GumboBC

Agent: Panthers LB Fields likely to test free agent market

By: Steve Reed
Gazette Sports Reporter

INDIANAPOLIS â€â€� When the Carolina Panthers’ season came to an abrupt end on Jan. 2, it seemed to be a slam-dunk that outside linebacker Mark Fields would be back with the team in 2005.

Not so fast.

Surprisingly, Fields’ agent Jim Steiner said Friday he doubts that a contract agreement with the Panthers will be reached by Tuesday, meaning his client will become an unrestricted free agent and test the open market.

“Right now, I don’t foresee us getting that done before the deadline,� Steiner said. “We’re not close to a deal.�

Steiner said he doesn’t believe the fact that Muhsin Muhammad was released by the team â€â€� which leaves the Panthers about $9 million under the 2005 salary cap â€â€� will have much barring on the contract negotiations with Fields.

One day after the season was over, Fields said he felt a sense of loyalty to the Panthers organization for helping get through his battle with Hodgkin’s disease and that he would re-sign with the Panthers if they offered him “two dollars� to return.

Steiner, who had read Fields’ comments in the newspaper earlier this year, chuckled at that response on Friday.

“You know Mark, he’s a positive guy,â€? Steiner joked. “We were thinking maybe we will try to double that â€â€� maybe try to get four dollars out of them.â€?

In actuality, Steiner said he’s looking for a three- or four-year deal for his client, but wouldn’t discuss the compensation he’s seeking.

Steiner is still optimistic something could get done with Carolina even after Fields becomes an unrestricted free agent. But he said the two sides are “not close to a deal� and that an agreement is not imminent.

“Obviously there is a strong relationship there between player and management, so we’ll see what happens,� Steiner said. “Sure, he wants to come back to Carolina, but we’ll have to see what happens.�

Fields was selected as a first-team Pro Bowl alternate last season and ended up playing in the all-star game after Tampa Bay’s Derrick Brooks pulled out with a knee injury.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said the team will continue to discuss a deal that would bring Fields back to the club, and remained optimistic a deal could get done at some point.

“We’re going to keep talking,� Hurney said.

In the meantime, the team’s other starting outside linebacker, Will Witherspoon, has received notice from the team that his contract will be tendered at $1.43 million. That gives the Panthers the option to match any outside offer made to Witherspoon.

It also gives the Panthers more time to work out a long-term agreement with Witherspoon.

“That is something they have aggressively indicated they want to do,� said Witherspoon’s agent Ken Kremer.

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[Edited on 26/2/2005 by GumboBC]