Patriots Player Departure Jabrill Peppers Released (Update: Signs w/Steelers)

[Joey007]

Right now @Joey007 ‘s theory makes the most sense to me. It’s scheme, they just recently told him that he wouldn’t be playing as much because of it, and unlike Dugger, he threw a fit. I’m being loose with that expression, but generally meaning that they thought Peppers would be a locker room problem if he was sitting on the bench much of the time, and that’s especially a problem for someone who was a team captain last year.

yep, this.

If this is true, I fully understand why you have to cut him. This team can’t afford a disjointed locker room the way we had last season.

It can be the right move, but still suck at the same time.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I said he might get cut months ago and your buddy NEM 2.0 disagreed with me.

 

[DaBruinz]

Am I missing something? According to overthecap.com the Patriots will gain $6.75 million in 2026 cap space by cutting Peppers with a post-June 1 designation.

Unless the NFL changed the rule, the 2027 Amortization should be included in 2026 since Peppers is a post June 1st cut.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Nope, wasn't claiming it wasn't. Just trying to see how the scheme works as opposed to how Bill's scheme worked. I just don't know a ton about Vrabel's scheme.

My understanding of what Vrabes wants to run is a lot of one gap/shoot up the field 3-4-4 and 4-2-5. They want their guys in the secondary to pick up receivers and the line and LBs to rush up the field and fill gaps/running lanes.

 

[Bill Lee]

5-12 at best. The **** is this team doing?

Maybe 4-13 if we make sure to lose to the Bills twice...

 

[sb1]

OT: Sox just released Walker Buehler what’s going on today in Boston sports?

 

[Patsfan1645]

I would have liked to kept him as he was a thumper and if nothing else a depth piece. I dont think anything from last years incident had to do with todays decision. I think he realized that he was going to lose playing time and the sides agreed to part ways. The timing is questionable but we dont know any timeline for how this played out.

 

[DaBruinz]

So Peppers is a box safety and doesn't have the skills to cover the dominant passing game. And you are complaining about cutting him? We have not had a free safety since Devin McCourty left. Maybe they have CB/FS in mind who is better at coverage because Dugger, Hawkins, and Woodson are box safeties too.

Hawkins is not a "box safety". He's a Free Safety. Just not a very good one.

Woodson is more than a "Box safety" as well.

 

[Ring 6]

My understanding of what Vrabes wants to run is a lot of one gap/shoot up the field 3-4-4 and 4-2-5. They want their guys in the secondary to pick up receivers and the line and LBs to rush up the field and fill gaps/running lanes.

One point it won’t be 3-4-4 there will be 5 or more DBs on the field 95% of the time.

 

[DaBruinz]

Hawkins, Dugger, Woodson, are your starters now... so Dugger who can't cover and was on the block. Woodson great potential but a rookie, and Hawkins who can't catch... just great!!! Then to make things even better gonzo is uncertain... I don't understand this move for my guy peppers.. but you know something I'm still riding with Vrabel and his vision...

You're forgetting Pettus who actually played decently in a few snaps last year.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Or it is a simple as Vrabel not liking player playing with helmet cap

 

[RobertWeathers]

One point it won’t be 3-4-4 there will be 5 or more DBs on the field 95% of the time.

Vrabel said they'll be in 3-4 base 20% of the time.

 

[Mike the Brit]

yep, this.

If this is true, I fully understand why you have to cut him. This team can’t afford a disjointed locker room the way we had last season.

It can be the right move, but still suck at the same time.

Right now @Joey007 ‘s theory makes the most sense to me. It’s scheme, they just recently told him that he wouldn’t be playing as much because of it, and unlike Dugger, he threw a fit. I’m being loose with that expression, but generally meaning that they thought Peppers would be a locker room problem if he was sitting on the bench much of the time, and that’s especially a problem for someone who was a team captain last year.

In the first pre-season game against Washington, the number one defense started with three safeties, Dugger, Peppers and Hawkins, and two CBs. The McCourtys were going on about how Vrabel had raved about Peppers because he was versatile and could play all over. Everything has changed in three weeks and there's no place in the scheme for hard-hitting strong safeties? That makes no sense to me.

I can't help it, but I get the feeling that there is disorganization behind the scenes.

 

[patfanken]

Sorry, but 9 pages later I STILL don't get this move. Before his banishment last season Peppers was absolutely one of the Pats DB's. There is no question. There may be questions about his play this summer, but nothing that seemed worthy to claim his roster spot or release.

The fact that there has been nothing from the Pats to accompany this player personnel move makes it even more curious. This isn't about money (no matter how the ignorant haters want to continue to bash Kraft). Whomever we bring on will cost roughly the same.

I'm HOPING that it was a performance issue, but it sure doesn't look like it. BTW, it seems like a long time for the rabid press not to demand an explanation.

 

[manxman2601]

Vrabel is certainly brave. He's undeniably made it his team and will live or die based on that. There's no "I did the best I could with another administration's roster" excuse available to him.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

yep, this.

If this is true, I fully understand why you have to cut him. This team can’t afford a disjointed locker room the way we had last season.

It can be the right move, but still suck at the same time.

The main issue then is what happened over the last 48 hours for this to happen now, so that they ended up cutting a player they could've kept?

 

[palialka]

Woodson and Hawkins must’ve really shone in camp. We’ve heard rumors that Duggar was being shopped but no one knows anything outside the walls of Patriot Place. A healthy Duggar, Hawkins and an up and coming Woodson isn’t a bad safety group. Add in Pettus who flashed last year and I think the group is solid.

They wouldn’t have cut 2 vets (Epps and Peppers) if they felt otherwise.

I’ve heard nothing but extremely positive words about Woodson’s play this TC so I’m excited to see how it all comes together for him this season.

 

[Real fan 02]

You're forgetting Pettus who actually played decently in a few snaps last year.

True.. the thinking is they see something in Pettus and that he's a young up and comer.. and plays on STs.. there has to be more to the sudden release.

 

[Grogan14]

Sorry, but 9 pages later I STILL don't get this move. Before his banishment last season Peppers was absolutely one of the Pats DB's. There is no question. There may be questions about his play this summer, but nothing that seemed worthy to claim his roster spot or release.

The fact that there has been nothing from the Pats to accompany this player personnel move makes it even more curious. This isn't about money (no matter how the ignorant haters want to continue to bash Kraft). Whomever we bring on will cost roughly the same.

I'm HOPING that it was a performance issue, but it sure doesn't look like it. BTW, it seems like a long time for the rabid press not to demand an explanation.

I agree that probably Peppers expressed disagreement and lack of enthusiasm with Vrabel’s planned scheme when they discussed it. Vrabel probably said “my way or the highway”
Simple as that

Maybe Duggar, Bentley, Peppers, White and other former Bill players have been spreading negative vibes and Vrabel had enough.

I know just speculation….

 

[signbabybrady]

I've got dibs on blaming the owner's son.

We know who you'll be blaming