The next Panther(s) up for a contract extension?

[rake]

I know that Moose is in the final year of his contract but he seems likely to be this years Steussie next spring. Is there going to be an ’05 version of Jeno and Grant?
Does anyone have any info on how many of our guys from last years team are in the final year of their contracts this year? It would be interesting to try and determine the next guy(s) in line to get paid.

 

[meatpile]

Starters:
Will Witherspoon
Fields

Key backups:
Dante Wesley
Burton

Possible early extensions:
MOrgan after 2005, might work extension after this year
Foster " " "

 

[rake]

Thanks meat. Hurney better get his thinkin cap on. We are already maxed and with several incentive guys possibly taking bigger slices there are bound to be casualties beyond just Moose. Shite! Losing Moose is bad enough.(

 

[meatpile]

I see Moose getting a new deal. We'll lose Proehl, and Moose's deal next year won;t cost as much as he does this year. That's a net gain, cap wise.

Morgan and Spoon and Fields will be tough.

 

[rake]

just found this at buzzfan

Gantt

>>>Witherspoon will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season, his first chance to cash in on the Panthers and his own success. The team has shown a willingness (even an eagerness) to lock up young stars before they reach the marketplace, and Witherspoon could be next.

Based on deals signed by linebackers of similar stature this offseason, that means a multi-year package with at least $4 million to $5 million in signing bonus.

"He's obviously one of those guys (they'd like to extend)," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "It always comes down to money, but he's definitely a guy we'd like to keep."

Since he's a restricted free agent, the Panthers would get the chance to match any offers if he was still unsigned when the free agency period began.<<<