Merriman + Peppers?

[Blue Bolt]

PEPPERS WANTS OUT OF CAROLINA
Posted by Mike Florio on January 17, 2009, 12:15 a.m.
Link (http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/)

At a time when the Carolina Panthers would be required to tender a $17 million one-year salary to defensive end Julius Peppers in order to keep his rights via the franchise tag, Peppers is making it known that he doesn’t want to remain with the team.

“The front office has been informed of my desire to explore opportunities with other NFL teams following the expiration of my contract next month,” Peppers said in a statement e-mailed by his agent to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, and possibly others. “At this point in my NFL career, I am seeking new challenges that will allow me to grow, develop and reach my personal potential on the football field.

“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.”

“Julius is firm in his decision that he needs a change,” agent Carl Carey said, per Mortensen. “He feels that he can thrive in another system. While he has been selected to four Pro Bowls and designated as an All-Pro during his career, he feels that he has yet to develop to his full potential. This is the case of a great player who seeks to become an elite one.”

Peppers is a North Carolina native, and he played college football at the University of North Carolina. So by turning his back on the Panthers, he’s essentially turning his back on his home state.

[JCDavey]

moving him to DE in a 3-4 would be a new challenge, let's do it!

[JCDavey]

oh and my bet is, denver broncos

although they may shy away from him like they did with kearney which was smart cause after kearney signed with seattle, didn't he miss all or most of 08?

[Jay21]

Watch he'll end up going to the Titans...

...after they resign Big Al too.

No, I'm not typing in green text either

[Jay21]

oh and my bet is, denver broncos

although they may shy away from him like they did with kearney which was smart cause after kearney signed with seattle, didn't he miss all or most of 08?

I think so. That would... well, help..explain why their D was so crappy this year

[JCDavey]

Watch he'll end up going to the Titans...

...after they resign Big Al too.

No, I'm not typing in green text eitheri don't think the titans need a DE

don't they have a good compliment to vandenbosch , but he's injured right now like merriman?

i doubt tenn see's D as a place of need enough to shell out big bucks on a FA when they've already gotta take care of albert

it's a shame for tenn albert and peppers play different positions, or then they copuld make a choice

i just can't imagine tenn seeing D as a problem you'd need to bring peppers in to fix


ie if it's not broken, why fix it?

[Blue Bolt]

i don't think the titans need a DE

don't they have a good compliment to vandenbosch , but he's injured right now like merriman?

i doubt tenn see's D as a place of need enough to shell out big bucks on a FA when they've already gotta take care of albert

it's a shame for tenn albert and peppers play different positions, or then they copuld make a choice

i just can't imagine tenn seeing D as a problem you'd need to bring peppers in to fix


ie if it's not broken, why fix it?

Albert is going to cost a boatload of money. I seriously doubt the Titans would pursue Peppers as well.

[Jay21]

You're thinking of Javon Kearse? If so, I wouldn't say that he's a really good compliment to him - more like a stopgap. Besides, they have to figure out some way to terrorize opposing offenses when Albert gets injured for 4-5+ games every season. Peppers at least makes them a legit D without Albert.
They have about $35m in cap space going into next season, so I could see them making a big splash and take care of their own

[JCDavey]

I think so. That would... well, help..explain why their D was so crappy this yeardenver's D has sucked ever since they lost their ability to blitz with the LBs

they decided to move to more of a LB in coverage philosophy after the 05 season , i remember watching shanny comment on it in training camp, i have no idea what motivated them to do that, but their DE play has been bad for a while aside from dumervil who looked good in 07 and 06 but took 2008 off.

thus far it's looked like jarvis moss was a bust of a pick for them, so maybe they will go back to the FA well after not really making their typical splash there last year (last year all they did was sign a bunch of bum safeties)

[JCDavey]

You're thinking of Javon Kearse? If so, I wouldn't say that he's a really good compliment to him - more like a stopgap. Besides, they have to figure out some way to terrorize opposing offenses when Albert gets injured for 4-5+ games every season. Peppers at least makes them a legit D without Albert.
They have about $35m in cap space going into next season, so I could see them making a big splash and take care of their ownyou know you're right i must have been thinking of someone else, kearse is an old man....maybe they will go with peppers, still i think D isn't the side of the ball that is the problem

they may not think there is a problem, they may be right, aside from pretty stupid turnovers, they would still be alive in the playoffs.

[Totally Bolted]

denver's D has sucked ever since they lost their ability to blitz with the LBs

they decided to move to more of a LB in coverage philosophy after the 05 season , i remember watching shanny comment on it in training camp, i have no idea what motivated them to do that, but their DE play has been bad for a while aside from dumervil who looked good in 07 and 06 but took 2008 off.

thus far it's looked like jarvis moss was a bust of a pick for them, so maybe they will go back to the FA well after not really making their typical splash there last year (last year all they did was sign a bunch of bum safeties)


Probably why Lynch had enough. He saw it coming.

[DDMALO]

I see JP quite possibly heading to NE, if he'll take a bit less than market value to play 3-4 OLB for a perennial SB contender. He'd be a perfect fit for them, as their LBs are old and their system fits what he wants to do. Hope it doesn't happen though, obviously...

[AmeriGuard]

Pepper and Also bring in Dansby

[Blue Bolt]

PEPPERS WANTS TO PLAY IN A 3-4 DEFENSE
Posted by Mike Florio on January 17, 2009, 5:02 p.m.

Defensive end Julius Peppers doesn’t want to play for the Panthers. He apparently also doesn’t want to play for any team that uses a 4-3 defense.

“He certainly feels that he can excel and thrive in a 3-4 defense,” agent Carl Carey said Saturday.

This narrows significantly the field of potential suitors, and reduces Peppers’ overall leverage. So maybe a 3-4 defensive isn’t a dealbreaker.

“He is also open to just another system in general that will allow him to maximize his athletic abilities,” Carey added.

It’s unclear whether Peppers envisions himself a defensive end or a linebacker in a 3-4 set. As a linebacker, he’d assume a three-point stance and rush the quarterback on passing downs. As a defensive end, his role on many plays would be to tie up blockers so that linebackers could pursue the ball.

Also on Saturday, the Panthers responded to Peppers’ public effort to leave the team. “Obviously, Carl’s comments are disappointing,” G.M. Marty 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.”

Peppers’ stance virtually guarantees that the Panthers will apply the franchise tag to Peppers, and then the Panthers likely will trade him to a new team, which would sign him to a monster deal.

[SP17BOLT]

It'd be great to see Peppers in a charger uni, but unlikely he'll come here.

[LightsOut4ever]

I see JP quite possibly heading to NE, if he'll take a bit less than market value to play 3-4 OLB for a perennial SB contender. He'd be a perfect fit for them, as their LBs are old and their system fits what he wants to do. Hope it doesn't happen though, obviously...

That makes a lot of sense. There arn't really any other 3-4 teams who don't have a good/young pass-rushing OLB (well, maybe SF...possibly CLE if Wimbley doesn't turn it around). Vrabel is old and more "reliable" than "playmaker", and Thomas hasn't played much OLB in NE yet (ILB most in 07, then hurt most of this year)...and he's only getting older as well.