The good, bad and the ugly of the Bears signing Julius Peppers
If you’re a Chicago Bear fan, you’re probably going through a wave of emotions right now after learning that your team just signed free agent Julius Peppers to a six-year deal. So allow me to play NFL physiologist for a moment and break down what the signing could mean for the Bears.
The Good:
Peppers is a freak – a true athletic marvel. He’s averaged over 10 sacks a year in his eight-year career and racked up 25 QB takedowns in his past two seasons. Without question, the Bears needed to fill a massive void along their defensive line by adding a premier pass rusher, which they did by signing Peppers. He’s someone whose mere presence alone will make his teammates (Tommie Harris anyone?) better around him, by freeing them up to make plays. He was the crown jewel of the 2010 free agency period and he gives hope to a fan base that has been utterly dejected after the Bears crashed and burned in 2009 despite having high expectations following the Jay Cutler trade. Along with the deal for Cutler, the Peppers’ signing might also signal a new era for the Bears, one in which a once cheap organization will become more aggressive when it comes to acquiring new players.
The Bad:
There’s a strong possibility that Peppers won’t see the end of this contract. He’s already 30 and even though he’s an athletic monster, there are only a handful of defenders that are extremely productive well into their 30s. Even though they had to outbid the Eagles, Patriots and Daniel Snyder’s Redskins, $40 million is a lot of dough to pay an aging defender for the next three years.
The Ugly:
If you’re a Bears fan and you read the previous two paragraphs, chances are you’re still pretty stoked about the signing. But here’s where things get worrisome for the Chicago faithful: Peppers’ reputation for being lazy is well known. This was the same player that virtually took an entire year off in 2007 when he only registered 2.5 sacks in 14 games. He’s been known to take plays off, disappear for entire lengths of games and even run away from the action in order to avoid contact. When the Panthers wanted him to step up over the past couple years and be the leader of their defense, he declined. Last year, he produced 10.5 sacks but none of them came against divisional foes the Saints or the Falcons. His age is also a problem, as defensive ends seem to hit a brick wall at age 32. Twenty-nine defensive ends are in the top 50 for career sacks, averaging 10 sacks at age 30, 9.8 sacks at age 31, but only 7.3 sacks at age 32. Only eight of those 29 reached double digit sacks at 32, and four of those eight were among the best DEs to have ever played (Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Michael Strahan and Chris Doleman). So when it’s all said and done, the Bears might essentially be paying Peppers a three-year, $40 million contract in terms of production. That’s over $13 million a year, which is an awfully lot of money.
My final paragraph isn’t intended to kill the excitement for Bear fans. Peppers can be a game-changer that opposing offenses have to account for every down and his numbers speak for themselves outside of the ’07 season. It also has to be thrilling for fans to see their team finally spending money, seeing as how it’s been a long time since the Bears opened their wallets.
That said, Peppers probably won’t be worth the money in the end. If this were a player that could be counted on to play hard each and every week, the money might be justified. I realize the Bears had to overpay (it’s just the nature of the beast when it comes to free agency in the NFL), but there’s a good possibility that Chicago didn’t get much value here and won’t get what they paid for.
Still, it’s an awfully exciting day for the fine folks in “The Windy City.”
Update: Peppers’ contract was of the record-setting variety according to ESPN’s John Clayton. The official deal was for six years at $91.5 million, with $40 million guaranteed. Wow.
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Ahhhh, Anthony, Anthony, I don’t know whether to hug you or punch you but I know you mean well. But to say it’s a “good possibility that Chicago didn’t get much value here”. I don’t really agree.
Before the Bears made this deal everyone was talking about Peppers as the best FA out there. I just read a story on ESPN by a Pat Yazinski (sp?) who up until a year or so ago was a writer in Charlotte. His premise seems to be that Peppers is a private guy and he was THE spotlight in Charlotte. He contends that Peppers will shine in a new city where he is not THE story. I can only hope you are wrong and he is right.
As a Bears’ fan who has often been on here bashing my own Bears, I have to tell you that I am excited. If for nothing else than the pure pleasure of seeing the Bears make some moves to improve. And not by bringing in ex-St. Louis washouts. Along the way I too have criticized the Bears often for being “cheap”. But, as of last season the Chicago Bears were the 5th highest payroll in the NFL. They just didn’t go after the right people.
With these additions today, and hopefully more to follow, I feel reinvigorated about my Bears. Maybe we can win IN SPITE OF LOVIE SMITH. My hat’s off to them for having the “gumption” to go after Peppers, Taylor, Manueleanu (sp?). I am shocked. I thought maybe the McCaskeys sold the team or someone stole their money and is spending it.
All I can say today is that I am happy THEY DID SOMETHING to try and improve their situation. Keep it up !!!!!!!
The Chicago Bears……the NEW New York Yankees of the NFL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha – don’t punch me, Da Bear! I was trying to cover all angles with this piece; I hope you understand.
Yasinskas is ESPN’s beat writer for the NFC South and as you pointed out, he used to write for the Charlotte Observer. He knows Peppers, which is why he wrote the longer piece on him not being a bad guy and succeeding elsewhere out of the spot light. It seems like Peppers just wants to do his own thing, which is why he said last year that he wants to play OLB in a 3-4.
But Yasinskas has also spent over a month writing in various blog posts about how Peppers can take plays off and how his age could affect his production very soon. So like me, he’s been writing about the goods and bads when it comes to a player like Peppers.
I think you should be very excited. It’s about time the Bears be aggressive and they just woke up the rest of the NFC North with this move. Do I think Peppers will be worth the money in 2010? Yes. But I wonder about 2011 and beyond.
That’s why I mentioned “value” when it came to this deal.
I still love you Anthony (in a fraternal way)…..I know what you’re saying but in the old days, the Bears wouldn’t even take the chance….this time they DID!!! He could get hurt too. We never know. He can chase down Brett Favre for the next 6 years…..ha.
I hear ya, Da Bear – it’s nice to see them make a splash.
Brett Favre will be a Cowboy (or a 49er, or a Buccaneer or whatever) in six years though…
I think its more positive than negative here.
While he is getting “old” he has not taken a beating in his career. I think he is about 75-25 now. We’ll see, but I got a feeling Tommie and Mark Anderson are going to get way better from this.
Plus atleast my Saints dont need to see pep 2x a year now.