I agree that an uncapped year will throw a lot of whack...BUT at this point I don't think a team would ever ASSUME that that was going to happen. Yes, make adjustments to that possibility...but certainly do NOT commit to that as the only future. Maybe in 4-5 months or so...after negotiations have headed toward a stalemate then yes, prepare for that closer..but not now.If next year is an uncapped year which looks more likely every day, the pay structure is going to be upset no matter if they trade for Peppers or not because everyone's pay structure is going to be upset with guys like Snyder overpaying for every name out there to get them in.
If all the proof you have is what he has said...I rest my case. Players say a LOT of different things to get results. I guess you have not looked at his history of not leaving anything on the table after negotiations. Get him signed long term at a reasonable price and THEN that will prove that...and frankly, I would love that IF it happened! But his past has shown otherwise. As to taking things even more hypothetical, let one happen first. I think Vince will want a fair contract and teh Pats are very good at doing that. They will come to an agreement.Besides, i don't understand your beef when I said that if Peppers comes here it will be because he was willing to take less than what he would get elsewhere. There is my proof. So will Wilfork go to the bargaining table and say he wants to be overpaid because Peppers took a below market deal?
Actually...I think you miss the poinbt entirely here. Yes, they did pay these ones earlier, but why was that a problem?? If they had NOT overpaid Asante, would these two have been griping?? Of course not. I agree that the Eagles compounded their mistake with AS by having contracts like this, but without bringing him in, their would not have been a problem. AND you agree that Asante was the reason all this came to a head..so??? You are admitting that?? I am glad you agree. WIthout their mistake with Asante; no problem.Also, you don't seem to grasp Philly's problem either. Their problem is not that they overpaid for Asante. It is that they went to both Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard when they had multiple years left in their rookie contracts and said that they would pay them now and discount the fact that they have multiple years left on their deal in the new contract or they can wait three years and cash in then. The players took the immediate gratification. If both players waited until their final year of their contracts to get a new deal, they would have been paid far closer to what Asante got. The Eagles strategy of trying to save a buck long term by locking up their long players long before they can sniff free agency is what biting them in arse, not the Samuel contract (although that was the catalyst to expedite the issue).
Look at his history. Maybe he would take money like you said...but he also claimed at one point he wished for DL money playing OLB, a position he has not played. Maybe...but...we shall see what happens. Holley also does not think Peppers is the guy to come here and has mentioned that a few times.BTW, how do we know Peppers is truly about the money? He might be to stay in Carolina where he clearly doesn't want to be. He might realize that his desire to play for a 3-4 team may require him to take more of an incentive laced deal or one with hefty roster bonuses in later years because he would need to prove himself as a 3-4 OLB. Maybe he just asked for the world in Carolina because he didn't want to stay and it was a better PR move to not come to terms than try to shoot his way out of town