For the second offseason in a row, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is looking for a new contract. In an interview with Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Olsen indicated that he wants a contract that will take him beyond the 2018 season. 
“My preference would be to know my future here in Carolina past this year, if I’m being honest. Whether or not that happens, we’ll see,” Olsen said. “But that would be the ideal situation and then that would answer a lot of these unknown questions.”
Last year, made waves when he auditioned to become an analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Panthers officials believed that Olsen was looking into the position for something down the road, but that timeline could conceivably be accelerated if Olsen doesn’t get the revised contract he wants.
“The reality of it is there’s not a lot of those jobs out there and when they ask you to come in and go through that audition process and go through those motions, it’s a great opportunity,” Olsen said. “My mind and my prep has always been on playing. But the reality is those jobs do get your attention a little bit and you’ve at least got to look behind the curtain.”
Last year, Olsen pushed for an extension that would give him a raise over the remainder of his three-year, $22.5MM deal. At one point, he even intimated that he would consider staying home during training camp. Ultimately, he showed up for work and got some incentives added to his deal that could have given him an additional $2MM in 2018. Unfortunately, a broken foot prevented the tight end from reaching those bonuses.
For now, Olsen is under contract for one more year with a cap hit of $9.75MM.
Tack on a few years, same pay rate. Add some incentives if he stays healthy. Should be enough to keep him happily in Carolina.
You can never know what changes might occur when there is a change of ownership. His broadcasting prospects should improve once Vince McMahon kick starts his league.
Make no bones about it. Greg having brought KFC into the video room waz dope.
Has he been taking notes from the Bennett brothers? They wanted to renegotiate before the ink dried on their contract signature
Olsen is one of the most underrated and underpaid players in the league for what he can and does do. take this from a bears fan. pay the man.
No… He’s under contract. I guarantee if it was a “Diva” RB or WR you guys would be signing a different tune.
Totally!
If he’s underpaid why did he and his agent agree to the contract in the first place?
Adding incentives is the easiest way to facilitate this imo. Some easy to reach like snaps or GP, exceeding career averages.