Peppers a genius?

Julius Peppers is a genius.

Maybe not the Mensa type genius, but a genius nonetheless.

First, let me give the back story.  Last year Peppers earned $14,137,500. That broke down into a $6,500,000 base salary and $5,235,000 in bonuses, keep this in the back of your mind.  That was technically his last year under contract with the Carolina Panthers.  Normally, this would not be a huge deal as anyone in their right mind would re-sign Peppers to a long term deal.  Most assumed that Peppers would be re-signed before the 2008 season in order to save the Panthers a large amount of cap space.  Although it was reported that the Panthers offered Peppers a mind blowing contract before the 2008 season, which would have made him one of the highest paid defensive players in the league, Peppers declined to sign it. Therefore, it was paramount that the Panthers re-sign Peppers or risk losing him to free agency with nothing but a compensatory third round draft pick to show for it.  


Then enters Jordan Gross and his All-pro 2009 season.  It just happened to be Gross' last year under contract as well.  So the Panthers were facing the possiblity of losing one or both of their top five players in one year.  Most assumed that one of these players would receive the franchise tag.  The franchise tag basically prevents the player from being an unrestricted free agent.  Unrestricted free agents are allowed to negotiate with any team for any compensation and accept without the signing team owing the previous team any compensation.  However, if the franchise tag is placed on a player it makes him a 'restricted' free agent.  This means that the player may sign an offer sheet from another team, but in order for that team to acquire the player, it must give up two future first round draft picks to the team who placed the franchise tag.  

I know that was confusing, but bear with me.

So the end of the season came and went for Panther fans in a devastating first round loss to the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals.  Most panther fans, including myself, would love to forget this debacle.  If this wasn't enough of a blow to Panther pride, rumors began circulating after the game that Julius Peppers was saying goodbyes in the locker room after the game.  He was thanking players for their help through the years and basically telling them he was leaving Carolina.  A couple days later the news broke.  Julius Peppers would not sign a long term deal to remain in Carolina.  He stated, through his agent, that he could not reach his full potential in Carolina and would prefer to play for a team that ran a 3-4 defense.  Since he was a free-agent-to-be, he could not be outright traded.  Fans were outraged.  Most called him a traitor, some said "Fine, let him walk." and only a few said "Franchise him."  The Panther's only options were to place the franchise tag on him in order to receive compensation if he signed with another team or let him walk and receive nothing. Only, Jordan Gross was just as high of a priority to be resigned.



Then began the dramatic race to the franchise tag deadline on February 19th.


Everyone knew the best scenario for the Panthers at this point was to re-sign Gross to a long term deal and place the Franchise tag on Peppers.  Days passed without news on either front.  Then, on February 19th, the last day to place the franchise tag, the Panthers signed Jordan Gross to a six year contract at 1:30.  Not an hour later, the Panther's announced that they had placed the franchise tag on Julius Peppers.  All was well in Panther Nation again.  That is, until everyone realized that Peppers really didn't want to be a Panther.  The rules of the franchise tag are:


Teams who franchise players are required to give them one-year tender offers for an average of the top five 2008 salary cap figures of players at their position, or a 20 percent raise over their own 2008 salary, whichever is greater.


Julius Peppers fell into the second category.


Remember the salary I mentioned at the beginning?  The $14,137,500?  That meant that his 2009 contract would pay him $16,683,000.  This is higher than the quarterback position franchise tag, the most expensive in football.  With Peppers stating that he would only play for a team running the 3-4 defense, it left the Panthers with very little room to work.  Although Peppers could receive an offer sheet from another team for a long term contract, it was unlikely that anyone would give up two first round draft picks in order to get, what some NFL pundits describe, "the greatest athlete in football, but not the best defensive end."  The Panther's only two choices were to force Peppers to play for the Panthers or do a sign and trade to another team for compensation with either draft picks or players.  With the Panther's limited to three or four teams that Peppers would potentially play for, it looked like Peppers was going to play for the Panthers and make over $1 million dollars per game.

We all know what happened.  Peppers ended up staying in Carolina and is currently $2 million dollars richer as he has played in 2 regular season games.  Everyone believes that Peppers and/or his agent were colossally stupid for handcuffing the Panthers.

I think they're geniuses.  No one would pay Peppers $16 million guaranteed.  If the Panthers place the franchise tag on Peppers again this year, which is a possibility although it would be the last year possible, Peppers would make $20 million guaranteed for one year.  Which is smarter?  Getting paid $32 million dollars guaranteed for two years and hitting the free agency market at 31?  Or getting that same $32 million guaranteed over 6 years and basically ending your career with that team?

Julius told the Panthers that he would only go to those specific teams for a reason.  He knew there was no way that the Panthers would trade him.  They would have to pay him.

I say Julius Peppers is a genius.  A rich genius.

BW