The NFL's highest-paid player could very well be entering the open market.
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Carolina Panthers will not place the franchise tag on Julius Peppers, thereby making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Panthers placed the tag on Peppers last season, and in doing so made him the highest-paid player in the league with a one-year salary of $16.683 million. If they were to again place the tag on him, he would be due for a 20 percent raise that would bring his salary to higher than $20 million. As ProFootballTalk.com notes, that would be more than $1.25 million per game.
Peppers' agent stated earlier in the month that he expected his client to leave Carolina, and Peppers said earlier this week that the team has ignored him all offseason.
Fresh off his 30th birthday, Peppers will presumably become the most sought-after free agent in the NFL. Given the uncertain labor situation (and the all-but-assured uncapped season that will take place in 2010), it's hard to imagine what kind of offers will be thrown his way.
In eight seasons with the Panthers, the former No. 2 overall pick has made 309 tackles, 81 sacks and six interceptions. He's also scored two defensive touchdowns. Last season he recorded 10 1/2 sacks, reaching double digits for the sixth time of his career.
