The Panthers gave an extension to one of their most productive, respected veterans – linebacker Thomas Davis – on Tuesday. Tight end Greg Olsen might not get the same treatment, though: While interim general manager Marty Hurney and Olsen’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have discussed a new deal, an agreement isn’t imminent, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.
An extension for Olsen isn’t a must from the team’s point of view, as the prolific pass catcher still has two seasons remaining on the three-year, $22.5MM pact he inked before the 2015 campaign. Further, Olsen hasn’t created any behind-the-scenes issues over extension talks. The 32-year-old would like a new contract, but he announced last month that he’s willing to play out the current deal so as not to serve as a distraction to the Panthers. However, Olsen did indicate on Wednesday that an extension could come this summer.
“I haven’t talked to Marty about it or anybody about it,” Olsen said. “If something gets done, great. But we’ve got a lot going on now with training camp and preseason and whatnot. So it hasn’t been really something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. But we’ll see over these next couple of weeks what happens.”
Olsen, whom Hurney acquired in a 2011 trade with the Bears during his first stint as Carolina’s GM, has become one of the top players in the Panthers’ relatively short history. The ex-Miami Hurricane hasn’t missed a game during his six years with the Panthers, and he has averaged 71 catches, 897 yards and five touchdowns per season with the club. He’s coming off his third straight 1,000-yard season, making him the first tight end in league history to accomplish that feat. It’s easy to make a case that Olsen deserves a new deal, then, especially considering he’s only seventh among TEs in yearly value on his current accord. But there’s apparently no rush on either side to make it happen.
pay the man
At first glance I thought it was favre