Buckner on Peppers on Packman's show

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Well said. Add in the fact that he has limited pass rush moves and struggles with technique and there you have it.

A guy is extremely talented....and is very good, but rarely great.

 

actually Smith probably could get more sacks in a season at the size he is now...

I know he damn sure didn't like Pep at WR

 

There may understandably be some bitterness there, or he may feel the need to say outrageous things to justify his radio airplay. Regardless, anyone can watch the games and see that effort is not an issue for Peppers. Unfortunately most people are morons who can't see something right in front of their face and instead will just repeat whatever they're told.

Why would I take offense? No one has ever cared what you think. It would be like being offended if a sixth grader thinks that N.C. State is a great football program.

Of course other guys are going to have more when you include Peppers' 2.5 when he wasn't healthy last year. But he's still had double digit sacks in five of his seven seasons despite playing in a system that rarely allowed him to pin his ears back.

They don't because most of them aren't spoiled, ignorant "fans" who bitch about their own unrealistic expectations.

If you didn't see Peppers taking on a leadership role this season then you weren't watching the games. He didn't seem comfortable with it in '07, but this season he was regularly seen on the sidelines trying to motivate his teammates. And no defensive end in the league has a better motor than Peppers, so stop blindly buying rumors and start watching the games.

 

Why is Freeney above criticism?

 

Now that's just crazy talk

 

I don't believe that for a second.

 

I hope all of this post-rationalization make everyone feel better about losing a good player.

 

I don't believe there's too much that people haven't stated criticism over before, because it's not like he didn't have a disappointing year in 2007.

I don't think anyone - including the short, one-line phrase people that have Peppers involving their genitalia - wants Peppers to go. To say that a player stating he doesn't want to be involved in the team anymore would or wouldn't change most viewpoints about him? I would expect it would. I think everyone would be happy if he somehow decided he wants to stay.

 

So undeclared illness/injury can't be factored in when talking about a new contract? Wasn't injury history included in discussions with both Freeney's and Allen's contracts?

Hard not to when the entire league and media has plastered a big S on his chest and given him a cape and boots to match.

Fair point. I wasn't able to watch many games this season, and the ones I did see weren't flattering.

But let me ask you this -- was anyone responding? Leadership is more than just hollering at guys. If no one's following, you aren't leading. I'm asking because as you pointed out, I haven't seen many games this year.

To be fair, I have seen him stand out on the field with more than a little effort. The Oakland game comes to mind. From the little I've seen of him, though, he just seems so damned hot-and-cold. That's what frustrates me. And for a $17M football player, in my humble opinion there shouldn't be any "cold" at all. Is there any cold in Tom Brady? Peyton Manning? Ray Lewis? Troy Palumalu? Hell, Jon Beason? Steve Smith?

Maybe it isn't fair. But if he wants to be the highest paid player in NFL history, I want to see the best overall player in the NFL -- today and every day. Like I said, maybe that's not fair, but that's what he's asking to be paid as. I just want to see him prove it -- on and off the field.

Of course, it would help if I watched more games.