Peppers makes a clear statement

Peppers will never be forgiven for dogging it in 2007. His play was an embarrassment to himself and the team. To his credit and his bank account he played well in 2008. He is not an elite player yet overall. His saving grace is the fact that he can put pressure from the outside on a qb and he can run down a running back or tight end in space. He is not good defending the run and sometimes gets dominated for entire series or in some cases games. It's because of this that he will never be an elite player to the degree some think. If he wants to become great he needs to learn how to not be taken out of plays. Every player gets taken out from time to time but Peppers will go entire half and not be heard from. That is not what a superstar does.

 

Magnus is glad to have you here, even if you make unimaginably stupid comments on a regular basis.

All kidding aside, it is amazing to me that all the many times you've been widely mocked for saying astoundingly idiotic things hasn't seemed to phase you at all. You say something ridiculously dumb, a great many people criticize you for it, and yet you just keep posting more and more stupid things. It's bizarre.

 

Good. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.
Yes, the defense will be worse short term without him, but he is no where near worth the $$$ he wants. He was invisible for the greater part of this year. What did he have, 1 tackle in the Arizona game ? If we can get a first and anything else, fine. We can then use his ridiculous money to pay for other free agent needs ( keeping gross, getting better DT's ).

 

Is Peppers married?

Maybe he wants a change a scenery for a reason.

San Francisco maybe?

 

I think Thomas Davis could play weak side OLB in a 3-4. He is a little small but he is fast and would make a great pass rusher if we used him that way.

Maybe Kemo can not handle playing NT. He and Lewis could play DE in a 3-4 though so we are looking for a DT. Of course we are probably looking for a DT anyway...

 

Remember all the argument about whether or not Davis should even be playing 4-3 SLB? 3-4 OLBs, even on the weakside, are significantly larger than 4-3 SLBs. 3-4 weak OLB is where DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman play. It's presumably where Peppers wants to play also.

 

Please, we're not switching to a 3/4 to keep that bitch.

 

.

 

Nothing we haven't already heard, but still...

Peppers Won't Sign Long-term Deal With Panthers



Jan 17, 12:48 PM (ET)


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -After spending his entire life in North Carolina, Julius Peppers wants out.

The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end has decided he won't sign a long-term deal with the Carolina Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 26.

Peppers, who grew up in tiny Bailey, N.C., starred in college at North Carolina and was the Panthers' first-round pick in 2002, believes Carolina's defensive system is not for him - even after recording a career-high 14½ sacks this season.

"He loves the state of North Carolina. His family is there. The easier situation for him would be to stay in Carolina," his agent, Carl Carey, said Saturday. "But the decision that he faced was, do I stay in Carolina and perhaps never reach my full potential? Or do I open myself to the possibilities to finish my career elsewhere? He chose the latter."

Carey, who first told ESPN.com of Peppers' decision early Saturday, said Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defense. The Panthers use a 4-3 alignment.


"He certainly feels that he can excel and thrive in a 3-4 defense," Carey said. "He is also open to just another system in general that will allow him to maximize his athletic abilities."

Peppers' decision leaves the Panthers with a big decision to make.

The team could place the franchise tag on Peppers, which would virtually force him to stay with the Panthers. Under that scenario, another team could sign Peppers only by giving Carolina two first-round draft picks in return.

But doing that would mean the Panthers would have to give Peppers a one-year deal worth a whopping $16.7 million. And Peppers could also decide to hold out.

The Panthers used the franchise tag this season on starting left tackle Jordan Gross, who'll also become an unrestricted free agent and command a large contract, leaving the Panthers' with salary-cap concerns.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney, who was informed of Peppers' decision in a meeting with Carey in Houston on Thursday, did not immediately return a phone call Saturday seeking comment.

The Panthers have been trying to sign Peppers to an extension for the past two years. But Peppers, in a statement released by Carey, said he wants to go elsewhere.

"I am seeking new challenges that will allow me to grow, develop and reach my personal potential on the football field," Peppers said. "I strongly feel that making a move at this time is in my best interest. I appreciate the entire Panthers organization and am thankful for the seven seasons I've spent with the team."

Peppers, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft, became a starter from Day One. A freakish athlete, the 6-foot-7 Peppers reached the Pro Bowl three consecutive years from 2004-06 before an awful 2007 season where he recorded only 2½ sacks.

The Panthers moved Peppers from left defensive end to the right side this season, and his big numbers returned and he was picked for the Pro Bowl again. However, Peppers was held to two tackles and no sacks in the Panthers' shocking 33-13 NFC divisional playoff loss to Arizona last weekend.

The defeat was part of a late-season defensive swoon for Carolina, which allowed 30 or more points in six of its last seven games.

"Julius has tremendous respect for the coaching staff and he has never been the type of guy that has wanted to change anything that the coaching staff was doing," Carey said. "He has submitted to their defense and has tried his very best to operate within it.

"He feels that despite the accolades and the achievements that he still has something more offer. He feels that it's going to take a new system in order for that talent that he still has within himself to be tapped."

Carey wouldn't say what teams Peppers, who turns 29 Sunday, would like to play for. He also declined to address speculation the Panthers could place the franchise tag on Peppers and then trade him. Kansas City dealt defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota last year in exchange for a first-round pick and two third-round choices.