Peppers want to play in a 3-4 next season

[Biggems]

well what if we sign Peppers to a deal where he makes a small amount in 2009, but in the uncapped 2010 year, his salary balloons significantly?

 

[Ceasaleo88]

More likely scenario:

The Panthers sign Jordan Gross long term and franchise Peppers. We sign DeMarcus to a huge contract this offseason. Ellis lasts one more year (maybe). Next offseason when there is no cap Peppers comes to Dallas.

 

[dcfanatic]

More likely scenario:

The Panthers sign Jordan Gross long term and franchise Peppers. We sign DeMarcus to a huge contract this offseason. Ellis lasts one more year (maybe). Next offseason when there is no cap Peppers comes to Dallas.

I know Pepper is a long long shot, but I can't see Ellis coming back.

We already know that Spencer is the 'supposed future' and Ellis said he wants to be a starter or he wants out, plus he has a huge cap hit.

He also looked like he slowed down a lot last season even though he was healthy all year.

 

[jterrell]

Its not ideal but not ridiculous, Ellis did it in 05 and was servicable.

Ellis is about 25 pounds heavier than Spencer naturally and much, much stronger.

Looking at them stand together it is clear Ellis outweighs him by far more than the reported weights.

Spencer looks extremely light in the butt(but very quick) at OLB much less DE or 3-4 DE.

Spencer doesn't take on blocks so he would be awful as the DE.

 

[jterrell]

I know Pepper is a long long shot, but I can't see Ellis coming back.

We already know that Spencer is the 'supposed future' and Ellis said he wants to be a starter or he wants out, plus he has a huge cap hit.

He also looked like he slowed down a lot last season even though he was healthy all year.

Signing Peppers has nothing to do with Ellis and everything with Spencer. If they sign Peppers they can release Ellis but that is a one year move and marginal, the bigger issue is the long-term future of Spencer. You don't sign Peppers to play 1 or 2 years here and we are extending Ware til forever.

I'd gladly take Peppers and ware long-term with Spencer as the backup to both.

 

[Aikbach]

Ellis is about 25 pounds heavier than Spencer naturally and much, much stronger.

Looking at them stand together it is clear Ellis outweighs him by far more than the reported weights.

Spencer looks extremely light in the butt(but very quick) at OLB much less DE or 3-4 DE.

Spencer doesn't take on blocks so he would be awful as the DE.

I think if they wanted to do it that coaching and weight gain could pull it off.

 

[BigDFan5]

well what if we sign Peppers to a deal where he makes a small amount in 2009, but in the uncapped 2010 year, his salary balloons significantly?

There will never be an uncapped year

 

[BigDInCharlotte]

Please, no Peppers in Dallas. Some of the same things that have been said against him are further explained in these articles by those that have seen him play every game since he's been in the NFL:

Trade him and rebuild the defense
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/story/480372.html
"The idea of Peppers playing for the Panthers, a team he no longer wants to be part of, is scarier. Anybody who has aimed binoculars at Julius for consecutive series knows he takes plays off. If he's a Panther only because he has to be, what's he going to take off next – halves?"

Ex-GMs: Panthers' 4-3 is best ‘D' for Peppers
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/story/480418.html
“I don't think he's a 3-4 player at all,” Casserly said. “He's a right end in a 4-3 defense. That's his best position, and that's where they played him at Carolina.”

Quite a few folks to blame for this split
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/story/480412.html
"Much like in the Arizona game [...] they never knew quite what to do with Peppers.

They let Peppers dabble as a wide receiver. That didn't work. They sometimes dropped him into coverage, which turned him into nothing more than an average linebacker. They played him at left defensive end until this season, when he played right end. That worked out fine (a career-high 14.5 sacks), but Peppers still couldn't dominate when he needed to most (see Arizona game film).

But it's not all Fox's and Trgovac's fault. Peppers sometimes acted like he didn't much like football. His effort was sometimes questionable. Basketball was his first love. He told me once that when he played in a Final Four at North Carolina, that was a bigger thrill than playing in a Super Bowl."

 

[Frozen700]

Hey Im with you DC!! Release/trade Ellis

Possibly pick up Bart Scott(if we cant sign Burnett) and Julius?

Draft O-line, MLB and S

hell yea

 

[TRUTH87]

I'm personally sick of the thought of signing big name players. Seriously, play with what you have or draft. Don't build a freaking fantasy team. Build some damn team chemistry.

Ditto.

Team Chemistry>FANTASY TEAM

we know how the ALL-STAR team workz out.

 

[EPL0c0]

A boy can dream can't he...

Peppers rules out a return to Carolina next season, agent says

Associated Press


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- 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 draft pick in 2002, believes Carolina's defensive system isn't for him -- even after recording a career-high 14.5 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," Peppers' 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 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 also could 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 Carolina 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 return phone calls Saturday but released a statement through a team spokesman.

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

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.

2008 Statistics:
Tackles: 51
Sacks: 14.5
Passes defensed: 5

"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. He reached the Pro Bowl three consecutive years from 2004 to 2006 before an awful 2007 season where he recorded only 2.5 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 Carolina's shocking 33-13 NFC divisional playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals last weekend.

The defeat was part of a late-season defensive swoon for the Panthers, who allowed 30 or more points in six of their 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 to 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 join. Carey also declined to address speculation that the Panthers could place the franchise tag on Peppers and then trade him. The Kansas City Chiefs dealt defensive end Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings last year in exchange for a first-round pick and two third-round choices.
---------------------------------------

Could Spencer gain a little weight and drop the hand again? Then we move Rat to DE and go get a stout NT in FA or the draft.

I think an athlete like Peppers can play in any defense and so should you. The kid is a freak!

he'd have to settle for a paycut.

BUT...how does the uncapped season in 2010 effect pay that year? Could he have some pay/bonus$ deferred 'til then and would it or would it not count against Dallas?

(that whole uncapped thing has me confused)

 

[tunahelper]

WARNING!

Do not get overexcited about a Peppers signing. I live in Charlotte Metro area and watch the Panthers when the boys arent playing. JP is not dominating and would not be worth the cost.

JP makes a play a game and is usually silent when the game is on the line. I am not saying he isnt good, but many here that watch him, even Carolina fans are saying he doesnt bring enough to the table to pay him 17 million a year.

 

[ajk23az]

Source: Only 4 teams on Peppers' trade list

Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers will agree to be traded to only four teams, three of them in the NFC, a source said.

Two are teams the Panthers will not want to trade him to, the source said.

This implies that the two teams are in the NFC South, the division in which the Panthers play.

The source also says that there are issues that could impede a trade to the other two teams such as compensation for the Panthers and potential contract problems for Peppers.

In other words, the teams might not have a high first-round pick to offer Carolina, and might not have the money to pay Peppers.

The Panthers have until 4 p.m. Thursday to apply their franchise tag to Peppers or Jordan Gross, a move that would prevent the player from becoming an unrestricted free agent and bind him to Carolina for another season.

Peppers, obviously, does not want the tag applied to him, which would free him to negotiate his own deal with a prospective suitor. The Panthers, however, would receive nothing in return if he is not tagged.

- Tom Sorensen

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2009/02/source-only-4-teams-on-peppers-trade-list.html

 

[Rampage]

I bet the other 2 teams are Dallas and New England. New England will get him.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I definitely don't want Peppers, he seems like another malcontent, plus we'd have to pay through the nose to have him

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I wouldn't mind Jordan Gross.

 

[TheCount]

Dude, get off the size of the player determines where he plays especially in Wade's defense.

Why was Zach Thomas here then? Why was Rat playing NT? Why is Anthony Henry a CB? Why is Steve Smith a WR? Why is Maurice Jones Drew even in the NFL? Or Darren Sproles?

Consider me convinced. Flawless argument.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Peppers won't be here and Spencer won't ever, EVER play DE in a 3-4.

No kidding. Spencer as a 34 DE?

Talk about multiple LMAOs.

 

[dbair1967]

Not real sure why people keep starting threads about players we have ZERO chance of signing.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Not real sure why people keep starting threads about players we have ZERO chance of signing.

ZERO?

If Jerry wants him that number goes up to 100%

Don't be a hater!! You know you want some Peppers!