Sean Gilbert speaks

on the Pep issue: http://www.heraldonline.com/247/story/1156724.html

(the article is multi-paged, otherwise I would've posted the article)

 

No stranger to NFL contract fights, Gilbert shares thoughts on Peppers'
By Darin Gantt · 2009 The Herald
Updated 02/24/09 - 7:18 AM |


Sean GilbertCHARLOTTE -- When Julius Peppers began trying to talk his way out of the Carolina Panthers, he asked fans to put themselves in his shoes.
The one man in Charlotte who can said Monday that Peppers might have been better off not saying anything, but doesn't see this situation turning into a year-long disaster that hurts both sides.

And if anyone would have a clear perspective on that, it's Sean Gilbert.

Gilbert laughed a bit when asked about Peppers' situation saying: "It's different from mine. He was tagged by a team that wants him."

While they were together here just one season, their desires and their strength of conviction make them similar, whether they'd admit it or not.

"Right now, everybody's doing what they're supposed to be doing," Gilbert told The Herald. "I'm pretty sure at the end of the day everything's going to work out. There are a lot of teams that could use a little 'Pep' in their step, and I would think that they (the Panthers) are probably talking to the teams that he's interested in and that are interested in him. I'm sure they want to get this done before the draft.

"Ultimately, I think something gets done that makes both sides happy."

Gilbert was in the middle of one of the ugliest labor fights ever, sitting out the entire 1997 season after the Washington Redskins used the franchise tag on him, and they couldn't reach an agreement on a new contract. Gilbert said Monday that the death of former Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke was the beginning of the end of his days there, and even said that through his contentious holdout, the Redskins never made a firm contract offer -- but rather put statements in the media about their intentions that his agents never saw in writing.

That squabble and the year off led him to Charlotte, as former Panthers coach Dom Capers authorized in 1998 trading two first-round picks for the former Pro Bowl defensive tackle, in addition to a seven-year, $46.5 million contract.

Gilbert referred to himself as "a fighter for free agency," and said that he didn't agree with the mechanism of the franchise tag the way it's come to be used, saying it's punitive toward players who have fulfilled their contractual obligations.

And because of the strain it puts on relationships between players and teams, Gilbert said he's nervous for his one-year teammate because he knows first hand what those expectations can do to a player moving.

Though he was bright and engaging and articulate, and played at a high level, Gilbert was vilified here. That had more to do with what the loss of picks did to cripple a team that was crumbling anyway, rather than anything he did. Gilbert would have probably been one of faces of the franchise. But since he was always viewed through the prism of the deal that brought him here, he never had a fair chance.

Describing the local fans as "finicky" and "still young," Gilbert said he's not sure Peppers could ever come back to Charlotte and play -- as Panthers general manager Marty Hurney has said he hopes happens.

"I don't know if Charlotte is the kind of fan base that would be quick to accept him again," Gilbert said. "Let's face it, if he comes back and sneezes wrong, there will be people who don't like him. He will be tested, from that standpoint."

Gilbert joked that he didn't mind the fact he never become a hero here.

Now, 38, he still lives in south Charlotte with his family, working in the music business. He said he's occasionally recognized by fans, but if asked if he's a football player, he'll usually deny it and keep moving.

"Maybe I could have been one of the more popular guys in Charlotte," he said. "But now, no one knows who I am, and no one cares. I can grow my beard out, and there's a few more gray hairs in there, and if somebody asks me if I'm a Panther, I say no.

"I enjoy the simplicity, I always have. That part of it never bothered me."

Gilbert's advice: Keep quiet

Though Peppers has been defined by his reticence during his seven seasons, Gilbert said if he could have offered any advice lately, it would have been to avoid interviews. Peppers conducted a conference call with seven reporters on Feb. 14, during which he put forth his side of the story -- essentially saying he's done everything he can do here, and that he wants a fresh start in terms of football and atmosphere after spending his entire life in his home state.

"The best thing he could have done is say nothing,'' Gilbert said. You have an agent, you have people you hire to do your talking, so let them do it, let him say what needs to be said. If he goes that route, Julius could rebuild his relationships with the fans, could get the endorsements back. But, he's his own man, and can make his own decisions.

"I'd just tell him 'Don't say nothing.' Let your agent talk to Marty, and let Marty talk to the other teams you might like to play for. Keep it in those circles."

Asked what advice he'd give Hurney, Gilbert expressed confidence in the Panthers' front office to do what was best for the team.

"Marty is one of the best GMs in the game," he said. "I love how the organization has turned around, how it's so football-minded. They're only a few years away from being regarded as one of the really solid organizations in the league. The Richardsons have done the right things to get on track.

"Right now, Marty's doing what Marty's supposed to do. When you franchise somebody, the goal is to put everybody in a situation where it works out better for them."

Even though he's unsure Peppers could come back after asking out, Gilbert said he was firm in his belief that the situation could rectify itself in time. He compared it to a family fight, saying Peppers could quickly win his skeptics over if he continues to perform at the level he's displayed.

"The whole thing is a testament to forgiveness," Gilbert said. "If number 90 steps back on the field again, there need to be more jerseys sold. There's an element of 'We need you and you need us.' There will always be people who feel like you slapped them in the face. You haven't forgotten that, but you still have to work together. It happens in corporate America all the time, and it happens in families every day. The reality is, the fans can be a positive influence for him on the field and help him get 16 sacks.

"They'd all be happy if they won. The minute Julius Peppers gets a sack, all those boos will turn into 'Ahhh, OK.' And then when he gets another one, you figure you might as well cheer. If he does come back, you should look at it as a 16-week going-away party."

Gilbert admitted that he has "no relationship," with Peppers, and while other players facing holdouts have sought him out for advice, he hasn't spoken with Peppers since his final season in the league.

So while he tried to distance himself from the particulars, he said several times: "People need to remember this is part of the business."

"I see them getting a deal done," Gilbert said. "If it gets personal, I see him playing in Carolina next season. But I don't see that happening."

That personal level could have been approached last week, when his camp put out word that there were only four teams from which he'd accept a deal. That limited the Panthers options, and perhaps forced them to overspend a bit to keep left tackle Jordan Gross before the deadline to use the tag.

Peppers hasn't said what he'd do if the Panthers didn't deal him, saying during his lone interview: "That's too far out to be wasting any energy or any time thinking about."

If it gets to that point, the man who was in the same spot over a decade ago said Peppers will have to choose his path wisely.

"Julius has said what he wants to do," Gilbert said. "Now he has to stand for what he believes in, not what people want you to do. When you make a decision, you have to make it based on being able to lay your head down at night."



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here is is in jive:


When Julius Peppuh's began tryin' t'rap his way out uh de Carolina Panders, he ax'ed fans t'put demselves in his kickers. De one dude in Charlotte who kin said Monday dat Peppuh's might gots' been betta' off not sayin' anydin', but duzn't see dis situashun turnin' into some year-long disasta' dat hurts bod sides.

And if anyone would gots' some clear puh'spective on dat, it's Sean Gilbert.

Gilbert laughed some bit when ax'ed about Peppuh's' situashun sayin': "It's different fum mine. What it is, Mama! He wuz tagged by some team dat wants's him. 'S coo', bro."

While dey wuz togeda' here plum one season, deir desires and deir strengd uh convicshun make dem similar, wheda' dey'd admit it o' not.

"Right now, everybody's doin' whut dey're sdownposed t'be doin'," Gilbert told De Herald. "I'm pretty sho' nuff at da damn end uh de day everydin''s goin' t'wo'k out. Dere are some lot uh teams dat could use some little 'Pep' in deir step, and ah' would dink dat dey (de Panders) are probably rapin' t'de teams dat he's interested in and dat are interested in him. 'S coo', bro. I'm sho' nuff dey wanna git dis done befo'e da damn draft.

"Ultimate-like, ah' dink sump'n gits done dat makes bod sides happy. Slap mah fro!"

Gilbert wuz in de middle uh one uh de ugliest labo' fights ever, sittin' out da damn entire 1997 season afta' de Washin'ton Redskins used da damn franchise tag on him, and dey couldn't reach an agreement on some new contract. Gilbert said Monday dat da damn dead uh fo'ma' Redskins owna' Jack Kent Cooke wuz de beginnin' uh de end uh his days dere, and even said dat drough his contentious holdout, de Redskins neva' made some firm contract offa' -- but rada' put statements in de media about deir intenshuns dat his agents neva' saw in writin'.

Dat squabble and da damn year off led him t'Charlotte, as fo'ma' Panders coach Dom Capuh's audo'ized in 1998 tradin' two fust-round picks fo' de fo'ma' Pro Bowl defensive tackle, in addishun t'a seven-year, $46.5 million contract.

Gilbert referred t'himself as "a fighta' fo' free agency," and said dat he dun didn't agree wid de mechanism uh de franchise tag de way it's mosey on down to be used, sayin' it's punitive toward players who gots' fulfilled deir contractual obligashuns.

And cuz' of de strain it puts on relashunships between players and teams, Gilbert said he's nervous fo' his one-year teammate cuz' he knows fust hand whut dose 'espectashuns kin do t'a playa' movin'.

Dough he wuz bright and engagin' and articulate, and played at some high level, Gilbert wuz vilified here. What it is, Mama! Dat had mo'e t'do wid whut de loss uh picks dun did t'cripple some team dat wuz crumblin' anyway, rada' dan anydin' he dun did. Gilbert would gots' probably been one uh faces uh de franchise. What it is, Mama! But since he wuz always viewed drough de prism uh de deal dat brought him here, he neva' had some fair chance. What it is, Mama!

Describin' de local fans as "finicky" and "still yung," Gilbert said he's not sho' nuff Peppuh's could eva' come back t'Charlotte and play -- as Panders general managa' Marty Hurney gots'ta said he hopes happens.

"I duzn't know if Charlotte be de kind'a fan base dat would be quick t'accept him again," Gilbert said. "Let's face it, if he comes back and sneezes wrong, dere gots'ta be sucka's who duzn't likes him. 'S coo', bro. He gots'ta be tested, fum dat standpoint." Gilbert joked dat he dun didn't mind da damn fact he neva' become some hero here. What it is, Mama!

Now, 38, he still lives in soud Charlotte wid his family, wo'kin' in de beat business. He said he's occasionally recognized by fans, but if ax'ed if he's some ball player, he'll usually deny it and keep movin'.

"Maybe ah' could gots' been one uh de mo'e popular guys in Charlotte," he said. "But now, no one knows who ah' am, and no one cares. ah' can grow mah' beard out, and dere's some few mo'e gray fros in dere, and if somebody ax's me if I'm some Pander, ah' say no.

"I enjoy de simplicity, ah' always gots'. Dat part uh it neva' bodered me. What it is, Mama!"

Gilbert's advice, dig dis: Keep quiet.

Dough Peppuh's gots'ta been defined by his reticence durin' his seven seasons, Gilbert said if he could gots' offered any advice lately, it would gots' been t'avoid interviews. Peppuh's conducted some conference call wid seven repo'ters on Feb. Sheeeiit. 14, durin' which he put fo'd his side uh de sto'y -- essentially sayin' he's done everydin' he kin do here, and dat he wants's some fresh start in terms uh ball and atmosphere afta' spendin' his entire life in his crib state.

"De best wahtahmellun he could gots' done be say nodin','' Gilbert said. You's gots' an agent, ya' gots' sucka's ya' hire t'do yo' rapin', so's let dem do it, let him say whut needs t'be said. If he goes dat route, Julius could rebuild his relashunships wid de fans, could git de endo'sements back. But, he's his own man, and kin make his own decisions.

"I'd plum tell him 'Don't say nodin'.' Let yo' agent rap t'Marty, and let Marty rap t'de oda' teams ya' might likes t'play fo'. Keep it in dose circles."

Asked whut advice he'd give Hurney, Gilbert 'espressed confidence in de Panders' front office t'do whut wuz best fo' de team. 'S coo', bro.

"Marty be one uh de best GMs in de game," he said. "I love how de o'ganizashun gots'ta turned around, how it's so's ball-minded. Dey're only some few years away fum bein' regarded as one uh de really solid o'ganizashuns in de league. What it is, Mama! De Richardsons gots' done da damn right wahtahmelluns t'get on track.

"Right now, Marty's doin' whut Marty's sdownposed t'do. When ya' franchise somebody, de goal be to put everybody in some situashun where it wo'ks out betta' fo' dem. 'S coo', bro."

Even dough he's unsho' nuff Peppuh's could mosey on down back afta' ax'in' out, Gilbert said he wuz firm in his belief dat da damn situashun could rectify itself in time. What it is, Mama! He compared it t'a family fight, sayin' Peppuh's could quickly win his skeptics ova' if he continues t'puh'fo'm at da damn level he's displayed.

"De whole wahtahmellun be a testament t'fo'giveness," Gilbert said. "If numba' 90 steps back on de field again, dere need t'be mo'e jerseys sold. Dere's an element uh 'We need ya' and ya' need us.' Dere gots'ta always be sucka's who feel likes ya' slapped dem in de face. What it is, Mama! You's aint fo'gotsten dat, but ya' still gots'ta wo'k togeder. Ah be baaad... It happens in co'po'ate America all de time, and it happens in families every day. Slap mah fro! De reality is, de fans kin be some positive influence fo' him on de field and help him git 16 sacks.

"Dey'd all be happy if dey won. 'S coo', bro. De minute Julius Peppuh's gits some sack, all dose boos gots'ta turn into 'Ahhh, OK.' And den when he gits anoda' one, ya' figure ya' might as sheeit cheer. Ah be baaad... If he duz mosey on down back, ya' should look at it as some 16-week goin'-away party. Slap mah fro!"

Gilbert admitted dat he gots'ta "no relashunship," wid Peppuh's, and while oda' players facin' holdouts gots' sought him out fo' advice, he gots'tan't spoken wid Peppuh's since his final season in de league. What it is, Mama!

So while he tried t'distance himself fum de particulars, he said several times, dig dis: "People need t'rememba' dis be part uh de business."

"I see dem gittin' some deal done," Gilbert said. "If it gits sucka'al, ah' see him playin' in Carolina next season. 'S coo', bro. But ah' duzn't see dat happenin'."

Dat sucka'al level could gots' been approached last week, when his camp put out wo'd dat dere wuz only foe teams fum which he'd accept some deal. Dat limited da damn Panders opshuns, and puh'haps fo'ced dem t'overspend some bit t'keep left tackle Jo'dan Gross befo'e da damn wastedline t'use da damn tag.

Peppuh's gots'tan't said whut he'd do if de Panders dun didn't deal him, sayin' durin' his lone interview, dig dis: "Dat's too far out t'be wuztin' any energy o' any time dinkin' about."

If it gits t'dat point, de dude who wuz in de same spot ova' a decade ago said Peppuh's gots'ta t'choose his alley wisely. Slap mah fro!

"Julius gots'ta said whut he be hankerin' aftah do," Gilbert said. "Now he gots'ta t'stand fo' whut he recon's in, not whut sucka's wants' ya' t'do. When ya' make some decision, ya' gots'ta make it based on bein' able t'lay yo' 'haid waaay down at night."

 

I just don't see Pep being here next season. I feel like the damage has been done on this situation and I have already moved onto hoping for some more draft picks out of him.

 

I can't believe I'm about to paraphrase the Raiders here, but if Peppers doesn't want to be a Panther, he shouldn't be. It's that simple.

 

Let me guess, Grid. You're bored and unemployed...

 

In between mouthfuls of food

 

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