PANTHERS

Q&A with tackle Jordan Gross

Tackle talks offseason moves, contract, more

CHARLES CHANDLER

cchandler@charlotteobserver.com

JEFF SINER -- jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Carolina Panthers tackle Jordan Gross has started every game (87 total) since being drafted in 2003.

Jordan Gross is entering his sixth season as a starter for the Carolina Panthers and is switching from right tackle to left tackle. Observer staff writer Charles Chandler participated in a group interview with Gross during the team's minicamp last weekend, talking to him about the move and about stalled contract negotiations. The team put the franchise tag on him to keep him from exploring the market as an unrestricted free agent, and he's to play next season under a one-year deal. He and the team have until mid-July to get a longer deal completed.

Q. How is the change to left tackle going?

I've felt better than I thought I would. You get so specialized at one thing. It's the same stuff, just backwards, just making new habits.

Q. What do you think about the Panthers bringing in larger players on the offensive line this offseason?

Physics says a bigger mass is going to get more knock-off. We've really preached being physical. Last year, obviously, we got away from that because we were behind a lot.

I don't think it says anything about the guys we had. I think it's more of a preference for who (offensive line coach Dave) Magazu likes, and trying to be more physical and knock guys around more on the (defensive) line, which the bigger guys are naturally more capable (of).

Q. Are you frustrated to have switched sides of the line several times in your career?

In a perfect world, I would have stayed on one side with one guard and we would've been an awesome combination. But free agency and the salary cap does that.

If anything, it's taught me to be versatile. This year would (be) a lot harder if I'd been a right tackle for five years.

Q. What are the chances of getting a long-term contract done?

I don't know. I got it done for this year and that's really all I've thought about.

Anytime you're negotiating any deal, whether it's a car, a house or your contract, you always want whatever you think you should get and the people with the money think something different.

It's not frustrating. It's business. It doesn't affect anything I do with cleats on.

Q. Is it hard not to take it personally?

Well, (kicker) John Kasay gave me some good advice. He said you've got to wear different hats for your job. If they didn't want me, they wouldn't have (franchise) tagged me. So obviously, I can't feel like they don't want me around. I feel like that's an honor.

They're running a business, and they're trying to get what they can get, the cheapest they can. It's not like it's ever been a nasty situation. It's been a good relationship. We just didn't get one done and they had this option, so they went with it.

Q. How far apart have you been on the money?

Hmm, not terribly.

We more than anything ran out of time (before he needed to sign his one-year tender).

I don't know what will happen. If you'd asked me a year ago, I thought for sure I would've re-signed a long deal. Now, who knows? Panthers