PFT:Wesley a cautionary tale for free agent class

[CatMan72]

From PFT:

Former Panthers safety/special Dante Wesley had a solid on the table before free agency started to return to Carolina: A $175,000 signing bonus, and two years of minimum salary. The offer had a catch -- he had to accept it before the start of free agency.

Wesley passed and waited to see what the open market had in store for him. He wound up taking $20,000 guaranteed from the Lions, with the same base salaries.

This information comes from Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill Herald, who makes a convincing case that the NFL's middle class has suffered in the uncapped year. Big players got paid, but middle tier guys like defensive linemen Tyler Brayton and Damione Lewis seemingly did worse than normal.

The whole article is worth a read and it underscores a point Florio was banging on all last year.

The uncapped season hasn't helped out many players, and it's hurt quite a few.

[CatMan72]

...and here's the Gantt article:

We wrote this morning about the struggles of the NFL's middle class players to find deals this offseason.

CB Dante Wesley, who turned down a $175,000 signing bonus here before having to accept $20,000 up front from Detroit, might be the worst case scenario. But other players have fallen victim to a market that lacked precedent, leaving many unsure how it was going to work out....

[CharlotteBeer.com]

It's unfortunate we couldn't have kept him. Oh well, hopefully these new ST guys will be up to the task.

[rayzor]

It's unfortunate we couldn't have kept him. Oh well, hopefully these new ST guys will be up to the task.

same here. i wish he would have taken that deal. i would like to think that we would have brought in all three of those guys anyway but i still think we are going to be better off than we were last year or in years previous.

[Lumps]

sounds like he was a victim of his own stupidity.

[jbland]

sounds like he was a victim of his own stupidity.

You mean his agents stupidity.

[rayzor]

sounds like he was a victim of his own stupidity.

You mean his agents stupidity.

probably true.

[Wither]

sounds like he was a victim of his own stupidity.

He just thought he could get more from another team... not necessarily stupid, but he should've tried to keep that offer available (from the Panthers) while shopping around.

[Guest silver82blade]

he'll come crawling back. he always does. jk.

[rayzor]

he'll come crawling back. he always does. jk.

nah...he's got a job on the lions. he'll there for a while.

[Montsta]

He just thought he could get more from another team... not necessarily stupid, but he should've tried to keep that offer available (from the Panthers) while shopping around.

Great move by the Panthers front office to say that he had to sign it before free agency. Basically saying this is a fair deal your getting, and if you wait to see if you can do better, our offer is no longer available.

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

Dante Wesley had a solid on the table

lol

[rayzor]

lol

ooooooooohhh.....

[Pejorative Miscreant]

If the market is low for the middle of the road player it may work well for the panthers. We are always hunting for the not so popular brand player so hopefully this translates to the Panthers getting a couple of good values in FA.

Maybe I am being too optimistic but my wine bottle is half empty so that means my glass is half full.