One million forty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars per game. According to the 2009 Carolina Panthers salary list on sportscity.com, forty-one, yes 41, players won’t make that the entire 2009 season. 2008 proved to be a bounce-back season with 51 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 5.5 forced fumbles after a lackluster 2007 stat line of 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks. I know many Carolina Panthers fans’ are excited that Julius signed that one year tender, but I wonder if this is really the best thing for the Panthers.
1. Is Julius worth it ?? This question will be debated all season. If Julius starts off slow out of the box, the critics will be circling. That number represents 13 % of the potential $127 million salary cap in 2009. He has the potential to be a game-changer, but also has shown he can be just another guy on the field.
2. Locker room Chemistry I understand guys and agents say a lot of things during contract negotiations, but with how open Julius and his agent, Carl Carey, were in requesting out of Charlotte, I really wonder if this is a forgive and forget situation. Julius may have a few guys to win over again inside the locker room. He thought he had accomplished everything he could here, so why come back now?
3. What am I worth ? We all may not know exactly what our co-workers are making but have a pretty good idea. Everyone knows what everyone on their team and across the league is making. How could a Steve Smith or DeAngelo Williams not ask, “If Julius is worth that, what am I worth?” I am sure there are guys on other teams going and asking the same thing.
4. Long-term Deal now ?? After going out and seeing what was thought of his services, Julius came back and signed his tender. He is now also open to signing a long-term contract to stay in Carolina. I would like to know what kind of conversations he has had with Ron Meeks, the new defensive coordinator of the Panthers. Have any promises been made to him? I would personally take a wait-and-see approach before offering him big money over a five to six year contract. Football is not what makes Julius go, and we all know that. A major long-term investment in Peppers without knowing exactly where his heart and head are would not be a wise investment. He could also sit firm and see if the Panthers would franchise him again in 2010, where he would have to be offered approximately $ 20 million for the season. Julius could play two seasons, potentially make over $ 36 million and walk away from the game at 31 or 32, financially set for life.
Who knows what the future holds with Julius Peppers, but if the last 6 months are any indication, they will be interesting for everyone.
Notes from the week
· Ed McMahon, Farah Faucet, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays. I always heard things happen in three’s, but this was wild. Ed was the sidekick, Farah was the beauty, Billy was the pitchman, and Michael was a major part of my childhood. I can remember when my parents got cable and we were able to watch MTV. Billie Jean was one of the first videos I can ever remember watching. He was the standard in the 80’s. As a sports fan, when I hear the initials MJ, I think # 23 with the Chicago Bulls, but this guy is a close second.
· Soccer- we beat Spain and lost to Brazil. Enough said for me.
· Rain-shortened races are no good. I am going to take a different point of view on this one. Having many friends that travel weekly to races, these are the guys, not the drivers or fans, I have the most empathy for. Last weekend, many friends were out west in Sonoma California on Father’s Day. Explaining this to their kids or parents can not be fun, especially since for Mother’s Day, they are in Darlington SC for a Saturday night race. For the Coke 600 here in Charlotte Memorial Day weekend, I had plans to enjoy a relaxing day on the lake with many of those guys, but the rain ruined that. Many guys have Monday and/or Tuesday as their Saturday and Sunday. When rain washes out a race, they have to stay wherever they are and lose that day off. Some guys were in Michigan last year from Thursday till Tuesday, with only enough clothes for two days. I understand fans wanting to get what they paid for, but there are many guys behind the scenes they are overlooked in these situations.