Panthers Still Trying to Sign Gross

I had to pull this story off of Topix, because the link to the Charlotte Observer story is defunct for some reason at the moment.  However, I felt the story was worth a look anyway.  In case you haven’t heard yet, the Carolina Panthers have yet to sign a long-term contract with offensive tackle Jordan Gross.  There are many unrelated issues coming into play with this situation, not the least of which being the fact that the Panthers have more than one issue to address this season, and signing Gross to a long-term contract has been bumped down a bit.

While I totally understand the business side of this decision, I’m not sure I agree with it on principle.  Franchising Gross all but guarantees the Panthers that he will suit up for them next year (it would take a hefty sum and some draft picks for any other team to take him at that point), but I’m not sure it gives them the best chance to sign Gross long-term.  Gross wants to stay in Carolina at the moment.  However, if the Panthers pass on their chance to give him financial stability and plenty of money to take care of his family for the rest of his life when they had it, a player like Gross doesn’t have to give them a re-do at the end of the 2008 season.

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