Before free agency got underway, the Carolina Panthers decided to slap the franchise tag on defensive end Greg Hardy.
Hardy, unlike most players, was fine with the move.
“I signed a tender like I said I would,” Hardy explained. “You’re really 100 percent incorrect if you don’t think I’m excited about $13.1 [million].”
Hardy would still like to get a long-term deal done and the Panthers feel the same way despite already investing six years and $72 million into another defensive end, Charles Johnson.
According to Alex Marvez, a FOXSports1 Senior NFL reporter and SiriusXM NFL Radio host, who spoke to Panthers’ general manager Dave Gettleman, the team now believes they have a better chance of keeping Hardy long term.
Gettleman believes odds of re-signing Greg Hardy 2 long-term deal are better now that 2014 FA market has settled & future NFL cap $$ clearer
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) March 26, 2014
Hardy was drafted with the 175th overall selection in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft and the former Ole Miss Rebel has obviously exceeded every expectation.
Hardy had 59 tackles and 15.0 sacks last season.