shown he's a classy classy dude and he seems like the incredibly loyal type.  And money won't change his love for the game or how he plays. 

But what it does that's so exciting:

1) It removes the distractions of the "what about your contract" questions and puts the focus back squarely on his football.  (Same for Cam), and it maybe does give them just perhaps a tiny bit of added oomph to prove they're worth these mega millions.

2) It gives Dave and our front office a REALLY CLEAR IDEA now of how much of our cap is tied up in which years and so allows him freedom to begin looking ahead and already working on scheming to improve the roster NEXT season, even before we've started playing this season!  Sure this *could* have waited until the 2016 offseason, but getting it done now just means Dave is able to give his full attention to whatever's next on his list! 

We are SO in Luke to have this kind of star on our team and to have such an awesome GM!

[luke nukem]

this is me in my happy place :)

[Moorgan]

There is no "hard ball" and this isn't at all some assurance of a super bowl, good grief people. And the greatest summer a GM ever had? Hyperbole much, my gosh! "Will be the greatest LB to ever play the game". It never ends.

What this is...

getting our VERY LIKELY first HOF player locked on our team without having to worry about this or that. Now we can form the pieces around him.

Is he worth the contract? Absolutely. I don't like paying this much, but like I said, HOF player. He's young, he elevates our squad quality, we need him. Here's hoping Luke retires a Panther, it's truly awesome having him around.

Not sure if this is positive or not...

[mpugh6]

Steve Reed is now reporting via twitter that the deal is not done. Interesting...

[AU-panther]

luke just received the fattest contract ever at his position. If thats "hardball" id be nervous what happens when he caves. 

Luke got paid as the top MLB in the game which is fair.

He or his agents could have made the argument that he deserved to be paid as one of the top defensive players in the league.  

Depending on the final numbers his average salary might not even be in the top 10-15 among defensive players.

I fully understand that MLBs on average don't make as much as other positions but with Luke's resume it would not have be unrealistic for his camp to ask for more.

 

[Cookie Lyon]

Steve Reed is now reporting via twitter that the deal is not done. Interesting...

Interesting indeed. I wonder what is going on?

[Mr. Scot]

Might just be in that limbo between "agreed to terms" and "signed".

[pantherclaw]

Need a jersey. 

I've got two. One still in a bag.  No reason to wait when it comes to the great ones.

[KB_fan]

Sorry, can't resist.

Combination of this news & this tweet

Leads to the inevitable question on the Huddle these days:  "Can he play WR?!"  LOL.

Maybe the answer IS on our roster.  Luke will be the first player in NFL history to play 100% of offensive AND defensive snaps!  Is that allowed?  Maybe he really IS a machine...

[pantherj]

What is the next highest contract for a 4-3 MLB?

[DaveThePanther2008]

 I cannot stop thinking about those idiots in SF, I believe it was, a couple of months ago talking how they were going to get Luke.  They spoke as if SF was the only team in the league that deserved such a player.   I am sure their hearts are broken now.

I think Gettleman's next target should be Norman before he blows up this year.  He doesn't like to negotiate during the season.  So hike up those nipple shorts and get busy.  You got 4 days to nail down Norman.

[uncfan888]

just stopped at the team store and bought me a fresh new Kuechly jersey to rock down in Jacksonville..

 

we comin, jaguars fans

[luke nukem]

 I cannot stop thinking about those idiots in SF, I believe it was, a couple of months ago talking how they were going to get Luke.  They spoke as if SF was the only team in the league that deserved such a player.   I am sure their hearts are broken now.

I think Gettleman's next target should be Norman before he blows up this year.  He doesn't like to negotiate during the season.  So hike up those nipple shorts and get busy.  You got 4 days to nail down Norman.

I think today was the last day for contract negotiations with gettleman, considering the season starts tonight.