AP

Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman won’t begrudge defensive tackle Kawann Short trying to match the deal Fletcher Cox just got from the Eagles.

But Gettleman will expect Short to understand if it has to be from someone else.

In an interview with Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, Gettleman made it clear that he’s not going to exceed the value he’s established for players on his own roster.

“I can never fault a guy when he’s getting what we call the first kick of the can,” Gettleman said. “I would never get upset, it’s business, just like I hope they don’t get upset with me when I don’t give them what they want.”

That’s certainly not a good omen for Short, who reportedly is looking for something close to the $17 million a year range Cox just established, while Gettleman’s price point might not be quite that high. Short sat out some voluntary OTAs, but has been at minicamp this week and has a year left on his rookie deal. Figuring in a potential franchise tag, that means Gettleman could control him for another year if they can’t reach a long-term deal this summer.

And after Gettleman let franchise-tagged cornerback Josh Norman walk away without compensation earlier this year, he hopes people believe him when he talks about value.

“The biggest responsibility I have is putting a value on a player. You value the player — this is what he’s worth, and that’s where it is,” Gettleman said. “You can’t shop like a drunken sailor, and we’re not going to. . . .

“I’d like to think agents have figured out they can’t scare me; they can’t squeeze me. I’m not going to panic. I’m not going to give money away. It’s a waste of time. But if that’s the attack they want to take, that’s their business. I’m too old. I’ve been around too long to be scared.”

Gettleman’s not the only G.M. to play hardball with big-time players this offseason. Broncos boss John Elway has practically made a sport of it, while other successful and stable franchises such as the Patriots and Steelers and Seahawks have all learned the hard art of saying “No.”

But after winning three straight division titles and going 15-1 last year with a Super Bowl appearance, Gettleman is also learning the high cost of success.