I'll be shocked if Peppers plays for the Panthers again

   I think Julius Peppers is gone. The Panthers can tie him up and lock him down. But I don't expect them to.

   Some team, perhaps one of the Final Four a source told me Wednesday that Peppers was willing to play for, will be intrigued by his potential. And they'll cut a long-term deal with him and cut a deal with the Panthers.

   The rules say that a team has to give the Panthers two first-round draft picks. The rules lie. The Minnesota Vikings gave Kansas City one first-round pick and two-third round picks before the 2008 season for their star franchise pass rusher, Jared Allen. Both Peppers and Allen had 14 1/2 sacks last season.

   If the Panthers, who are coming off two strong drafts, can get three picks, one in the first round, for Peppers, they should jump. I'd jump.

   Some of you want to see the Panthers play hardball, and grind Peppers down and show him who runs the show and you're so angry that you'll never wear your No. 90 jersey again. You're the same fans who vowed to boycott Major League Baseball after the strike and vowed to boycott Carolina middle linebacker Jon Beason after his holdout in '07.  But there you were at the ballgame with a hot dog and a beer, and there you were cheering for Beason, who was Carolina's most valuable defensive player last season.

   The Panthers will take the best deal they can get. There are some intriguing combinations. My source wouldn't identify the four teams when I broke the story Wednesday ( I know that's pretentious, "broke the story," but I hear other writers use the phrase all the time whether it's true or not and I wanted to try it out). 

   He would say only that one of the teams was Dallas, that one was in the AFC and two were teams to which the Panthers would not want to trade Peppers.

   The latter indicates that the teams are on Carolina's schedule next season. 

    The AFC team? I'd guess Miami, Houston or New England.

    The Peppers issue has become polarizing, everybody is taking sides, and few are taking his.

    The issue is much more interesting than Carolina's playoff game. By halftime, we knew how that one would turn out. 

   Where Peppers will go, and for what?

   I have no idea. 

   

   

Comments

[Huskers86]

Is it just me or does he look like Osama bin Laden's little brother without the towel on his head in that photo???

[Dan the Insurance Man]

Who cares if Jooyus plays for another team in the NFC South. He didnt help US every game, every down. It would be to our advantage. -- That said, it would be the kind thing to do if the Panthers were to offer to pay for Jooyus to get the mental help he needs. The combination of mild retardation, goofy looks, horsey face and gayness might get him hurt when he moves out of this liberal city.

[Shub]

pep knows his head coach is a coward and is tired of playing on such a concervative and boring team. Can you imagine the havoc he would unleash if the panthers would actually take some risk and quit playing the odds. I mean what team in the NFL would have a monster like JP and send him into coverage as many times as Fox. Hell I'd lose interest in playing too. Good luck pep, I hope you end up in Dallas where JJ will make sure you are lining up in coverage. By the way GO HEELS!!!!!

[wahoo]

Dear Julius,
Why are you acting like a jerk? We don't care if you want to leave. Heck, there were many games when we didn't even know you were here.

If we give you a couple sugar cubes and a carrot stick, will you please go away?

Thanks, Panther Fans

[5'3" RB from Jacksonville]

Hey Julius -- Dont go to Jacksonville, cause they have a 5'3' RB who will put you on your tail every week in practice

[Hurney]

Jooyus, Mr Ed called..... He wants his dentures back

[Hurney]

Don't forget to pay your VIP tab at Scorpio's before you leave town daisy boy

[Shub]

Pep is tired of playing for this group of coaches mainly fox and his concervative and boring approach to attacking. Some other team with a more aggressive style of play and choosing more risky play calling will suit his attacking style. I'm a fan of the Panthers but I must say that fox and his "playing the odds" calls put me to sleep. I'd put money on this, years down the road we learn the truth. Good luck pep, I hope you set the world on fire and make all of your tar heel brothers proud.

[TY]

Handle your business Pep! No one can make the best decision when clouded by emotion. Do what you have to do! Go Panthers!!!

[Steve]

I love Julius, and yes I'm disappointed to see him go, but we can't fault him. If someone in a normal job decides to take a different path in their career would we consider that a bad thing? You live life once and an NFL player's career is far shorter than the average job. He has handled this tactfully and respectfully, and deserves the same in return.

Good luck Pep.

[Catsnmbr1fan]

Lawrence - you need to let that last game go, dude..!!.. we lost a game.. we won 12 games,, we have a lot to be proud of, from last year. This year the Panthers will concentrate on Defense. Last year was the offense, and we had one of the best rushing teams in the league. There is no reason to waste a early draft pick on a QB, or anyone else on the offense. Peppers this year was playing for a contract, period.. He is 29 yrs old, and only has a few years left to play. If he insists on going to a 3-4 defense, he may be out of the league even sooner. Teams will send their best RB's, TE's right at Peppers on every play, they always attack the Rookie, or the weakest Link,, He will be the weakest link on any defense, if he is playing, as a outside LB..

[Jay]

You people quit hating.
Good luck Pep.
Get al you can.

[NavyChief]

Tom,
This is a very good article. Why didn't you get the gig with ESPN. At least you are honest about the whole situation and not bashing one side or the other. Your bud Pat can't seem to get over his "dislike" of the Panthers franchise. Thank you for calling out the "wanna be" fans as well. These people must not have grown up in Carolina, because we a a much more loyal bunch than this.

[Ton C]

The reason we lost the games where we played excellent QBs was JP's fault. Or more specifically the D-line. Pressure on the QB puts relief on the secondary. We had very little pressure in the big games when it mattered. Trade him and beef up D-line and get a few free agent corners and you got yourself a winning team against anyone. Repairing the defense should be our goal this season especially without JP.

[HIT THE ROAD JACK]

DAMN. THE GREAT SORENSENSKY GOT IT WRONG THIS TIME. DR.PEPPERS WILL BE BACK IN A CAROLINA UNIFORM AFTER HE EXPLORES THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND THOSE WHO TRY TO HOLD PEOPLE BACK ARE JUST MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GO. JP NEEDS TO GET OUT AND PLAY AROUND THE LEAGUE. IN THE END THOUGH HE WILL BE BACK FOR HIS FINAL SEASON OR TWO WITH THE CATZ BECUZ HE WILL BE RETURNING HOME. HE IS 27. HE WILL BE BACK WHEN HE IS 37 TO MAKE A FEW MORE SACKS AND RETIRE. THATS A PROMISE.

LETS SUPPOSE THE GREAT SPORTS JOURNALIST SORENSENSKY WITH THE CRYSTALL BALLZ SAID HE WANTED TO LEAVE THE OBSERVER AND QC. WOULD THERE BE SUCH A MASSIVE UPROAR AS WITH PEPPERS? WOULD PEOPLE BE WRITING AND CALLING HIM NAMES AND FORCING HIM TO STAY? LOOK AT GEORGE SHINN. HE WAS LOVED THEN HE WAS HATED AND RUN OFF AND NOW HE IS LOVED AGAIN AND WANTED BACK. FICKLE DICKLES.

ITS LIKE A WOMAN. IF SHE SAYS SHE IS LEAVING YOUR SORRY WORTHLESS NO GOOD AZZ AND YOU BEG AND CRY FOR HER TO STAY IT ONLY MAKES HER WANT TO GET OUT QUICKER CUZ SHE WHIPPED YO AZZ AND SHE ARE THE LOSER BUT IF YOU TELL HER TO GET FUCKED AND DONT LET THE SCREEN DOOR HIT YOU IN YOUR AZZ ON THE WAY OUT THEN SHE WILL HAVE 2ND THOUGHTS.
RICHARD PRYOR BEGGED HIS WOMAN TO STAY AND TOLD HER HE WOULD FIND SOME NEW PUZZY AFTER SHE LEFT AND SHE REPLIED IF HE HAD 2 MO INCHES OF DICK HE COULD FIND SOME NEW PUZZY RIGHT HERE. AND SO IT GOES. SHE TOOK THE DOG WITH HER WHO PIZZED IN THE CORNER ON HIS WAY OUT TOO..

[Jayball233]

Why Not Try Pep At Outside Linebacker And Maybe Another Lawrence Taylor, How Would That Be?

[panthergrrl]

I think everybody knows that we prolly won't get two first round picks, but at least we're at the negotiating table. We have to at least throw out the hardball card. I still like the move and the hardball talk. That's why I love menz :-).

[matt]

WHO CARES WHAT TEAM HE GOES TO?? Ship him to the highest bidder, good riddance. I could care less if he went to Tampa Bay, as long as we get a starting D player or a high draft pick. Pep is gone, lets get the best deal we can for him. If we have to play him twice a year, at least we know he'll take half the plays off. WHAT ARE YOU SO SCARED OF

[Friendly Uncle]

I also have great respect for the gay community here and charlotte and i personally know that when pep leaves charlotte he will reveal his homosexuality to his new team the Cowboys and they will be happy just like him.

[XXX GayBoy XXX]

I personally would like to trade for peppers so he can come play for my team the iowa Homos a local football league in my town dedicated to helping people come out of the closet. We would love to have you Pep.

Sincerely, XXX GayBoy XXX

[Ernest T. Bass]

I'd agree with the Green Bay idea except for one thing when #90 started this song and dance Turgo was still a Panther...Yep they got the 3-4, Dom and K. Greene maybe that's where he wants to go...If it is why not just say so instead of all this song and dance B.S. I'm sick and tired of all the talk that's nothing more than a bunch of preening and posturing and amounts to a bunch of hot air...

Figure it out and let's get on to something else...

[Panthrman]

PantherJoe...you might be on to something there. However, a Carolina sideshow in GB is hardly ideal. He will go to Denver

[Old Man]

I wish someone would spend the time at least trying to educate the average fan on Franchise Tags. The Panthers do not want to trade Julius Peppers. Julius can publish lists of teams he is willing to be traded to all he wants. IT DOESN'T MATTER. The Panthers have put the ball in JP's court. If he wants a trade, go and find one. Otherwise Marty Hurney is going to wait until JP brings him the deal.

[Eric, Nashville]

I wouldn't be so sure that he won't play for the panthers again. Ask Lance Briggs or Albert Haynesworth. He will most likely be forced to play out his franchise tag, after his dismal performance in 07, I just don't see many teams that would be willing to pay the big ticket price for him yet. If he puts another good season on top of last season, he will get what he wants. He really blew it with 2.5 in 07.

[smarten up]

To the Green Bay predication guy...
Kevin Greene as an incentive....
LOL, are you serious...
Listen, no player is thinking along the lines that you are, its grasping at straws to support your opinion.

Lemme ask this...
name the last Big name FA that WANTED to go to GB in their prime...
There is none...lol, Reggie White Years ago when Reggie was Somewhat near the end, and when GB was poised for greatness with A Great GM, coach and QB.

Cross GB off the list