Julius Peppers Franchise Tag FAQ

[Kevin Greene]

I still say the real number is in the 8-9 mill range, not 17 million.

You're welcome to think anything you like. :thumbsup:

[PeppersOut]

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

The Carolina Panthers are next in our team-by-team series of updates on where each NFC South team stands regarding the salary cap.

Keep in mind, these numbers are very much in flux at the moment as teams sign players to future contracts and incentives reached in 2008 haven't been factored in yet. The cap is expected to be $123 million.

Salary-cap status: $10 million under the salary cap.

Overview: Don't get too excited by that number because it's very deceiving. The Panthers are trying to re-sign offensive tackle Jordan Gross, whose value got a big boost with an All-Pro season, and defensive end Julius Peppers. Re-signing both or re-signing one and using the franchise tag on the other would put the Panthers well over the salary cap, no matter how the deals are structured. Carolina has to clear room somewhere and cornerback Ken Lucas, who's carrying a big cap number and didn't have a good second half of the season, could be a target for release or restructure. Wide receiver D.J. Hackett, a free-agent pickup who didn't work out, also looks likely to be gone. The Panthers also have a lot of veterans whose contracts can be restructured to free up some cap room. But don't look for Carolina to do much in free agency because the Panthers aren't going to have much room to work with

[Highlandfire]

Delhomme must restructure, Hackett and Lucas need to be cut.

[Phil Dees]

Again it is NOT Cap number, it is average SALARY. His cap number is bonuses, incentives etc added in to his base SALARY. Peppers didn't even get paid 14 million this year. Cap number and his actual pay are two different things.

If you have a player and sign him to a 5 year 30 million dollar deal with a 15 million signing bonus, his yearly cap number is 6 million but his SALARY is 3 million per year. The pro rated bonus is what inflates his CAP NUMBER. Most deals are back loaded so I wouldn't doubt he made 5 mill in salary and had 9 mill in pro rated bonus and incentives.

Section 2. Required Tender for Franchise Players:

(a) Except as provided in Subsection ( below, any Club that designates a Franchise Player shall on the date the designation is made notify the player and the NFLPA which one of the following two potential re¬quired tenders the Club has selected:

(i) A one-year NFL Player Contract for the average of the five largest Prior year Salaries for players at the position (within the categories set forth in Section 7(a) below) at which the Franchise Player played the most games during the prior League Year, or 120% of his Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater; if the Club extends the tender pursuant to this Subsection (a)(i), the player shall be permitted to negotiate a Player Contract with any Club as if he were a player subject to Section 5 below, except that Draft Choice Compensation of two first round draft selections shall be made with respect to such player in the event he signs with the New Club, and the Signing Pe¬riod for such player shall be determined under Section 17 below; or......

(e) For the purpose of this Article, "Salary" means the total of the Paragraph 5 Salary (reduced proportionately if the contract is entered into after the first regular season game), roster and reporting bonuses, pro-rata portion of signing bonus, and other payments to players in compensation for the playing of professional football for the applicable year of the player's most recently negotiated Player Contract, except for performance bonuses other than roster and reporting bonuses. Salary shall also include any un-repaid loans made, guaranteed or collateralized by a Team or its Team Affil¬iate to a player or Player Affiliate.

[hdevonxz]

i would cut landon johnson before i got hackett

[hdevonxz]

seems like we will have to go exclusive. first of all, no-one is going to give us 2 1st rounders for him, and second of all, we have to keep him away from other NFC south teams, and other contenders in the NFC who could use him beat us.

No one would give 2 first rounders for him?

Please, Jared Allen got 2 first rounders, Peppers definitely could.

[Phil Dees]

Please, Jared Allen got 2 first rounders

Nope

[hdevonxz]

they got a 1st and a 3rd for allen, which i think is a pretty good deal, and about the best we could hope for, especially considering that the new team will have to pay the 17 million on top of that

Oh, I thought Allen got 2 first rounders.

I still think some team might give us 2 first. Probably the RAiders.

[XClown1986]

Actually you're both wrong. Allen was traded for a 1st and 2 3rds

[Woodie]

let's not forget the TRANSITION TAG!

You can't use both the franchise and transition tags in the same year, you have to choose only one.

[Woodie]

Actually you're both wrong. Allen was traded for a 1st and 2 3rds

Actually, you're wrong as well. They also switched 6th round picks :prrr:.