I think after a long enough holdout most of the fan base would

Panthers owner David Tepper promised he was going to do things differently.And he’s hired for a position the Panthers have never employed.Via the team website https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Captain-Munnerlyn-Jersey , the Panthers have hired former Eagles staffer Taylor Rajack as their first director of football analytics.The 27-year-old, MIT-educated Rajack has spent the last five years with the Eagles.“Working there, we were very well researched in every decision we made. Trying to gain that edge,” Rajack said. “We wanted to understand the risks and understand the expectation with any decision to make smarter choices. Why would you ignore information that’s out there? It’s the idea of bringing all the pieces together.“In Philadelphia, we became identified as one of the more analytically inclined teams. That paved the way for me to get here and start something new.”The Panthers have had some people on staff dabbling in analytics, but Tepper made an emphasis of adding there, consistent with his whatever-it-takes approach to helping his football team. There are many similarities between Christian McCaffrey and fellow running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Melvin Gordon. All three are among the NFL’s most productive players at their position, each was a Top 15 overall pick, and all three are still playing under the conditions of their rookie contracts. You see where I’m going with this https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/David-Mayo-Jersey , right? While CMC is at training camp right now, both Elliott and Gordon are holding out for new contracts. As Carolina Panthers fans we have to at least acknowledge Christian McCaffrey could do the same next year. Yes, this topic sucks, but that’s the business of football. CMC’s current contractAs the No. 8 overall pick in 2017 McCaffrey signed a four-year contract through 2020 that would pay $17.2 million, a sum that averages out to $4.3 million annually. Because he was a Top 10 pick the Panthers can also exercise a fifth-year option in 2021 which would pay him the average of the ten highest salaries at his position. As a frame of reference, in 2019 that number for a running back is a reported $9.1 million. The problem with the fifth-year option is it denies players the security of a long-term extension by requiring them to play on what is essentially a one-year deal. The Los Angeles Chargers exercised Melvin Gordon’s fifth-year option for the upcoming 2019 season and he’s holding out. The Dallas Cowboys have already exercised Ezekiel Elliott’s option for 2020 and he chose Cabo over training camp. If I was McCaffrey’s agent…Contracts for players on rookie deals can’t be renegotiated until after the player finishes his third NFL season, meaning if I was Christian McCaffrey’s agent I’d start that process as soon as the 2019 season ends. Assuming CMC’s production in 2019 mirrors his 2018 output (219 rushes, 107 receptions, 1 https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Devin-Funchess-Jersey ,965 yards from scrimmage), here’s the summary of my talking points when I speak with David Tepper and Marty Hurney:Workload: Christian McCaffrey puts his body at significant risk by touching the ball over 300 times per season and playing over 90 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He’s not willing to risk injury by playing on a fifth-year option in 2021. Therefore, we are prepared to hold out in 2020 until a long-term extension is in place starting in 2021. “Hybrid” value: The fifth-year option for running backs of approximately $9 million shouldn’t apply to Christian to begin with. While he’s listed as a running back, in reality he’s a hybrid running back and slot receiver with elite skills at both positions. The fifth-year option for a wide receiver is nearly $15 million, more than 60 percent higher than a running back, and the wide receiver figure is more reflective of Christian’s true value. Playing on a one-year, $9 million contract in 2021 (the fifth year option) meant for traditional running backs is unacceptable based on Christian’s hybrid skill set. Timing: The 2020 season is a critical one for the Panthers franchise. It’s the final year of Cam Newton’s current contract and Superman isn’t getting any younger. Cam needs CMC on the field in 2020, not in Cancun. Let’s get a deal in place and go win a Super Bowl while the window’s still open. Financial resources: Mr. Tepper, with all due respect https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mario-Addison-Jersey , you are worth $11.2 billion and you just spent $2.2 billion to buy the Panthers. You can afford the signing bonus. And Mr. Hurney, with all due respect to you as well, you can make the salary cap work by having a long-term extension in place starting in 2021. Christian’s cap hit would be around $9 million anyway on a fifth-year option, so let’s just get the extension in place and keep CMC in Carolina for his entire career. Precedent: Remember, Christian sat out his final bowl game at Stanford to ensure a college injury didn’t impact his draft position and rookie contract. He’s willing to make potentially unpopular short-term decisions in order to secure his long-term future. Bottom line: Christian McCaffrey’s value is on par with Todd Gurley (four years, $57.5 million), Le’Veon Bell (four years, $52.5 million), and David Johnson (three years Marquis Haynes Jersey , $39 million). If we can’t agree on a contract for at least four years and $56 million, including $38 million guaranteed, he will hold out in 2020. That, gentlemen, is the market price for an elite offensive weapon with the skills my client possesses. Fan reactionIf Christian McCaffrey chooses to follow Ezekiel Elliot’s path and hold out prior to his fourth NFL season it will be interesting to see how Panthers fans react. CMC is incredibly popular around these parts. His biceps light the internet on fire. By my unscientific and unofficial assessment, Cam Newton is the most popular Panther with Luke Kuechly and Christian McCaffrey in a tight battle for second and third (feel free to disagree with me though.) If McCaffrey holds out in 2020 there will undoubtedly be a part of the fan base that rightfully points out he is simply subject to the terms and conditions of a contract his union negotiated for him. The NFL Players Association agreed to a four-year wage scale for rookies and also gave teams the right to exercise the fifth-year option. This was collectively bargained in good faith by players and owners! If CMC thinks that arrangement is unfair he should take it up with his union rep, but he should still be on the field. A holdout that results in missed games (or a missed season) is hurting the team and punishing Panthers fans. It’s a selfish move. That’s all technically correct, too. Another segment of the fan base might take a more pragmatic approach and simply conclude that no running back is worth an annual salary cap hit of around $14 million. They might love CMC’s playmaking and swoon over his biceps, but that’s just too much to pay for a running back in today’s NFL. If you don’t believe me https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Torrey-Smith-Jersey , just look at James Connors’ 2018 stats. It’s not personal, Christian, it’s business. But my gut tells me most fans would err on the side of pressuring Tepper and Hurney to get the extension done and prevent the holdout for all of the reasons I listed above. Most football fans are fully aware of the injury risks associated with 300-plus touches per season and they also know NFL contracts are not guaranteed. Panthers fans generally adore CMC, too. I think after a long enough holdout most of the fan base would start groaning, “Come on, Tepper! Pay the man!” As Panthers fans we don’t deal with holdouts very often. For years now we’ve had the luxury of just monitoring the NFL and when we hear about situations like Ezekiel Elliott’s we can just dispassionately shrug our shoulders and say, “Well huh. Sucks for the Cowboys.” Let’s hope at this time next year Dallas fans aren’t saying the same thing about us.