Any speculation about the Carolina Panthers trading All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers can be put to rest now. Julius signed his one-year, $16.7 million franchise tender today—about five months after he said he wanted to be traded from the Panthers.
Yes, Julius said he would never sign a long-term contract with Carolina and begged the team not to place the franchise tag on him. Of course, they did it anyway, understanding the exorbitant amount of money they would have to pay him. It also meant another team couldn’t sign him unless it gave Carolina two first-round draft picks in return. And …read more

Coming off what was probably the worst game of his National Football League career, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme signed a five-year contract extension today that will most likely keep him in Carolina for the rest of his playing days. The deal is worth $42.5 million, with $20 million guaranteed.
Jake was happy to get this deal done before his contract was up at the end of the 2009 season:
“My wife and I were very happy, but truly, honestly, we’re more excited to know that we can be in Charlotte, North Carolina. That meant the most to us. It’s such a …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Franchise player designations were announced today for the 2009 National Football League free agency signing period that begins on February 27. A club can designate one “franchise” player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player’s club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year as of April 17; or 120 percent of …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Here is the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals; Drew Brees, Saints; Eli Manning, Giants
RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Michael Turner, Falcons; Clinton Portis, Redskins
FB: Mike Sellers, Redskins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals; Steve Smith, Panthers; Roddy White, Falcons,
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys; Chris Cooley, Redskins
T: Jordan Gross, Panthers; Walter Jones, Seahawks; Chris Samuels, Redskins
G: Chris Snee, Giants; Steve Hutchinson, Vikings; Leonard Davis, Cowboys
C: Andre Gurode, Cowboys; Shaun O’Hara, Giants
DEFENSE
DE: Justin Tuck, Giants; Julius Peppers, Panthers; Jared Allen, Vikings
DT: Kevin …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Carolina Panthers signed cornerback Chris Gamble to a six-year contract extension today. The deal is worth $53 million and includes $23 million worth of guaranteed bonuses. This “early” signing will keep Chris off the free agent market this offseason. A day after Thanksgiving, Chris was thankful, indeed:
“I am very excited just to get it out of the way. I want to be in Carolina. I didn’t want to be with another team. I like the organization, the coaching staff, the fans (and) my teammates. I wanted to get it out of the way. Luckily …read more