The Panthers made it official at a press conference on Tuesday: They will not slap the franchise tag on Julius Peppers, thus allowing their stud defensive end to become a free agent.
Julius Peppers, Panthers GM Speak About Their Split
Both sides spoke about the split, with Peppers, who has made it clear since before last season he wanted out of Carolina, calling it “bittersweet”:
“This state has been my home for 30 years and I’ve been in Charlotte for almost a third of my life,” Peppers said in an exclusive telephone interview with the Observer. “On one hand, it’s kind of sad to walk away from where I’ve been a long time. On the other hand, I’m looking forward to finding a new home and continuing to build the legacy I have in this league.”GM Marty Hurney explained the team’s decision:
Hurney said Tuesday the decision ultimately came down to the team’s unwillingness to swallow more than $20 million for another tag, even if that meant letting [Peppers] walk with no compensation. He used the word “magnitude,” several times in discussing the tender, showing that the finances were what brought this deal down.
“You have to weigh everything,” Hurney said. “We feel like we’ve drafted very well in recent years, … We have some very talented young players that in the future that have to be addressed at some point.
“All those things are factors.”
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