Like quarterback Cam Newton, Panther defensive end Greg Hardy is also in New York, taking a bite out of the Big Apple. Both men have logged some serious time on airplanes in the past week, having played in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii Sunday.
"I'm here to see everybody and be seen," Hardy told me Thursday afternoon. He sported a gray suit with a name tag attached that read "Kraken!"
Hardy, an unrestricted free agent, said he and the Panthers have not begun contract negotiations.
"They are still working on their cap situation as I understand," he said. "We're playing the waiting game right now.... If they can afford me, man, I'd love to be there. That's my team. My family. We got a good thing going right now."
I continue to hope the Panthers will manage to find a way to keep Hardy, who tied a team record with 15 sacks in 2013. The franchise tag would be one possibility. But it is possible that Hardy will also be allowed to walk away for big money somewhere else.
As for his "Kraken" nickname, Hardy said more and more people are referring to him that way now, which, he said, is "what I want."
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9 comments:
Gettleman has already screwed up by extending Rivera by more than one year.
And although I get Hurney's legacy continues to handcuff this team, letting Hardy walk would be a Hurney level move.
That was a great move by the Panthers to extend Ron Rivera,who I feel may turn out to be the Panthers best HC top date.
If Dave Gettleman can fit Greg Hardy into the cap situation without destroying the teams upward trend he stays,otherwise it's goodbye Kraken,nice to know you.Simple as that.
Dude must be gettin greedy. Come on Hardy, dont be like Peppers. Stay for cheap
Extend Rivera........claim Newton is the franchise QB even though he's not in the top 10 in ANY passing stat......
If this team loses Hardy they are more foolish than I thought.
Hardy is going to end up franchised and traded, I'm afraid. The most logical trade partner is probably Atlanta, and their no. 7 overall is Sammy Watkins range. But I doubt we'd ever trade Hardy within the division.
The best move is to franchise Hardy and trade him to Jacksonville or Oakland for something like a 2nd round pick in 2014 and a 3rd round pick in 2015.
I love the Kraken, but there are probably 3 quality FAs that could play for us with his cap space (including Jordan Gross). Plus, we could have an extra high-round draft pick in a very deep draft, and one for next year, too. That's what the best teams do, like Seattle and San Francisco.
i love the kraken too.
i also remember when a "team" was defined by a bunch of players; not a logo or uniform.
the game was better then.
Steven
Man you do not understand free agency or the franchise tag. Once you tag a player, you would be stupid to trade him because the total amount of the franchise tag immediately hits your cap. I understand that the franchise tag amount this year for defensive ends is running about 11 or 12mil which is based on the average of the top 5 paid DE. Therefore, he would count 11 or 12 million against your cap. Therefore, the options are to sign him to a long term deal, franchise tag him for a year and then try to sign him to a long term deal or let him walk
"If they can afford me?"......"hometown discount"......How does that waffle taste?
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