Speculation from Carolina Panther writer on Pats going after Peppers

[makoute]

Yea, I believe that about as much as I believe I'm going to get my share of the stimulus package. :bricks:

The Panthers were pretty much willing to break the bank for him.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Peppers has a franchise tender and cannot be traded until he signs it, which means any trade discussions must go through his agent, Carl Carey. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Carolina is prohibited from discussing a deal for Peppers with another team. If the Panthers did, it immediately would bring an NFL Players Association grievance.

These are minor points but points of clarity. New England was able to trade Cassel. Carolina cannot trade Peppers — not until he has signed his franchise tender, which he has not.

And it’s hard to envision finding a team that would satisfy Peppers’ wishes and the Panthers’ asking price.

I suspect that Peppers, by not signing the franchise tender, is doing so believing that no team will give up two 1st rounders. He's probably quite right. Thus he is forcing the salary cap strapped Panthers to have to keep the $17MM of cap designated to Peppers which severely limits their being able to function in terms of player personnel. Strapped as they are the Panthers are unable to keep their own FA's and are unable to sign replacements with Peppers gigantic salary on the books. They are stuck in limbo with Peppers on board.

My guess is Peppers and his agent are waiting the Panthers out in hopes that they'll either cut him outright or agree to trade him on his terms.

 

[mayoclinic]

Schefter was just on the Dan Patrick show, and he said emphatically that Peppers was not coming to NE. He is usually pretty much right on with this stuff. He said that their was no way that the mangenius was going to Denver, back when BSPN was reporting that it was going to happen.

His blog also states that Peppers will be very hard to trade because he has not sign his tender:

NFL.com Blogs Adam Schefter

Now that QB Matt Cassel has been dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs, trade speculation has shifted to another franchised player, Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers.

Yet the two situations are as different as the two players.

Peppers has a franchise tender and cannot be traded until he signs it, which means any trade discussions must go through his agent, Carl Carey. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Carolina is prohibited from discussing a deal for Peppers with another team. If the Panthers did, it immediately would bring an NFL Players Association grievance.

These are minor points but points of clarity. New England was able to trade Cassel. Carolina cannot trade Peppers — not until he has signed his franchise tender, which he has not.

And it’s hard to envision finding a team that would satisfy Peppers’ wishes and the Panthers’ asking price.

By not signing the franchise tender Peppers is effectively preventing Carolina from negotiating with other teams; all negotiations must go through his agent. But Carolina is still being charged 17.6M in cap his for him, which puts a stranglehold on any offseason plans they have.

Clearly Peppers is doing this to retain some degree of control over his situation and put pressure on Carolina. His stated goal is to be traded to one of 4 teams, of which the Pats are the only one in the AFC. The Pats clearly have more leverage in terms of draft picks than most other teams. So while Schefter is probably correct that it is hard for Carolina to trade Peppers, I think that Peppers will try to negotiate his own trade. The Pats can't talk to Carolina directly, but if they show an interest in Peppers and he wants to go there his agent can then grant them permission to talk to Carolina about potential compensation.

I understand Schefter's point, but the alternative to trading Peppers is not trading Peppers, and that's not what he wants. Not signing the tag is just a way of putting pressure on Carolina and maintaining control, something that Cassel was willing to give up because he trusted the Pats. As soon as Peppers signs the franchise tender Carolina can trade him to anyone they want, and Peppers' only level of control is whether or not he would be willing to sign a long term deal with that team.

 

[Grizzafted]

if Peppers was coming here it would have been by today. this ain't gonna happen now. possibly a draft day thing at this point.

 

[signbabybrady]

I understand Schefter's point, but the alternative to trading Peppers is not trading Peppers, and that's not what he wants. Not signing the tag is just a way of putting pressure on Carolina and maintaining control, something that Cassel was willing to give up because he trusted the Pats. As soon as Peppers signs the franchise tender Carolina can trade him to anyone they want, and Peppers' only level of control is whether or not he would be willing to sign a long term deal with that team.

I dont think in Cassel's case it was a matter of trust as much a matter of leverage. The second he signed the 14.6 he guarenteed himself more than that in a signing bonus in a long term deal. As Cassel steps up to the negotiating table with Pioli now he is already guarenteed 14.6 and he is a FA next year and the only way to protect losing him would be to franchise the following year so he could argue that he should be guarenteed around 30 mil at least because of this.

 

[DNR]

I suspect that Peppers, by not signing the franchise tender, is doing so believing that no team will give up two 1st rounders. He's probably quite right. Thus he is forcing the salary cap strapped Panthers to have to keep the $17MM of cap designated to Peppers which severely limits their being able to function in terms of player personnel. Strapped as they are the Panthers are unable to keep their own FA's and are unable to sign replacements with Peppers gigantic salary on the books. They are stuck in limbo with Peppers on board.

My guess is Peppers and his agent are waiting the Panthers out in hopes that they'll either cut him outright or agree to trade him on his terms.

That was my impression also. It makes it very uncomfortable for the Panthers and will most likely speed up a trade. And it will undoubtedly be to a team he wants to go to......

 

[VJCPatriot]

I suspect that Peppers, by not signing the franchise tender, is doing so believing that no team will give up two 1st rounders. He's probably quite right. Thus he is forcing the salary cap strapped Panthers to have to keep the $17MM of cap designated to Peppers which severely limits their being able to function in terms of player personnel. Strapped as they are the Panthers are unable to keep their own FA's and are unable to sign replacements with Peppers gigantic salary on the books. They are stuck in limbo with Peppers on board.

My guess is Peppers and his agent are waiting the Panthers out in hopes that they'll either cut him outright or agree to trade him on his terms.

Ask The Commish.com - Projected 2009 Salary Cap Figures

According to this page the Panthers still have 13M in cap space. They aren't 'stuck' in limbo exactly. With 13M you can still sign a couple of good free agents. I suspect that Peppers will get his trade wish in the end though. When it happens and to what team, I really don't know right now. It might be a draft day deal.

 

[rusH1023]

What about packaging Richard Seymour in the Carolina deal? PFWIP was talking about it and it's intriguing. Panthers have a need, too.

 

[JSn]

What about packaging Richard Seymour in the Carolina deal? PFWIP was talking about it and it's intriguing. Panthers have a need, too.

I agree with this, but you're about to get thrown off a cliff...

 

[rusH1023]

I agree with this, but you're about to get thrown off a cliff...

Wasn't my idea, though I would have liked to take credit for it.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

Could some explain their fascination with Peppers to me? I don't see it. His age and assumed salary demands make him even less appealing. He's not greased lightning by the standards of an olb, he might be better at shedding blocks than Vrabel, but that's not saying much.

Someone enlighten me to the potential please.

 

[JaxPats]

What about packaging Richard Seymour in the Carolina deal? PFWIP was talking about it and it's intriguing. Panthers have a need, too.

Go wash your mouth out with soap and go stand in the corner!:beatingcoming::explative

 

[Frezo]

I agree with this, but you're about to get thrown off a cliff...

I don't like that at all. If you replace Seymour with Peppers he'll just get doubled all game long and end up with similar stats as Sey. (maybe a couple of more sacks) There would still be a hole at OLB. Peppers' best value for his price on the Pats is at OLB. ...and please don't talk about replacing Seymour with Green. It would be to large of a drop off.

 

[JSn]

Wasn't my idea, though I would have liked to take credit for it.

It depends if we believe we have someone at least in the neighbourhood of Seymour's skill level. I keep hearing 3-4 DE's are tough to find, but I think we'll lose Richard next year anyway. Maybe we can get something out of him now.

 

[JSn]

I don't like that at all. If you replace Seymour with Peppers he'll just get doubled all game long and end up with similar stats as Sey. (maybe a couple of more sacks) There would still be a hole at OLB. Peppers' best value for his price on the Pats is at OLB. ...and please don't talk about replacing Seymour with Green. It would be to large of a drop off.

Oh, I'm not suggesting swapping them. Peppers is puny by 3-4 DE standards, isn't he?

 

[JSn]

Could some explain their fascination with Peppers to me? I don't see it. His age and assumed salary demands make him even less appealing. He's not greased lightning by the standards of an olb, he might be better at shedding blocks than Vrabel, but that's not saying much.

Someone enlighten me to the potential please.

I still don't know where this is coming from. He turned down crazy money to try and get what he wants from THE GAME.

 

[Frezo]

Oh, I'm not suggesting swapping them. Peppers is puny by 3-4 DE standards, isn't he?

It wouldn't be his best position for sure. With Seymour here this season in his contract year, he'll be very good if history is an indicator. Replacing Sey with equal value is probably harder than replacing Vrabel. Keep Sey and add a pass rushing OLB and this D looks great. IMO Peppers paired with Thomas would be money for years. Worry about Sey later.

 

[JSn]

Let's just remember that Pat Kirwan started this Peppers madness. And he hasn't backed down.

From his latest mock draft (in reference to us taking Larry English @ #23):

The Patriots may eventually surrender this pick for Julius Peppers, but for now they take an outside linebacker who had 31 sacks in college and can be groomed to play in the Bill Belichick defense.