Quote :

"Dragging His Feet: Panthers still waiting on Peppers' next move NFL teams haven’t been lining up to acquire Julius Peppers, who says he doesn’t want to play for the Panthers anymore. The Julius Peppers Saga continues. And the Julius Peppers Saga continues to amaze. One would think that if you're a Pro Bowl defensive end and your top priority is to sign with anyone except the Carolina Panthers -- as Peppers stated shortly before he became an unrestricted free agent -- then you should be able to cut a deal with somebody. One would think that even if you pare your list to teams that play 3-4 defenses and teams that could be Super Bowl contenders -- as Peppers has also stated -- you should be able to find a new team in six weeks or less. But Peppers remains unsigned. For that matter, he hasn't even signed the one-year, $16.7-million tender from the Panthers, who protected their investment by designating him as their "franchise" player. Technically, that's a move that must precede anything else. The conventional wisdom is that this will now drag on awhile. Since Peppers wasn't part of the first wave of free-agent signees, there won't be a real sense of urgency on anyone's part again until closer to the April 25 NFL Draft. Even after Peppers and his agent find the team that will allow him to maximize his potential -- his words again -- the process will be incomplete until that team works out compensation with the Panthers. Until then, the Panthers will be hamstrung by the $16.7 million salary-cap hit, unable to sign any significant free agents at other positions. Peppers originally stated that he didn't want to "cripple" the Panthers as this evolved, but that's in essence what he has been doing. Amazing? Well, the case could be made that nothing is really amazing when it comes to free agency, that posturing is part of the business and deals often aren't cut until the 11th hour. Jared Allen, who set the defensive end's compensation bar when he left Kansas City last year, didn't officially land with Minnesota until shortly before the draft, either. But no recent free agent has been so publicly adamant about leaving his current team, and it's hard to come up with one who has torched his bridges the way that Peppers has. The last time that Peppers spoke to the media, on Feb. 14, he reaffirmed that he would never re-sign with the Panthers. He was given several opportunities to back off previous statements, to leave the door open to returning, but he wouldn't. Options dwindling Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, has failed to come to his client's rescue. There were reports out of Peppers' camp that he had a list of four teams that he would be willing to sign with, and later reports that the New England Patriots were one of those teams. But there have been no face-saving, fence-mending comments that would allow Peppers to return to the Panthers even if only for next season. It probably wouldn't matter anyway. Peppers has always been uncomfortable in the spotlight in his seven seasons with the Panthers, and returning with the "franchise" tag would be even more awkward for him. He has heard boos before at Bank of America Stadium, but they were more like sighs of frustration from the crowd. They have never been anger-filled, and that's what he would get if he didn't produce. And anytime he didn't play well, the questions would resurface about his desire. There is some sentiment around the NFL that Peppers will in essence be forced to return to Carolina, because he isn't able to command anything close to $16.7 million a year on the free market. With a limited number of teams far enough under the cap to cut a deal with Peppers, that would seem to make sense. But Peppers has already established that this isn't about going to the highest bidder; it's about getting away from the Panthers so as to maximize his talent and reach his personal goals. Meanwhile, the Panthers have taken the high road, saying that they have wanted to keep Peppers all along. They have downplayed Peppers' and Carey's comments. In doing so, the Panthers have gained even more bargaining chips. They're willing to pay Peppers the one-year, $16.7 million deal, so they won't be pressured into taking a low-ball offer in what would amount to a sign-and-trade deal. And the notion that he might really have to play for the Panthers again next season could be a scary one to Peppers, if he wants out as bad as he says he does. The sense here is that Peppers will go to either New England or Philadelphia. Both have enough draft picks stockpiled to give the Panthers suitable compensation, both play 3-4 defenses and both are trying to upgrade the defensive-end position. The Eagles have the 28th pick in the first round that they acquired from the Panthers on draft day last year, when the Panthers traded up to pick tackle Jeff Otah. Philadelphia also has the 21st pick in the first round, and the 53rd overall pick in the second round. New England owns the 23rd pick in the first round and three second-round picks -- 34th, 47th and 58th. The next step is still up to Peppers, though. ¦ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com. "

Thought this was the best summation I'd seen yet. Peppers-- Panthers Org++

So who should we pick using the Eagles two first round picks? Any who do we sign with all that freed up $$$$

[Edited on April 9, 2009 at 8:39 PM. Reason : asdf]

4/9/2009 8:38:40 PM

i would be ecstatic if we could end up getting our pick back plus philadelphia's

4/9/2009 11:07:14 PM

At this point u know he isnt gonna play worth shit for us, so if you can get 2 1st round pics itll be nice. I know that next year he will kick ass at wherever he goes, but he wont play like that for us so get rid of his mediocre ass.

4/9/2009 11:11:04 PM

I don't think odds are high that we'll get Philly's 2 #1's for Peppers. I just don't think it would be a good decision for them. Maybe a 1st and a 2nd or 3rd.

4/9/2009 11:12:30 PM

I thought the rules with franchise players required 2 1st round picks. Is that wrong?

4/10/2009 9:39:51 AM

thats what the compensation is supposed to be for Franchise player, but the team can choose to accept less like the Patriots did when trading Cassel for a number 2.

4/10/2009 9:50:54 AM

The two first rounders are compensation if another team extends a qualifying offer to the player and the team declines to match it. A trade would be an entirely separate thing.

4/10/2009 10:12:55 AM

Quote :

"At this point u know he isnt gonna play worth shit for us, so if you can get 2 1st round pics itll be nice. I know that next year he will kick ass at wherever he goes, but he wont play like that for us so get rid of his mediocre ass."

If he's smart, he won't play like shit. Do you really think, given that he'll be a free agent next year, he'll go out there and severely underperform? He's already been labled a bit of a bitch because of how he's handling the current situation. If he goes out and purposely slacks off, teams will stay the hell away.

4/10/2009 10:14:48 AM

If the Eagles even offered us a 1st and a 3rd, I think we take it ASAP. No way we'll find a better offer.

4/10/2009 11:33:02 AM

^^ All of that is contingent upon him being smart. Hes continually shown that he is a slacker. Now if he decides to get pissed off he may play hard to show us up, but i doubt that. Lets get some picks n be done with him.

4/10/2009 11:37:22 AM

but he holds all the cards now...Until he signs his franchise sheet, the panthers cannot even begin negotiations with other teams, only pepps or his agent can work on deals which means they're likely only open to talks with teams he wants to go to.

I have a feeling all the other teams know we're hancuffed on this one (as of now, we don't even have enough money to sign any draft picks) and will wait until we're forced to do something.

but, imo as of now its highly unlikely to see a team offer any more than a first rounder and a late round pick, if that...since we have virtually no leverage at the current moment.

4/10/2009 11:45:28 AM

How much leverage does Peppers really have? How many teams will be willing to give him the huge long term contract that he probably wants? Seems like he doesn't have much leverage. And if he can't find a team willing to sign him to a long term expensive contract, AND assure that that team has sufficient draft picks / players to trade to Carolina, the Panthers won't have to do the deal, and they can make Peppers play here for another year. Or Pep could sit out, but I doubt he'd sit out when its costing him $1 million per week.

4/10/2009 12:13:48 PM

^At this point, he has the final say in what happens...Granted he probably won't get the mega deal he's looking for, but he's already said (and in this situation, I belive him) that money isn't the top priority.

Not to mention if he comes back, he's making top 5% money this year (so if money really is the #1 factor he's OK taking a cool mil a game, even if its not with his first choice in a team).

and take into account the panthers have 0 room to make any additions in the face of some glaring needs.

Also, say pepps comes back this year, and we do the same song and dance next off season....He's in an even better position monetarily since his franchise tender will increase even more.

4/10/2009 12:37:52 PM

^I dont believe you can tag a person two years in a row

[Edited on April 10, 2009 at 1:35 PM. Reason : ]

4/10/2009 1:34:35 PM

You can tag a player two years in a row unless it is specified otherwise in the first franchise year.

however, when paying the player for the second year, I think the compensation goes from the average of the top 5 salaries at the position to 120% of the average.

4/10/2009 1:44:54 PM

i think the first franchise tag is the 120% number

the 2nd tag goes even higher...iirc

4/10/2009 1:51:39 PM

i thought you either had to pay them equal to the average of the top 5% at your position or 120% of last year's salary, whichever is higher.

4/10/2009 11:55:55 PM

still praying for 2 1st rounders and no peppers

^^thats how i remember it kinda

i remember reading if we franchised him next year, it'd be 20 million, and he'd made roughly 37 million for 2 seasons

[Edited on April 11, 2009 at 12:08 AM. Reason : .]

4/11/2009 12:06:42 AM

Quote :

"Matty Ice to Gonzo in 2009? Tony Gonzalez | Chiefs | Interested: Falcons? With a need to acquire a pass-catching tight end before the 2009 season begins, the Atlanta Falcons hosted then-free agent L.J. Smith earlier this offseason, but he left town without signing a contract and later agreed to terms with the Baltimore Ravens. With the need still there, a new rumor has gained steam that Tony Gonzalez may be headed to Atlanta next season, as reported by Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post. The trio of Justin Peelle, Ben Hartsock and Jason Rader combined for just 19 catches for 211 yards and two touchdowns during 2008 -- almost exactly one-fifth of Gonzalez's numbers across the board -- and an elite receiving-oriented tight end would offer a nice complement to Roddy White and Michael Jenkins while also opening up the middle of the field for the running game. According to the report, the Falcons are willing to send their second-round pick, No. 55 overall, to the Kansas City Chiefs for Gonzalez. While Gonzalez has backed off his prior demands to be traded, there is a prevailing sense that he wouldn't mind playing for a team closer to championship contention than the Chiefs. Moreover, with a variety of holes to be filled and a new management team in place, owner Clark Hunt's emotional ties to Gonzalez might be superseded by the need for improvement. Panthers to add D-line depth? Without a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, the Carolina Panthers won't be adding any players from the top tier of talent to their roster for 2009. Of course, the team went 12-4 in 2008 and the vast majority of starters is returning. Moreover, the team's blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals in last season's playoffs was primarily due to the foibles of Jake Delhomme, who threw five picks and also lost a fumble. In other words, there aren't any glaring needs for the team, aside from some sort of happy pill for the disgruntled Julius Peppers and turnover reduction salve for Delhomme, and according to the Charlotte Observer, the team will be focusing on adding depth through this year's draft. This speculation is going on the idea that the Panthers will not be trading Julius Peppers before the draft. In trade, Peppers would likely return a package similar in overall value to the Jared Allen swap from last year -- Allen was traded for picks Nos. 17, 73 and 82, which works out to 1,355 points on the draft pick value chart. With that many extra picks, the Panthers might be able to move back into the first round to select a replacement pass-rusher, as well as add some of the desired depth indicated by the report in the Observer."

ESPNi talking about Tony Gonzo to the Falcons

They also found it important enough to add the section about not trading Pep and settling for no 1st round picks. "some sort of happy pill" ?

4/13/2009 2:25:30 PM

yes...because we got this years 1st round pick last year in Jeff Otah, which was a phenomenal pick.

After 1 season, it's clear that our 1st round last year could be the best one we've ever had, and is totally worth trading this years pick. (we would have picked 28th). We can get 1st rd talent for less $$ in the 2nd round, and we'll definitely add some depth.

kudos to us for being smart (and not sean gilberting ourselves again)

4/13/2009 3:11:49 PM

kev, weren't you busting otah's nuts all season?

4/13/2009 3:29:34 PM

post for textile trifecta

4/13/2009 8:33:05 PM

he did not play well in the first half of the season, but after he came back from injury he definitely looked like the dominating 1st rounder we thought.

to be expected i suppose from a rookie going up against veteran D-linemen.

(quadruple textile fecta)

4/13/2009 8:58:19 PM

idk how much of a difference itll make in the end, but it seems that as weak as everyone thinks this draft is, pep for a couple picks wouldnt be that bad of a deal. especially considering i think pep will have a randy moss type turn around next year.

4/13/2009 9:58:13 PM

traded for a long snapper. I guess it's time to say goodbye to Jason Kyle.

4/13/2009 10:05:43 PM

lol @ long snapper trade

4/14/2009 12:00:11 AM

^^link?

4/14/2009 12:15:36 AM

http://www.carolinagrowl.com/Read.aspx?Story=1055

4/14/2009 12:22:20 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

either my jason kyle worn game helmet just diminished in value or went up...but i'm thinking the prior

4/14/2009 9:21:37 AM

can someone plz post the john clayton article in here on schedule strength? espn is filtered @ work. thanks

4/14/2009 9:48:51 AM

Quote :

"A year ago, the NFL schedule favored teams in the AFC East and NFC South. Easy out-of-division schedules give teams the opportunity to go 7-3 or better, and five of those eight teams accepted that gift. The only team from that group with a losing record was the Buffalo Bills, who went 7-9 but 7-3 in non-division games. This season, the AFC East and NFC South have to pay the price. The eight hardest schedules for the 2009 season are for AFC East and NFC South teams, and three or four-victory dropoffs for any of those teams might result. For 2008 playoff teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, the road to the 2009 postseason is treacherous. The team most affected is Miami. The Dolphins are being hit by the perfect storm of scheduling difficulties. First of all, the AFC East is playing the AFC South and the NFC South. Seven of those eight teams had .500 records or better in 2008, and the combined record of those teams is 78-50. Compare that to a year ago when the Dolphins and the AFC teams beat up on the NFC West and AFC West, teams with combined records of 45-83. The other problem facing the Dolphins is that they won the AFC East, going from worst to first. Worst-to-first teams usually suffer at least a three-game dropoff as defending division champs, as the benefits of the playing the easier schedule as they ascend disappear the next season. For instance, the Dolphins' first-place finish forces them to play the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers this season, two other AFC first-place teams. After an 11-5 finish last season, the Dolphins might be looking at dropping to around the .500 mark in 2009. All told, the Dolphins play an almost impossible .594 schedule, third-toughest since 2003. No division understands the "worst-to-first" albatross better than the NFC South. In five of the past seven seasons, the NFC South's last-place team rose to first place in five of the past seven years. In that span, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team not to have a big dropoff after winning the division title, going from being a 9-7 division winner in 2007 on the league's seventh-easiest schedule to a 9-7 non-playoff team in 2008 on the league's 10th-easiest schedule. Before that, though, the rest of the NFC South "worst-to-firsts" suffered similar fates. The 2006 Saints went from 10-6 division champs to a 7-9 record the next season. The 2005 Bucs went from 11-5 to 4-12. The 2004 Atlanta Falcons dropped from 11-5 to 8-8 the next season. The 2003 Panthers went from 11-5 to 7-9. The Falcons went from last place in the NFC South in 2007 to second place and a wild-card finish last season. The Falcons have to hope they have the antidote to the complications of tough schedules. They have the AP 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in quarterback Matt Ryan. Great quarterbacks are shields from dramatic drops. The Indianapolis Colts have seven straight playoff appearances because Peyton Manning is their quarterback; the team hasn't won fewer than 12 games in a season since 2003. The New England Patriots had five straight trips to the playoffs with a healthy Tom Brady. Eli Manning has been part of four consecutive playoff trips for the New York Giants. Donovan McNabb has helped the Philadelphia Eagles be a playoff team for seven of the past nine years and he has five trips to the NFC title game. The Chargers have been to the playoffs for three straight seasons with Philip Rivers. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger has been a playoff quarterback in four of his five seasons. Ryan shows all the poise and presence to win those tough games. Many expect him to be the quarterback to end the "worst-to-first" syndrome in the NFC South, making the Falcons the perennial favorite to be a playoff team from that division. Whichever team wins the NFC South will have proven itself. The NFC South not only has to play the AFC East, which had three teams finish at least 9-7 last season, but also has to handle games against the NFC East. Each team in the NFC East finished 8-8 or better. The Panthers, the defending NFC South champions, have to play the NFL's second-toughest schedule this season (.592). Besides the AFC East and NFC East challengers, the Panthers have to play the reigning NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings and NFC West winner -- and the conference's Super Bowl representative -- Arizona Cardinals. The strength of schedule can make or break a team and strongly affect division races, and the AFC East and the NFC South are the most troubled divisions this season. Can Chad Pennington help the Dolphins avoid the typical dropoff? We'll see. What is clear to see, though, is how a schedule can make or break a team and how it influences the impact of division races, and the AFC East and the NFC South are the most troubled divisions this season. Critics of schedule-difficulty discussion might ask what happened to the Steelers and the Colts last season. The Steelers had a 2008 schedule -- based on 2007 records -- of .598, considered one of the toughest in three decades. The Colts had a .594 strength of schedule. Having Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning helped the Steelers and Colts, respectively, trump the tough schedules, and both teams won 12 games. The return of a healthy Tom Brady should help the Patriots counter their .590 strength of schedule, the third-toughest in the league. Can his expected starting-quarterback counterparts in the AFC East and NFC South -- Pennington (Miami), Trent Edwards (Buffalo), Kellen Clemens (New York Jets), Jake Delhomme (Carolina), Ryan (Atlanta), Drew Brees (New Orleans) and Byron Leftwich or Luke McCown (Tampa Bay) -- help their teams overcome tough schedules? Probably not. Ryan probably has the best chance to keep the Falcons reasonably close to the nine- to 10-win level for the Falcons, who play a .588 schedule. The biggest impact should be felt in the AFC East. The Jets won nine games with Brett Favre navigating them through a .469 schedule, the 10th-easiest schedule in 2008. If Clemens can't match Favre's production or the Jets can't come up with a better quarterback alternative, their season could buckle like the Cleveland Browns' campaign did in 2008. The Browns won 10 games in 2007 against an easy .430 schedule. In 2008, they dropped to 4-12 against a more challenging .543 schedule. The Jets face a .568 schedule this year, which could lead to a huge dropoff. In the NFL, schedule can sometimes mean everything."

4/14/2009 10:02:49 AM

Quote :

"In five of the past seven seasons, the NFC South's last-place team rose to first place in five of the past seven years."

Department of John Clayton Department

4/14/2009 10:12:34 AM

We definitely had the luxury of a very easy out of division schedule last season...I have a feeling we're in for one of those 8-8 seasons, give or take a win. This could also be a year where 9-7 wins the division tho.

4/14/2009 10:14:37 AM

I'd take a non-playoff season if it meant Fox, Hurney and Jake all got the fuck out afterwards

4/14/2009 10:30:07 AM

i really dont think we'll have much of a dropoff. i realize we had the benefit of a pretty easy schedule last year (lions, chiefs, raiders) but we also played some tough road games (@ san diego week1, @ NYG, @ packers, @ minn), so i think that we are a relatively battle tested group that has remained in tact.

the only way we drop to 8-8 is some kind of injury plague... plz god no.

4/14/2009 10:43:37 AM

i would absolutely love to see a Panthers vs Redskins monday night 1st week opener...so they can go ahead and shut the hell up for the rest of the season instead of having to hear every excuse in the book as to why they cant seem to make the playoffs


i think we may get 2 MNF games (1 home, 1 away...giants/cowboys) and 2 Sunday night games (@ giants/cowboys, vs. ATL/Tampa)

[Edited on April 14, 2009 at 10:49 AM. Reason : .]

4/14/2009 10:48:42 AM

Quote :

"I'd take a non-playoff season if it meant Fox, Hurney and Jake all got the fuck out afterwards"

Jake and Hurney I can understand, but WTF do you have against John Fox? He has more than proved himself a top-notch head coach.

4/14/2009 11:09:22 AM

I watch Football to be entertained

Fox's style of play leaves me anything but


[Edited on April 14, 2009 at 11:15 AM. Reason : ^^ we would never be on primetime more than twice...boring style + small market = low ratings]

4/14/2009 11:13:24 AM

Fox is Ok, but he needs to be less rigid...and I hate the blind loyalty thing as well.

^idk...from what I heard about the tampa and NY games last year, they had great ratings...We usually get a few good primetime games after a good season, only to suck terribly that season.

[Edited on April 14, 2009 at 11:18 AM. Reason : .]

4/14/2009 11:16:30 AM

well i know that the MNF game against Tampa and the NYG sunday night game were two pretty highly rated games.

but i agree with ^ about Fox.

4/14/2009 11:21:14 AM

There is no way the Panthers get 2 MNF and 2 SNF games in the same season.

4/14/2009 11:39:04 AM

its very possible with flex scheduling, even if they dont show up on the schedule today.

and if the Browns can get 3 MNF games last year, why cant we get 2

[Edited on April 14, 2009 at 11:45 AM. Reason : .]

4/14/2009 11:43:42 AM

Point taken about Cleveland, but they had a sexy offense in 07 with Anderson, Winslow, Edwards, Lewis, etc.

Putting up 30 points per games gets you on TV more than putting up 17 like we do

Ideally, we'd have most of our bigger games later in the year ( I think only the first 10 SNF games are locked in)

that way, if we play well, we move to primetime

If not, its Mass Vasergian and Thom Brenaman all year long

4/14/2009 12:20:27 PM

dont forget that Tiger Woods lookalike whatshisname

JC Pearson

[Edited on April 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM. Reason : ]

4/14/2009 12:24:13 PM

Quote :

"Putting up 30 points per games gets you on TV more than putting up 17 like we do"

You must have missed last season, when we were putting up 30 points a game and leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns

You're right, 70 yard touchdown runs are boring

4/14/2009 12:50:29 PM

dude we ranked 7th in the NFL with 26 ppg, 3rd in rushing with 152 ypg and 10th in total yards...

4/14/2009 12:54:40 PM

Quote :

"I'd take a non-playoff season if it meant Fox, Hurney and Jake all got the fuck out afterwards"

4/14/2009 12:55:02 PM

I hate making the playoffs!

I'd take missing the playoffs if it meant Coughlin and Eli got fired!!1

4/14/2009 12:55:23 PM

I just don't get all you bitter fans after last year's 12-4 season. Remember the two seasons before that?!?

That TB game was friggin amazing and the @NYG OT game was one of the highest rated regular season games all year.

Yeah Jake laid an egg and Fox got away from the run game too early in the playoffs.... but I still think that Arizona team would have beaten us anyways. They were on fire like NBA JAM and were destined for the SB.

Looking forward to a thrilling and successful season ahead despite how many SNF/MNF games we get. Phuck the mass media - its not like our games wont be locally shown in HD anyways...

4/14/2009 7:12:11 PM

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but you're clearly overly pessimistic if you're so damn pissed about the Arizona game (which was absolutely pathetic) that you completely forget about the 12-4 regular season.

If we had made the playoffs at 9-7 with an old ass running back or something, then yeah, hope for a bad season, rebuilding the staff, getting a good draft pick

but we went 12-4 last year with a young o-line and a young RB corps...how the fuck are you haters so god damn pessimistic

you dont like jake, great, we get it, he's not a superstar QB, but he is a good leader...gah...i dont get you people sometimes

4/14/2009 8:21:56 PM