It's the end of an era.
On Tuesday, Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney delivered the news to the media; The team will not place the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers.
Instead, Peppers will become an unrestricted free agent, and the Panthers will get no compensation for letting him walk.
"It's a hard decision; it's one we took time on, but we decided not to put the franchise tag on (Peppers)," said Hurney. "What we have to do is deal with 53, 60-some players in mind to try to be as competitive as you can each year."
"We had a lot of conversations last year and we got to a point where we each knew where we were," Hurney said. "You never want to lose talented players, but you have to look at the big picture, and we have talented young players, as well."
It's long been speculated that the Panthers would not place the tag on Peppers for a second straight year. Doing so would have meant the Panthers would be obligated to pay Peppers over $20 million in 2010, something the team was not prepared to do.
"We have felt for some time that Julius would have the opportunity to test the free agent market in 2010," Peppers' agent Carl Carey said in a statement to the media. "He has had a very accomplished career thus far; but he is convinced that with this move he will thrive and develop fully into the player he was destined to become. He is excited about his future and looking forward to the process of selecting his next destination."
"Last night, I learned that the Carolina Panthers would not restrict my availability during the upcoming free agency period," Peppers said in a statement to the media through his agent. "I feel good about having the opportunity to visit with other teams. My goal will be to find the right match for my skill set. I am thankful for the eight seasons I have spent in the National Football League thus far; and am looking forward to beginning this new phase of my career."
On February 9th, Peppers indicated that he didn't think he'd be back with the Panthers in a radio interview with WFNZ in Charlotte.
“I’m a man of very few words ... I understand very well what silence means," Peppers said of the Panthers' silence during the offseason, indicating that they weren't interested in contract negotiations. "For a person being silent to me, I understand exactly what you’re trying to say."
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