The Panthers today were awarded free agent TE Andrew Davie, as he comes to the team off waivers from the Jets. Davie is 6′4 and 275 pounds, and spent some time in the St.Louis Cardinals minor league system.
In a three seasons at Arkansas, the 26-year-old caught 24 passes for 199 yards and six scores.
Pete Prisco of CBSSportsline.com has come out with his annual list of the Top 50 NFL players, and the Panthers have 3 players on the list. Here’s the Panthers on the list:
13. Julius Peppers, DE, Panthers: After a down season in 2007, he bounced back with a good one last season. His contract is an issue, but he will play in 2009. You wait and see.
24. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers: As the only true threat in the passing game, he sees way too many doubles and still puts up big numbers. Imagine if he had help.
45. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers: He had a huge season in 2008, rushing for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 5.5 average shows his big-play ability.
Wow. The Gaston Gazette is not taking a light stance when it comes to the about face that Julius Peppers made when he quickly said he would have no issues with coming to a long-term deal with the Panthers.
They wrote a rather scathing take on the subject in today’s edition:
Peppers’ ploy to get out of Charlotte backfired - badly. The decision to go public with his feelings has turned out to be a PR nightmare as now he has to swallow those words. The idea that Peppers may now consider signing a long-term contract with the Panthers — wow, he suddenly loves playing for Carolina! — makes him look like an even bigger phony.
Granted, the Panthers twisted his arm and ultimately he had no choice but to sign the tender.
But the question remains: Can this marriage work when deep down we all know one side doesn’t want to be in it?
Remember, Peppers made it clear after the season he didn’t want to play for the Panthers ever again, that he’d “maxed out” his potential with the team.
From: Pro Football Weekly
Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett’s career has been a major disappointment thus far, as he has made just 16 catches in the two seasons since Carolina drafted him in the second round. Although it seemed a bit overdue, close observers of the team said they saw signs of improvement from him late in the 2008 campaign, and RB DeAngelo Williams told PFW that Jarrett has shown a commitment to turning things around this offseason.
“(Jarrett’s) going to be better than he was last year and the year before,” Williams said. “He’s definitely working his butt off. He’s been in the weight room. He’s been doing all the running, making all his times with seconds to spare. … This is probably one of the better offseasons that he’s had since he’s been here.”
Jarrett has a firm grasp on the No. 3 receiver spot, but he may take snaps away from veteran starter Muhsin Muhammad if he shows signs of breaking out in training camp.
The Panthers got some good news this week when franchise player Julius Peppers signed his franchise tender, keeping him in Carolina for at least one more season. Peppers will be a very rich man this year, as by signing the tender he can make up to $19.183 million this season.
Now though comes the news that Peppers is also open to long-term deal, something that as about a month or two ago seemed impossible. Peppers made it known that he wanted out of Carolina, but now seems to be changing his stance that he really wouldn’t mind hanging around.
“Julius has always had tremendous respect for the individuals in the organization, and he had the opportunity to sit down face to face and talk with the people he’s had great respect for,” agent Carl Carey said to the Charlotte Observer. “Sometimes it takes a discussion to begin to understand each other’s perpectives.”
Peppers himself spoke in glowing terms about looking to sign a long term deal to stay a cat. “I’ve had positive and productive discussions with the organization,” Peppers said in the statement. . “I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season.”
The question will be - is anyone out there really interested in spending the type of money Peppers wants on the DE? If the Panthers had gotten a solid offer for Peppers, wouldn’t they have moved him at some point before the draft?
Sounds like Peppers and the Panthers might be the best, and only match for each other. Even if the Panthers had visions of moving Peppers, they for whatever reason didn’t find what they wanted on the market. For Peppers, the best chance for big money is probably to stay put and play with a team that has the makings of being a playoff team again in 2009.
The Panthers today inked a couple of draft picks, as they signed fourth-round draft pick Mike Goodson, a running back/kick returner from Texas A&M. He is the third of the team’s draft picks to sign. The Panthers are high on Goodson’s game-breaking potential as a situational running, receiver and possible kickoff returner.
The other fourth-round pick that signed was Tony Fiammetta, a fullback. The team then cut defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo and long snapper Patrick MacDonald to make room on the roster for the two rookie draft picks.
I’ve been hitting it hard since I got down to Miami Sunday night, worked out twice Tuesday, twice Wednesday and I’m planning on twice today. I’m just hittin’ it, I’ve got to get to the point where everything feels right for training camp and I’m not there right now.
But I will be.
My shoulder feels pretty good, all the fast-twitch muscles can get sore but there’s been nothing unexpected. I’ll be 100 percent for training camp.
We’re glad to have JP back and I think he’s happy too. In some ways that’s the way I expected the procedure to unfold. The Panthers would have had to trade him for lesser value because his value is through the roof. A team would have had to give up several high draft picks and then pay him close to $100 million, so it’s a double edged sword.
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Now that Julius Peppers has signed his franchise tender, the question is if the team can get him signed long term. As the Charlotte Observer reports today, the team has a three-week window to get him signed:
The Panthers have a three-week window to discuss a contract extension with Julius Peppers because of the NFL’s July 15 deadline for all teams to sign players who were given the franchise player designation to a long-term deal. If Carolina doesn’t sign Peppers to an extension by then, they would have to wait until after the 2009 season to resume contract talks. The Panthers likely would have to make Peppers the highest paid defensive player.
Julius Peppers has finally realized that the Panthers want him back in 2009, as today he inked his one-year, $16.7 million dollar franchise tender, meaning unless the Panthers find some amazing deal for him, he’ll be back with the team this season.
The signing is important because it secures him for the 09 season, but more importantly it means that Peppers likely won’t stage a dramatic holdout that would distract the club from the important thing which is their defense of the NFC South title.
It was five months ago that the four-time Pro Bowl selection stated that he wanted to be traded, and even lists came out about the teams that many felt he would find his way to, with the Patriots being one on the list. Instead, it now appears he’ll stick around in Carolina.
“Recently, I’ve had positive and productive discussions with the organization,” Peppers said in a statement released by his agent, Carl Carey. “I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season.”
Reports say that Peppers decided to sign with Carolina when he realized he had few other options.
“Julius is more than satisfied with the outcome and is looking forward instead of backward,” Carey said. “He is motivated. he’s prepared and he’s ready to play football.”
The Panthers have signed the first of their seven draft picks, reaching a deal with seventh-round choice Captain Munnerlyn. The team also has waived undrafted rookie running back Markus Manson and cornerback Reggie Sullivan.
The 5-foot-8 Munnerlyn is expected to compete for Carolina’s kick returning job and for a spot at backup cornerback. He had five interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 36 games at South Carolina.
Without a first-round pick, the Panthers aren’t expected to have trouble getting their rookies signed before the start of training camp on Aug. 2nd.
