DMN Blog: Julius Peppers wants to play for the Cowboys

[YosemiteSam]

LINK

The Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald reports (via Pro Football Talk) that Julius Peppers has a list of four teams to which he would accept a trade if the Panthers put the franchise tag on him.

The only team named in the report? The Cowboys, of course.

Feel free to dream about Peppers, who has made it clear that he wants out of Carolina and would prefer to move to OLB in a 3-4, wreaking havoc on the opposite side of DeMarcus Ware.

Just don't hold your breath for it to happen. With no first-round pick, it'd be difficult for the Cowboys to put together a reasonable trade proposal. With the plan to make Ware one of the highest paid defensive players in the game, it'd be difficult to create cap space to give Peppers that kind of deal, too.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I highly doubt the Panthers place the tag on him...

 

[Stash]

Interesting game of chicken.

I'm not even sure the Panthers can afford to put the tag on him, given what they would owe him.

And I honestly think that the Cowboys could find a way to sign him if they really wanted to and cleared a few guys (like Ellis) off the books.

 

[Hostile]

Four.

The Panthers have to re-sign Jordan Gross before they can use the Franchise Tag on Peppers. If they don't, they will use it on Gross and lose Peppers.

 

[ajk23az]

I highly doubt the Panthers place the tag on him...

Uhhhh if they dont, the Panthers get notta out of him.

He doesn't want it to be placed because he wants to work out a long term deal with a team. If he gets tagged he can't do that, but the Panthers will get compensation for him.

 

[Frozen700]

him an ware? omg! Superbowl!

 

[Hostile]

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

Playing tag with Peppers could be complicated

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers haven't yet placed the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers -- or signed Jordan Gross.

And while both are still expected in the next 24 hours, the Peppers half of the equation is becoming complicated.

According to sources with knowledge of his intent, Peppers has a list of just four teams to which he's willing to accept a trade. Only one is in the AFC, and another is Dallas, which lacks a first-round pick the Panthers would be seeking in any deal. The other two are believed to be NFC South opponents, to which the Panthers would be hesitant to move their disgruntled star.

Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, said Wednesday he hasn’t hear from the Panthers yet, and doesn’t know when he will.

Assuming they won't deal Peppers to a division foe, their other possibilities are limited. Dallas gave up this year's first-round pick to Detroit in last year's trade for wide receiver Roy Williams. The Cowboys run the 3-4 defense Peppers wants to play in, and have enough playmakers around him he wouldn’t be the center of attention.

 

[Stash]

It doesn't look to me like the Panthers can afford to tag him...



Franchise tag pricey for Peppers

Keeping standout defensive end would cost Panthers more than $16 million.

TAMPA, Fla. The Carolina Panthers would have to pay Julius Peppers more than $7.6million over the average franchise tender amount for defensive ends in order to keep him for the 2009 season under a franchise tag, according to figures released Thursday by the NFL Players Association.

The collective bargaining agreement requires teams who franchise players to give them one-year tender offers for an average of the top five 2008 salary cap figures of players at their position, or a 20percent raise over their own '08 salary, whichever is greater.

Peppers falls under the latter category.

His $13.9025million cap number for '08 was more than $5million more than any other defensive end and fifth highest in the NFL behind quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers.

Because the 2009 franchise tender amount for defensive ends (the average of the top five defensive end salaries) is $8.991million, Peppers' tender would be $16.683million, reflecting his 20percent raise.

That tender for Peppers is more than the franchise tender amount for the NFL's highest-paid position – quarterbacks ($14.651million).
The Panthers face a dilemma about how to handle Peppers' request to move to another team.

His contract is to expire Feb.26 and his agent has said he won't sign a long-term extension with the Panthers, either now or in the future.
A new multiyear deal would significantly lower his 2009 cap figure. The Panthers have the option to franchise Peppers between Feb.5-19 to either try to get him to play in 2009 under the tender amount, or to trade him.

 

[ajk23az]

^ Well if they tag and trade him, his salary won't be on their books. I would say if they do tag him, he's definitely getting traded.

 

[Stash]

^ Well if they tag and trade him, his salary won't be on their books. I would say if they do tag him, he's definitely getting traded.

Yeah, but they have to put that amount on their books when they do tag him.

Can they afford that and guarantee someone would give up a 1st rounder for him?

 

[ajk23az]

Yeah, but they have to put that amount on their books when they do tag him.

Can they afford that and guarantee someone would give up a 1st rounder for him?

True.

Panthers are in a predicament here. Jordan Gross is a FA too I think, and he is a pretty good LT, they need to keep him. I think he gets tagged and they let Peppers walk.

 

[Romo2Dez4six]

peppers and ware would be awesome. maybe he would give an discount since he wants to play here.

 

[TheCount]

Let's pull a Ricky Williams/Ditka and trade our entire draft for him! Championship!

 

[SLATEmosphere]

There isnt a guarentee that the Panthers would get a first rounder for Peppers. Teams arn't going to give that up AND pay him a ton of money..

I think if he isnt franchised..The Cowboys should get Ware's deal done..cut some fat and see where they are from there..There's always a way to get someone if you want him bad enough..

I think it's a huge advantage of Peppers wanting to come here.

 

[Da Hammer]

at first i thought it was a pipe dream but the fact that Gross is a FA as well makes everything very interesting...

 

[TNCowboy]

The Cowboys probably have more $ tied up in future contracts than any other team. If the Cowboys can find a way to move $ around to afford a guy like Peppers, rest assured that the Panthers can as well.

They're generally not a high spending franchise, so I doubt they go the franchise route, unless they're certain they can trade him.

Peppers is an outstanding player and probably instantly the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team, but this hardly puts us over the top. Peppers just adds to the talent on a team that is still substantially less than the sum of its parts.

But that won't stop Jerry from trying to find ways to add high-priced talent, while avoiding dealing with the real issues that keep this team from succeeding.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

peppers and ware would be awesome. maybe he would give an discount since he wants to play here.

There's no such thing as discounts in contracts

 

[SLATEmosphere]

The Cowboys probably have more $ tied up in future contracts than any other team. If the Cowboys can find a way to move $ around to afford a guy like Peppers, rest assured that the Panthers can as well.

They're generally not a high spending franchise, so I doubt they go the franchise route, unless they're certain they can trade him.

Peppers is an outstanding player and probably instantly the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team, but this hardly puts us over the top. Peppers just adds to the talent on a team that is still substantially less than the sum of its parts.

But that won't stop Jerry from trying to find ways to add high-priced talent, while avoiding dealing with the real issues that keep this team from succeeding.

Ya but when we miss the playoffs because we don't have chemistry...we might as well make it worth it and break the sack record:laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

The Cowboys probably have more $ tied up in future contracts than any other team. If the Cowboys can find a way to move $ around to afford a guy like Peppers, rest assured that the Panthers can as well.

They're generally not a high spending franchise, so I doubt they go the franchise route, unless they're certain they can trade him.

Peppers is an outstanding player and probably instantly the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team, but this hardly puts us over the top. Peppers just adds to the talent on a team that is still substantially less than the sum of its parts.

But that won't stop Jerry from trying to find ways to add high-priced talent, while avoiding dealing with the real issues that keep this team from succeeding.

The have to do it within a short amount of time though and the clock s ticking. He will not stay there unless they franchise him. They can't do that unless they get Gross signed first.

 

[NextGenBoys]

peppers and ware would be awesome. maybe he would give an discount since he wants to play here.

If anything Ware will get the "discount"

He's not the "give me the money" type of guy. He's not going to get lowballed by ANY stretch of the imagination, but all these people who think he is going to break the bank and set records with his contract, I just dont see it. He's not that type of guy.

He's like Romo. He will take less if it is for the better of the team.