No New Deal For Julius Peppers

Yesterday was the deadline for NFL teams to sign their franchise players to long-term contracts. The Carolina Panthers did not extend their one-year contract for defensive end Julius Peppers. Peppers’ agent, Carl Carey told the press that “Both sides tried,” but no agreement was reached. The agent continued to say that Peppers is looking forward to the season. Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney declined to make a statement through a team spokesman. Peppers’ one-year contract is worth $16.683 million. The defensive end “can earn more than $2 million more in incentives that carry out for his previous contract.” The Panthers could have gained some salary cap space by signing Peppers to a long-term deal. Now the Panthers cannot negotiate with the defensive star until after the 2009-10 season. “They’ll have three options following the season: Sign him to a long-term deal, franchise him again with a one-year tender of more than $20 million, or allow him to become an unrestricted free agent and lose him without any compensation from another team.” What do you think will happen? My guess is that the Carolina Panthers will not sign him to a long term deal and Peppers will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

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