"No Progress Towards New Contract with Gross"

[Cat'sGrowl]

Starting Pro-Bowler and 1st Team All-Pro.

Not to mention a team player who enjoys playing here.

Name someone available with a better resume.

[Doc Holiday]

We had a big three to keep.

He signed one, who wanted to stay.

He is going to lose one that doesn't

He is trying to keep the one who will stay if he is paid.

Short of putting a gun to Gross's head what exactly do you want the guy to do ?

If anything Hurney is an underrated GM.

agreed, and the troubling part of all this is he's not the only one out there that thinks this.

[mantal]

The problem last year wasn't the money by Gross's own admission. It was in the details, which does come down to guarantees, term of contract, etc. which is money, so there you go. That is the stickler this year, yet with more money which he earned for his recent performance...

[Snake]

The problem last year wasn't the money by Gross's own admission. It was in the details, which does come down to guarantees, term of contract, etc. which is money, so there you go. That is the stickler this year, yet with more money which he earned for his recent performance...

He is gonna get payed up front no matter what cause in the CBA there is a rule for this year you cant back load cause a uncapped year may happen next year. I would think it makes working out the details of a contract more difficult as well.

[carpanfan96]

He has to get signed, otherwise no matter what else the team does this off season, It was a failure. he's the cornerstone and leader of a Line that gave up 20 sacks and was 3rd in the league in rushing. You have to sign him to a big money long term contract. That way we can franchise Peppers and get something in return.

[Woodie]

A few possibilities:

1) After an All-Pro and Pro-Bowl year, Gross is pricing himself much higher than the average franchise LT.

2) They are close on dollars, like last year, but Gross and his agent want certain conditions (such as higher guaranteed money, length of contract, opt-out clauses, unique incentives, etc.) that Hurney is resisting.

3) Hurney and Fox do not believe Gross is the ideal LT for this offense, and do not want to break the bank for him. Gross is more of a finesse OT, and the team is building an OL based on power.

4) Following up on #3, maybe Hurney and Fox believe they can find a better fit elsewhere, or that they already have someone in house (or that they think they can sign fairly easily) that has shown they wouldn't be a huge dropoff from Gross...at a far more cap-friendly salary.

5) The team feels it will get a decently high first round pick for Peppers (or that they will be able to parlay a late 1st plus additional pick(s) to move up in round one), and that with this being such a strong year for OT's, they can then get a cheaper Tackle in the first round that would make Gross expendible.

Is one of these the reason, or is it something completely different? Only time will tell. But if the 19th comes along and Gross is unsigned and Pep is tagged, it may be safe to assume they were not desperate to keep Gross. I guess it could also be that they are virtually finished with terms on a contract, but that would be very risky. IMO, if they really want Gross, they'll get him signed before the 19th.

[carpanfan96]

A few possibilities:

1) After an All-Pro and Pro-Bowl year, Gross is pricing himself much higher than the average franchise LT.

2) They are close on dollars, like last year, but Gross and his agent want certain conditions (such as higher guaranteed money, length of contract, opt-out clauses, unique incentives, etc.) that Hurney is resisting.

3) Hurney and Fox do not believe Gross is the ideal LT for this offense, and do not want to break the bank for him. Gross is more of a finesse OT, and the team is building an OL based on power.

4) Following up on #3, maybe Hurney and Fox believe they can find a better fit elsewhere, or that they already have someone in house (or that they think they can sign fairly easily) that has shown they wouldn't be a huge dropoff from Gross...at a far more cap-friendly salary.

5) The team feels it will get a decently high first round pick for Peppers (or that they will be able to parlay a late 1st plus additional pick(s) to move up in round one), and that with this being such a strong year for OT's, they can then get a cheaper Tackle in the first round that would make Gross expendible.

Are one of these the reason, or is it something completely different? Only time will tell. But if the 19th comes along and Gross is unsigned and Pep is tagged, it may be safe to assume they were not desperate to keep Gross. I guess it could also be that they are virtually finished with terms on a contract, but that would be very risky. IMO, if they really want Gross, they'll get him signed before the 19th.

After last season, you don't make your Oline leader Expendable. You sign him to the contract he's earned. Which is the highest contract ever for an olinemen. He's worth it, He's one of your bookends and is the leader of a line that had an excellent year last year.

[Woodie]

After last season, you don't make your Oline leader Expendable. You sign him to the contract he's earned. Which is the highest contract ever for an olinemen. He's worth it, He's one of your bookends and is the leader of a line that had an excellent year last year.

Well, I don't disagree with you, I was just listing some possible holdups...some more realistic and likely than others. With that said, I can see where they might not think he is a perfect fit in this offense, so are only willing to go so high on a salary.

Regardless of the reasons for no signing yet, I fully expect a deal to be done in plenty of time to slap the franchise tag on Pep.

[carpanfan96]

Well, I don't disagree with you, I was just listing some possible holdups...some more realistic and likely than others. With that said, I can see where they might not think he is a perfect fit in this offense, so are only willing to go so high on a salary.

Regardless of the reasons for no signing yet, I fully expect a deal to be done in plenty of time to slap the franchise tag on Pep.

Yea, if he doesn't get signed, this off season will be a complete waste and hurney should get fired. Losing two of your best players, when you had the chance to sign one and trade the other for draft picks to improve the team.

[FrostyOne]

If Gross is going to be greedy then forget him too. I know the NFL is a business, but there are players out there that want to play for the Ring instead of the Bling. I would rather have those guys on the team anyways. Cheering for players that want to be here is always more enjoyable.

[Fox007]

If Gross is going to be greedy then forget him too. I know the NFL is a business, but there are players out there that want to play for the Ring instead of the Bling. I would rather have those guys on the team anyways. Cheering for players that want to be here is always more enjoyable.

I will applaud your consistency, you say F Peppers and F Gross.

I for one am not surprised, many people here are seemingly overconfident on the situation(or were).

If we lose both players I wouldn't be a single bit shocked.

[Jangler]

Nothing wrong with getting paid, when they give their bodies to this game.

[Wither]

Nothing wrong with getting paid, when they give their bodies to this game.

You make a valid point, but after a season or two, they can probably retire so...

[carpanfan96]

You make a valid point, but after a season or two, they can probably retire so...

too brutal a sport, a lot of players will spend a lot of money on medical cost after they retire due to injuries from playing. A lot of ex players suffer from neck, spine and brain problems (concussion syndrome and such). You could easily say that a player, not took in the top 6 or so could easily spend there entire rookie contract on those medical cost. Add on top of that, Rookie contract first 2 or 3 years (unless incentives are hit) are really low with a low amount of guaranteed money and are typically back loaded with money the player never sees.