http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/17/...ut-of-carolina/


Very interesting. I dont think these comments mean squat to the Panthers, they will do whats best for the franchise.

Somebody must be whispering to his agent, rumor has the Redskins and Giants interested in him.

I think like every fan or player, I would love to have this guy on my team. CAR still holds many of the cards, I for one think that this years first would be well worth bringing in a player of his caliber. Still a long shot that he will ever be a packer, heck he may not want to be. However this does make it look as least a little more possible.

My money, if they have the cap, is on Seattle. They need to get another DE on that line.

Didnt see a thread on it, thought it at least warranted discussion.

If the Panthers dont franchise him, which is a possibility if they use it on Gross again, should the Packers attempt to sign him?

With Kampman and Peppers on the line, that would be awesome.

And we all remember what happened the last time we signed a big name DE in FA.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3839736

Not sure they'll be able to keep both Gross and Peppers, and I think I'd pee myself if we got either of those guys.

Wow- pee yourself... Hate to see what you would do if you won lotto!

Yeah, his name was Joe Johnson from the Saints, I don't think that worked too well.... Oh you meant Reggie

How will that affect the Packers' plans?

Also, does that mean if we get him (and that is a BIG 'If'), we have to play 3-4 and get a 3-4 DC?

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...8105&spln=1

Probably the same thing, since the odds are about the same

I would think they would use it on Gross imo. Peppers is getting older and 17 million would be alot to franchise him for.

Gross is pretty damn important to that Oline, hard to say which is more important.

Bit if they resign Gross, i guess they would probably franchise Peppers.

But i doubt TT would even bat an eye at him.

Nope....I personally do not want him at the price he is going to command. Plus he is already 29 years old and I just do not see him being an elite player much longer. Heck...Arizona single blocked him the whole game last week and he did not have any sacks. Call me insane, but I like Cullen Jenkins better than him at defensive end.

Let him go somewhere else. We need defensive tackles much, much more. Somebody that can consistently collapse the pocket would be much more valuable.

i cant see any team changing their defense so they can get 1 FA. if he wants to play a OLB in a 3-4, let him, but not for us. too much $$$ and he has no experience playing OLB. i assume he wants to do it because of successes that OLBs have been having in sacking the QB the past few years over DEs.

Well i dont think age matters, i know Reggie was legendary but he was 32 when he signed with us and look what he did.

And yes, you are insane if you think Jenkins is better.

I guess you weren't watching last year when the Giants moved the biggest of their ends inside and consistantly killed every qb they played after that. Cullen can move to tackle for Peppers, and I think he'd probably be happy to do it when the team gets 15 extra sacks and wins 3-5 more games.

Reggie White was a freak. These days, you don't see too many DE's make it too far into their early 30's. Of course you have your Jason Taylors and Michael Strahans, but there are also many in the mold of KGB.

If we did sign Peppers, I would still like to see the Packers go after a DT in the draft. Imagine the rotations that we could use ..moving Jenkins inside on clear passing situations. How would you like to have Aaron Kampman, Julius Peppers, Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly all trying to kill you at one time? I, for one, would not like any part of such a scenario.

I know I brought some of this stuff up in the Haynesworth vs. Peppers thread, but I just think we are making a mistake by going after Julius, instead of Albert.

Now, would I be excited if we landed him? Sure, I know damn well that he probably has something left in the tank, and pairing him with Kampman is nothing short of solid. But at what cost? He is going to command some coin, and to come to GB that is what it is going to take. Not saying Albert won't command more, but if I want the bang for my buck, I want the best run-stopper in the league.

JMO.

Peppers has basically implied that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense (OLB I'm assuming), so unless we change, I doubt he's coming to Green Bay.

No way IMO Hayneworth is a punk and injury prone can never play a whole season. Also do as I have said before Haynesworth screams Hunt as a guy who gets paid and then becomes lazy and does nothing. Peppers has always seemed to be a good team player and will be 29 next year he is stil in his prime for several more years.

Neither one. Haynesworth is a turd and Peppers is almost 30. Peppers' numbers are not that great - not worth the kind of money it will cost to get him. If Peppers was "Reggie like" we should go after him, but he is no Reggie White. He made a comment about wanting to play in a 3-4 so KC might be where he ends up. According to reports KC has about 45 mil in salary cap space.

I think GB stays with the 4-3 so GB should invest in its own like Collins, Jennings; extend Kampman, and possibly extend Jenkins after next season. Adding a couple DTs in FA - Bertrand and Cody are possibilities.

Interesting comments on the good and bad of Peppers.

Peppers' wish puts Panthers in quandary
Agent: Pro Bowl defensive end can't see reaching his full potential with Carolina
By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009
Slideshow

Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers (90) smiles as he sits with defensive teammates during the 4th quarter against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers won, 31-22. DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

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Carolina Panthers coach John Fox (left) and draft choice Julius Peppers of North Carolina hold up a jersey during a news conference in Charlotte in 2002 after the Panthers chose Peppers with the second pick of the NFL draft. RICK HAVNER – ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Julius Peppers believes Carolina's defensive system is not for him – even after recording a career-high 14 1/2 sacks this season following his move from left defensive end to the right side. He was limited to only 2 1/2 sacks during the 2007 season. DAVID T. FOSTER III – dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

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The Panthers have been trying to sign four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers to an extension for the past two years. But Peppers wants to go elsewhere. JEFF SINER – jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

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More Information
Quite a few folks to blame for this split

Trade him and rebuild the defense

Fox defends use of Peppers, says team has options

Ex-GMs: Panthers' 4-3 is best ‘D' for Peppers

Peppers agent: 'Decision not made in haste'

Poll: What should Panthers do with Peppers now?

Julius Peppers timeline

Peppers wants out

Blog: Reflections on compelling Peppers story

Scott Says ... You gotta be kidding

Blog: Hurney 'disappointed,' but plans to keep talking

Blog: Minter surprised, but understands

Inside the Panthers | Latest updates

Forum | Talk about the Panthers, NFL

In a Pickle with Peppers
WHAT ARE THE PANTHERS' OPTIONS? They could let Peppers become an unrestricted free agent and get nothing for losing him, or they could use their franchise tag to trade him or try to keep him for at least one year.

WHAT'S A FRANCHISE TAG? NFL rules allow teams to protect one potential unrestricted free agent per year by designating him a franchise player. That restricts other clubs from signing the player. Teams who use the tag have to give the player a one-year offer equal to the average pay for the top five NFL players from the same position group or a 20 percent raise over the previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

HOW MUCH WOULD PEPPERS MAKE IF HE PLAYED UNDER A FRANCHISE TAG NEXT SEASON? He would be due nearly $17 million for 2009. That's believed to be about $5 million more than the average of the top five highest paid players at his position, a hefty price.

WHAT ARE KEY DATES AHEAD? The Panthers must decide between Feb. 5 and 19 whether to franchise Peppers.

WHAT ABOUT A TRADE? The key would be finding a team he wants to play for that is willing to meet both his salary expectations and Carolina's compensation requirements.

-- Charles Chandler
This is Julius Peppers' 29th birthday, and it could have been the day he and his Carolina Panthers teammates hosted the NFC Championship Game in Charlotte.

Instead, it's the second consecutive Sunday when the organization experienced deep disappointment.

Last week, the Panthers reeled from their 33-13 playoff loss a day earlier to the Arizona Cardinals.

Today, they're faced with the news that Peppers, a team captain and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, no longer wants to wear a Panthers uniform.

Through his agent, Houston-based Carl Carey, Peppers was careful Saturday to say he has great respect for the Panthers and the team's organization, but he also emphatically expressed a desire to join a new team and new defensive system to fully reach his potential as a player.

Under no circumstances, said Carey, will Peppers sign a long-term contract with Carolina, either now or in the future.

“He feels like he's given it seven years,” Carey said of Peppers, the No.2 overall pick in the 2002 draft. “When you've given something seven years and feel you have not reached your full potential, it becomes a situation where you say, `My time is very valuable, so I need to maybe not give it any more time.'”

Peppers was unavailable for comment Saturday.

Peppers' contract is to expire Feb.26.

The Panthers could allow him to become an unrestricted free agent and receive no compensation for losing him or they could put their franchise tag on him.

Franchise tags keep the players off the open market.

Franchising Peppers would give the Panthers the option of trading him or trying to convince him to play the 2009 season under a one-year tender offer of about $17million – about $5million more than average annual salary of the league's highest-paid defensive players.

Carey said that would create a dilemma for the Panthers.

“We have made it clear that Julius' stance on this is firm,” said Carey. “They've got to decide whether or not they're going to spend roughly $17million on a player (with) whom they will find themselves in this same situation 12 months from now.”

Coach John Fox told the Observer on Saturday the Panthers would “do what's best for our football team” and rejected the suggestion that Peppers couldn't reach his potential playing for Carolina.

“I'll just say this: We've never held players back,” said Fox.

General manager Marty Hurney didn't return calls, but he released a statement expressing the team's strong desire to keep Peppers.

“Obviously, Carl's comments are disappointing,” said Hurney. “We have consistently reiterated to Carl in a number of ways how much we value Julius and we plan to continue having ongoing communications.”

Peppers has turned down multiyear contract offers from the Panthers that would have made him the NFL's highest-paid defensive player with an average annual salary believed to be at least $13million.

He told reporters last week that decisions about his future wouldn't be based on money.

In explaining Peppers' desire to change teams, Carey said it's akin to a B-plus student who's capable of making A's.

“Julius feels he can thrive in another system,” said Carey.

“He is seeking something different that will open him up some and allow him to be the disruptive force that he believes he has the potential to be.”

Peppers had a career high 141/2 sacks this season in helping the Panthers to a 12-4 regular-season record and NFC South championship. His 701/2 career sacks are a franchise record.

Carey said Peppers is intrigued by the possibility of playing for a team that uses a 3-4 defense.

He played defensive end in Carolina's 4-3 scheme, but likely would project as a somewhat oversized outside linebacker in the 3-4.

Teams that use a 3-4 are Miami, Dallas, Pittsburgh, New England, Baltimore, San Diego, Cleveland and the New York Jets.

Carey said Peppers isn't locked into playing in a 3-4, but called it “a preference.”

“Certainly, he feels that just another system in general also could give him an opportunity to grow and develop.”

Carey said Peppers believes he has done “everything he can do” here.

“Right now, he has a feeling that there's something more, that there's something left in him that has not been tapped yet.”

Carolina's decision-making process regarding Peppers is complicated by the fact All-Pro left tackle Jordan Gross also is in the final year of his contract.

The Panthers put their franchise tag on Gross last year and he played under a one-year deal, but they can use the tag only on one player per season.

Gross has said he hopes to stay with Carolina long-term, so team officials likely will try to strike a deal with him so they can use the franchise tag on Peppers without allowing Gross to hit the open market.

NFL rules require clubs to make their franchise player designations between Feb.5 and Feb.19.

Trades and free-agent signings can begin Feb.27.

Carey said Peppers would prefer to be an unrestricted free agent, but he understands Carolina's need to protect its investment in him.

The Panthers could choose to franchise and trade Peppers, as the Kansas City Chiefs did last year when they dealt star defensive end Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick and two third-rounder selections.

Carey said it was a difficult decision for Peppers to ask his way out of Carolina, especially since he's spent his life in the state.

Peppers grew up in Bailey, east of Raleigh, played college football at North Carolina and owns a luxurious home on Lake Norman.

“This is purely business,” said Carey

Two things come to mind;
1. he really dumb
2. get a larger payday then Haynesworth.

I think he saying this because he wants to make more money and get it from a 43/tampa 2 team. That alone makes me stay away from him.

only thing if he is tagged and traded it wont be to the packers because the Packers wont trade the 9th pick for him which I would agree the 9th pick would be to much for him. He would be traded to a team with a mid to late round first and a 3rd I bet.

Gross is a probowl caliber LT. He's four years younger than Clifton and has no injury history, at all. If we drafted another tackle with the first pick, we could cut Clifton and not resign Tauscher with his badly injured knee. We'd start Gross/Jason Smith (for example). We would end up younger and better at OT.

We'll see how this thing shakes out. I think Gross would be a very good fit here and wouldn't be as expensive as Haynesworth so he'd be more realistic. I'm hoping Peppers is franchised just to open up this option if TT wants it.

I agree totally. However, from what I've read, Gross will be paid by the Panthers, even if it means losing Peppers (I saw it on PFT- no longer, IMO, a site for rumors and nonsense, but a solid source for NFL news). I also read that the Panthers might franchise Peppers- though I also read that this would not be possible. Personally, I don't think Gross is going anywhere. Unfortunately.

forget gross, he'll be too much $ in free agency and if carolina was smart they'd do eveything in their power to keep him. we should draft an OT first round and we can hopefully get 10-12 great years out of him. move colledge to RT or draft a RT in a later round. we let taucsher go for sure. i think clifton might have one or two good years left in him depending on how much of a beating his knees take. but clifton definately is diminishing. i think sitton becomes the new starting left guard, he is a little beefier. oline will look something like this: clifton/rookie sitton wells spitz colledge. maybe MM will give brandon jackson some more touches this next season, i like him a little more than grant and their running styles compliment eachother.

Gross is not a Pro Bowl LT...more like a Pro Bowl RT...He's an above average-solid LT.

According to Brandt on NFP, if Carolina chooses to tag Peppers it will cost them $16.7 mil next year, that's a huge cap hit. I just don't see that happening, just like I don't see Peppers coming to GB.

Why are some players on the team or people leading the team getting free passes for "one bad year " but yet there are people out there yelling for Clifton's head? He played on an entire line that was just flat out bad.

I would just assume we let Clifton's contract run out and let him retire as a Packer. He has been a GREAT player for us. I mean seriously. It isn't like we need the cap space. Thompson has already stated he feels no urgency after the melt down last season. I don't see Thompson doing anything different then he did last year. He valued quantity over quality in the draft and totally ignored free agency. Looking at last year's transactions, there wasn't one move that made the 08 Packers a better football team.

If Peppers is franchised then Gross is going to sign a contract that is going to make him one of the top 5 paid offensive lineman in the NFL. People who think he is going to come cheap haven't paid attention to the salaries top LTs have been signing the last 2 or 3 years.

Gross has said he loves the team and it's fans and wants to stay. I think that the Panthers tag Peppers and trade him and re-sign Gross.

Where did anyone say Gross was going to come cheap?

That's what it sounds like from the Carolinas. Everyone down there seems to think that Peppers is all but gone and that Gross will be their #1 priority to sign, which, he should be.

From Rotoworld.com

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/YoHoChecko/184187

They might just be teams that Carolina plays next season:

Home: Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Washington, Minnesota, Buffalo, Miami
Away: Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Arizona, New England, N.Y. Jets

There are several strong 3-4 teams in that lineup. Also, that schedule look inhumanely difficult.

Outstanding!!! Anyone heard a status on Gross yet? If Peppers is tagged with the hopes of trading him, how much would it take to get him? A 2nd and 5th?

Schefter is reporting that a deal for Gross is almost finalized for about 9 million a year. He also said if it goes through then Car will franchise Peppers for the purpose of trading him.

If they did trade him IMO it would be to an AFC team that runs the 3-4.

Is Ted Thompson blogging under the psuedoname of YoHoChecko?

If he is he better better have a fat wallet

Nevermind the OLB stuff, I'd make him a DE and use him like Richard Seymour. Chaos is chaos, no matter where on the line it's coming from.

Florio isn't a fan, obviously.

After suggesting that the Panthers should file tampering charges against the teams on the list (using the logic that they must have already had some contact with Peppers's agent), he goes on to say...



http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/02/18/...ssible-suitors/

Florios brilliant...

I haven't been that excited about Peppers because
of what he will cost and TT's relutance to OVERPAY in FA.
Here is the current salary cap room for those 4 teams.
Den - $34 million
KC - $33 million
Mia - $28 million
GB - $18 million

I would love to get him, but I just don't see it happpening.

Go Pack!!

I've heard the 4 teams on his list are the Cowboys, 2 NFC south teams and an AFC team. Unless there's been some realignment in the NFL, I'd say the Packers are not going to be adding Peppers.

(Not that I ever thought it would happen anyway)

I think Schefter reported that it was three NFC teams and one AFC team. I could definately see his interest in the Cowboys with a new facility, 3-4, owner who overpays, and would play on a favorable surface.

Thinking about it, that doesn't make sense. None of the other teams in the division (Saints, Bucs or Falcons) run a 3-4. I did read about it being the Cowboys an AFC team and 2 other NFC teams, but they can't be in the south. Who else runs a 3-4 in the NFC?

Here's an article from Yahoo
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AoLZ...p&type=lgns

Its Dallas, 2 NFC teams and an AFC team
Talks about Carolina perhaps wanting a 1st and Dallas doesn't have one.
And that they'd likely prefer he not go to an NFC team

I don't know what to believe about this list. Everything I've read/heard seems to be in agreement that Dallas and an AFC team are on the list. However, some sources say it's 2 NFC south teams, and others say it's just 2 NFC teams. If he really wants to play in a 3-4, you'd figure the other 2 NFC teams would be 3-4 teams and probably SF and GB (I can't think of any other NFC teams running a 3-4). I still don't see him coming to GB, mostly because I don't see TT spending the coin to get him.

I honestly don't know why people keep their hopes up about Peppers. I think its a dumb move. If we are going to spend big money in FA we need to get proven 3-4 players. We need 3-4 players not 4-3 players. Peppers is a 4-3 player. He is just simply way too big to be a 3-4 OLB and his talent would be wasted as a 3-4 DE. 3-4 DEs don't make very much money. Even the good ones. Their role is stop the run and hold up against blockers to allow the LBs to make plays. This move makes no sense at all.

Agree completely. I was sad when I heard the Ravens were planning on franchising Suggs, I've always thought he was exactly the guy we should try to get.