Bold prediction for the offseason. Panthers will tag Peppers, ....and trade him.

[frash.exe]

This has nothing to do with my opinions of anybody's play or anybody's feelings or suspicions. Pep is one of my favorite players on the team. But it makes perfect sense.

Peppers would've accepted that big contract already if his mind was made up that he wanted to stay. In order to prevent him from entering the free agent market, the Panthers will put the franchise tag on him, and Peppers will comply, unlike a lot of other players, who've hated being tagged in the past. The Panthers and Peppers will posture to other teams that they are in good spirits, ...which they are, so that ultimately, every other team knows the only way they can get him now is to trade for him. This ensures that, even in his departure, Peppers wants to help the team out, and if he can help it by letting other teams give up draft picks, then that's good. Worst case scenario is that he'll still be on the 2009 squad with a hefty salary.

Trade partners you ask? Well, for one, Dan Snyder's Redskins are always in the running, they'll trade for anyone or anything. Washington would gladly offer up a first rounder, and maybe a third rounder, to boot. (Wash doesn't have a second rounder but if they didn't, you could assume they would offer that up instead of a third.)

Kansas City sorely missed Jared Allen's presence in the defense, and if they are high enough on Peppers, they could offer their top 5 first rounder, which they could use on a DE like Brian Orakpo, or, trade down to accumulate a plethora of picks to accommodate various skill positions there are lingering question marks about, such as:

DT: There needs to be a line disruptor to complement our run stuffer, someone needs to fill the void Jenkins left behind playwise.

QB: Yea I know i'm f*cking reaching here.

SLB: Diggs is 31 and will be getting older. Landon Johnson was supposed to offer a future at this position but he never panned out. An OLB like Brian Cushing in the second round might not be out of the question.

RG: This RG position has been a revolving door every year, and has contributed to the inconsistency of the line. It's not a glaring need, since we have Keydrick as a starter, but he's a little older and it would provide at least more depth before we'd have to put Jeremy Bridges in, and he is absolutely awful at Guard. Duke Robinson would offer a formidable five man line of Gross/Wharton/Kalil/Robinson/Otah, assuming Gross gets re-signed.

TE: Another reach here, this one gets mentioned every year but f*cking eh if they'd ever invest more than a late-round draft pick in it. The Panthers offense might benefit from a total package TE that can run block and get open and pass catch, drawing attention off of Smitty in the process. If first rounder is what they would look at (which they won't) then for example Brandon Pettigrew is your guy in the middle of the round.

[charlottenian]

KC is not offering a top 5 pick for a 29 y/o DE who will wont a monster contract

[Fox007]

Imagine if we did get a lower-mid 1st rounder for him, and then trade back and got even more picks!

[panthers55]

Don't see anything bold about that prediction, you are 50th person to say that this week. Same with your predictions about positions of need. Might also add a shutdown corner which we obviously don't have.

[tarheelpride]

bold prediction: in the offseason, we will see more threads like this

[frash.exe]

Don't see anything bold about that prediction, you are 50th person to say that this week. Same with your predictions about positions of need. Might also add a shutdown corner which we obviously don't have.

Nnamdi himself would not have more than 2 interceptions on this defense. His talent would be wasted, just like Lucas' and Gamble's.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I'm usually 100% in agreement with most of your posts, RB, but in this case, I disagree... I don't know if it's that I really disagree or that I hope your wrong, but I do think the underlying issues are different...

Peppers had the offer, we know that because of Hurney and Pep's agent..

It was put into "off the table" status so to speak...

I believe the reasons for that were basically based on Pep's personality... Pep is not a fan of the media, nor attention... I believe he felt his deal would be the news, and that the team wouldn't be the focus... It would have brought unwanted attention, even if it wasn't negative attention...

If you will recall the rumors of Peppers being traded last offseason, both Hurney and Pep's agent were very very emphatic that they were just rumors, and that Pep wasn't going anywhere.

Did anything he do this season change that? I don't think so at all.

Pep wants to be on a winning team, and hell, we sure were that... Pep wants to be a contender, and Fox has had us in that shape numerous times...

What Pep doesn't want, is to be somewhere where they aren't TRYING to get better. I believe Pep, like a lot of players (Hoov comes to mind as well) feel that our philosophy of not adapting is killing us.

Sure, we could get a lot out of Pep via tag and trade, but I honestly believe that nobody in the Panthers organization, including Peppers, want that...

If we make an honest effort to include the feelings of the players, players whom have been called out for not being "leaders", then that would be a great step in the right direction for everyone.

So props if you prognosticate this correctly, but I and a lot of people hope this won't be a reality...

[panthers55]

Nnamdi himself would not have more than 2 interceptions on this defense. His talent would be wasted, just like Lucas' and Gamble's.

I wonder if we went away from bump and run because Fox doesn't think our corners can do it or he would actually play the same crappy coverage if he had Nnamdi and Champ Bailey back there. You are probably right though.

Hard to know what the hecks he thinks, or if he is thinking at all.

[Fox007]

bold prediction: in the offseason, we will see more threads like this

At least we have something to talk about, until(or if) it happens.

At this point it really does look like that is the best option for the Panthers and Peppers.

Assuming we do trade him, we may very well hit good on some of the picks.

I'm pretty sure we will go almost all defense in this draft.

I wonder if we got somewhere around the 14th or so pick and Crabtree was to fall to us if we would pick him up.(that would be bold )

[frash.exe]

I'm usually 100% in agreement with most of your posts, RB, but in this case, I disagree... I don't know if it's that I really disagree or that I hope your wrong, but I do think the underlying issues are different...

Peppers had the offer, we know that because of Hurney and Pep's agent..

It was put into "off the table" status so to speak...

I believe the reasons for that were basically based on Pep's personality... Pep is not a fan of the media, nor attention... I believe he felt his deal would be the news, and that the team wouldn't be the focus... It would have brought unwanted attention, even if it wasn't negative attention...

If you will recall the rumors of Peppers being traded last offseason, both Hurney and Pep's agent were very very emphatic that they were just rumors, and that Pep wasn't going anywhere.

Did anything he do this season change that? I don't think so at all.

Pep wants to be on a winning team, and hell, we sure were that... Pep wants to be a contender, and Fox has had us in that shape numerous times...

What Pep doesn't want, is to be somewhere where they aren't TRYING to get better. I believe Pep, like a lot of players (Hoov comes to mind as well) feel that our philosophy of not adapting is killing us.

Sure, we could get a lot out of Pep via tag and trade, but I honestly believe that nobody in the Panthers organization, including Peppers, want that...

If we make an honest effort to include the feelings of the players, players whom have been called out for not being "leaders", then that would be a great step in the right direction for everyone.

So props if you prognosticate this correctly, but I and a lot of people hope this won't be a reality...

In a way, neither do I.

Peppers, even if he looks "nonexistent" in a game, is nonetheless gameplanned and accounted for, so that, he'll open the door for other players to produce and make plays, even if he doesn't appear on the stat sheet. Without him, this defense is not even top 20 (in scheme, not in talent).

Interestingly, Peppers is the only player remaining out of that dominating front four that helped us to a superbowl run in 2003.

[pstall]

Nnamdi himself would not have more than 2 interceptions on this defense. His talent would be wasted, just like Lucas' and Gamble's.

Keep in mind that teams TOTALLY AVOID throwing Nn's way.

Put him on Fitz sat night and the Huddle is a different world EVEN with Jake.

I say one taker may be Houston. Has some money, mid 1st rd, NC State player with NC ties. From what I hear Pep likes Houston.

Franchise is the ONLY way right now.

[Snake]

KC is not offering a top 5 pick for a 29 y/o DE who will wont a monster contract

Dont underestimate a team in real need for pass rush. Texas seems like a possible place also though.

This has nothing to do with my opinions of anybody's play or anybody's feelings or suspicions. Pep is one of my favorite players on the team. But it makes perfect sense.

Peppers would've accepted that big contract already if his mind was made up that he wanted to stay. In order to prevent him from entering the free agent market, the Panthers will put the franchise tag on him, and Peppers will comply, unlike a lot of other players, who've hated being tagged in the past. The Panthers and Peppers will posture to other teams that they are in good spirits, ...which they are, so that ultimately, every other team knows the only way they can get him now is to trade for him. This ensures that, even in his departure, Peppers wants to help the team out, and if he can help it by letting other teams give up draft picks, then that's good. Worst case scenario is that he'll still be on the 2009 squad with a hefty salary.

Trade partners you ask? Well, for one, Dan Snyder's Redskins are always in the running, they'll trade for anyone or anything. Washington would gladly offer up a first rounder, and maybe a third rounder, to boot. (Wash doesn't have a second rounder but if they didn't, you could assume they would offer that up instead of a third.)

Kansas City sorely missed Jared Allen's presence in the defense, and if they are high enough on Peppers, they could offer their top 5 first rounder, which they could use on a DE like Brian Orakpo, or, trade down to accumulate a plethora of picks to accommodate various skill positions there are lingering question marks about, such as:

DT: There needs to be a line disruptor to complement our run stuffer, someone needs to fill the void Jenkins left behind playwise.

QB: Yea I know i'm f*cking reaching here.

SLB: Diggs is 31 and will be getting older. Landon Johnson was supposed to offer a future at this position but he never panned out. An OLB like Brian Cushing in the second round might not be out of the question.

RG: This RG position has been a revolving door every year, and has contributed to the inconsistency of the line. It's not a glaring need, since we have Keydrick as a starter, but he's a little older and it would provide at least more depth before we'd have to put Jeremy Bridges in, and he is absolutely awful at Guard. Duke Robinson would offer a formidable five man line of Gross/Wharton/Kalil/Robinson/Otah, assuming Gross gets re-signed.

TE: Another reach here, this one gets mentioned every year but f*cking eh if they'd ever invest more than a late-round draft pick in it. The Panthers offense might benefit from a total package TE that can run block and get open and pass catch, drawing attention off of Smitty in the process. If first rounder is what they would look at (which they won't) then for example Brandon Pettigrew is your guy in the middle of the round.

__________________

Really not a bold prediction. I mean I think 2 reporters have already said this and from what Pep is saying it seems likely. Also IMO its the best thing for us cause it clears up a hell of a lot of cap room.

[Snake]

Keep in mind that teams TOTALLY AVOID throwing Nn's way.

Put him on Fitz sat night and the Huddle is a different world EVEN with Jake.

I say one taker may be Houston. Has some money, mid 1st rd, NC State player with NC ties. From what I hear Pep likes Houston.

Franchise is the ONLY way right now.

If we trade Pep we could afford Asmonga(spelling) and a 1st round DE or DT in the draft. Really would make Trgo look good also.

[Kevin Greene]

Just don't want to see Pep in a Cowboy uniform.