Too bad for the Bears and Panthers that James Dolan doesn’t own an NFL team.
League sources confirmed Monday Chicago and Carolina were attempting to trade a pair of faded, 30-something stars with big contracts — defensive end Julius Peppers by the Bears and wide receiver Steve Smith by the Panthers — as free agency prepared to kick off at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Peppers is 33 and has more than $30 million in base salary due him the next two years, while Smith turns 35 in May, would cost the acquiring team at least $3 million in guaranteed salary and is coming off a season in which he didn’t have more than 69 receiving yards in any of his 15 games played.
Since Dolan isn’t around to jump on those ridiculous trade proposals, both players appear likely to be released. Smith, though, is owed about $5 million, which means he could end up staying in Carolina if money is the only consideration.
But Smith would almost certainly have a lesser role if he stays, and Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman — a former Giants executive — might decide the prickly and proud Smith isn’t worth the potential chemistry headache.
It really wasn’t about the money for Michael Bennett.
The talented young pass rusher proved it Monday, re-signing with the world-champion Seahawks for $28.5 million over four years (including $10 million guaranteed) despite two other teams dangling more cash.
Not only that, but one of those suitors was the Bears, who in addition to having more money on the table than Seattle, also have Bennett’s younger brother, former Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, on the roster.
Martellus had been lobbying his brother long and hard since last season to join him in Chicago, but Michael said he was swayed to settle for less by the Seahawks’ chance to build a mini-dynasty and Seattle’s rabid fans.
“The 12th Man is the biggest reason I came back,” Bennett wrote on Twitter. “The best fans.”
Former Bill Jairus Byrd is the best free safety on the open market and wants to be paid like it, but he appeared to lose a bit of leverage on the eve of free agency.
The Dolphins were expected to be serious suitors for Byrd but opted instead Monday to sign ex-Lions safety Louis Delmas to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, seemingly taking Miami out of the chase. Delmas had been released by Detroit last month, making him eligible to sign with any team right away.
Byrd will still attract plenty of interest when the market opens Tuesday, but it now looks as if he will need some luck to get a deal worth at least $8 million annually, which he’s seeking.
Of all the veterans released Monday to create cap room for the start of free agency, former Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley could attract the most interest.
Woodley is under 30 (he turned 29 last November) and was an extremely productive player when healthy, racking up 35 sacks over three seasons from 2008-10. But health is a major concern after Woodley missed 14 games combined the past three seasons, causing his numbers to plummet.
The move created serious breathing room for Pittsburgh, though, giving the cap-strapped Steelers $8 million in additional space.
League sources continue to shake their head at Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie for his strange decision to let two very talented and promising young players — offensive tackle Jared Veldheer and defensive lineman Lamarr Houston — walk despite having the most salary-cap room in the sport.
Scouts say Veldheer and Houston will be among the most sought-after players in free agency after McKenzie figured neither was worth a chunk of Oakland’s whopping $65 million in cap space.