With the Pats dumping plenty of cap space via the trade of quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel, John Tomase of the Boston Herald (that sound you heard in the distance was every Patriots fan in America vomiting, twice) suggests that the Patriots now might be in play for Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers.
Peppers, who wears the franchise tag, wants to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. And the Patriots use a 3-4 defense.
While coach Bill Belichick has shown in the past that he’s willing to take unconventional steps to improve the team, this one would be his most unconventional, for several reasons.
First, the Pats don’t shell out huge deals to many players, especially not to players who have never played a down for the Patriots. They broke form two years ago with Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas, and if that move had been such a good one there would be no reason to talk about Peppers now.
Second, Peppers would have to be willing to ignore the seven-year, $100 million contract with $41 million guaranteed that Albert Haynesworth received from the Redskins. If the Pats were to ever give that much money to anyone, they’d have to first give an even better package to quarterback Tom Brady, who before his knee imploded was arguably the most underpaid player in the history of the game.
It won’t be easy. Agent Carl Carey, consciously or not, won’t want to subject himself to criticism from every other agent in the industry if Peppers gives a hometown discount to a non-hometown team. For Carey’s sake, Peppers’ new deal needs to equal or exceed the Haynesworth package, especially since Peppers already is guaranteed to make $16.68 million in 2009 if/when he signs his franchise tender.
Third, Peppers has blossomed of late into a pain in the butt, trying to use the media to force his way out of Carolina. Those traits don’t translate well to the Patriot way.
Fourth, Belichick rarely gets worked up about players from other teams unless those guys have given Belichick fits. In two career games against the Patriots (including a Super Bowl), Peppers has a grand total of 0.0 sacks.
So while it’s one of those obvious fanboy “hey, let’s sign Peppers” possibilities, it’s by no means a simple proposition.
That said, we aren’t saying it won’t happen. We learned our lesson last week after applying Sean Salisbury-style certainty to Matt Cassel never playing for the Chiefs.
PATS TO MAKE A PLAY FOR PEPPERS?
Posted by Mike Florio on March 2, 2009, 10:05 AM EDT
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Latest Stories in: Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Rumor Mill, Top Stories
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Latest Stories in: Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Rumor Mill, Top Stories
24 Responses to “PATS TO MAKE A PLAY FOR PEPPERS?”
I’m pretty sure the Patriots like what Thomas has brought to the team. He missed 7 games to injury this year. That doesn’t make him a bad deal and it shouldn’t make a team gunshy over signing other players. Anyone can get hurt.
The Packers are getting Peppers not the New England Cheata’s
Everybody would think that Peppers would have that kind of contract, but people change when they go the the Pats. Peppers might not want a big contract if he is going to the Pats. Then again, this is Julius Peppers we are talking about.
They would also have to make sure Vince Wilfork gets a contract extension before getting Julius Peppers, because giving Peppers big money before showing Big Vince the cash could cause Wilfork to take the Hoodie out at the knee, a la JP Losman…
“They broke form two years ago with Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas, and if that move had been such a good one there would be no reason to talk about Peppers now.”
That’s just faulty logic.
No, No, No. No Peppers. Extending Wilfork and other potential 2010 free agents are more important.
TheDPR says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
I’m pretty sure the Patriots like what Thomas has brought to the team. He missed 7 games to injury this year. That doesn’t make him a bad deal and it shouldn’t make a team gunshy over signing other players. Anyone can get hurt.
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He got hurt *this* year, that doesn’t explain last year. He’s been good, just not the monster that he was expected to be.
I can see it happening,
They are sitting pretty in football roster capital.
They have decent depth at linebacker they have three (3) second round picks, which gives them a total of nine in the whole draft.
Peppers is in good shape and is not old for league standards at his age.
randy moss was willing to play for a whole lot less for the patriots than any other team that was interested in trading for him when he was still in oakland. I dould see peppers giving a discount to the pats as well
the pats need to resign big vince. the pats also have 20 plus expiring contracts next year. signing an impact player like peppers to a long term deal makes sense especially if the team plans on letting some of the 20 players hit free agency. don’t be surprised if this deal goes down.
peppers looks like he likes to get coaches fired. and he does his best, easily, against bad teams.
i dont see the pats doing this.
Since the trade, there is now a need for a pass-rushing OLB, and there is now money to pay him. The Panthers don’t pick until the late second round and need WR, TE and DL help. Seems like a good fit.
The problem is that the Pats don’t just pay Peppers this year, it’s prob. for the next 5-7, and have some huge decisions to make this time next year (Seymour, Mankins, Hobbs, Green, Watson, and maybe Wilfork if a deal doesn’t get done). The CB position also is in shambles. Maybe if Ken Lucas comes along with him…
Also the deal will probably basically be Cassel, Vrabel, and a 2 for the right to sign him to a massive deal. But Cassel wasn’t going to play, and Vrabel (and his $3.5m) becomes expendable if they upgrade to Peppers. So you give up valuable trade bait but, besides the 2, you don’t hurt the team.
The Packers aren’t getting anyone! Matter of fact they are losing players!
That GM is a screw up.
I don’t see this happening. Peppers makes too much money. John Tomase just makes stuff up all the time. If it were a better source I’d give the story more credibility.
The fact that Peppers wants to move from DE to OLB is a pretty good indication he’s fine with less money. LBs are paid less than DEs.
You’re quoting the single most discredited source in Patriot nation, from the single most discredited publication. Even though you make a living off rumors this is one guy you should be ignoring.
superius says
“He got hurt *this* year, that doesn’t explain last year. He’s been good, just not the monster that he was expected to be. ”
Last year he played inside (out of position ) and had a “monster” year. He didn’t have as many chances for sacks playing inside. He was in pass coverage most often.
yeah mike reiss is always right. a real insider!
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THIS IS…1)The Panthers have already said they are not taking less than the two first round picks required to sign a Franchised Player…2)Ken Lucas is in no way gonna be an add in with Pepp to any team…and 3)PEPP is not worth it and I am a fan of his…he plays hard when he wants to…Doesnt seem to fit in well with BILL…Also if we do get rid of him, it will be for a waaaaaaay higher pick than the pats can give the Panthers this year…we have to replace him now people….I doubt at this point he goes anywhere from what I have heard in Charlotte…It appears Peppers and his agent have lost this battle to the Panthers…Peppers found out what its like to play hardball with an NFL Team…Oh and we can Franchise him next year two…(NO SALARY CAP)!!!
I can’t see Bill paying that kind of money to him. A better chance of him signing Jason Taylor for one year.
No way…They need to look for more help @ cb before dumping money into Peppers “HOPEFULLY” transition into a LB.
Peppers’ move to OLB and getting a huge contract is a major risk that Pats don’t have to take. There is a strong possibility that Peppers would be ineffective as a OLB.
Peppers’ move to OLB and getting a huge contract is a major risk that Pats don’t have to take. There is a strong possibility that Peppers would be ineffective as a OLB.
All you need to remember is that the Pats shelled out huge contracts for both Roosevelt Colvin AND Adalius Thomas. To say that those signings didn’t work out is to say a super bowl championship and a 16-0 season were failures. Belichick has a track record of shelling out cash to established, versatile linebackers that fit his 3-4 system. So please don’t act surprised.