Panthers defense end Julius Peppers didn’t exactly need a Christmas bonus, but he got one Tuesday.
His Pro Bowl selection was worth $1.5 million. Add that to his $16.683 million base salary as the team’s franchise player and his pay for the 2009 season is $18.183 million.
According to the Rock Hill Herald, the bonus means it would be even more expensive to retain Peppers as the team’s franchise player in 2010. A 20% increase on his 2009 pay would now be a whopping $21.8196 million.
With the Panthers looking unlikely to offer Peppers the long-term contract he wants, Sunday’s game against New Orleans could be Peppers’ last as a Panther.