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August 08, 2007
Peppers will address leadership issue soon
A day after owner Jerry Richardson challenged Julius Peppers to stand up and be a leader, a bunch of media members asked to hear what the defensive end had to say.
We still are waiting.
Through a team spokesman, Peppers declined the requests, but said he’ll address the situation soon. Supposedly, Peppers wants to let things calm down a little.
That’s not out of character for Peppers, who is one of the quietest members of the team. All indications are that Peppers knew Richardson’s statement was coming and the owner previously talked to the player about providing more leadership.
Peppers already is respected in the locker room and some players are in awe of his physical abilities. But it’s going to be interesting to see if he becomes more vocal with his teammates and the media.
Posted by Observer Sports on August 8, 2007 at 06:45 PM | Permalink
Comments
Pep has always said he doesnt want to be a one dimensional DE by just rushing the QB (ie: Strahan) but that he wants to be multi-dimensional and that means handling the run as well. Interestingly enough, he never said anything with respect to leadership. If he can become a leader on this team then that will be truly multi-dimensional. Personally I think he will step up, I don't think Pep is dumb, shy or quiet, I think he is just introspective. I mean how can someone be so amazingly brilliant on the field without thinking about everything he does with great precision.
Step Up Pep, Step Up my brother!
Posted by: CatDawgMan | Aug 8, 2007 7:23:30 PM
Calling Strahan one dimensional is hilarious, perhaps you should name Rice or Freeney, good way to kill credibility out of the starting block.
My conversation with a couple of defensive players leads me to believe he's already a leader on the D, just not as vocal as some others. You can lead by mouth, example or both, Peppers has always led by example, there are plenty of others to step up and run their mouths.
Posted by: John Watson | Aug 8, 2007 7:29:33 PM
hey Strahan is pretty much one dimensional I mean he's a hell of a pass rusher, but look at that giants run defense not to impressive. Nice post CatDawgMan totally agree with your post.
Posted by: peppers fan | Aug 8, 2007 7:40:23 PM
Strahan is one of the best two-way ends of this generation.
Posted by: JT | Aug 8, 2007 9:01:50 PM
Julius Peppers does not have the personality to be a verbal leader; he can only hope to lead with his actions. If they ask too much out of the man and he will start to fail in other areas.
Posted by: Roger King | Aug 8, 2007 9:16:52 PM
I agree with Roger. Pep's not a big talker, but basically a nice guy. I don't know if he can be a verbal leader, and I think that is part of the leadership you need on the field. I wish he were more of an a**hole. With that, and his physical gifts, he would be totally unstoppable. I think a comparison with Michael Jordan is appropriate. MJ had physical skills...and he was a verbal leader. The result...a dynasty. Five rings, was it?
Posted by: Ron | Aug 8, 2007 10:01:46 PM
It was 6 rings. I say we quit worrying about Pepp being a 'verbal leader', the guy's a freak and his play inspires others and changes games completely. He doesn't have to talk to do either. Personally I'm glad we don't have guys trying to bark at others whose play doesn't back it up, I'd rather have ones like Pepp that play all out but don't have to talk to make up for a lack of play. We'll be fine, #89 is vocal enough for both the offense and defense. Why doesn't anyone ever consider Dan Morgan as a leader, when he's on the field he's nasty and everyone seems to step it up. If he stays on the field then there's our defensive leader.
Posted by: drew | Aug 8, 2007 10:56:21 PM
If Peppers' leadership "by example" is enough, then why does he so often get shut out completely of games. Though he always racks up big sack numbers, his career high in GAMES WITH a sack is 9. For a good example, see Week 7 of last year, when he was held to a 2 assist (no solos or sacks) performance by ROOKIE Andrew Whitworth, who handled him one-on-one for the vast majority of the game (check the tapes if you don't believe me or have chosen to forget.) I like what Pep does as much as anybody, and I respect the fact that he does things nobody else at his position can do, but for him to become a truly GREAT player, he needs to start having some consistency.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 8, 2007 11:57:00 PM
There is one guy that Peppers should look at when developing his leadership skills, Tim Duncan. Duncan, like Peppers, is a quiet, even shy guy that leads with his play on the court but has grown into one of the best overall leaders in the NBA. If Peppers approaches Duncan's level of leadership skills, I think the D would be set for a long, long time. Assuming, of course, that Peppers' new contract is completed sometime soon.
Posted by: Daniel | Aug 9, 2007 2:25:45 AM
Pep is a leader. He may not talk much, but to say it's not his personality to lead is same as saying Strahan is only a pass rusher.
When Pep talks, people listen. Evidently yall don't. lol
Posted by: James | Aug 9, 2007 6:01:55 AM
Leaders are born, not made... and leaders have a way of revealing themselves, you don't have to go looking for them. I'd hate to think of Peppers being forced into a leadership role if that's not him. I could easily see this becoming a distraction for him and he's one of the few positive things we have going on defense right now.
P.S. Strahan was not always one-dimensional but as his career has gone on he's become more and more so (see Bruce Smith). Last year just about every NFL analyst critisized Strahan for blatantly taking running plays off. Strahan and B. Smith are the "sack-kings" super... too bad they took the other 2 downs off.
Posted by: Dave | Aug 9, 2007 8:24:59 AM
Why change something if it isn't broke. I'm mean what's the difference between him being more vocal then what he's doing right now, leading by his actions. Clearly he is the best and most talented player on the team but does that make him have to be a vocal leader, no. His quiet nature is what make him different, Rucker can handle the talking part of the leading but what if one of the younger players make a misstake, everyone is down on him and Peppers a man of few words someone who never talks but is so respected, come an tells him to keep his head up. I feel that would be better then him trying to be something he's not, by trying to be a very vocal teammate. Peppers is a action leader so if your looking for someone to lead you. Just look and learn from Peppers.
Posted by: Born_ah_heel | Aug 9, 2007 8:42:22 AM
Let Peppers be Peppers. Isn't that enough.
Posted by: Bob | Aug 9, 2007 11:34:19 AM
On the comments about Morgan being the inspirational leader on the field. Morgan is GREAT and when he is on the field he's the perfect leader. Trouble is, he absolutely will not play in all the games. Very sad, but true.
Posted by: Ron | Aug 9, 2007 11:40:12 AM
If the Panthers are going to win more than seven games this year, they better hope Peppers "leads" himself and about 35 other team mates to a new steroid-dispensing doctor.
Hats off to Mike Minter for realizing when to get out. It only took him a few days of training camp to realize this team wasn't gonna do jack this year. I guess I can't call all Panthers players stupid!
Posted by: Will | Aug 9, 2007 12:05:06 PM
There is a difference between being a leader and being an a**hole.
Peppers needs to be a leader. I don't care how good or amazing you are as a player... one guy can't do it it all and somebody needs to step up and lead his team to victory! That doesn't mean he needs to insult anybody like some people on this board fear, no, just lead.
Morgan was our leader. We can't rely on him. Peppers needs to mature into that role. Nobody is asking him to be Ray Lewis and dance his way out of the end zone and be animated. He just needs to lead!
I think some people here don't understand the concept of leading and why it's important and why Peppers ought to eat least consider it.
I don't think I agree with Richardson calling him out to the media, though.
Posted by: Todd | Aug 9, 2007 12:29:29 PM
i'm glad all these people know Peppers' true personality since you all know him so well. you only know him based on what you've seen from tv footage. that's preposterous to think you can know who a person is through-and-through by those means.
to the guy who referenced, Tim Duncan, that is one of the best analogies to Peppers i've read/heard. you are dead on. he could learn a lot from Duncan on how to be a leader, without compromising who he is as a person. sometimes the best leaders are the ones who aren't always moving their jaws because when they do speak people really listen and then they follow.
Posted by: Matt | Aug 9, 2007 3:42:44 PM
When I say he should be an a-hole, I don't mean be a showboat or loudmouth. A killer instinct would help. In a closeup TV shot last season, I saw him practically laughing right after the other team scored a touchdown. And I've seen him smiling many, many times while he was out on the field, even after we've given up yardage. What leadership is that? And don't give me wrong, I really like him as a person, especially since I went to (the real) Carolina, too. Again, Morgan is perfect, but he just won't be out there all the time.
Posted by: Ron | Aug 9, 2007 4:36:43 PM
Ron, there's a village somewhere that needs an idiot... run along now.
Posted by: Dave | Aug 9, 2007 5:26:11 PM
Sorry Ron, I meant Will.
Posted by: Dave | Aug 9, 2007 5:27:08 PM
I see reports or getting reports on pretty much all of the Panthers draft picks....But I hear nothing on how Charles Johnson is doin....Would someone like to let me know please....Is he not going to be that dominate in this league or are they doin a Dean Smith thing...holding him back...let me kno....be bless!
Posted by: PantherFan | Aug 9, 2007 8:29:26 PM
The ones who dismiss the notion of Peppers becoming a vocal leader are, in my opinion, jumping to conclusions. I don't remember Minter being a RAH-RAH type of leader. He led by mentoring and using his knowledge of the game to help keep the defense straight on the field. He was emotional, but certainly not the polar opposite of Peppers. Peppers can do the same thing. You'd think Peppers could be put on IR by pulling a jaw muscle, the way some of you are commenting. Chilax, guys. To be honest, the only thing to do now is step up. If he doesn't answer the call what does that look like? Could divide the locker room (or the organization) if you ask me. If Peppers is a quiet storm, even a quiet storm lets out a soft thunder here and there;).
Posted by: Dre | Aug 9, 2007 9:06:36 PM
Enough with leadership talk. You can't talk your way into leadership. Play hard every play, be successful, use your skills on the field. Leaders don't talk - they produce results.
Posted by: Kelso | Aug 10, 2007 9:03:30 AM
Look im a Peps fan and i dont appreciate how some people are trying to dogg him. Julius is a GREAT player and you can check his stats anywhere and see that he is. And RON you definitely can't take a hit from Peps and expect to walk away from it on your own! He may not be a rocket scientists but, there isn't anybody in the NFL that is. I think that he will be a great leader and he does not have to open his mouth to prove anything to anybody. The next time the Panthers play, we definitely want see your name or number on the roster.
Posted by: La.T | Aug 11, 2007 9:04:22 PM
La. T, I don't think you're making the right point. Ron didn't suggest that Peppers was stupid or that he either was or should be on the roster himself, he suggested that Peppers needed to take a more active leadership role, and I think it'd be tough not to agree with him. Peppers has exceptional individual talent, but he needs to both show that he can make his teammates better and play at a high level on a more consistent basis himself. Sure, he racks up double-digit sacks by the end of the year, but he's never had a season in which he's had sacks in even 10 different games. I'd settle for 14 single-sack games over 6 two-sack games in a single second if it could mean that we could avoid games like Week 7 last year in which he was held without a single sack (just two assists) or even a SOLO TACKLE by ROOKIE tackle Andrew Whitworth, who handled him one-on-one for the vast majority of the game (check the tapes.)
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2007 2:11:44 PM
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