Peppers Pro Bowl, last Panther highlights

Fixed.

 

Always said Peppers physically has as much or more God-given raw talent than anyone in professional sports,,, physically he's a freak of nature,,, big, strong and fast. But honestly I wish him the best, and if he don't want to be here, he needs to move on and we need to get what we can out of him. Its business.

My hope is just that the Panthers will lock up guys like Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, Smith, Deangelo (do you see anything these guys have in common?),,, because those are the type players I would hate to lose.

 

The Panthers won't get anything at all for Peppers unless they can get Gross signed to a contract in the next ten days.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking when they mentioned that we couldn't franchise two players. I hadn't considered the fact that we might not get Gross signed before FA started.

 

i think peppers played last season balls out as hard as he can play, and it still really wasn't all that

 

well, hopefully Gross will sign in the next ten (I guess...mostly in the ideal that I expect he's a big part of the plan), but if not, I'd rather have the pick from franchising Peppers and hope Gross will sign before the 27th than re-franchise Gross.

I'd rather have the draft picks than Gross, is what I guess I'd say. If we didn't keep Gross, hangartner isn't the ideal option, but it's a much cheaper one. He, or an experienced guard type like Mulitalo, could fix us up just as well. I'm more progressive about paying Gross than some, but I'd also have a hard time letting Peppers just walk because of playing hardball with another player. If we can't get a deal done with Gross over two years, I do worry about how long he would want to stonewall us, no matter how much he says he wants to stay. In the end, he'd be hard to replace but he's not as unique as the other guy.

 

I am not going to worry about it if we do not sign Gross. He can just walk. He is a good player but not worth what he will cost. Put Wharton at LT and find a decent guard.

 

For some reason I'm just as concerned about losing Gross. He's not a dominant player but he's pretty damn good and is consistant and how many games has he missed?

 

I agree, to a point. I'd rather have Gross wanting to be here at a critical position than Peppers who's at a critical position and doesn't want to be here. It's also very tough to find a LT and it wouldn't be easy to replace him. And while a lot of people do want to apply the same old "disappointing" ideals to Gross, that he played LT much more competently than in the past is a big deal to me. He had his best year last year and the team had its best year as a line last year. That leaves him deserving.

But, we get a pick from franchising Peppers and from franchising Gross all we get is another year of possibly not negotiating with him. It really doesn't have a downside if Gross plays under another franchise - he's getting paid guaranteed what he would otherwise under a long term contract, and he still has impending freedom.

The trade value with Peppers and still having to the end of the month to get something done with Gross? Sure, I'd take the 8 days and a little risk. I'd almost as rather just make our intentions known and make sure Gross' agent doesn't hold the potential franchise tag over our heads. If we're willing to let Peppers walk without any compensation, I don't think it should change how we treat Gross.

 

Which still wasn't that good. Even in 2004 I don't recall Gross giving up a ton of sacks at LT, but the problem is that he gives up a lot of pressure. Because he continuously gives ground, the pocket shrinks, which makes Jake panicky. I do not want to pay him what I know he'll get, but the reason I said that the Panthers will get nothing for Peppers if Gross doesn't sign soon is that I think it's a foregone conclusion that the team will make sure that they have Gross. It's not what I would do, but I'm convinced it's what the team will do.