Greg Hardy willing to take small pay cut to stay with Panthers

The dynamic pass-rusher told the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person that he would be willing to take less than market value to stay with the Panthers in the future. Hardy’s rookie contract expires after this season, making him one of the most attractive free agents in the NFL.

Hardy has become the perfect complement to Charles Johnson, who mans the other end position. Hardy has eight sacks and 33 quarterback pressures, making him one of the many reasons Carolina has the best scoring defense in the league.

Johnson got paid handsomely by the Panthers, inking a six-year, $76 million deal back in 2011. It will be interesting to see how close the offer is to that sort of money for Hardy, who figures to just be coming into his prime now. Per the Observer’s piece:

“I ain’t going to put no number on it. I just know I’ve been here for close to minimum for a long time,” said Hardy, a sixth-round pick from Mississippi in 2010. “The one thing that holds consistent is – there’s always going to be ups and downs in deals – but good players are going to get paid. Or good players with good agents.”

After seven sacks over his first two seasons, Hardy burst onto the scene in 2012 with 11.

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