Because he’s a soft-spoken, rising star who deflects credit rather than seek it, Kawann Short doesn’t seem like someone who’d get caught up in the drama of a contract negotiation. But money is a language everyone understands, and the Carolina Panthers’ Pro Bowl defensive tackle is now using what little leverage NFL players have to send a message.
According to league sources, Short was a no-show for all three of the Panthers’ OTA practices last week. Only Tuesday’s session was open to the media.
Panthers’ spokesman Steven Drummond wouldn’t confirm nor deny Short’s lack of attendance, but he did remind OTAs are technically voluntary. What’s strange is, until last week, Short did participate in the rest of the Panthers’ offseason program.
After a brief pause, negotiations for a long-term contract restarted recently, a source said, and Short’s sudden, unexcused absence is a reaction to where those talks currently stand.
Short isn’t expected to attend the third and final week of OTAs that start on Tuesday, and he could also sit out next week’s minicamp. Because that’s mandatory and not “voluntary,” he’d be facing a possible fine. These practices are unpadded, but players can use this time of year to make a point rather than risk injury under their current contract.
Heading into the final season of his 4-year rookie deal, Short is set to make just over $1 million in 2016. A guy who hasn’t missed a game, and whose 11 sacks last year destroyed a franchise record for most by a defensive tackle, is obviously owed a hefty raise.
"If it happens, it happens, but we haven’t focused on that," Short said last month. "We’re not rushing the issue."
The Panthers made a Short extension their top contract priority as soon as the offseason began, but then Malik Jackson’s free agent jackpot in Jacksonville muddied the market's waters. To many, the cap-rich Jaguars overpaid Jackson with a 6-year deal that reportedly could be worth as much as $90 million, with $42 million guaranteed.
It’s unclear how much Short and his agent Joel Segal are seeking, but it’s likely more than Jackson. They're probably also keeping a close eye on what’s happening in Philadelphia, where Pro Bowl defensive lineman Fletcher Cox has skipped the entire offseason.
Cox, the Eagles’ most dominant player last season, wants a big extension instead of the $7.8 million option on the rookie deal he’s scheduled to play under in 2016. Last September, Cox’s agent Todd France landed Bills' defensive tackle Marcell Dareus a 6-year extension worth a reported $96.6 million, with as much as $60 million guaranteed. Word around the league is France wants to get Cox a better deal than Dareus.
What does that all mean for Short? His ask is likely north of $15 million per season with at least $50 million guaranteed, a neighborhood the Panthers may be hesitant to visit just yet. But while Short can withhold his services now, his leverage will lessen as Week 1 nears.
With summer in Spartanburg less than eight weeks away, that's enough time for some fans to start worrying about the possibility of a training camp holdout. And some concern may be valid considering how general manager Dave Gettleman again proved he's a different type of NFL decision-maker by letting Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman walk in April. Even so, it's hard to see Gettleman going to that extreme with Short's situation.
The Panthers are currently sitting on $30.3 million in cap space, and part of their reasoning behind the Norman call was to spend his franchise tag funds on others. That group starts with Short.
So while few saw this snag coming, odds are still good the two sides will eventually hammer out an extension. The unexpected drama likely won't affect anything in-season, plus, we're seeing a new side of Short. As reserved as he often appears, the switch he turns on when he hits the field apparently also applies to the business portion of his job.
He broke the defensive tackle sack record. Not defensive end.
“A guy who hasn’t missed a game, and whose 11 sacks last year destroyed a franchise record for most by a defensive end”
It all starts on the line. I didn’t support paying Josh but I support paying Short.
Is Gettleman trying to self destruct? First there”s the Norman fiasco, now Short ? This is beginning to look like self destruction.Maybe Getts thinks time is too soon for Panther success. Long term planning might be thrown off? I obviously don’t know , nor do I understand . He claims to love hog mollies and now he”s playing around with the most successful hog mollie he’s had…….
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/019/304/old.jpg
Maybe assuming a lot too soon. Let the process continue. Ryan Kalil’s signing may open more funds for the Short signing. To be continued……..
I don’t know why he didn’t show up, but to a lesser degree than Josh Norman, that’s not team play. Come back, KK! After you’ve made the point, show your character!
nothing to do with character, everything to do with business.
I will never support paying a player an extravagant salary just because he wants to be the highest player in the league at his position. If the difference between 10 mil and 11 mil is more important to him than the team. Adios! How can he possibly believe that he is worth more than Luke?
Because the D-Line keeps blockers off of Luke so he can roam. Gettelman said he values the hog mollies, now it is time to pay one of his best young talents on the roster.
Its more like ~14 mil vs ~16-17 mil per year. DTs get paid more than MLB, that’s the reality of the NFL.
Better in this NFL!
Vernon Butler c’mon down!!!! You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right!!! I say let him play out his deal while giving Butler a ton of snaps. If he has double digit sacks again pay him whatever he asks for. I know you run the risk of him hitting the open market. However, that is a risk I would be willing to take. I am not smart on the future cap, but Turner will have to get paid, Norwell also.
That won’t even happen…..
DT Kawamn Short isn’t the only player who is watching I’m sure when you look at the next 2 years FA’s. Then there is safety Kurt Coleman, Klein, Brown, Ginn, Ealy, Star, Benjamin,. Then any player that breaks out this year on a one year deal could be tough to resign to.
Look I post a lot, but this is beginning to feel in a odd way like the past GM Marty Gurney if he keeps singing Veterans and not having the Green Backs to pay the young guns doing the work.
One thing I hold Gettleman or anyone to is their word. I will stick with you as long as You are ontbe up and up. Bending the truth to a point that your close to losing then all bets are off. So Gettleman this is where IMO you are getting close to backing yourself into a corner.
You cut Charles Johnson to save money and he had a better money offer, but came back for less on a one year deal. CJ is very vocal leader who spent his own money to go with the team on away games. Don’t forget 2 years ago CJ tweeted you have to leave the Panthers to get paid.
So look at the other DT’s 90 million and KK is the best this last year. How far past 90 million would KK want ? Is he worth paying more than the center piece on the defense in Luke? No. Is KK worth paying close to Cam’s 113 m contract? No.
The problem is Gettleman either had to pay premium or not. If Gettleman pays towards the amount these other DT’s are wanting and getting them other players will suffer not having enough cap to be signed. If Gettleman doesn’t pay KK could walk after next season.
If Gettleman pays top dollar the flood gates are opened and IMO I a disconnect will take place in the culture of this team. Starting with a very vocal CJ and it will make Marty Gurney look great which we know he wasn’t.
Gettleman has to get this right. He has to sign KK and not mortgage the house doing it. I can hear Steve Smith, Josh Norman and Deangelo Williams now with their comments to the reason and old team mates.
Talk aboit KK being quite, well I would hate to hear CJ being vocal I’m his last year.
I feel like we will start losing players we developed , because we signed veterans and didn’t trade them when a aging playing is still worth something. The feel good part and family is fine, but the bottom line is winning the DB.
Don’t forget Cam had a 5 year deal with 4 years left and Luke after that. It’s not just about one player and pay him what he wants. It’s looking down the road at Benjamin and others who want paid to.
That is a poor way to run a business. You pay what the market dictates you pay or you lose valuable assets……..
I don’t get it… why is this already apparently turning into a thing? I’d like to be a fly on the wall to understand this better, or even if this is just standard operating procedure. But from the outside looking in, perhaps colored by the Norman and Smith fiascos, this already looks like another headache.
The pressure is on G-Man. Releasing Josh led to most fans assuming we were locking up KK. Let him walk and what did we rescind the tag for, exactly?
This article of yours is entirely speculative. Short’s under contract for another year. If he makes it too hard for Gettleman to sign him he’ll be looking for new digs in the off season next year. In the meantime he is still required to play up to his capabilities THIS season IF he’s interested in snagging that big time contract. So opening negotiations this year is a win-win for Gettleman and the Panthers organization.
Should Short be dumb enough to attempt to disrupt the team with his “no shows” I’m positive the Big G (ours) will make locating a replacement hog mollie top his recruiters’ 2016-17 to-do list. And this year’s first round pick may make Short entirely expendable by next year.
It never ceases to amaze me how much second-guessing you lot do of a man who took a team from “non-entity” to superbowl runner up in 3 years. Has he not earned the right to SILENCE from you lot why he plays his Grand Master Chess Game. Look and learn from Gettleman. He’s the real deal.
Speculative that he’s not there because what I’ve been told is true? Got it. But good talk.
No, Bill. Not speculative concerning the accuracy of your reporting. Your reporting is top notch.
Speculative concerning the possible OUTCOME of negotiations and the fact that it really doesn’t matter what gets done this year because Short’s gonna be around next year. If Gettleman gets him signed up this year all to the good. If he doesn’t NO BIG DEAL for Carolina.
We have Gettleman. He’s far more valuable than Short or any single player on the roster except Cam Newton.
Thank you, but few still don’t expect this to end with anything other than a long-term deal for Kawann. Of course, no one expected Norman to go in April or saw this snag coming. DG deserves plenty of benefit of the doubt, but like all GMs, he’s not infallible.
You’re welcome, Bill. And you’re right about no one being infallible. That said, the one thing Gettleman will NOT do is saddle the Panthers with the types of contracts we endured when he was hired. He strikes me as a GM more in the Patriots model than the more typical NFL model. We are very, very fortunate to have him.
Maybe this isn’t a DL situation after all. Possible DG is keeping the cap open to fill a perceived deficiency at CB? I think Cromartie is still waiting in the wings