From the Charlotte Observer:

According to sources, the Panthers and Gross’s representatives are close to finalizing a frontloaded, six-year agreement with Gross that would pay him $30.5 million over the first three years of the deal – the biggest three-year payout ever to an offensive lineman.

Talk about your economic stimulus!  Jordan could keep a number of stores open all by himself.

From the Rock Hill Herald:

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.

He can’t be dealt until Feb. 27, the day free agency begins.

It’s not all that complicated, really.  Apply the tag and then wait until February 27.  If Peppers wants to go elsewhere he’ll have that chance.

Today could be a busy day but an expensive one in Charlotte.

And, now that it’s over, the real work can begin.

The Carolina Panthers have a lot to do.

1. Sign Jordan Gross.  This is by far the highest priority for the team.  Period.  Pro Bowl tackles don’t grow on trees and certainly not guys who can switch from right tackle to left tackle and still make his first trip to Honolulu.
2. Franchise and trade Julius Peppers.  He doesn’t want to be in Charlotte anymore so give him his wish – on our terms.  Make a deal similar to the Jared Allen deal and we’re in good shape.
3. Make the hard choices.  Jeff King and Ken Lucas top this list.
4. Prep for the Scouting Combine.  It begins February 18th.
5. Shop ’til you drop since the trade period will arrive February 27th.
6. Shop even more.  The Free Agency signing period begins the same day as the trade period.

There’s a lot of work to be done and likely a lot of blogging to go with it.  The offseason is officially here.  Now, let’s get to work!

When Carl Carey, Julius Peppers’ agent, released a statement to ESPN on Saturday, he set off not only a firestorm of reactions from the media and the fans, he also began what likely could be a messy divorce that will play out before our very eyes.

General Manager Marty Hurney expressed his disappointment and probably feels cheated on since the team offered Pepp a contract during the season that would have made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.  The numbers were believed to be in the $13 million per year range.

John Fox made a statement as well.  He said that the team never held him back.  What’s more troubling is that Peppers has insinuated that Carolina somehow stunted his growth and that he wasn’t put in position to succeed but he never told the coaches this.

If you want messy, look no further than Charlotte.

This leaves the team with choices to make no matter how tough they are.  Quietly and privately, Hurney and Fox may stew over this but publically they have to hold firm.  But what options do they have?

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