Peppers, maybe he will stay?

[LaChance87]

This is a quote for peppers this morning!

“That was a year ago and I don’t really think it’s productive to go back and re-open those conversations about what I was feeling at that time,” Peppers said when asked how things had changed since a last season, when he walked out of Bank of America Stadium looking for a new address. “It was a year ago. Anything that was said a year ago is irrelevant right now. It’s a new situation. It’s a new day.”

[LaChance87]

http://www.heraldonline.com/247/story/1841178.html

[Rhys]

Good. I hope he stays, he's worth everything we gave him. Plus, he's a high character guy that is a leader on this team. Please stay Peppers, PLEASE!

[C47]

This is a quote for peppers this morning!

“That was a year ago and I don’t really think it’s productive to go back and re-open those conversations about what I was feeling at that time,” Peppers said when asked how things had changed since a last season, when he walked out of Bank of America Stadium looking for a new address. “It was a year ago. Anything that was said a year ago is irrelevant right now. It’s a new situation. It’s a new day.”

I think thats Peppers way of saying things have changed he feels better about the team and the scheme he is in and he would gladly stay if we can work out a deal with him. Just my opinion but thats what I took out of it. Pep is an interesting guy though, you never know with him so he may be saying something different tomorrow.......my belief is that he is here long term though...

[Mekeritrig]

Great! Peppers is an extremely valuable asset to the team, both for his play and the way he carries himself off the field. Meeks has really taken advantage of all the talent we have on the defensive side of the ball, and it would be great to see how he uses everyone, including Peppers, next year now that he has a season under his belt with the Panthers.

[Carolina Husker]

Translation: Meeks > Trgovac.

[C47]

Translation: Meeks > Trgovac.

Trufax, my thoughts exactly....

[Swarly]

Can we afford to keep him though? I'd assume if he were to sign a long term deal, it'd be at the very least on par with the 100 million $ Haynesworth deal. and with Peppers being as talented/well recognized as he is, you can be for damn sure he'd earn every incentive in a contract available to him.

I want to keep him, but you have to know that if he does sign long term, we're looking at some serious cap implications.

[LaChance87]

Trufax' date=' my thoughts exactly....[/quote']

I agree, Meeks really had our defense playing great, towards the end of the year, and Peppers mentioned he liked Meeks and how he liked how he was used this year... So I hope that will favor his desicion to stay with the Panther for the remainder of his career.

[C47]

Can we afford to keep him though? I'd assume if he were to sign a long term deal, it'd be at the very least on par with the 100 million $ Haynesworth deal. and with Peppers being as talented/well recognized as he is, you can be for damn sure he'd earn every incentive in a contract available to him.

I want to keep him, but you have to know that if he does sign long term, we're looking at some serious cap implications.

It wont be 16.7 million per year though so yea we can afford to keep Peppers.

[PhillyB]

it'd be great if we can afford it. if everette brown breaks out next year and we grab a good DT in the draft, our front four will be downright scary.

[LaChance87]

I really hope they come to an agreement this year, cause with him in the the whole D-line plays better cause the teams are always trying to scheme for Peppers coming... Brown has had some flashes but he's not very big in size, to just over power the O-Line... Keeping that defense and getting the starters back, we would definately be the top defense next year... with the upgrade of the Defensive Tackle postion.... Peppers staying would be on less stop that would need to be accounted for in the offseason.

[CatMan72]

You could tell by Peppers body language at the end of this season that he would like to stay... the way he was congratulating teammates, etc... now it's just a matter of how much $$$. If the Panthers were willing to make him the highest paid defensive player after a 2.5 sack season, why wouldn't they be willing to do so after two consecutive double-digit sack seasons heading into an uncapped year?

[blackcatfever]

In this situation, I like to think, WWBD (What Would Belichick Do).

He wouldn't sign him because while he is still playing at a high level, he's hit the 30 year old mark and you can't expect him to play at the same level for another 5 years which is what his contract would be. Franchise him again, but this time take a moderate deal for him (2nd rounder or something) and spend the time and money developing young talent.

Say he gets 12-15 million/year which is what he'll demand. I'd pay that for him next year, but we'd be regretting it 3-5 years from now when he's getting 5 sacks/40 tackles a season.

You gotta think long term...would it be the best thong for the franchise years down the road...not just now.