Pep to decide in a few days...

Peppers hopes to decide on future with Carolina Panthers within a few days

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January 04, 2010 11:43 AM

Steve Reed

CHARLOTTE – For the second straight year, Julius Peppers walked out of Bank of America Stadium the day after the season uncertain if he’ll be back with the Carolina Panthers.
“I don't know about that,” Peppers said as he threw a garbage bag full of clothes in the trunk of his Maserati early Monday morning. “That's not for me to say right now. It could be, might not be.”
Once again, Peppers' future is in limbo.
His contract with the Panthers is up and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent on March 5.
Now that the season is over the Panthers are free to negotiate a long-term contract with him. If they can’t work out a deal before then, they can use the franchise tag on him to prevent him from leaving, although it will cost owner Jerry Richardson slightly more than $20 million for the 2010 season.
Peppers said he hasn’t decided if he wants to play for the Panthers again, but said several times he expects to make a decision within the “next couple of days.”
He said the same thing the day after last season only to announce a few days later on a conference call that he no longer wanted to play for the Panthers, urging them to allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. However, the Panthers used the franchise tag to keep him here, paying him $16.683 million.
There was a lot of speculation on how Peppers might respond, but he played hard and was voted to a fifth Pro Bowl, recording 10.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Peppers said his much-publicized stance from last year about wanting out of Carolina no longer applies, and that it will not factor into his decision this year.
“That was a year ago and I don't really think it's productive to go back and re-open those conversations about what I was feeling at that time,” Peppers said. “It was a year ago. Anything that was said a year ago is irrelevant right now. It's a new situation. It's a new day.”
General manager Marty Hurney did not return phone calls, but has said in the past he believes Peppers is a difference-maker and wants him to remain with the team.
Some teammates believe Peppers has warmed to the idea of staying at home close to where he grew up.
However, Peppers said he needs a few more days to think about his future.
“I haven't really had time to think about it, to be quite honest,” Peppers said. “I've been focusing on the season for the most part and trying to block everything else out. I felt like when it was time to think about my future and make those decisions I would take time to think about it. And now is that time. So the next couple of days I'll have a little more information about what I want to do and what I will do.”
He appears to be a little happier here in Carolina than he was last year, even though the Panthers didn’t make the playoffs in 2009.
He admitted he was pleased with the way he was used on defense and that he liked playing for defensive coordinator Ron Meeks. The Panthers created 30 turnovers in their final 10 games this season and limited their last three opponents to a combined 26 points. Peppers was a factor in most games this season, even though he was slowed by a broken bone in his hand.
“It was better (than last year),” Peppers said of the team’s defense in 2009. “I had fun with the guys. I always do, it doesn't matter what team I'm on or wherever I'm at. I enjoy playing the game and I enjoy playing with my teammates. That was never the problem. My teammates were never the problem. I had fun, I always have fun.”
When asked if that means he’s willing to sign a long-term contract with the Panthers, Peppers laughed at the repetitiveness of the questions and said, “Like I said, I haven't really had time to think about it. I’m just getting over a long, long season. In a couple of days maybe I'll a little more to say, a little more to tell you about it.”
The Panthers tried to get a long-term deal done with Peppers last summer, but it fell through.
As for whether coach John Fox’s return will affect his future, Peppers replied, “I really don't have any information on Fox's future around here. I really don't have any thoughts that I want to share on it right now. In a couple of days I'll have a little more information and some more things to tell you about my future around here.”

 

drama king

 

What stress to wonder if you make 16 million or 20 million next season or get a long term deal worth about 50 million ?

 

Playing like "Peppers" for three or four games this year leaves me not caring if he stays or goes. Part time professionals are the suck.

 

I think a long term deal would actually be worth more than 50.

Zowie.

 

I honestly think they should just let him walk.

 

I don't think Peppers liked Trgo's scheme and now that we have a new dc, Meeks' scheme seemed fit Peppers better and he liked it. That might entice him to stay but it might cost us an arm and a leg to keep him. I'm not sure we need to keep an overpriced diva, though.

 

He's Randy Moss at DE

 

he played happier after delhome "broke his finger".

 

everyone was happier after that, even Jake i'm sure.