$9 million per

I've seen other reports that were supposed to be from "Frank and Buck" that had those same numbers but had a 6 year term. That it had a cap hit for year 1 is weird.

I had at one point suggested a $22 mil bonus schedule that was two-part and had two roster bonuses toward the back end, and unless they really crank up the year one salary, I have a hard time finding him counting over $5 mil against the cap.

Either way, let's see it signed before we really worry about it.

 

I guess so. But that's where I got less than 9.....

 

Gantt's talking like it's gonna get done, but that clock is still ticking:

 

http://www.heraldonline.com/665?plc...-8bca-0386596749b7&sid=pluck.heraldonline.com

Gross: We're done
Posted by Darin at 2/19/2009 12:49 PM EST on Herald Online

On the phone with Jordan Gross right now. His first words: "We're done."

He said the deal was signed about 10 minutes ago.

We'll have more much later.

 

like after the the coin toss of the 12th game?

 

Good, bring on the Peppers and Carey bluster.

 

guaranteed 30 mil for the first 3 years

 

HIghest ever. Which explains why we were able to ( possibly ) pay less overall than Long.

Hope he doesn't want a new one after 3 years.

 

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009
Gross: �We�re done�
By Darin Gantt - The Herald
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CHARLOTTE � After more than a year of negotiation, it�s finally official.

Carolina Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross confirmed to The Herald Thursday afternoon that he had just signed his new six-year contract with the team, and was relieved to be able to stay.

�We�re done,� he said with a sigh. �I signed it about 10 minutes ago, and I�m glad to be through with it.� Gross admitted the negotiation was much tougher this year, after he turned in an All-Pro season at left tackle. That ratcheted up the market from what would have been a $7 million per year deal a year ago to the $9 million per year range this year. He�ll make $30.5 million in the first three years of the deal, which sets a new benchmark for linemen in the league. When the final numbers are tallied, he�s also expected to be the highest-paid Panther ever.


But, it�s worth noting he could have made even more in another week.

�It was tough, because they had a number they wanted to stay within,� Gross said. �But if I go into the (free agent) market, the sky would have been the limit.

�I took a cut to stay here, but it was important for me to be in a place I wanted to be, and to make sure we were able to have a competitive team.�

By doing so, the Panthers are now clear to place the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers. Tagging Peppers means offering a one-year, $16.683 million contract, and he�s already said he�d ask for a trade immediately. His camp put out word Wednesday that there�s a list of four teams to which he�d accept a trade, two in the division, Dallas and one AFC team. The Panthers won�t deal him to another NFC South team, and Dallas lacks a first-round pick, which would be the foundation for any trade. The bar for such deals was set last year when Kansas City shipped franchised defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota for a first-rounder and two thirds.

Now the Panthers have to sit and wait for an appropriate trade, while absorbing a hit on their salary cap which will prevent much activity on the free agent market until Peppers is moved. It will also necessitate some degree of restructuring and cuts for current players.

Peppers couldn�t be dealt until Feb. 27, the day free agency begins.

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