Removing the franchise tag from Julius Peppers is the best option.

[Sandy Claws]

It is already bad for both sides. Both sides are playing difficult. There is no win in this situation.

So, how does this mean Hurney "failed" as you posted earlier? It sounds to me that you believe that both Hurney and Carey have failed.

[top dawg]

I laugh at the thought that people thought we would just let Peppers go. In any business arena, much less the NFL, you just don't let one of your main guys walk, particularly when they are damn near impossible to replace. For someone to say different is pretty much irrational and belies people letting emotion get the better of them. Tagging Pep was our only smart option. Blame it on Pep if you want to, or fate---whatever you like---but, it is the FO's job not to land in such a position.

Now, it is what it is. Pep is staring the FO down, as is his right. He's basically overplayed his hand in this bad economic climate, and the FO is calling his bluff. To me, it's all good, and it's all business. It's to be expected.

Unless the FO can do some magic, then Pep will be playing for us hard come August (unless he is stupid, which I don't believe he is). Pep won't get what he wants, but he will be that much richer. The FO will get to keep Pep for at least another year, albeit at a higher price than they'd like, and the team will get the quality services of arguably the best DE in football. The only thing is that if the status quo remains we will have to repeat this lunacy, dance, and signifying after nest season, but at least we have hope that Meeks' style of coaching will make Pep a bigger beast than he was last year, and make him want to stay.

Here I go quoting myself again.

Your star player is under contract. Everybody---the player, the team, and every other team in the NFL---has to play by the rules of the game. Tagging is an instrument that was put in place exactly for these types of situations. It's not good business to let your star player go just because he is playing hardball (unless he's T.O.). There is too much of an investment in Pep to just let him walk. It doesn't take an MBA to figure this out.

It's all business running its course.

[carolinarolls]

So, how does this mean Hurney "failed" as you posted earlier? It sounds to me that you believe that both Hurney and Carey have failed.

Hurney made the wrong decision. Carey is playing tough with what little hand he has been dealt. A player who does not want to play for you for reasons other than monetary ones should NEVER be tagged no matter what the supposed "value" of that player is. There is not going to be a winner here. A tough play was made and a tougher one followed. Hard decisions were forced and IMO somebody in his position should have the foresight of the possibility of these occurances. If I could see it coming a mile away why couldn't he?

That is my opinion. I said we don't know the whole situation because we don't but from what I have read and heard this is the conclusion that I have drawn and that is, to reiterate, that Hurney made the wrong choice. Maybe it was emotional, maybe he underestimated Julius' resolve, or maybe he overvalued Julius. Maybe it was a combo of all three. But by NOT focusing on the team's best interest which I consider to be wiping our hands of any potential nightmare like this has been, he failed.

I understand that many will not agree but I cannot accept "people would have laughed at us" or "he could have gone anywhere" as acceptible enough of an argument to change my mind personally.

[carolinarolls]

I don't think it's as bad as everyone is making it out to be. One guy wants out, the GM franchised him. After that, noone has spoken a word. If it was "bad', I would expect a TO type retaliation more so than a "going into a shell" response. Those actions lean more that way in my view than anything being "bad".

If it's that "bad", we will see Pep sit out when the season starts. If not, then it was never that bad after all.

I never fear the loud one. It's the quiet one's you have to watch out for:)

[bleys]

I understand that many will not agree but I cannot accept "people would have laughed at us" or "he could have gone anywhere" as acceptible enough of an argument to change my mind personally.

me either... luckily there are better reasons than that. but to each their own. We are all allowed our own opinion. :cheers2:

[carolinarolls]

me either... luckily there are better reasons than that. but to each their own. We are all allowed our own opinion. :cheers2:

agreed:cheers2:

[bleys]

I never fear the loud one. It's the quiet one's you have to watch out for:)

Definitely follow you're point as in "the loudest person in the room is the weakest."

But curious what NFL examples you may have of this in recent years concerning those who want out of contracts.... The only ones that I know of that have caused the most havoc are the loud ones...

(just for the purpose of casual banter. Not trying to attack you.)

[mantal]

I look forward to Peppers playing here this year. I look forward to Peppers signing a long term contract. Because he's learned that another team is not ready to pony up the price to get his services... Let's let this die...

[carolinarolls]

Definitely follow you're point as in "the loudest person in the room is the weakest."

But curious what NFL examples you may have of this in recent years concerning those who want out of contracts.... The only ones that I know of that have caused the most havoc are the loud ones...

(just for the purpose of casual banter. Not trying to attack you.)

No Problem.

I cannot find one. I am sure players have been unhappy and asked to leave or get traded before but not with this combination of extremes. This is a top 5% athlete in the biggest game in town. His contract is up, he has given the team a decade without so much as a whimper of complaint or any bad press, and this is not about money.

The loud ones are usually barking for money or are under contract wanting a trade. Their mouth lowers their trade value IMO and slows the process in some cases. Some threaten to sit out, some end up being happy once they get their money. I agree with not letting a player control the team with his attitude 100%.

I saw this situation differently from the start. I saw the potential for this to play out as it has and saw that it was not a winning situation. In my eyes the player was empowered when the tag was place because of his perceived status and because he is virtually the model citizen in terms of players who demand (not verbally) this kind of money. Even if Peppers signed the tender immediately wanting a trade I saw it going bad. there were just too many strikes against him:

30

wanting to play new position

wanting to play in new scheme

rumored to not give max effort on every play

not a vocal leader

In my eyes these bargaining chips legitimate or not were going to slow the process and draw focus away from where focus needs to be. Our team is close and we need to tie up the loose ends but not at the cost of our integrity. It looked/still looks to me like Hurney and Co. did no know how to stomach the fact that Pep, their guy, stud DE and freak NFL athlete wanted to walk away based on the feeling of his potential not being met. Tagging him means they want to force him to play (never works) or cater to him (also a bad sign). Just what did Hurney really want? peppers to change his mind? And what was he going to have to get the team to do to assist this mind-changing?

I do not see a positive for hurney tagging Peppers except for trying to gain control of the situation. The trade value is perception of potential and there are too many strikes against Peps perceived potential for a big trade for big picks to be seen as a slam dunk. If he stays you have a disgruntled guy getting a cool mill a game or a disgruntled locker room watching a catered to guy cash checks.

I have read and tried to understand but I just don't see it. I want to think this is right but this one decision by Marty has caused me to lose all faith in him as GM. It's how you handle the big ones that count.

[bleys]

No Problem.

I cannot find one. I am sure players have been unhappy and asked to leave or get traded before but not with this combination of extremes. This is a top 5% athlete in the biggest game in town. His contract is up, he has given the team a decade without so much as a whimper of complaint or any bad press, and this is not about money.

The loud ones are usually barking for money or are under contract wanting a trade. Their mouth lowers their trade value IMO and slows the process in some cases. Some threaten to sit out, some end up being happy once they get their money. I agree with not letting a player control the team with his attitude 100%.

I saw this situation differently from the start. I saw the potential for this to play out as it has and saw that it was not a winning situation. In my eyes the player was empowered when the tag was place because of his perceived status and because he is virtually the model citizen in terms of players who demand (not verbally) this kind of money. Even if Peppers signed the tender immediately wanting a trade I saw it going bad. there were just too many strikes against him:

30

wanting to play new position

wanting to play in new scheme

rumored to not give max effort on every play

not a vocal leader

In my eyes these bargaining chips legitimate or not were going to slow the process and draw focus away from where focus needs to be. Our team is close and we need to tie up the loose ends but not at the cost of our integrity. It looked/still looks to me like Hurney and Co. did no know how to stomach the fact that Pep, their guy, stud DE and freak NFL athlete wanted to walk away based on the feeling of his potential not being met. Tagging him means they want to force him to play (never works) or cater to him (also a bad sign). Just what did Hurney really want? peppers to change his mind? And what was he going to have to get the team to do to assist this mind-changing?

I do not see a positive for hurney tagging Peppers except for trying to gain control of the situation. The trade value is perception of potential and there are too many strikes against Peps perceived potential for a big trade for big picks to be seen as a slam dunk. If he stays you have a disgruntled guy getting a cool mill a game or a disgruntled locker room watching a catered to guy cash checks.

I have read and tried to understand but I just don't see it. I want to think this is right but this one decision by Marty has caused me to lose all faith in him as GM. It's how you handle the big ones that count.

All good points.. There are other factors as well that can be said to calm the negatives in this, but really we all will have to see what happens in the future to tell what was going on in the past.

[carolinarolls]

All good points.. There are other factors as well that can be said to calm the negatives in this, but really we all will have to see what happens in the future to tell what was going on in the past.

Exactly. Like we all know but sometimes forget, this situation just like most on here involve the opinion of fans and opinions are going to differ. On this board however, if the opinions don't fit the company line you are made fun of in lots of cases. Then if you retaliate in kind you are labeled all kinds of ridiculous things. It happens to people here every day. I am OK with it.

I try to make intelligent arguments and comments on every topic or I don't post. There is a smartass in everyone and we all show it here sometimes. I accept it as part of the program and wish we all did.

[Sandy Claws]

Hurney made the wrong decision. Carey is playing tough with what little hand he has been dealt. A player who does not want to play for you for reasons other than monetary ones should NEVER be tagged no matter what the supposed "value" of that player is. There is not going to be a winner here. A tough play was made and a tougher one followed. Hard decisions were forced and IMO somebody in his position should have the foresight of the possibility of these occurances. If I could see it coming a mile away why couldn't he?

That is my opinion. I said we don't know the whole situation because we don't but from what I have read and heard this is the conclusion that I have drawn and that is, to reiterate, that Hurney made the wrong choice. Maybe it was emotional, maybe he underestimated Julius' resolve, or maybe he overvalued Julius. Maybe it was a combo of all three. But by NOT focusing on the team's best interest which I consider to be wiping our hands of any potential nightmare like this has been, he failed.

I understand that many will not agree but I cannot accept "people would have laughed at us" or "he could have gone anywhere" as acceptible enough of an argument to change my mind personally.

Hold on a second there. You say

we don't know the whole situation because we don't but from what I have read and heard this is the conclusion that I have drawn and that is, to reiterate, that Hurney made the wrong choice.

If we don't know the facts, and you admit that you don't and are basing your opinion on reports that may or may not be accurate, hearsay in other words, how can you be so adamant that Hurney has made the wrong decision? How can you consider it a valid conclusion? Isn't it really just speculation? Couldn't this "war" between Carey and Hurney be nothing but media crap? And, if money has no part in this, isn't there at least some possibility that the changes in coaching staff could bridge the gap if Pep were to come in and see how/if things have changed? If you had nothing better to spend the cap space on, wouldn't it be worth keeping him around in the slight chance that he might see thing differently? How would that NOT be in the best interest of the team?

[bleys]

Hold on a second there. You say

If we don't know the facts, and you admit that you don't and are basing your opinion on reports that may or may not be accurate, hearsay in other words, how can you be so adamant that Hurney has made the wrong decision? How can you consider it a valid conclusion? Isn't it really just speculation? Couldn't this "war" between Carey and Hurney be nothing but media crap? And, if money has no part in this, isn't there at least some possibility that the changes in coaching staff could bridge the gap if Pep were to come in and see how/if things have changed? If you had nothing better to spend the cap space on, wouldn't it be worth keeping him around in the slight chance that he might see thing differently? How would that NOT be in the best interest of the team?

I think we just came to an understanding. This debate has ended a long time ago and became only about who can try to outwit the next person by trying to spin words and points made.

Time will tell what happens and what was going on (or at least clue in on what may have been going on better than now)..

Let bygones be bygones....

[Jangler]