Rumor On Espn Insider--peppers Could End Up In Dallas Now

[KingintheNorth]

I think Ellis is traded out of here on draft weekend.

Agreed. That move also frees up about $4M in cap room.

 

[Hostile]

Is this before or after Greg Ellis' whinefest about being benched? Enquiring minds want to know how Spencer will react to being taken to "the woodshed" for his activities this offseason.

I don't think Ellis will be here.

 

[jobberone]

If Peppers had ended up a UFA, Jerry would have made a serious push to sign him. Peppers wants to come here. I have my doubts that Jerry would make a move for him now that he has been tagged. I would love it though.

If we only still had Dexter Coakley, add him in a package deal.

:laugh2:

I'd forgotten about that until you had to remind me.

Don't the Panthers have some time to rescind the tag or are they already on the hook for the 16.7M?

 

[dwmyers]

I think Ellis is traded out of here on draft weekend.

If you were a general manager in the NFL, would you give up more than a 7th round choice for Ellis? His age is a severe handicap in any trade.

 

[amuze]

Peppers-to-Pats losing steam. Now what?

Julius Peppers | Panthers | Interested: Dolphins? Packers? Broncos? Cowboys? Jets? Patriots?
After Vic Carucci of NFL.com posted a report earlier this week, saying that the New England Patriots were close to a deal that would grant them Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers in exchange for a second-round draft pick, it would now appear that this outcome is unlikely, unless the people involved are all in on a ruse.

Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald cites individuals from both parties who have now publicly stated there has been no discussion about Peppers landing with the Pats. Carl Carey, Peppers' agent, told the Herald that while the Pats had not contacted him about Peppers, "we have had preliminary discussions with GMs from other clubs in the league." Pats coach Bill Belichick, in a radio appearance on WEEI, indicated that the team prefers to deal directly with other teams and not with agents such as in this situation. He then cited Matt Cassel as an example of what franchised players should do if they want to be traded: sign the tender, and then ask for the trade.

All of this could be an attempt by Belichick to control the flow of information coming out of New England, and the Patriots could very well be internally considering the trade that has been getting so much play in rumor circles this week. But apparently until Peppers signs the Panthers' franchise tender - a one-year, $16.8 million deal - none of it will come to fruition.

As for the general managers "from other clubs in the league", this could be a number of individuals, but based on what Peppers has said he wants, we can eliminate many. It's likely that Peppers wants a deal similar to what Albert Haynesworth, Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney possess, and he has also stated he wants to play as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 system, and for a contending team. A team that was rumored to be in the hunt was the Dallas Cowboys, but Jerry Jones and Co. have been committed to working out an extension for DeMarcus Ware, who is the incumbent sackmaster in Dallas, and having two high-priced players at the same position doesn't make sense. Similarly, the Miami Dolphins could afford Peppers' price tag, but Joey Porter is already on the roster, he of the 17.5 sacks in 2008.

This leaves the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers. Some salary cap finagling would have to take place, but Peppers would be welcomed by either organization. The Jets would have a surefire playmaker instead of going forward with the Vernon Gholston experiment, a situation which could make or break them in 2009. As for the Packers, while Aaron Kampman is slated to take on the role as the outside rushing linebacker after eight seasons as a defensive end, Peppers is an upgrade.

One final intriguing possibility gaining momentum in rumor circles is a trade of Peppers to the Denver Broncos for fellow disgruntled player Jay Cutler. Pat Yasinkas, who covers the NFC South for ESPN.com, cautions that such a move wouldn't fit the profile of Panthers management. However, it would provide an escape for Cutler, and a chance for Peppers to play in a 3-4 scheme. This would likely mean that Chris Simms would be starting for the Broncos next season unless Jake Delhomme was included in the trade package. In either case, it would be hard to argue that the Broncos would be contending any better than the Panthers.

 

[Apollo Creed]

If you were a general manager in the NFL, would you give up more than a 7th round choice for Ellis? His age is a severe handicap in any trade.

Cookie monster can still get to the quarterback though, there is always a market for that somewhere in the league. Even if he's only in on 15-20 plays.

Wouldn't be shocked to see him in New England. They're good at squeezing the last bit of juice out of guys like Willie.

 

[dwmyers]

Cookie monster can still get to the quarterback though, there is always a market for that somewhere in the league. Even if he's only in on 15-20 plays.

Wouldn't be shocked to see him in New England. They're good at squeezing the last bit of juice out of guys like Willie.

I don't see it happening. He is about the only defensive lineman left from the class of 1998. His peers are free agents (Vonnie Holliday), or out of the league (Grant Wistrom, Andre Wadsworth), or writing books about their heroin addiction (Jason Peter).

The thing that gave Ellis value back in the day - his work ethic - are what have kept him in the league. But no one in their right mind trades for a high priced 34 year old pass rusher who only once had double digit sacks. Even Alan Faneca, an eight time All Pro and in Ellis's draft class .. nobody traded for him. They waited until he became a free agent and then signed him.

Did we trade for Keith Brooking? He's also in the class of 1998. Tra Thomas? He's with Jacksonville now. Anyone trade for him? Fred Taylor, class of 1998. Anyone trade for him?

The only people who trade moderately above average, overpriced veterans are star crossed fans, who generally don't understand the career value of their talent. GMs simply wait for them to be released and then renegotiate those expensive contracts.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I haven't heard anything about Dallas even being actually interested in picking him up.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I still dont think we'd be interested, simply because Ware's situation isnt resolved yet and Jones has said all along that is his absolute #1 priority. And Ware is a far better player than Peppers is.

It's a major gamble for any 3-4 team to sign Peppers to a mega deal and put him at OLB.

The position switch is what I am most concerned about. He has never played OLB before, so how do we know he can make the adjustment that Gregg Ellis did???

What if we give him a mega contract and Peppers sucks at OLB???

Then what???...............He is too small to play DE in a 3-4 so we would be totally screwed then.

Thats my worry about paying a guy to play a position that he has never played before and we are going to give him the money first, then see if he can play the position second.

Sounds like a dumb idea in my opinion.