Julius Peppers Would only Accept 4 Teams in a Trade

by LittleKing on Feb 18, 2009 2:58 PM EST Comment 11 comments

I was just going to comment on Jaxon's post, but this just has me so pissed that I had to post on the front page.

The Charlotte Observer blog is reporting that Julius Peppers will only consider 4 teams in a trade if the Panthers use this franchise tag on him.

Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers will agree to be traded to only four teams, three of them in the NFC, a source said.

Two are teams the Panthers will not want to trade him to, the source said.

This implies that the two teams are in the NFC South, the division in which the Panthers play.

Every time I hear more about the situation the more ticked off I become. I know his contract is up, but saying he would only be traded to 4 teams is ridiculous. A player of his abilities has to realize his current team is not going to just let him walk if there is any way not to let it happen, aka the Franchise tag. Second, you also have to realize the current team is not going to want to play against him on a consistent basis.

If as suggested by the Observer that two of the teams are in the NFC South, which two teams would it be. Unless I'm missing something doesn't the whole NFC South play a 4-3? In addition, what major changes would there be that would "improve" his game that much and let him "open up" even more on the field. Would he not have the same opportunities with the Panthers as he would else where in the NFC South?

If this is truly the case, then I hope we do franchise his sorry ass. If he is set on playing in the NFC South then I say let him sit the season out. If he doesn't sign the franchise contract we don't have to pay him. Granted there would be no compensation to the Panthers but at least he's not playing against us. Then we can use the tag on him every year until he decides to accept reasonable trade.

Okay, since that won't happen, it appears this is heading down the road Brett Farve paved last off season. Wanting his cake, eating it, and not allowing anybody else to have some.

Boy, I'm sure glad he doesn't want to "cripple" the Panthers.

***Updated****

Pat Yasinskas from ESPN.com provides additional thoughts about the NFC South options:

Tampa Bay is an obvious suspect in this because the Bucs are flush with cap room and the fact Florida doesn't have a state income tax makes it a popular destination for free agents.

I'm guessing Atlanta might be the other spot Peppers wants to end up. But that might be wishful thinking on his part.

...

Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith have a plan and I don't think that plan includes giving up a huge salary and a bunch of draft picks for a guy who hasn't always been consistent. And I'm not so sure owner Arthur Blank, after what he's been through, is going to lay out huge money to a guy who is forcing his way out of one town and produced a whopping 2.5 sacks while moping through a 2007 season -- something the Falcons' organization is well aware of.

Could the Saints be a factor? I doubt it. They just don't have the cap room or the draft picks to make a play for Peppers.

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Here's another link

with a little more info. One of the teams is Dallas, who doesn’t have a 1st round pick. Hell, let’s take their #2 & #3 and next years #1. Pep would get eaten alive in Dallas as their press in relentless.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Feb 18, 2009 3:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you LK

I’m completely pissed off about this situation. He acts like he’s King of the NFL or something.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Feb 18, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He has no say in where he goes

right?

I think Dallas gave up their #3 for Roy Williams too.

Jazzardous Materials
3rd Down & Full Count

by UtesFan89 on Feb 18, 2009 3:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As far as I know

you are right. I know he has to do what is best for him, but come on. The entire NFC South runs the 4-3 defense, so there is no way he would want to play for anyone in our division simply based on his criteria for what defense he wants to play in. I can’t think of what the other teams he wants to be traded to are, because if I am not wrong, the only team that plays a 3-4 in the NFC is Dallas, Green Bay, and maybe San Fran. I don’t think the Panthers would block trades to those teams.

It’s good to see that it seems he can’t even meet his own criteria for a defense when it comes to trade requests. Here’s the thing, I think he believes he is doing the Panthers a favor for allowing himself to be traded, but the Panthers are doing him the favor. If they wanted, they could slap the franchise tag on him this year, if he holds out of camp and doesn’t play this year, then he can try again next year, when the Panthers can slap him with the franchise tag again. I would never want this to happen of course.

Clearly this is not ideal for either party but the Panthers don’t have to trade him and can franchise him and have him be miserable all year if they want. That would stink but at this point by giving a list of only four teams to the Panthers, he is creating his own problems.

by bengoodfella on Feb 18, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The key to a trade

is the team receiving Pep would want to be assured of signing him before completing the deal. So in a sense Pep can control where he goes by refusing to sign. If he gets tagged then he can either sign it and play for the Panthers or accept a trade of some kind or sit out the season. I think that are his options once tagged.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Feb 18, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is the key

so in a way Peppers has the Panthers over a barrel but in another way, we can franchise him, which will be incredibly expensive and hard to do but we have the rights to him and he has to sit or play. I think this is a amateur move by Peppers and his agent. You have to present a list longer than four teams. At least pretend to negotiate in good faith.

I am not sure they are bluffing but if we franchise tag Peppers at some point he will have to realize the trade market to go to those teams is just not there and he could actually choose teams that either run the 3-4 (which is seems he did not do if two teams are in the NFC South) or are willing to trade for him.

by bengoodfella on Feb 18, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This list of 4 shows me

that the 3-4 thing is smoke. It just increases the potential destinations from those that just run a 4-3 to basically all of the teams.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Feb 18, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve read transcripts from some of his interviews and I still don’t understand what his problem is. He thinks a change of scenery will improve his game or stats? He’s not making any sense! Personally I think he’ll be retired in a year or two because I’m not sure he really loves playing football.

"There's a thin line between to laugh with and to laugh at." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on Feb 18, 2009 8:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He's full of himself

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Feb 18, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO

I think football isn’t as important to him as it used to be. I think he talks about opening up his career and it makes it sound like he’ll play better, but it’s all a bunch of BS. I think he’s actually more interested in playing in a bigger market and making extra money like in increased jersey sales or something like that. If we franchise him, at least 1 1st rounder and another 1st day pick are minimums. Either way you look at it, he has no advantage. We franchise him and if a team offers up a trade, we take it or leave it. If we take it, then he goes to the team whether he likes it or not. If we don’t trade him, then he plays for us. If he half-asses all season, like in 2007, then his market value will be a lot less. His value is more now than it ever will be, so he can bring his A game for us next year, or whoever we trade him, too, or he can do something that will have horrible consequences on his wallet…such as sitting out the season or getting only 2.5 sacks and a smaller contract next year.

by usana_gaines on Feb 19, 2009 3:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs