Tag: Julius Peppers (Page 3 of 7)

      Will Peppers have a new home by Friday?

      March 1, 2010 /

      In the rumor section on ESPN.com, the site speculates that Julius Peppers could have a new team by Friday, which is when teams can officially start signing free agents.

      Julius Peppers will have a new team, and it could happen as quickly as this Friday. We continue to hear him linked to different teams, with varying degrees of certainty.

      The Eagles and Patriots have been considered the front-runners for some time now, and the Bears also appear to be one of the front-runners for Peppers, given the fact that they have no picks in the first two rounds to find a new pass-rusher; in other words, any big personnel improvements will have to come from free agency. Bears LB Brian Urlacher seemed very pleased with the possibility of adding Peppers in recent comments to the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, at the scouting combine, leader of the Browns’ world Mike Holmgren discussed the Peppers possibility to the media, per NFL.com.

      I think where Peppers will land will ultimately come down to two things: Money and whether or not he wants to play OLB in a 3-4. I’m sure he wants to play for a competitor too, but Peppers can also be lazy at times and if he has the chance to be a one dimensional pass rusher in a 3-4, then he may jump on the opportunity by signing with the Patriots or Browns.

      The Bears have been linked to Peppers multiple times over the past week, but I can’t envision Jerry Angelo opening the team’s wallet in order to bring the defensive end to Chicago. The Bears could definitely use a pass rusher (really, what team couldn’t?), but if history is any indication, then there’s no doubt Angelo will once again go shopping in the offseason bargain bin to fill needs.

      Another team I think we can safely cross off the potential candidates list is the Falcons, who are very familiar with the fact that Peppers will disappear during games and take plays off. The concept of adding Peppers to the same line as John Abraham and Jonathan Babineaux is enticing, but GM Thomas Dimitroff’s philosophy is to build via the draft. Plus, the Falcons already have younger, cheaper options than Peppers already on the roster in Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury, the latter of which is raw but has the size and speed to develop into a solid pass rusher.

      If I were to make an official prediction as to where Peppers will land, my guess would be the Eagles. He wouldn’t be able to play OLB, but I think Philly would be willing to throw the money at him and he’d be intrigued by the possibility of helping the Eagles get to a Super Bowl.


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      Bears the front-runners for Peppers?

      February 26, 2010 /

      The latest in the daily Julius Peppers-rumor mill is that the Bears could be the front-runners to land the hot ticket free agent.

      From ESPN.com:

      Well, the Bears didn’t make the “Final Eight,” and they appear to be one of the front-runners for Peppers, given the fact that they have no picks in the first two rounds to find a new pass-rusher; in other words, any big personnel improvements will have to come from free agency. Bears LB Brian Urlacher seemed very pleased with the possibility of adding Peppers in comments to the Chicago Tribune, and we’re not sure how much import will be assigned to his feelings by management, but he is the leader of the defense.

      The Bears have always been among the cheapest organizations in the league, although they did pay dearly (both in terms of money and draft picks) to bring Jay Cutler to Chicago last offseason and they might be willing to open their wallets again to nab Peppers.

      That said, if history is any indication then GM Jerry Angelo isn’t going to spend recklessly, if at all this offseason. Every year the Bears have gapping holes to fill and every year, Angelo does his shopping in the bargain bin. When the Bears needed to bolster their offensive line last season, Angelo signed Orlando Pace and Frank Omiyale on the cheap and he got what he paid for. Now he has to figure out how he’s going to address his needs along the O-line without having draft selections in either of the first two rounds.

      One player I could see Angelo making a play for, however, is Aaron Kampman. Kampman wasn’t a fit in Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense in Green Bay last season and he knows the NFC North. He would come cheaper than Peppers and assuming he hasn’t lost his ability to rush the passer from a 4-3 end position, he makes sense for the Bears.

      NFL

      Terrell Suggs chats with The Scores Report

      February 24, 2010 /

      Following defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s departure from Baltimore after the 2008 season, pundits started to question whether or not the Ravens could still be a dominant defensive unit without him. But after finishing 2009 with a winning record, making the playoffs and absolutely obliterating the Patriots in the Wild Card Round, it’s clear that as long as the Ravens have players like Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, Baltimore’s defense will be just fine.

      Suggs was kind enough to chat with us recently about what the key to the Ravens’ success was last season, what it’s like to play alongside Ray Lewis and what ultimately made him decide to stay in Baltimore when he signed a new deal last offseason. Since he knows a thing or two about the topic, Terrell also broke down what makes a great pass rusher and whether or not he’d like to see the Ravens acquire Julius Peppers and/or Brandon Marshall this offseason.

      The Scores Report: Hi, this is Anthony.

      Terrell Suggs: How you doing, this is Terrell Suggs.

      Continue reading »

      Interviews, NFL

      Panthers won’t use franchise tag on Peppers

      February 23, 2010 /

      The Panthers have conceded the inevitable: Julius Peppers will become a free agent this offseason.

      According to ESPN.com, Carolina won’t use its franchise tag on Peppers unlike it did last offseason.

      If the Panthers had opted to tag Peppers, it would have cost them $21.4 million — about $1.3 million per game — which the team deemed too pricey. Peppers will be one of the highest-profile free agents since Reggie White.

      Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to use their franchise tags.

      Let the bidding war begin. Any number of teams ranging from the Patriots to the Eagles to the Saints could make a play for Peppers, who will be the biggest name on the free agent market this offseason. Perhaps the most interesting decision Peppers faces is whether or not he wants to stand up and play outside linebacker in a 3-4 like he suggested last year, or if he wants to stay at his traditional 4-3 end position.

      We’ll find out soon.


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      NFL

      Browns a sleeper for Julius Peppers?

      February 17, 2010 /

      Asked to name a sleeper candidate for free agent-to-be Julius Peppers and ESPN’s Chris Mortensen named the Browns via his Twitter page. Mort suggested that given Mike Holmgren’s success with signing Reggie White in Green Bay and Cleveland’s expected bankroll, the Browns make sense.

      While he certainly fits based on need, it’ll be hard for the Browns to sign Peppers because they’re not a legitimate playoff contender. Maybe money will win in the end, but considering Peppers is 30 and would like to play for a winner, Cleveland is at a disadvantage. The same can be said for a team like Washington, which obviously has money to spend but isn’t a legit contender at this point. (Although how scary would the Redskins be with a front seven that featured both Peppers and Albert Haynesworth?)

      The team that continues to make the most sense for Peppers is the Patriots. Bill Belichick has had success with players like Willie McGinest, who can play in both three and four man fronts. Peppers has stated in the past that he would like to play linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and could thrive under Belichick as long as he stayed motivated.

      The main argument against New England signing Peppers is that Vince Wilfork, Tom Brady and a host of others need new contracts. The Patriots philosophy has always been to draft well and re-sign their own players. True, they did sign Adalius Thomas to a big free agent contract a couple years ago, but that deal actually works against them signing Peppers because Thomas has been nothing short of a bust.


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      NFL

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