Grinds My Gears

[RxJock1120]

You know what really grinds my gears...Julius Peppers. Watching him on national TV for the second straight week and seeing him abuse the opponents offensive line. This guy is simply unblockable with any one lineman, and often with two. Teams cannot run to his side, and have to put 2 guys on him on passing down, which makes blitzing on his side very effective. Not only is he the biggest guy on the field, he is also the most althletic.

Our defense would be dominating with him at OLB/DE, even with the pathetic corner play. Just another example how our front office let a few million come between this beast being in a Pats uni and him terrorizing in a Bears uniform. More than any other offseason miss-read we have had, this one really grinds my gears!!!

That is all, any thoughts

 

[Sciz]

And if every one of the 32 NFL teams thought like you, Peppers would still be receiving phone calls trying to outbid the most recent offer.

 

[RxJock1120]

And if every one of the 32 NFL teams thought like you, Peppers would still be receiving phone calls trying to outbid the most recent offer.

It just makes me sick, in BB's defense this guy could have been Lawrence Taylor without the crack problem. Just watch the Vears games and see how Peppers flies around the field, batting down passes, getting through triple teams to get to the QB. The money he got with the Bears was NOT ridiculous for a once in a decade talent in the prime of his career.

 

[apple strudel]

Yup, he would have been an awesome Patriot. Oh well.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Well, we'll find out in Dec/Jan if it was worth it for Chicago. Still very early yet.

 

[Modest]

Well, we'll find out in Dec/Jan if it was worth it for Chicago. Still very early yet.

Well that's not fair. Jay Cutler is their QB after all.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

You know what really grinds my gears...Julius Peppers. Watching him on national TV for the second straight week and seeing him abuse the opponents offensive line. This guy is simply unblockable with any one lineman, and often with two. Teams cannot run to his side, and have to put 2 guys on him on passing down, which makes blitzing on his side very effective. Not only is he the biggest guy on the field, he is also the most althletic.

Our defense would be dominating with him at OLB/DE, even with the pathetic corner play. Just another example how our front office let a few million come between this beast being in a Pats uni and him terrorizing in a Bears uniform. More than any other offseason miss-read we have had, this one really grinds my gears!!!

That is all, any thoughts

I've talked about this before. Peppers went on and on about how he wanted to play in a 3-4 defense. Less than 24 hours into free agency, he had signed with the Chicago Bears.

I highly, highly, HIGHLY doubt that Chicago and New England were the only teams talking to him making offers. The fact that he signed with a 4-3 team so quickly tells me no team came close to offering what the Bears did, not just the Patriots. I don't blame them on this one.

 

[RxJock1120]

I've talked about this before. Peppers went on and on about how he wanted to play in a 3-4 defense. Less than 24 hours into free agency, he had signed with the Chicago Bears.

I highly, highly, HIGHLY doubt that Chicago and New England were the only teams talking to him making offers. The fact that he signed with a 4-3 team so quickly tells me no team came close to offering what the Bears did, not just the Patriots. I don't blame them on this one.

6 years for $91 million with $42 guaranteed is definitely not breaking the bank and is perfectly in line with being one of the top 3 defensive players in the game. Even though he is actually the most talented of them all. The Pats would be a completely different defensive team with him.

 

[IcyPatriot]

6 years for $91 million with $42 guaranteed is definitely not breaking the bank and is perfectly in line with being one of the top 3 defensive players in the game. Even though he is actually the most talented of them all. The Pats would be a completely different defensive team with him.

$20 million for this year ... would that $$$ have meant a Super Bowl for us?

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

6 years for $91 million with $42 guaranteed is definitely not breaking the bank and is perfectly in line with being one of the top 3 defensive players in the game. Even though he is actually the most talented of them all. The Pats would be a completely different defensive team with him.

As fans though I think we sometimes make the mistake of assuming that if money is equal, a free agent will choose our team every time. If 5-6 teams had offered the same exact contract, how do we know for sure he would pick us?

Again, to me it's way too easy to criticize the team on this one. All we know is that New England made an offer and Peppers signed with Chicago. That's it. If Peppers came out saying he was dying to sign with the Pats but we only offered a $20 million deal, then I'd be pissed. Until then, I'm chalking it up to a player simply not signing with us. Players aren't going to sign with us every time.

 

[jsull87]

It just makes me sick, in BB's defense this guy could have been Lawrence Taylor without the crack problem. Just watch the Vears games and see how Peppers flies around the field, batting down passes, getting through triple teams to get to the QB. The money he got with the Bears was NOT ridiculous for a once in a decade talent in the prime of his career.

thats what people thought of Haynesworth too

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Well that's not fair. Jay Cutler is their QB after all.

Maybe some of the $$ to sign Peppers could have been used to build a semi-decent OL. Cutler's not as great as was hyped but he's not a bad QB either when he has protection.

Part of the reason I'm not for dishing out that kind of money for one player who's not an elite QB.

I'm not saying the team has to win a SB let's just see how far Peppers takes them.

 

[JMarr]

The Krafts are cheap.

BB has always loved this guy. Perhaps BB also too stubborn to consider switching to a 4-3 to make full use of Peppers.

 

[Sciz]

The Krafts are cheap.

Really? I forget the exact number, but the Patriots are right up there in total payroll over the last few years. If you want cheap, go support the Bucs.

The Patriots don't pay over market value for certain players. They make up for it by having higher paid guys at the end of the roster.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

The Krafts are cheap.

BB has always loved this guy. Perhaps BB also too stubborn to consider switching to a 4-3 to make full use of Peppers.

Well, that just annoys me. We made Wilfork the richest nosetackle in the game, and then we made Brady the richest player overall. Can we stop with that nonsense?

The Bears offered far more than anyone else was willing to pay, not just the Krafts. End of story. Peppers is a big time talent, but he doesn't automatically mean winning a Super Bowl. Remember, he was on the opposite sideline for XXXVIII (not to mention, I seem to recall that he was blocked by our tight end for much of our Championship game).

 

[MassPats38]

Peppers undoubtedly has phenomenal ability, but he also takes games and series of games off when he does not feel like showing up. He is a talent, but apparently not a leader.

If the Pats thought he could consistently show up for games, I would have loved to see him added to the defense, but BB prizes predictability and Peppers is the paradigm of inconsistent play.

For those lamenting the play of Burgess, imagine having Burgess statistics for a $15+ million a year price. Adalius Thomas was also the prized free agent the year the Pats signed him, and that deal really worked out in the end for the Pats.

 

[JMarr]

Well, that just annoys me. We made Wilfork the richest nosetackle in the game, and then we made Brady the richest player overall. Can we stop with that nonsense?

The Bears offered far more than anyone else was willing to pay, not just the Krafts. End of story. Peppers is a big time talent, but he doesn't automatically mean winning a Super Bowl. Remember, he was on the opposite sideline for XXXVIII (not to mention, I seem to recall that he was blocked by our tight end for much of our Championship game).

I was being halfway facetious, but why should it annoy you personally? Are you Jonathan Kraft?

Anyway, you could take away any 3 players on the Pats' defense besides Vince, use an 8 man defense with Peppers and it would be better than our current defense.

 

[apple strudel]

I was being halfway facetious, but why should it annoy you personally? Are you Jonathan Kraft?

Your only way out was being all the way facetious.

Anyway, you could take away any 3 players on the Pats' defense besides Vince, use an 8 man defense with Peppers and it would be better than our current defense.

No. No it wouldn't.

 

[Deus Irae]

In a 3-4, Seymour's the better player, yet BB wouldn't pay him that kind of cash. Why would anyone expect the Patriots to drop $16 million on a conversion project?

 

[JMarr]

Your only way out was being all the way facetious.

No. No it wouldn't.

Okay, I was exaggerating on the second point but no, I totally agree with the OP that the Pats need a major disruptor on defense--the kind of player that's been missing since perhaps Willie McGinest. The bend don't break 2 gap defense is getting us nowhere. We needed players on D this year, but chose yet again to bring in a bunch of bodies instead. I am just so tired of not seeing a guy that scares opposing teams have to always account for.

Impossible to be halfway facetious? I don't think so ace.