Julius Peppers could be answer to Falcons’ problems
Matt Ryan probably wouldn't mind having Julius Peppers as a teammate. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
From an NFL fan’s perspective, there is one great thing about an uncapped year. Your favorite team can’t use the excuse, “We’d love to sign that free agent but we just can’t fit him under the salary cap.”
So to the members of Falcon nation, I present to you possibly the first name on the Falcons’ offseason shopping list: Julius Peppers.
Yes, it could happen — at least the part about Peppers’ availability. There are strong indications that the Carolina Panthers — who failed to come to terms with Peppers on a multi-year contract last season and were forced to sign him to the steep one-year franchise tag fee of $16.683 million — will allow Peppers to enter free agency.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter already is speculating that, “Carolina’s division rival Atlanta Falcons would be a logical landing spot, as Peppers would get to play the Panthers twice a season.”
Let’s examine all of the obvious reasons why the Falcons’ pursuit of Peppers makes sense.
♦ 1. While Peppers would be a significant investment — and there’s really no way to predict what he would fetch on the open market –he would be a huge boost to the Falcons’ anemic pass rush. The perennial Pro Bowl defensive end has 25 sacks over the last two years alone. This season, he recorded five forced fumbles, five passes defensed and two interceptions with 10 1/2 sacks.
♦ 2. The Falcons had to be concerned about John Abraham’s lack of production this season. He dropped from 16.5 sacks in 2008 to 5.5 in 2009. While some of that can be attributed to other problems on the line, including an injury to rookie Peria Jerry, there were several games when Abraham seemed invisible. The Falcons need to do something to create more pressure. For what it’s worth, Abraham has two years left on a six-year, $45 million contract.
♦ 3. The signing of an impact defensive lineman would allow the Falcons to focus on other areas early in the draft, including outside linebacker and cornerback.
♦ 4. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has made significant veteran acquisitions prior to each of his first two seasons: running back Michael Turner two years ago and tight end Tony Gonzalez this season. It might be time for a big move on defense this time.
♦ 5. Falcons owner Arthur Blank never has shied away from spending money on his football team. If Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith believe Peppers will take the Falcons to the next level, he’ll support the move financially.
Question: Are you feeling how the signing of Peppers could impact the Falcons as much as I am?
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281 comments Add your comment
dsgbncali
February 2nd, 2010
12:11 am
Man Schutlz I won’t lie to you. I would love to have the guy but I have 2 problems with him and neither one is his production of lack there of in 09. 1) He takes too many plays off. 2) HE TAKES TOO MANY PLAYS OFF. I can’t have a cancer like this infecting this team. I want us to stay as germ free as possible.
Bruce
February 2nd, 2010
4:31 am
I think going after Peppers would only help the Falcons get better with their pass rush and the incentive that he would play his former team twice a year and any athelete that doesn’t feel like a team doesn’t see him as productive as he once was would certainly light a fire under his a**.Look @ the teams playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday.Dwight Freeney and Will Smith are guys that will get doubled and free up the other end to cause havoc in the backfield so get Pep and watch Carolina sweat when the Falcons Come to town.
The Governator
February 2nd, 2010
4:48 am
DO IT!!! DO IT NOW!!! (GET TO DA CHOPPA!!!)
The Governator
February 2nd, 2010
4:52 am
Enter your comments here
papadawg
February 2nd, 2010
8:02 am
When he plays hard he’s worth what you pay him BUT he takes to many breaks to suit me.
FDB
February 2nd, 2010
8:49 am
Nah. Peppers was great. But this move not enough bang for the buck. Go get the NEXT Julius Peppers.
MSS
February 2nd, 2010
9:48 am
i say go for it he can still play and coming here will make him play harder then if we an get our hands on Graham in the draft that would be great
angry banker
February 2nd, 2010
11:32 am
IF we are going to spend big $$ on a FA – why a DE? Abe, Bierman, CDavis and Sidbury all look good.
How about paying for a shut-down corner? Any big names on the market?
ELWALTER
February 2nd, 2010
11:34 am
ACQUIRE PEPPERS IF HE’S ACQUIREABLE. HE’S BETTER THAN ANYONE ON THE FALCONS CURRENT DEFENSIVE SQUAD. THAT’S NOT AN OPINION, THAT’S FACT. TOO OFTEN, ATLANTA HAS NOT USED GOOD COMMON SENSE IN THEIR SELECTIONS TO THIS TEAM. THIS GUY IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD. YOU CAN’T MEASURE HIM BY AGE, BUT BY HIS HEART.HIS HEART IS BIG. HE’S IN THE MOLD OF LAWRENCE TAYLOR, WHO AT 40, WAS MUCH BETTER THAN JON ABRAHAM.
JonasCanfield
February 2nd, 2010
12:17 pm
I would not pursue peppers because #1) he is too expensive #2) he is too old #3) he is washed up #4) he is a head case like a Plexico Burriss and you dont need a distraction in your locker room, despite the fact that he is a certain hall of fame talent. We dont have time to babysit a julius peppers. Let peppers be someone elses problem. If we draft a fast defensive end, maybe someone with the speed of Lawrence Taylor, we can train him to envision a bullsye on the qb’s head and go after the bullseye, getting tons of sacks per game.
JoeKapp
February 2nd, 2010
12:35 pm
I dont understand why ALL of the atlanta franchises (EXCEPT THE HAWKS) go out and get players (former allstars) who are PAST THEIR PRIME, thinking they can recapture their fountain of youth and perform as they did in their prime. The Braves never used to do it and now they are doing just that. The Braves acquired Troy Glaus in the offseason, merelly a shell of the player he once was. The Falcons now want to acquire Julius Peppers who is old, broken down, and totally unequipped to do the job. Acquiring Peppers was a great idea TEN YEARS AGO. Today its ridiculous because he has about one more year left in him. I dont know if the Thrashers practice this, grabbing up retreads from years past and trying to get them to regenerate their performances from decades earlier. Its nonsense and it will never work. The Hawks are the only franchise that is building correctly. Kudos to Billy Knight because Billy KNOWS BASKETBALL and knows how to build basketball teams from scratch. He did it with the Knicks and when he left the Knicks, THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINALS THE FOLLOWING SEASON. When Billy Knight left the Hawks after they pushed Boston to 7 games in the opening round of the playoffs, the next year they win 47 games and win a rousing series against D-Wade and the Miami heat before falling to the overmatched Cavs. The next season FOLLOWING THAT ONE, this year, the Hawks played so well in the first half that Mike Woodsen came within one victory of coaching the eastern conference all-stars, which would have happened due to the second best record in the conference. When Billy Knight leaves a team, that team is in great shape. He builds from the ground up and builds a solid structure that wont collapse. He’s always done that and he always will do that. Thats why Knight makes the money he does as a GM.
Freakinfalcons
February 2nd, 2010
3:21 pm
There are a few decent corners that may be available like Dunta Robinson, if hes not Tagged.Nick Harper , Leigh Bodden and maybe Dre Bly. I really think another offensive weapon is in need. Roddy white outstanding!,Tony G the best! Micheal Jenkins (VERY AVERAGE) Harry Douglas might be good enough to take his job.We need another explosive receiver opposite Roddy White. Antonio Bryant would be a great pick up @ wide receiver. I like the attitude in which he plays the game. If the falcons are going to go to and deep into the playoffs next season they must get the best pass rusher(s) money can Buy. Later this season our secondary showed signs of improvement. Im not saying don’t take a corner in the first round. I’m just saying with an improved pass rush that will help our young secondary in coverage.
tyger
February 2nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Peppers is a huge opportunity.
Falcoons have done well with the draft. They are young, fast, cheap and resilient. A well coached team that overachieved. However, the league has caught up with them. They’re not sneaking up on anyone anymore. They need talent to go forward from here. Its time for the Falcoons to spend.
Peppers is an uber-talent. We cant continue to wait on red-shirt sophomores. We know we have issues and rookies aren’t the answer. Its unfair to the team, fans and city.
There is a window of opportunity here for the Falcoons to make a run at the Super Bowl. We have many of the pieces, we have depth, we have youth, now we need playmakers, difference makers.
Money is secondary. How can u complain about paying Peppers when you’re giving Jamaal Anderson $6M per/$30M guaranteed? Budgets can change, cuts can be made and contracts extended.
Money is not the pre-dominant factor, performance is. The Falcoons dumped salary and 5 starters last year, its time to recoup those savings and re-invest into the future.
Big time players cost money. If not Peppers, then how about Richard Seymour? Either way, if you want an All-pro DL, you’re going to have to pay. Or flip a coin and throw away another ton of money on another Jamaal Anderson.
Freakinfalcons
February 2nd, 2010
3:49 pm
I agree with you on Richard Seymour , he will be cheaper to aquire than peppers but can still play @ a high level. He could help the falcons with a pass rush and defend the run.
MotherTeresa
February 2nd, 2010
4:04 pm
No absolutely not. Why pour salt into the wounds of the falcons by adding peppers? If you saw a burning building would you get a fire extinguisher to put it out or would you pour gasoline on the flames to intensify them even more? We dont need peppers.
Freakinfalcons
February 2nd, 2010
4:28 pm
M T sounds like you have no clue about Football.
Maxx
February 2nd, 2010
5:01 pm
I would love us to sign Peppers, but that seems unlikely to me. The first reason is if you remember last offseason, Peppers wanted to leave Carolina to play in a 3-4 Defense, which Atlanta does not run. He was close to being traded to the Patriots last offseason, and I expect them to make a strong run at him this offseason. Number two, I don’t think Peppers has some kind of grudge against the Panthers as Adam Schefter suggests, mainly because he wants to leave Carolina, they are not forcing him out. This story has no real basis except for the fact that Peppers will be available and ATL needs help rushing the passer, since Jamaal Anderson is a complete bust. Having said that, I would LOVE to have Julius Peppers on the Falcons, I believe anyone in their right mind would love to have Peppers
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February 3rd, 2010
10:37 am
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BarryWhistler
February 3rd, 2010
1:26 pm
The Falcons are already tettering on the brink of disaster and are parked at the edge of the cliff. Signing Peppers would push them over the cliff for complete and unmitigated destruction. It would be like going back and reliving the Mike Vick years all over again. An absolute nightmare. Let Peppers be someone elses nightmare.
KenProctor
February 3rd, 2010
3:52 pm
Although he is the salt of the earth, Peppers should not be brought to Atlanta for 13 reasons. #1) he is too old; #2) he is past his prime; #3) his techniques are ancient; #4) he is too slow; #5) he is too moody; #6) he is too self-centered; #7) he takes too many plays off; #8) hes too expensive; and #9) hes a timebomb waiting to blow up; #10) hes too flappable #11) hes lazy; #12) hes a bust; HOWEVER #13) HES A CERTAIN HALL OF FAMER. #13 IS PROBABLY THE REASON TO TAKE A CHANCE ON HIM.
Falcon Fan
February 6th, 2010
12:47 pm
Okay, 30 is not old for a defensive end. I believe Strahan was quite effective with 9-sacks in his final season at the ripe age of 36. Moreover, he’s only missed two games since his rookie season. That to me is a sign that he’s durable. As far as contracts go, how many NFL contracts aren’t 3-year contracts when the player doesn’t perform. Its all about the signing bonus. Does Peppers have a reputation for dogging it, yes he does, but so does Randy Moss and we all see what he did once he got on a team with great leadership at the head coach position. I think we’re two years away from being in Indy for a chance at history. We don’t have to depend on the draft totally to get there. Besides we need to use the draft to get a great young corner with size and a explosive offensive running back/kick returner.
Mr Cox
February 8th, 2010
7:03 pm
Ah, great! This cleared up some confusion I’ve heard.
Falcon4Life85
February 8th, 2010
9:00 pm
Peppers+Babineaux+Abraham+Jerry = WIN
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February 8th, 2010
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[...] Jeff Schultz is convinced. But ESPN’s Pat Yaskinkas spoke with Thomas Dimitroff last week, and while he didn’t [...]
Salt-N-Peppa
February 11th, 2010
5:01 pm
The only place Peppers will land is next to a SALT SHAKER…!!!!!!!!!!!!
NothingToLose
February 15th, 2010
8:00 pm
It was very interesting for me to read the blog. Thanks for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to them. I would like to read more soon.
Truly yours
Mark L
February 16th, 2010
5:04 pm
Ah! I’m so glad this was poste| There are quite a bit of different
information posted, this dispells, puts to rest
a lot of what I’ve read.
don p
February 25th, 2010
12:17 pm
Defense wins Super Bowls Julius is what we need we can get a Corner in the draft. If Arthur really wants to win then go get Sharper also. If the birds want to win it all then they have to pay the price.Julius is the price pay him.Don t forget this man chased down Mike Vick in the open field.If we are blessed with good health then Matty Ice will do the rest.Don t let this chance go by get these guys NOW.
THE LOMBARDI TROPHY AWAITS MAKE IT HAPPEN .
Eric
February 25th, 2010
5:18 pm
I definitely felt the SAME way soon as ESPN announced he would be a free agent. Mr. Blank If you value your fans opinion discuss the Peppers acquisition with yuor Staff. He would help that D-line plus the secondary. Can you say NFC Champ 2010!..
NothingToLose
March 9th, 2010
10:51 pm
Pretty nice place you’ve got here. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I would like to read more soon.
Best wishes