Panthers and Peppers Standoff Begins
Feb 20, 2009
The Carolina Panthers made the right play in the standoff with Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers. Slapping the franchise tag on him protects them from getting nothing in return for his talent. However, this is just the start of what could be an ugly off-season. Peppers wants out and is reportedly not interested in playing for the only franchise he has ever known. However, the million, wait I mean $16.6 (M) question is will he sit out next season if a mutually acceptable deal can not be struck? Seriously in this economy is anyone in their right mind willing to take 0 over almost $17(M)? Or even in a great economy? Oh wait, there is Manny Ramirez who already turned down $25(M) for one year, but that’s just Manny being Manny. For the record The Fan can franchise me anytime and I will not be angry about it. Top five salary in your field, please!
Back to the Panthers stick situation. They are publicly saying all the right things. General Manager Marty Hurney says they will only take two first round picks for Peppers in a trade. The problem with that stance is only the Redskins front office is stupid enough to give up a pair of first rounder’s for one player and they don’t appear to be among the four franchises Peppers wants to be traded too. To be fair the Redskins have changed their stance on dealing picks of late.
This day and age in the NFL teams value draft picks especially first round picks much more than in the past and you don’t see deals like the one the Dallas Cowboys made in 1989 sending Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Viking for five players and six draft picks. Vikings GM Mike Lynn ruined for everyone. Heck the Panthers should know how foolish it is to give up a pair of first round picks for one player. In 1998 they sent their first round picks in 1999 and 2000 to the Redskins for disgruntled franchise player Sean Gilbert, who coincidentally was also a defensive lineman. It was a move former Panthers Coach Dom Capers lived to regret. The Dallas Cowboys were the last team to surrender two first round picks for a disgruntled franchise player when they acquired Joey Galloway in 2000 from the Seattle Seahawks.
The best case scenario besides Peppers suddenly having a change of heart would be to get a first rounder and some mid-round picks (think Jared Allen to the Vikings from KC last year). If a deal cannot be worked out, the only person on a hotter seat than GM Marty Hurney and John Fox will be Peppers accountant.
