mperfection;2826266 said:
You guys kill me.
First off, consider the contract that Carolina has offered Peppers for all of ONE year? $16.7 million!! Do you honestly think Carolina is DUMB ENOUGH to RENT a player for that kind of money?? I'm sure that Carolina and Peppers have a gentleman's agreement that said, 1) sign the tender; 2) we'll work out a deal (i.e. TRADE) before the start of the season.
Second, Peppers held off on signing the deal until almost the Franchise Tag deadline was reached. In other words, he was RELUCTANT to sign a GUARANTEED TENDER of $16.7 million if he is on the squad the first game of the season. Who in their right mind would be reluctant to do that - unless, of course, they want out of Carolina at all costs?
If Carolina doesn't want to be on the hook for RENTING a player for $16.7 million, but they went ahead and offered that amount to at least protect their interests in the SHORT TERM, and if Peppers doesn't want to be there at all and RELUCTANTLY signed the deal with the anticipation that a trade would be worked out later in the summer, AND he wants to go to a 3-4 team, it seems to me that Carolina would be SMART ENOUGH to at least get 2 starting caliber players in Carpenter and Spencer to get rid of the cap hit and the player who doesn't want to be there in the first place.
First off Carolina was "dumb" enough to put the tag on him in the first place knowing what it would cost. Even if they were planning on working out a trade, when they didn't find one they wanted they did not rescind it (which they can do as long as he hasn't signed - see Leroy Hill of the Seahawks), allowing him to sign the franchine tender. So yes I think they are "dumb" enough to rent him for a year.
Secondly, it possible Peppers' waited so long to sign the deal in hopes that Carolina would think that it's too much money and pull the tag, allowing him to become a free agent. Sure that shows that he does not want to be there. However, not doing that shows that Carolina is more than willing to have him there at that price. So he had to reluctantly signed the deal. If 16.7 million was more than they were willing to spend there were plenty of chances for them to walk away before he signed.
Lastly, what has Carpenter shown to make anyone think he has anything above a minimum trade value? Spencer has potential (and possibly Carpenter does but at this point hasn't done anything to show it), but really Spencer for Peppers? I don't think Carolina kept the franchise tag on him after not finding a trade to their liking, in hopes of finding a better trade after he signed it.
It also has been reported that Pepper's is no longer unwilling to stay with the Panthers as well. This is from an article the day he he signed...
And while the move means Peppers won't hold out of training camp, agent Carl Carey indicated late Wednesday that Peppers is happy with his lucrative one-year deal and is no longer opposed to discussing a long-term deal with the Panthers. Peppers "Recently, I've had positive and productive discussions with the organization," Peppers said in a statement released by Carey. "I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season."
And this is what Carolina has had to say about his contract amount...
"We've been carrying this number all season, so it doesn't change," Hurney said.
"Obviously we're excited," Hurney said. "and I think Julius is excited."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4284304
After all that has been said and done or not done, I just don't see your argument that Carolina is not "Dumb enough" or unwilling to carry that salary. Also, I do not see how the trade you are discussing would be enough in their mind to pull the trigger on it. I won't even get into what type of cap space his new deal would require and what we still need to do (see all the Ware comments) to take care of our own players first.
:laugh2:
