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

[Family]

What what was? He was released after the due date preventing the team from acquiring a player that can help the team today and not in the past with an invalid scheme fit? It was a mistake to wait.

I believe if there was a player they were really interested in the team would have moved faster.

There's no evidence they were prevented from acquiring anyone they wanted.

In fact, they took their time with Baker too.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

What what was? He was released after the due date preventing the team from acquiring a player that can help the team today and not in the past with an invalid scheme fit? It was a mistake to wait.

I felt that way at first as well, but in the context of signing a DL in his place, it's a legit judgment call that we need the big young DL more than the older safety. But Peppers was one of my favorite players, could hit like nobody's business.

 

[Zuma]

I felt that way at first as well, but in the context of signing a DL in his place, it's a legit judgment call that we need the big young DL more than the older safety. But Peppers was one of my favorite players, could hit like nobody's business.

I loved Peppers and Vrabel said something to “loving his aggressiveness”. I was onboard with the energy and leadership he brought. But I have to move on and in Vrabel I trust. @Family

 

[Family]

I loved Peppers and Vrabel said something to “loving his aggressiveness”. I was onboard with the energy and leadership he brought. But I have to move on and in Vrabel I trust. @Family

I haven't liked all of Vrabel's moves like cutting Jake Andrews, who was only entering his third year, and had been a high draft pick for his position.

But he inherited a mess, so let's give him a chance.

 

[imahobgoblin]

I have read all 395 pages of this thread, and here are the theories so far. These are not all mine, brothers. They are a compilation of your's.

1. Peppers was released because of something that transpired between Tuesday and today. It could be off field, failed drug test, white sugar boogers, locker room problem worse than Joe Milton, legal issues, RLKAG, etc...

2. Peppers was released because he was not a scheme fit. Because Peppers was cut today rather than Tuesday, the front office is pathetic and in disarray. It is Wolf's fault. It is Jonathan Kraft's fault. Vrabel has no idea what he is doing and just makes mistake after mistake. He is clearly an incompetent buffoon. We need to bring back BB. This team just went from playoff contender to 5-12.

3. Peppers was held with the thought he would be traded, but that fell through.

4. Vrabel simply valued Eric Gregory more than Peppers.

5. Vrabel is vindictive and trying to clear the roster of every BB leftover regardless of talent. Vrabel does not care about winning. He just wants to get rid of BB guys. Tomorrow Gonzo, Barmore, White, Rham, Mapu, Dugger, and all the other BB players will either be traded, cut, or assassinated because that is just who Vrabel is.

6. Vrabel did it to make Sam mad to he would leave this forum and go to the Eagles.

7. Peppers requested his release and it was granted because Vrabel makes a horrible date.

 

[Ring 6]

I suspect they'll play 3-4 20% of the time.

We will find out

 

[dliverey44]

Several folks seem to be in an uproar about players requesting their release and it being granted. Are the players running the place...blah blah blah

Does anyone remember when Vrabes initially came in that he made a statement about wanting the players to succeed and maximize their earning potential even if its not here. He can care about the team and individual players, it's possible to do both.

Also why are people up in arms about him granting a release to players near the bottom of the roster?

 

[upstater1]

Law Bruschi and McGinest are not the same as Peppers, Bentley and Dugger.

That's not the point.

I'm saying people keep arguing he's getting rid of the old crew in order to start fresh.

Your point actually backs up what I'm saying.

He's not jettisoning the old crew out of a need to start fresh. They don't fit the scheme.

You may have noticed but there are still a bunch of vets on the team.

 

[maust]

I have read all 395 pages of this thread, and here are the theories so far...

I'm sure it seems like all of 395 pages but there aren't even 395 posts on this thread. Hell even the 'Bill Megathread' hasn't gotten to 300 pages yet

I understand though, reading Sam's stuff sure can make a thread seem endless

 

[State]

Craig Woodson must of showed well. It would be nice to see the rookie break out in year 1

They love him. Both as a player AND as a person.

He reminds me of TreVeyon Henderson.

 

[Joey007]

You know what? At this point I'm giving Vrabel the benefit of the doubt. This team has been handicapped by an inability to move on from any remnants of the old regime and dynasty and Vrabel if he's going to succeed should be able to construct this team how he wants and he clearly has no problem cleaning house. If this is ever going to work with him as HC, he kinda has to have the benefit of the doubt on this.

I do agree with this.

We’ve been *****ing for the last few years about trying too hard to recreate the dynasty formula. Now someone is trying something new for the first time in a quarter century.

 

[TheRainMaker]

At least 9 starters on defense have been cut/traded, let walk or are now backups. They are:

Godsmack/traded
Wise/let walk
Jonathan Jones/let walk
Bentley/cut
Peppers/cut
Jennings/back up
Keon White/back up
Dugger/back up
Tavai/IR but will be a back up when he’s healthy

That’s 81% of the 2024 defense right there. We’ve debated about many of these players for a few years now how the lack of talent was glaring. Vrabel agrees and has made moves.

 

[n1997y]

Or they needed the roster slot?

Yep

For another Giants or Titans undrafted free agent?

DT Eric Gregory, rookie that the Bengals tried to slip to their PS and Vrabel intercepted. Apparently Vrabes is trying to corner the market on DTs.

 

[n1997y]

Vrabel didn’t phrase it as a breakup. He used it as an analogy to a question that was asked. He was saying that the Patriots cut Bourne (and Epps), and their agents saying afterwards that they requested their releases was the equivalent of a girl saying I’m breaking up with you, and the guy responding oh yeah, well I’m breaking up with you. He’s saying the Patriots cut them because of performance, no matter how they might spin it.

I think that’s twisting the narrative to make Bourne look worse than it was in reality. Reportedly they asked Bourne to take a pay cut, so they weren’t dead set on cutting him for performance. And if he didn’t respond to the pay cut request by asking to be released he had to know that turning it down made his release a lot more likely.

To use Vrabel’s analogy, when the girl turned down the ring for being too cheap she didn’t exactly break up with the boy, but she did make a breakup more likely.

 

[n1997y]

… could hit like nobody's business.

Thats what she said

 

[n1997y]

4. Vrabel simply valued Eric Gregory more than Peppers.

I think that should be rephrased. It should read:

Vrabel valued Peppers less than any other player he might have cut to make room for Eric Gregory.

 

[n1997y]

Several folks seem to be in an uproar about players requesting their release and it being granted. Are the players running the place...blah blah blah

Does anyone remember when Vrabes initially came in that he made a statement about wanting the players to succeed and maximize their earning potential even if its not here. He can care about the team and individual players, it's possible to do both.

Also why are people up in arms about him granting a release to players near the bottom of the roster?

Some folks are rigidly committed to the idea that everything must be a hierarchical control structure, and totally unable to accept that those lower in the pecking order are still entitled to respect and a say in their own destiny, because that’s an affront to their idea of how the world must work.

 

[farn]

For me Jabril Peppers is in the same realm as Milloy and Harrison as far as my fondness of the player, not their ability before all you freaks tell me there not the same.

I can’t stop you from falling in love with the wrong guy, my friend. It’s better for us just to “wait you out” and one day it’ll hurt a little less. Then, you’ll see that your ex with a cocaine habit and bad coverage skills wasn’t the right fit after all.

 

[trailbird62]

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

Late to the party. Who is NEM 2.0?

 

[Thelonious]

Dropping Peppers seems odd to me for a team as lacking in talent/depth as this team, so I guess there must be something we do not know about. Or it might just be that the team realizes, or is prepared to acknowledge, that this year really is, as I and many other have assumed all along, the first year only in a rebuild which will likely take two or three years to complete. You will be less inclined to keep experience players in such a situation, or to take on new "proven" (i.e. older and overpriced) players who are not likely to be around by the time you can really use them, preferring younger players with potential, even at the expense of a couple more losses this year.

Talk of playoffs, double-digit wins, being fully competitive this year, are all unjustified. As I have said all along, I don't really much care about the number of wins this year. I am interested in signs of progress toward being genuinely competitive a year or two down the line. I see no reason one cannot enjoy this season on that basis (unless...well, you know...there isn't any progress, which I think very unlikely).