Pep not waiting on Freeney

[Sackem90]

Blowing smoke up our asses or not?


Peppers says he's not waiting on Freeney to sign

By Darin Gantt · The Herald - Updated 03/10/07 - 12:25 AM


CHARLOTTE -- Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers has long struggled with conventional measures of success, or comparisons to other players.
That apparently extends to his financial goals as well as football.

Peppers sent word through his agent that he objected to an item in The Herald last Sunday which linked his contract situation to that of Indianapolis end Dwight Freeney. That comparison was referred to as a "subplot" to his ongoing talks with the Panthers, and it was mentioned that he's a better all-around player than Freeney.

"The reason that I have not signed an extension with the Panthers has nothing to do with Dwight Freeney," Peppers said via an e-mail. "I don't know where people get the notion that I am waiting on him before I sign my next contract. He might be waiting on me, but my contract does not expire until after the 2008 season.

"Furthermore, I wouldn't compare my value as a player to Freeney or anyone else because I see myself as a complete defensive end and not just a pass-rusher."

Peppers and Freeney are said to be friendly, and their career numbers are likewise close.

The 27-year-old Colts star has 56.5 sacks and three Pro Bowls appearances. Peppers, 27, has 53.5 sacks and three Pro Bowls. But again, Peppers may be better against the run than he is against the pass, and that difference represents what chafes him at comparisons to other ends in the league.

Freeney's rookie deal expired last season, and the Colts made him their exclusive franchise player. That keeps him out of the market but guarantees him a deal worth the average of the top-five defensive end contracts in the league, post-free agency. That number should approach or surpass $9 million for 2007.

Peppers' is under contract for two more years, but agent Carl Carey said there has been an "open dialogue," with the Panthers toward a new deal. Nothing appears imminent, though Panthers officials don't comment on contract negotiations.

But with all the new money provided by last year's extension to the collective bargaining agreement, many around the league predict Peppers or Freeney or both will top $100 million on a long-term deal.

Still, Peppers rejected the notion that he wanted to see what Freeney would get before proceeding, telling his agent he felt "compelled" to respond.

"While watching market value is a common and logical strategy used by players, agents and teams in contract negotiations, Julius really isn't in a situation where he needs to sit back and wait to see what other players are going to do," Carey said. "He is a more proactive person."

Darin Gantt | [email protected]

 

[meatpile]

Doesn't mean it's a good thing - he's basically saying that Freeney's contract is irrelevant b/c he's so much better.

 

[Wp28]

How bad will it be if Hurney fucks this up?

 

[Thelt]

How much is Peppers worth? The answer is obviously a whole lot but how much really? Without him our defense would not be nearly as good. He takes up lots of double teams and is still productive. He is good against the run and the pass. At times he can take over games. To be honest though there are times when he becomes invisible. He can have stretches of games where he does not seem to make much impact. You have to allow that he still has an impact in forcing the other team to game plan for him even when he does not do much on game day. I don't know, I really want to keep him long term but I am not willing to hamstring the team to do it. He does not affect our success as much as Peyton Manning or Tom Brady do for their teams. I would not even put him on the same level as Ray Lewis or Lawrence Taylor were when they won superbowls with defense. Is he even the best player on our team? Steve Smith has a good reason to think he is the best.

I think the smart move would be to lock him up as soon as possible. He is not going to get cheaper in the next year or so.

 

[buck nasty]

sometimes its hard to tell how good someone is until they're not there.

 

[lde]

Doesn't mean it's a good thing - he's basically saying that Freeney's contract is irrelevant b/c he's so much better.

Yep. Also just because Pep isnt watching doesnt mean his agent isnt. Although I believe the email, I don't think it means much, except that he's expecting a huge deal. I hope he wants to have some good players to play beside, and that he doesnt take all the money.

 

[Piper]

It will easily take 30 million in bonus money to sign him. That's just the market.

The league is extremely successful right now. The star players always reap the greatest benifits.

Julius seems like the type to take money seriouisly. From the few private media interviews he's granted anyone, most have remarked at how modest he lives. This tells me he's interested more in accumulating his wealth than spending frivously.

 

[Thelt]

I am sure he wants a big contract and he deserves it but I would rather someone else give it to him if it were large enough to prevent us from having a good team around him.

 

[meatpile]

if it were large enough to prevent us from having a good team around him.

That was discussed when Manning got paid. They've got a ring.

 

[magnus]

Glad he's not.

Was Gantt the first one in the press to state a relationship there between his contract and Freeney's?