Peppers takes verbal swipes at Panthers

This article is rather interesting:

Peppers takes some parting shots at Carolina

March, 5, 2010 Mar 56:58PM ET By Pat Yasinskas

Just watched the Julius Peppers press conference from Chicago. Nice move by the Bears’ public relations staff putting Brandon Manumaleuna and Chester Taylor on the side of Peppers.

They helped shield the shy guy a little bit.

Anyway, Peppers did talk enough to help shed some light on why he so desperately wanted out of Carolina for the last few years. He didn’t directly bash anybody, but there were some back-handed shots at the Panthers.

“Getting to a comfortable place with a deep-rooted tradition in winning is a great thing for me, a wonderful thing for me,’’ Peppers said.

Hmm? Was Peppers saying the Panthers, who began as an expansion team in 1995, don’t have deep roots or tradition?

It sure sounded that way. And, keep in mind, Peppers is a guy who was born and raised in North Carolina and went to college at the University of North Carolina.

The other shot that was pretty obvious came when Peppers was specifically asked why he wanted out of Carolina.

Coaching was the thing I wanted to come here for,’’ Peppers said. “Coach (Lovie) Smith is a defensive-minded coach. Coach (Rod) Marinelli is regarded as one of the best defensive line coaches in the league.’’

And John Fox isn’t a defensive-minded coach?

Well, read into that what you want. Let’s move onto the next piece. That was an indirect shot at linebacker Jon Beason, cornerback Chris Gamble and the rest of the Carolina defense.

“The great players they have on the defense where I could come in and be a missing piece to help this defense return to dominance,’’ Peppers said when asked why he wanted to come to the Bears.

But the most interesting point may have come near the end when Peppers was asked about his reputation for staying out of the spotlight and if he can be the leader for the Bears.

“I understand the situation,’’ Peppers. “If that’s something that I have to do, which it seems like it will be, then I’m fine with it. It’s not something I can do. It’s just something I chose not to.’’

Hmm, so Peppers now is willing to be a leader, a guy out in front? Why didn’t he do that in Carolina? The Panthers paid him a ton of money through the years and tried to make him comfortable. What’s the difference now?

I don’t really know. Just more to add to the mysterious legacy of Peppers in Carolina. We won't really know if there's any difference until we see if Peppers starts showing up at more press conferences ...and on the field every week.

 

certainly a big change from the sentiment coming out of Charlotte for 17 today. Two vastly different players.

 

Hey Beason, wanna play some fullback this year?

 

Props to new team isn't a slam...people just trying create drama, hes gone, let it go

 

true . .. there will be enough legit shit to create drama once he starts disappearing and NOT earning all of that stupid ass money he's been guaranteed in his new favorite place . . . shytown

 

This.

 

Glad to see Yas had something to say about this. I had the same vibe, I had forgotten to mention the backhanded compliment about wanting to go play for a 'defensive coach.'

It is a non-issue but I'm not sure why he felt like he had to be a jerk. He had to know the crack about history would get to Panther fans.

 

We'll see how he likes Chicago when he dogs it for a few games and Bears fans start reaming his ass.

 

he'll pro bowl the next 2 years because of the national coverage.

 

Okay, people will see this as racial on my part but whatever, I think he simply wanted to play for a black coach.