New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick spent a great deal of time in his conference call with the Carolina media discussing Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers. And Belichick was effusive with his praise.
“He’s a great player, I mean, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Belichick said. “I have no problems saying that. . . . Julius Peppers is outstanding.”
But while Belichick says he thinks Peppers is great, he also says he knows nothing about off-season speculation that the Patriots might have been trying to acquire Peppers.
“I’m not sure exactly what you’re talking about,” Belichick said when a reporter asked him about that speculation. “We didn’t talk to Julius, and we couldn’t talk to Carolina because he wasn’t signed. I’m not really sure what you’re referring to.”
So Belichick thinks highly of Peppers, but he says he’s never had substantive talks about Peppers -- except talking about how to block him, which the Patriots will have to do on Sunday.