Gross can do the team a huge favor by signing before Feb. 19 because at least then the team will get to use the franchise tag on Peppers and trade him and get something (probably at least a first-round pick) for him in return.

However, if the Panthers can't get a deal done with Gross before then, they would have to pick one or the other to franchise.

In that scenario, they might have to pick Gross because he actually wants to play here. Plus, at $8.5 million, he's cheaper than Peppers' $16.8 million. Also, if they put the tag on Peppers then the Panthers are essentially losing their two best linemen since Gross would walk as a free agent and they'd still have to trade Peppers since he's vowed not to play here again.

If nothing is done by the morning of Feb. 19 - the last day teams can appoint a franchise player - things will get a little restless at Bank of America Stadium.

Obviously, Gross' agent Ethan Lock has the Panthers over a barrel and can get just about anything he wants by playing hardball.

The Panthers have yet to begin cutting players, but you can bet this year's purge won't be anything like last year when the team released linebacker Dan Morgan, running back DeShaun Foster, center Justin Hartwig, guard Mike Wahle and quarterback David Carr after a 7-9 season.

The most significant cut this off-season could be starting cornerback Ken Lucas, who at 30 years old has a salary cap figure of more than $9 million for the 2009 season.

Lucas has played well at times for the Panthers, but his play tailed off toward the second half of last season and he struggled in pass coverage.

Two other free agent pickups from last year that underachieved in 2008 were linebacker Landon Johnson, who rarely played on defense despite a three-year, $10 million contract and finished with just seven tackles, and seldom-used and often-injured wide receiver D.J. Hackett, who had just 13 receptions and no touchdowns.

Collectively, the Panthers can save more than $5.2 million by cutting all three.

The Panthers are roughly $9-10 million under the salary cap, but that is before dealing with Gross and Peppers and tweaking other existing contracts. They may also restructure the contract of Jake Delhomme, which could save significant money.

Outside of Peppers and Gross, Carolina's other unrestricted free agents include offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner, returner Mark Jones, long-snapper Jason Kyle, defensive tackle Darwin Walker, linebackers Donte Curry and Adam Seward and offensive tackle Frank Omiyale. If they don't re-sign by the end of the day Feb. 26, they're free to sign with any team in the league.