Gridiron Experts

Free Agents Cause Carolina Headache
Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defense next season, which is a huge hint that he doesn’t want to return to the Carolina Panthers. Although fans are going to lose a blitz crazy defensive monster to free agency, offensive tackle Jordan Gross is just as important. The Panthers need to keep their O-Line an elite unit, if that means using the franchise tag for the second year on Gross, it should be their first move. Although off-season strategy is almost as complicated as a 3rd and long, Carolina still has a chance to have their cake and eat it too. With free agency a couple weeks  away, the Panthers still have time to use their best sales pitch on Julius Peppers’ request for a new defensive scheme. Or, if a long term deal with Jordan Gross can be finalized, the Panthers will have the option of using the tag on Peppers. David Scott of the Charlotte Observer covers even more tough decisions the Panthers need to make.