Stats

Pepper's Stats

Comes up every year, so I thought I might as well.....

any doubters left??

 

You don't hear the Joey Harrington lovers anymore either. Of course, while I liked Peppers a lot, my #1 scenario was trading down for John Henderson plus picks. That wouldn't have been so bad either, as J.H. is now one of the best tackles in the game, but getting Peppers is definitely better. Even more than his playing ability, I just like the guy a hell of a lot. You couldn't ask for someone more humble or hard-working to lead your franchise.

 

There were some who wanted Harrington but I was really directing to those people who were saying Peppers was lazy and took plays off and how we would be a fool to take Peppers and pass on Jammer, a true shutdown corner. Peppers has only 2 less interceptions and half as many passes defended.

 

I didn't think Peppers was lazy. Despite my horrid miscalculation at thinking Jammer was a shut down guy (and with the rules, even if he had been, he'd be struggling right now) and that Freeney would be there later, I did argue that Peppers wasn't lazy, he worked hard. He was missing parts of his game, like strength for one, which is why guys like Nate Dorsey and Kendall Simmons got notoriety for stopping him - because they took him head up and drove him. I saw those games, and was impressed with him nonetheless. I had to assume that he'd gain weight/strength, and he had the ability to actually do it. I never questioned his ability, but I did see a need at corner that I was scared shitless about.

Another, more silly, reason for wanting to go another route was that we'd finally seen a little something of Rucker and assumed Peppers would replace him. Now, I honestly think Rucker could play LDE and fare very well. At the time, I worried about pushing Rucker away when he was one of our few good players.

I never wanted Harrington. Never thought Carr was that great, either. I did like Henderson, as did Piper, and wasn't hot on Sims (remember the whole "hey let's take McKinnie 2nd overall" thing? I think that was Thelt), or Haynesworth for that matter. I did really want something to happen at DT and didn't think Buckner was it, what with his bitching, moaning, and quitting in 2001.

 

I wanted Mt. McKinnie... . Sometimes, it's good to be wrong.:229031_ha

 

No doubt. Which is why I occasionally find these told-you-sos funny.