Tom Talks: Strange day for strange deals

This reality show isn't ready to end
By Scott Fowler
sfowler@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Feb. 20, 2009


Tom Talks: Strange day for strange deals



Ah… the posturing. The preening. The poker faces.

The “Carolina Panthers vs. Julius Peppers” reality show provided another jolt of entertainment Thursday before leaving us with one cliffhanger and one sure thing.

The cliffhanger: We still don't know who Peppers will play for in 2009.

The sure thing: This is a reality show in no danger of being canceled anytime soon.

As expected, the Panthers fixed the Jordan Gross problem Thursday by acting like the offensive tackle was a bank in need of a bailout. They signed him to a six-year deal that could support a small country.

But Peppers? He remains a quandary.

Carolina slapped a franchise tag on him a couple of hours before the NFL's 4p.m. deadline. That means the team is willing and able to pay Peppers more than $1million per game – yes, per game – to play for Carolina during the 2009 season.

It's still likely that Peppers will get traded and that the Panthers will back off their hardball, “we-have-to-get-two-first-round-picks-for-him” stance.

But don't mothball all those No.90 Carolina jerseys just yet. This one isn't over.

We already knew how badly Peppers wanted out of Charlotte.

On Thursday, we learned how hard the Panthers are going to make it for him to escape.

What we've got here is a place where “Project Runway” meets World Series of Poker. We've got egos, millions of dollars and jobs on the line. And we've got several scenarios still in play.

I have this mental picture of Peppers in full sprint in the woods, running toward his freedom. Then, behind a couple of pine trees, Panthers coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney leap out, each grabbing onto one of Peppers' legs and holding tight.

In my mind this is a silent film, reflecting the fact that Peppers and the Panthers' coaches and administration barely talk directly anymore.

So will Peppers break that tackle?

Or will Fox and Hurney receive the “blessing” of an unhappy player to play for Carolina in 2009 on a one-year contract for a staggering $16.683million?

Which Peppers would show up in that case? The one who had 2.5 sacks in 2007 or the one with 14.5 sacks in 2008?

I still believe Carolina will end up trading Peppers by no later than April 25 – the first day of the NFL draft – and for something less than two first-round picks. And I don't think it necessarily will be to one of Peppers' four preferred teams – that's posturing, too. If a fifth team came along waving $100million around, you don't think Peppers would listen?

But it's certainly a possibility that Peppers stays. And if the trade doesn't happen by April25, I don't think he's going anywhere.

The Gross signing was also very big. The Panthers' offense will be virtually intact.

But the defense?

Like Peppers, it's in a sorry state of flux. Because Peppers will eat up so much of the salary cap, you can say goodbye to cornerback Ken Lucas and several other players as well.

Even with Gross signed, the drama will continue. The offseason show must go on.
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atleast we made a stand and would'nt let him walk without anything in return because it could have turned next season in another direction then.

I have long got over Peppers and am ready to get on with bid'ness. Now it is time to score some Draft Picks. I wonder if Hurney foresaw this last year at the Draft when he made that Deal with Philly.

somebody at the growl suggested that this week. I think it deserves consideration. If Hurney gets two 1st rounds (or even a first and two thirds) for a PEP trade, then you really have to wonder if this was by grand design.