Go ahead and accept the fact this is Peppers last year.

[cgarsmoker]

I agree that if he isn't signed today it will be his last year with the Panthers.... He isn't getting younger and he just will not be worth the franchise tag price of over $20 million for one season. I sure hope Meeks can bring out the best in the younger guys on the team.

[Delhommey]

If there is an uncapped year next year, I especially think that we will keep him. They could front load the contract for a poo load of money and make it work. We do have a billionaire for an owner, and one of the more stable, successful franchises in the league.

Can't have more than 20% of the contract in an uncapped year I believe.

[CRA]

The sooner you do that, the better you will feel as well as embrace Everette Brown.

and it will be Fox's fault. Pep doesn't want to play in the conservative D any longer. I mean, if they quit thowing the ball to Smitty and he didn't agree w/ the offensive philosophy onthe offense......do you think he would want to leave when his contract was over?! It is a business and I would bet the farm on Smith wanting out and being vocal.. You don't have to disruptive to be vocal (see Pep). Too many of Pep's assignments don't involve creating problems in the backfield.

[carolinarolls]

from untouchable hero to hated stopgap...Julius Peppers

signed,

random Pantherz fanz

[frash.exe]

If the FO pays him 20 mill for one freaking year next year I will hate on them.

And so will I.

no DE is worth that kind of money, not even Peppers. (he's not consistent enough anyway)

[pstall]

and it will be Fox's fault. Pep doesn't want to play in the conservative D any longer. I mean, if they quit thowing the ball to Smitty and he didn't agree w/ the offensive philosophy onthe offense......do you think he would want to leave when his contract was over?! It is a business and I would bet the farm on Smith wanting out and being vocal.. You don't have to disruptive to be vocal (see Pep). Too many of Pep's assignments don't involve creating problems in the backfield.

The D of the past has been that way. Future? Who knows.

Welcome to Moneyball in the NFL. Teams are so tight on cash now they are avoiding large contracts that hamstring them going forward.

Get a younger,cheaper player(s) instead of one dude.

[mantal]

Last I saw, you can only have 53 men on your squad, somebody's gonna get paid, just sayin', I mean it's not my money. I just don't have the righteous indignation you guys seem to be able to generate, especially in an uncapped year...

[OneBadassCat]

I think he will not want to go threw what he did last season. If he was not wanting to stay here he would have had them put a clause in his contract baring them from tagging him again next year. They now have a whole season to work out what prob will be a very complex and high paying contract.

But if that were the case don't you think Peppers would have just agreed to the original extension(maybe with some tweaks) Hurnery offered? I hope it turns out to be a Gross situation where Pep signs long term after the season.

[joemac]

Last I saw, you can only have 53 men on your squad, somebody's gonna get paid, just sayin', I mean it's not my money. I just don't have the righteous indignation you guys seem to be able to generate, especially in an uncapped year...

Exactly. I dont write him any checks, so I really dont care. The Panthers and NFL will get the same amount of money from me regardless of how they choose to spend it. Someone has got to get a big paycheck.

[PantherPhann89]

I really would hate for us to lose him, he is good, one of the top 5 DE in the league. But he doesn't want to be here, we should trade him and get some use out of him.

[AKPantherFan]

I KNOW the Panthers will still try to sign him before FA next offseason.

But Its a GREAT thing that we have Brown to get a year under his belt.

I hope he works out.

[mantal]

I really would hate for us to lose him, he is good, one of the top 5 DE in the league. But he doesn't want to be here, we should trade him and get some use out of him.

That's the whole problem. Either we let him go for nothing and that's not a good option, try to sign him to a long term, or franchise him which means other teams will have to pony big trades for a player that only has one year on his contract. No other team is going to pay us the price to trade for a franchise player and then negotiate a long term deal for a man wanting to get paid. I'm afraid we're stuck with each other.

[pstall]

I don't care what somebody makes. I just know the economics and Pep's age doesn't match up too well right now for the Panthers.

I would love to see him stay for less money and he be happy anyway and the Panther's sign other big names. But that is only for cotton candy clounds and purple sun's.

[WadeWilson]

I don't care what somebody makes. I just know the economics and Pep's age doesn't match up too well right now for the Panthers.

I would love to see him stay for less money and he be happy anyway and the Panther's sign other big names. But that is only for cotton candy clounds and purple sun's.

Up until today at 4pm, he could have still signed a long term deal, gotten mad money and rededicated himself - in front of the fanbase - to the job at hand.

By not doing that - whatever the reasons - he proved he's not a team player. He's in it for a big pay day. I just don't see it any other way.