Breer: Could Peppers be the answer?

[slash83]

Could Peppers be the answer? - Extra Points - Boston.com

Good read on the whole Peppers to Patriots scenario, interesting quotes from a scout on JP.

 

[RayClay]

I'm not even going to read it. Considering the situation, do you think another talented, highly paid malcontent is what we need?

Nothing against Peppers, but it looks like we have a cabal of non leadership veterans acquired from other teams now. By any measure, Peppers ranks much higher on physical talent than attitude. Just not what we need now IMO.

 

[RayClay]

OK, couldn't resist. If this is the answer, I don't want to hear the question.

"The issue with him is effort," the scout said. "When he plays hard, he's one of the most dominant guys in the game. The problem is he might only show up for 10 of 65 plays, and this is a guy who's looking for big money. I know he was looking for a trade, and he had to stay there because he got franchised, and I don't know if he's shut it down in some ways because of that, but it's an issue. It's never physical. It's always mental with him, and about how much effort he'll exert. You always wonder if you're not having the season you want, if he'll go and shut it down a little.

"It's always a question of what plays he shows up on, and how many big plays he's actually making when he does. He's not a big hustle guy."

 

[carolinatony]

Nothing against Peppers, but it looks like we have a cabal of non leadership veterans acquired from other teams now. By any measure, Peppers ranks much higher on physical talent than attitude. Just not what we need now IMO.


Watching him here in Carolina every week; I agree. He is NOT the answer.

 

[RobertWeathers]

OK, couldn't resist. If this is the answer, I don't want to hear the question.

Yea I heard that about him too. Great talent. Great numbers. The problem is you don't know when you'll get it.

No thanks.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Can we trade for connor barwin or clay matthews instead?

 

[The Dynasty]

If BB and staff really wanted him they would have got him this past off season.

Jason Taylor is a better possibility but I think he'll finish his career in Miami. They will actually be a contender next year so if he plays another year it will be there.

 

[TheComeback]

If BB and staff really wanted him they would have got him this past off season.

Based on what? The Panthers franchised him. There was nothing the Patriots could have done to get Peppers, whether they wanted him or not.

 

[mayoclinic]

Can we trade for connor barwin or clay matthews instead?

I'd be thrilled to get either one. At least they all play hard.

Not getting one of those guys out of the draft was a major error.

 

[The Dynasty]

Based on what? The Panthers franchised him. There was nothing the Patriots could have done to get Peppers, whether they wanted him or not.

That is true, but before he was franchised the Pats could have made an offer. If they wanted to spend the money they could have had him.

I agree that he wouldnt have been a good fit for this team and I am glad we didnt spend the money to bring him here.

 

[Kontradiction]

If BB and staff really wanted him they would have got him this past off season.

Jason Taylor is a better possibility but I think he'll finish his career in Miami. They will actually be a contender next year so if he plays another year it will be there.

Have you actually watched Jason Taylor this season? Beetlejuice from the Howard Stern Show could probably put on a better pass rush then Jason Taylor can nowadays.

 

[The Dynasty]

Have you actually watched Jason Taylor this season? Beetlejuice from the Howard Stern Show could probably put on a better pass rush then Jason Taylor can nowadays.

Well he has 6 sacks this season, which is more than anyone on the Patriots this year...

 

[Kontradiction]

Well he has 6 sacks this season, which is more than anyone on the Patriots this year...

About three of them came in one game. The other couple were garbage time sacks. I've watched quite a few Dolphins games (I live near the Miami area and get their games all the time so I watch them when the Pats aren't on) and he isn't a shadow of what he used to be. Talk to most Dolphins fans and they'll tell you that Wake should be starting ahead of Taylor. On top of that, he's unprofessional (see his quote from earlier this week) and older than dirt. No thanks.

 

[Rob0729]

If Peppers puts his money where his mouth is and proves that it really wasn't about the money, but to get out of Carolina and to a 3-4 team I will welcome him. He takes plays off, but so that label has been lobbied at Patriots players of the past including Seymour.

When Peppers is on, he is an elite pass rusher. If he really isn't about the money (he has made a ton the last two years) or there is no cap, I would welcome here in New England next year.

For that matter, I would even consider Merriman. He should come cheap because of durabilities issues, but even this year with all his issues he has been a great pass rusher when healthy.

 

[carolinatony]

If Peppers puts his money where his mouth is and proves that it really wasn't about the money, but to get out of Carolina and to a 3-4 team I will welcome him. He takes plays off, but so that label has been lobbied at Patriots players of the past including Seymour.

When Peppers is on, he is an elite pass rusher. If he really isn't about the money (he has made a ton the last two years) or there is no cap, I would welcome here in New England next year.



IF is a big word. Peppers said he didn't want to play here but he did.....
for 17 or 18 mil this year.
IF he wanted to play for a winner, he could next year and IF he didn't take a lot of plays off he would be a good fit.

He does go unnoticed for a long time in a game for a STAR player.

 

[SEA_Pat]

If Peppers puts his money where his mouth is and proves that it really wasn't about the money, but to get out of Carolina and to a 3-4 team I will welcome him. He takes plays off, but so that label has been lobbied at Patriots players of the past including Seymour.

One other point I would make is that it actually DOESN'T MATTER if he takes plays off in some respects. Other teams would have to double him regardless, and that frees up our other players for one-on-one rushing. Same as Moss frees up Welker and others.

 

[Rob0729]

IF is a big word. Peppers said he didn't want to play here but he did.....
for 17 or 18 mil this year.
IF he wanted to play for a winner, he could next year and IF he didn't take a lot of plays off he would be a good fit.

He does go unnoticed for a long time in a game for a STAR player.

Well, he really didn't have a choice to play anywhere else other than Carolina. Not that getting about $35 million over two years is exactly a punishment.

I did hear a local Carolina reporter this summer say that Peppers really isn't about the money as people think and that he does turn down a lot of local marketing opportunities considering before the recent offseason, he was a favorite son in NC.

Yes, I agree he is too inconsistent to be considered an elite player, but he can be an elite player at times. Sometimes a new system can change that.

 

[The Dynasty]

About three of them came in one game. The other couple were garbage time sacks. I've watched quite a few Dolphins games (I live near the Miami area and get their games all the time so I watch them when the Pats aren't on) and he isn't a shadow of what he used to be. Talk to most Dolphins fans and they'll tell you that Wake should be starting ahead of Taylor. On top of that, he's unprofessional (see his quote from earlier this week) and older than dirt. No thanks.

He would be an upgrade from anyone that we have now...sad but true.

I think he's very professional, one of the most professional players in the game. Reiss actually commented on this last week saying how he loves doing conference calls with him because he is so professional. Also Brady and Belichick have also commented many times at the respect that they have for Taylor. I wouldnt mind having him in a Patriots uniform, but I dont think it will happen.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That is true, but before he was franchised the Pats could have made an offer. If they wanted to spend the money they could have had him.

I agree that he wouldnt have been a good fit for this team and I am glad we didnt spend the money to bring him here.

Actually, they couldn't (at least in any meaningful way, and perhaps not at all).

The trade deadline extends from Week 6 until the end of the league year.

As one example: if, on February 15, someone offered seven first-rounders for Wilfork, the Patriots would not be able to accept.

Since Peppers was going to be a free agent at the start of the 2009 league year, the only way for the Panthers to guarantee they got anything if he left was to franchise him.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Yea I heard that about him too. Great talent. Great numbers. The problem is you don't know when you'll get it.

No thanks.

Didn't that describe Randy Moss before he came here?