While the Panthers take on the Lions today, a tidbit about a future free agent to be has come out that could affect the team a great deal at the end of the year. Charley Casserly of CBS is reporting that the Panthers are going to apply the franchise tag on DE Julius Peppers, that is if the team can’t work out a long term deal. The one-year franchise tender for Peppers – more than $17 million. Reports say that per the CBA, it could cost the Panthers more than $20 mil to use the tag on Peppers in 2010. Needless to say it would be in the teams best interest to get the DE a long-term deal before the end of the year if they want to keep him.