Julius Peppers wants out; the Falcons shouldn’t touch him
See this? Pictorial evidence of a Julius Peppers non-sack. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
News out of Charlotte today is that Julius Peppers says he doesn’t want to play for the Carolina Panthers because he has been ignored this offseason. (Peppers gave a radio interview, and his answer to one question prompted the usually straight-down-the-middle Associated Press to describe it as “rambling.”) Speculation has already suggested that Flowery Branch could/should be Peppers’ next place of employment. I have one word for this:
The word is “no.”
The Falcons need a pass rusher. Peppers rushes the passer — sometimes. He had 2 1/2 sacks in 2007. He had 14 1/2 in 2008. He had 10 1/2 last season in what was a contract year. Of those 10 1/2, six came against Washington, Buffalo and Tampa Bay. He had no sacks in four games against New Orleans and Atlanta.
There are times when you watch the Panthers and you think Peppers is Deacon Jones. Other times you think he has come down with the deacon blues. (Steely Dan reference.) Put simply, he doesn’t seem to play hard all the time. And the one thing the Falcons want from all their players — and the chief criterion regarding all future acquisitions, be they free agents or draftees — is this: Do they play hard every single down?
The Falcons would be better served sticking with John Abraham, who’s coming off an uninspiring season but who’s facing a contract year himself, and trying to find a pass rusher in the draft. Peppers is going to want the moon and the stars for a new contract — he made $16.7 million last season — and he’s not worth half that. He’s a good player who sometimes does great things but who didn’t exactly lift the Panthers, who had to win their final three games to reach .500, to great heights.
And he’s a whiner. He tried to leave after last season but the Panthers stuck him with the “franchise player” tag. He lobbied to oust defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac, and Trgovac indeed left. Now he’s saying the Panthers aren’t paying enough attention to him. From the radio interview: “How can you say you want to be somewhere when you’re not really sure if they want you there because they’re not even talking to you?”
Loading ...The two words most apt to chill any conversation with the Falcons’ new brass are these: DeAngelo Hall. Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith want no prima donnas in their organization, and Peppers has those tendencies. The good plays he’d make wouldn’t be worth the trouble of coddling his ego. Besides that, he’s 30. How many pass rushers stay good at age 32, 33, 34? (Abraham is 31, you should know.)
And it’s not as if the Falcons have to do anything rash. From Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, assessing the Saints’ chances to repeat as Super Bowl champs:
“The Falcons have a quarterback in Matt Ryan and big-time targets in Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. They remind me a bit of the 2008 Saints — all offense and not enough defense. You can bet that the Falcons are going to work to improve that defense in 2010. If the Falcons can improve half as much on defense as this season’s Saints, anything becomes possible.”
The belief here is that Dimitroff can find enough defensive aid in this draft and perhaps free agency — and don’t forget the return of Peria Jerry and William Moore, neither of whom did much of anything as rookies due to injury — to lift the 2010 Falcons to the postseason. The belief here is that Peppers shouldn’t be needed or wanted in Flowery Branch. The MeAngelo days are done, thank goodness.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
214 comments Add your comment
Burkules
February 10th, 2010
8:43 am
I’m with singndablues’ earlier post – Aaron Kampman seems like the sort of veteran the Falcons would (or should) pursue. He’s an established 4-3 DE that’s coming off an injury and and struggling to acclimate to the rush linebacker position on a team that is otherwise successfully running the 3-4. Oh yeah, he’s an *unrestricted* free agent (regardless of how the CBA negotiations shake out) that’s the same age as Peppers.
NoName
February 10th, 2010
9:20 am
Either way it goes, I think most will agree that we have the right coaching staff and manager to access how much longer he has and if he fits into our no-ego culture that we’ve worked so hard to achieve. In a perfect world he could be a R. Moss or J. Allen type where he gets into a new organization and becomes a great player with a great attitude. Luckly we have a great organization to make that decision for us.
SirReal
February 10th, 2010
9:22 am
NEWS FLASH!! FALCONS TRADE WR MIKE JENKINS, CB CHRIS HOUSTON, AND A FIRST ROUND PICK FOR NHAMDI ASOMUGHA!!! Yeah right…..we’re not that savvy yet.lol
SirReal
February 10th, 2010
9:30 am
@Oz I think you’re absolutely right. We need youth now. There are plenty of motors who can get to the QB. We just need to do a better job of scouting and stop gambling on injury prone players.
And yes, Jenkins is NOT a reliable number two. I think if Douglas hadnt gotten hurt and had a solid season, he’d be challenging jenkins for the #2 spot. I would have gone with Booker over Jenkins this year. The guy’s been to Pro Bowls and he was a wily veteran. The people upstairs still havent quite figured out how to use our personnel to its best potential. That hurts us too….
NFL News and Notes - February 10, 2010
February 10th, 2010
9:52 am
[...] Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who may be an unrestricted free agent on March 5, isn’t a good fit for the Atlanta Falcons, writes Mark Bradley of the Atlanta [...]
D-Bird
February 10th, 2010
9:55 am
I disagree with not trying to sign Peppers! He is still a preimer pass rusher in this game and could be a great encouragement to all the younger guys we have signed in the last 2-3 years. Atlanta is in dying need to become a Playoff contender team. Falcon Fans are dropping there season tickets like old Bus Passes! No one wants to pick them up. Our city and team needs a Big name player added to the roster. Maybe it’s not J. Peppers, but who will we sign this off season that can fill the seats in the dome and possibly escape another black out season. (Free Agents for Falcons to review: Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos), Julis Peppers (Carolina Pathers), or several defensive back that could also raise an eyebrow or 2. Yes, last but not least Mr T. Owens himself. The man is on his way out and what better way to retire with a win in the Superbowl with the Atlanta Falcons.
D-Bird
February 10th, 2010
10:02 am
Atlanta Falcons Fans do not have a lot to be excited for unless we can real in the big name player this off season. Season tickets are way down and the dirty birds just finish there 1st back to back winning seasons. Authur if you are listening please looks at Brandon Marshall, Aquon Bolding, and **********J. Cribbs************ (from the Brown) Pay the man! Cribbs would be a great fit for our roster plus he will sell tickets just on his talent along.
Ivan
February 10th, 2010
10:13 am
I agree on the NO to Peppers. Let someone else pay out the wazoo for a half-hearted player. Keep building through the draft.
Ken Strickland
February 10th, 2010
10:47 am
JPeppers was so full of himself and so lazy, in his07 contract yr, he managed on 2.5 sacks. Hell, as a rookie, KBiermann got 2 sacks in limited play while coming off the bench. Now KEN seems to be a personal cheerleader for Peppers and insists he turned down the teams contract offer in 07, which would have made him the leagues highest paid DE, because he felt he didn’t deserve it. Well KEN, like I told you on another blog, that was the backup excuse he gave when he realized how rediculous his original excuse sounded.
Since Peppers got 6 of his sacks against 3 of the NFL’s worst teams at giving up sacks(Bucs-33, Bills-46, Redskins-46), it puts into perspective how little he accomplished in the other 12gms, especially against the better teams. The Panthers played every team on our schedule except the Bears. Peppers got zero(0) sacks in 7 gms against the Patriots, Cowboys and Dolphins, as well s 4gms against us and the Saints.
He got a total of 3.5 sacks against playoff teams(the Eagles(1), Cardinals(1), Giants(1) and Jets(.5). THIS EXPLAINS WHY CAROLINA IS SO WILLING TO SEND HIS BUTT PACKING. He obviously doesn’t step it up against the better competition, which adds credence to his reputation of being lazy and taking plays off.
HOW IS THIS TYPE OF SELECTIVE PRODUCTION GOING TO HELP US, AND HOW CAN ANYONE BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO SUGGEST WE SPEND $15M+ FOR THIS OVERRATED PREMADONNA?
Come on Falcons
February 10th, 2010
10:47 am
Come on Falcons. You got to start somewhere. You can’t keep putting average players on the field and think they are going to win just because you are the falcons. I am starting to wonder do the Falcons really want to go above and beyond and actually compete for a Super Bowl. The defense is weak up the miiddle and has been for the last 10-12 years. Any team that plays the Falcons who has a decent running game manhandles the Falcons. Peppers defintely couldn’t hurt. He would be a major upgrade.
shrek
February 10th, 2010
11:01 am
I think the falcons needs peppers and peppers needs the falcons and so does shawne merriman
Martin Calloway
February 10th, 2010
11:39 am
A thousand times no. Pure poison in a team sport.
osama
February 10th, 2010
11:51 am
I’d prefer we go after Richard Seymour & continue to develop Biermann & Sidbury
No Mo
February 10th, 2010
12:18 pm
No to peppers—they don’t need some attitude case with a huge contract, playing when he wants. That top cash can be better spent in other places.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 10th, 2010
12:27 pm
One man(mark bradley)comment about a player(peppers) not of his liking,and everybody agree.I will say thats just one mans oppinion and don’t agree.Every player in this game whines if he’s not getting paid for what he thinks he’s worth,Thats why good players hold out.I would say get him and put him opposite abe and it would definately be a difference from what they have now.Question is will peppers be a upgrade from what the falcons have now? I would think 80% of the people who know football would say yes.
JJ
February 10th, 2010
12:28 pm
If the NO Saints sign Peppers, It will be at least 4 years before the Falcons beat them again.
Matt
February 10th, 2010
1:24 pm
While I somewhat agree with the whole “locker room cancer” thing I just hope we don’t get a 2nd rate player just because he is great to have in the locker room. The Braves do this and it’s pathetic. They don’t go for the Manny Ramirez’s of the world because of his issues. They don’t look at his .320+/35+/110+ which is exactly what they need (not to mention his ridiculous postseason numbers. Instead we go sign the Garrett Anderson’s of the world.
Meangelo Hall’s wasn’t producing anything but controversy. It’s not as if this guy was Champ Bailey with an attitude.
Ken Strickland
February 10th, 2010
1:47 pm
COME ON FALCONS-You said “THE DEFENSE IS WEAK UP THE THE MIDDLE AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST 10-12YRS”. That statement alone tells me you either don’t know much about football, or you’re trying to make a weak point and you need to embellish in order to make it work.
First, the Falcons DEF wasn’t weak up the middle in 98 & 02 under HC DReeves, or in 04 under HC RMora. It certainly wasn’t weak over the final 7gms of last year, when we limited our opponents entire rushing OFF’s to an average of 75yds per gm. JPeppers is a DE not a DT, so I don’t see how signing him, especially at $15m+, will improve our DEF up the middle. If fact, his poor DEF against the run last yr would actually make our outside rushing DEF weaker.
The mentality of some of our fans is really shakey. Some of the same fans who want us to ignore Peppers proven history of being a slacker and malcontent, are insisting we spend whatever it takes to sign him. These are also some of the same fans who insisted we get rid of Probowl CB DHall, Probowl QB MVick and Probowl TE ACrumpler. As it happens, they were also labeled slackers and malcontents. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
ELVISINTHEHOUSE-Peppers is a FA this yr, and I’ll bet you 80% of the people who know football aren’t stupid enough to pay him over $15M to gets sacks against weak teams. Tampa Bay was the weakest team in the NFC South, and the only team in our division he managed to get a sack against. If you intend to compete against the Saints for the division title, you have to be able to get to Brees. Peppers couldn’t get to Brees or MRyan, and our OL had problems protecting him this yr.
At $6-8M, he’d be worth the risk, but at twice that amount, he’s not worth considering. He’d be a much better fit for a team using a 3-4 DEF.
Ken Strickland
February 10th, 2010
2:08 pm
JJ-that’s some of the same dilusional crap we heard from certain fans on these blogs when they wanted us to draft GTech WR Calvin Johnson. And as we all know, he hasn’t dominated anybody so far. It seems many of you who want us to sign JPeppers at all cost aren’t very interested in doing any research or dealing with facts.
If you’re worried about Peppers going to the Saints and dominating us, DON’T. The fact is, he’s registered only ONE(1) sack against us over the last 7gms. LEARN TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT UP IN BUYING THE SIZZLE RATHER THAN THE STEAK. HE’S WHAT YOU WOULD CALL EMPTY CALORIES.
justin
February 10th, 2010
3:09 pm
even considering going after peppers would be a mistake. this guy kinda reminds me of a mark texiera in baseball (puts up great numbers in a blowout against a sub-par team, but is nowhere to be found when you need a presence of the edge in the big game.) He may end the year with some respectable numbers but i would much rather see the falcons go after like a Sergio Kindle in this years draft. An inspired 23 year old with alot of upside would make me feel better then an over the hill premadona!!!
justin
February 10th, 2010
3:42 pm
and too many of you guys are just looking at stats. guys stats are not everything watch how the players perform in the clutch and grade out a player thatt way. it is too easy to say o this guy had more sacks or that guy rushed for more yards so hes a better player. just try and remember that this is the nfl where no coach worth anything is gonna let another teams best player to beat him. this doesnt mean im taking peppers side on this thing, hes def not worth the $ we would have to shell out because he doesnt delier in the clutch. but you guys gotta stop getting caught up in a bunch of numbers and actually sit down and watch the game!
Money Rules
February 10th, 2010
5:27 pm
Peppers should get about half the going rate for his position, since that is the number of plays that he actually puts out effort.
Arhtur just increased my season ticket price again
February 10th, 2010
5:28 pm
You have to look at Peppers – the asking price might keep you from signing him, but you have to look. I don’t believe that Peppers would be a cancer in the locker room as some suggest because he would not be the leader, if he becomes a problem, the team will take care of it internally (you can count on that from Smitty).
Everyone keeps bashing Jamal Anderson – do you ever watch him. Granted, he is not the sack machine that he was signed to be, but he is a stud when playing inside. He does a great job of stopping the run and is tall enough to block a few passing lanes.
Love Bierman and Sid, just neither is an every down DE.
Get Peppers and throw him into our line rotation and lets see how it works. We can’t wait for another project – we need to win now.
JJ
February 10th, 2010
6:11 pm
Ken, thats a diff JJ at 12:48, get your own name assJJ, I do not want peppers and it’s a non-issue, no way TD wants him!!! The real JJ, go birdcage!!!
Paddy O
February 10th, 2010
6:42 pm
Mark – got a question. I rewatched the Super Bowl, and Reggie Wayne played so bad, it really looked like he was PAID OFF to play bad, ala the Black Sox. Any rumors about Reggie intentionally dogging the big game?
Mark Bradley
February 10th, 2010
6:45 pm
I can’t imagine any player would ever not try his best in a big game, Paddy O.
Ken Strickland
February 10th, 2010
10:08 pm
I believe we’ll see the 2nd coming of former Falcon DE Patrick Kerney the season. This will be KBiermanns 3rd yr, 2nd as a starter, and I think he’ll have a breakout yr. In our rotational DL system, if he gives us 8 sacks, he’ll provide us with more than we’d get from Peppers, especially when you factor in Biermanns superior DEF against the run. And we’ll be able to spend that $15M+ on something more beneficial.
To be honest, I don’t think we’re hurting on the DL. The return of DT PJerry from IR is the same as having another 1st rd pick. Switching and playing JAnderson extensively at DT won’t be an experiment with question marks like it was last yr. DT’s TJohnson and rookie VWalker will start the season with a yr of solid experience and accomplishments to build upon. DT TLewis will return after completing his 1st yr injury free. The only question mark will be the legal status of our best DT, JBabineaux. If our DT’s can consistently push or collapse the pocket, our pass rush will take care of itself. We definitely have the DE’s to run any QB down once flushed out of the pocket.
The biggest improvement we’ll see in our pass rush and overall DEF will come from the improvement of young, talented and developing players like MLB CLofton, OLB SNicholas, DE’s KBiermann & LSidbury, safeties TDeCoud & EColeman, and CB’s COwens, BGrimes, and possibly THill and CJackson. There’s also the effect our new DB coach could have on our secondary. There’s a reason our former DB coach, EThomas, was let go.
BirdDawg
February 11th, 2010
3:08 am
I think trying to sign him to a 2 year contract would be the way to go. All the negativity aside, even on the plays he took off, he was still pretty disruptive and effective at getting pressure on the quarterback. Certainly better than any pass rusher we had on the team this season and he can hold down the fort until Sidbury (who I think can be a beast of a pass rusher) is ready for a larger role. Finally, it can be argued that he played with less fire than in previous years because he was in a situation he really didn’t want to be in with a team he really wasn’t in sync with. Over the course of his career, other than this past season, he hasn’t been apt to display any Meangelo tendencies and he definitely played hard as much as anyone on the field. I think Peppers would be a good gamble for a short term contract.
joe
February 11th, 2010
7:55 am
when do the Falcons find out how many compensatory(?) draft picks they get for the free agents they lost last year? Also how is it determined what rounds those picks will be in?
Ken Strickland
February 11th, 2010
9:51 am
BIRDDAWG-THINK!! Are you actually suggesting we limit our ability to sign FA’s and resign our FA’s and draft picks by spending $15-18M of our cap money for JPeppers as a shortterm investment just to buy time for LSidbury, a 4th rd pick, and KBiermann, a 5th rd pick, to develop? WHERE’S THE LOGIC? Peppers is a 30yr old 8yr vet, and he’s looking at his last chance to sign a max contract. He’s not stupid enough to sign a 2yr contract and risk getting hurt, because he knows that will prevent him from ever signing another max contract. The best and safest time for him to sign a max contract is NOW.
The only way to get any value out of signing Peppers for all that money would be to play him every down, like Carolina did. Making him part of our rotational DL system would reduce his snaps, which in return would reduce his output. Biermann’s 49 tackles in 499 snaps proves he’s a superior run defender, and his 5 sacks, compared to Peppers 10.5 sacks in 806 snaps, proves Biermann doesn’t have far to go to be more effective overall than Peppers.
I’ve noticed how all of you JPepper advocates conveniently avoided addressing his disappearing act and poor performances against good teams. They also conveniently avoided addressing the fact it took him 307 additional snaps to get 5.5 more sacks and 7 fewer tackles than Biermann. Allow me to put those 307 extra snaps into perspective for you.
JPeppers averaged 50 snaps per gm(806snaps divided by 16gms)and accumulated 307 more snaps than KBiermann. If you divide those 307 extra snaps by his 50 snap per gm average, you’d get the equivilent of 6 extra gms. That means it took Peppers the equivalent of 6 additional gms to get 7 fewer tackles and 5.5 more sacks than Biermann. If he played for us, he wouldn’t get those 307 extra snaps, or, or 6 equivalent gms, and therefore wouldn’t get the 10.5 sacks and 42 tackles. ADD ALL OF THIS TO THE FACT HE HAS A SOLID REPUTATION AS A SLACKER AND MALCONTENT, AND YOU CAN SEE WHY HE’S NOT WORTH OVER $15-18M, ASSUMING YOU’RE NOT STILL HUNGUP ON THE SIZZLE?
Carolina got wise and stopped buying the sizzle and realized they didn’t need to pay him almost $18M for his empty stats. Especially if he’s only producing numbers against teams like the Bucs, Redskins and Bills, while disappearing against the better teams, particularly those in their division.
If, after digesting all that I’ve presented, you still want to see Peppers in a Falcons uniform next yr, continue to dream on. TD and Smitty have the sense to know they can get the production that Peppers might provide just by ignoring him and sending our own KBiermann out on the field each wk. You see, they and see hear the sizzle and smell the aroma just like you, except they have enough sense and experience to read the label and see if they’re getting SELECT OR UTILITY GRADE.
#1 Falcons Fan
February 11th, 2010
11:31 am
You say we can get a pass rusher in the draft..just like we can improve the defense in the 2009 draft…we let 5 veteran starters go on defense and look what happened. We were ranked 28th in pass defense. HELLO people your pass defense is only as good as your pass rush. We need to sign Peppers and cut ties with Anderson (the 1st round bust) with his 2 1/2 sacks over 3 years. I mean Peppers had 25 1/2 sacks the last 2 years….Even if he doesn’t dominate every game..he will get attention and if he is double team, then that would free up Peria Jerry, Abraham and open up the door for others to improve their sack total. Come on people wouldn’t u rather have a proven veteran pro bowl pass rusher like Peppers or a rookie 1st rounder than could end up being a bust like Anderson. If you can’t get pressure on the QB, then your CB will get beat evey game and your pass defense will once again be ranked 28th or lower! SIGN PEPPERS TODAY!
justin
February 11th, 2010
3:56 pm
Yeah Falcons Fan i can honestly say i would rather build this team up through the daft. Sergio Kindle or Brandon Graham could spend a year in the rotation pushin Abe (who is gonna have a fire lit under his ass cause its both a contract year and a peoblem we would have already adressed with our top pick). Trust me, i wish we could just buy up every pick out there but unfortunately Peppers is not gonna sign for cheap! We simply can not afford to blow 18 mill on a guy with all these question marks. Think of all the problems we could adress with that 18 mill through FA and the draft. If we play our cards right and stay healthy we could be party like they are in burbon street this time next year!!!
Atl's Superman
February 11th, 2010
7:46 pm
WE can sit here and type our opinions of Peppers, all we want but i have no doubt in my mind that if the Falcons want Pepper the will go After him Plain and Simple. All this talk about him taking plays off is bull, Name one player that hasnt taken a play off? I mean serious. We talk about him being a Me first type of guy. But Soon as he comes and gets 13 sacks, Nobody is going to care if he Dances around in a Dress and wig to Single Ladies. PRODUCTION ALWAYS SILENCES CRITICS!!!
Ken Strickland
February 11th, 2010
9:17 pm
#1 FALCONS FAN-It seems everyone on the JPeppers bandwagon seems to have one track minds, and can’t seem to see the forest for the trees. I know you read my post, and I know you and others on his bandwagon, deliberately ignored my comment about the negative effect signing him would have on our ability to resign our own FA’s and draft picks.
All of you have also conveniently avoided addressing the fact that his production last yr had little impact of their overall DEF, which is why they want him out of there. You mentioned how our pass DEF dropped from 21st in 08 to 28th in 09 because we released 5 DEF starters. However, you failed to mention how our rushing DEF went from 25th in 08 to 10th in 09, and our overall DEF went from 24th in 08 to 21st in 09 without those same 5 starters.
Everyone on the JPeppers bandwagon is so blinded by the idea of signing him, you’ve failed to grasp we already have a better DE on our roster in JAbraham. Unlike last season when he we was severly limited after having surgery shortly before training camp started, he’ll start this season healthy. In 08, he didn’t need anywhere near 806 snaps to get 16.5 sacks. Why are all of you JPeppers lovers so silent on the fact it took him 307 extra snaps, or the equivalent of 6 complete gms, to get 5.5 more sacks and 7 FEWER tackles than our own rising DE KBiermann?
ATL’S SUPERMAN-before you start predicting how many sacks JPeppers will get next yr, don’t forget this is the same JPeppers who managed to come up with a whopping 2.5 sacks in a contract yr in 07. Coming to a new team, new teammates, new DEF scheme, and a new rotational DL system will definitely have an effect on his overall production. Considering the amount of money he’ll demand, the risk and the limited(prorated)difference in production he had over current starting DE KBiermann, He’s not worth it.
Having said all of that, if TD and Smitty work out a reasonable deal that won’t hurt the team financially, I would complain if we brought him in. I just don’t think it’s a necessity, unlike some of you.
Big Ray
February 12th, 2010
8:09 am
Anybody who wants to bring up Jamaal Anderson when talking about drafting a defensive end needs to also bring up who drafted him: RICH MCKAY.
This is THOMAS DIMITROFF people. I don’t have a single problem with him picking a defensive end. Different GM, different regime. I trust him.
Big Ray
February 12th, 2010
8:12 am
As for Julius Peppers, we can do better, and we already have a 30+ year old DE. Why have two of them?
That, and if you think TD and company didn’t find Dominique Foxworth to be worthy of the cash he wanted, what makes you think they’ll want to pay Peppers a boat load of cash for unguaranteed production that is likely not to exceed that of Abraham’s?
Ken Strickland
February 12th, 2010
11:51 am
BIG RAY-Thanks for coming on board and joining me and a few others in trying to bring some sanity to this JPEPPER LOVE FEST. I also mentioned the Falcons not resigning CB DFoxworth. Like Peppers, he was weak in run support and both TD and Smitty won’t bring in anyone that won’t get down and dirty. They are so committed to it that even though DE JAnderson was a complete failure as a pass rushing DE, they continued starting him last yr over DE CDavis because of his strong run stopping ability.
They even thought enough of his run stopping ability to move him to DT and include him prominently in the DT rotation. What I can’t understand is how those who are so hungup on us signing JPeppers can completely ignore basic common sense issues, like the negative financial impact it would have, his poor work ethic and his strong production against weak teams and weak production against strong teams.
You tell them he’s had only 1 sack in 7gms(the equivelent of 3.5 seasons) against the Falcons and only 3 sacks in 8gms(the equivelent of 4 seasons) against the Saints. You tell them 6 or his 10.5 sacks came against 3 of the NFL’s worst teams at protecting their QB, the Bucs(33sacks allowed), Bills and Redskins(46sacks allowed each). You tell them it took him 307 additional snaps, or the equivelent of 6 additional gms, to record 7 fewer tackles and 5.5 more sacks than 1st yr starter KBiermann.
Yet, they read it, ignore it, and continue on with their emotionally driven, hype filled campaign for us signing DE JPeppers at all cost, as some of them have put it. Some of them actually call those who make valid points for not signing him stupid, just because we don’t see it their way and make valid points in support of our opposition. And keep in mind, at this point we’re talking about people who obvious can’t/won’t see the forest for the trees when it comes to the JPeppers debate.
jon jon
February 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
with tim lewis in with the falcons now. I think he will know the best decission what to do with peppers. but in all honesty if we end up saying no to peppers then we need to be telling abraham bye bye. John Abraham is horrible he couldn’t do anything to tampa bay; while peppers could at least get 2 sacs.
Big Ray
February 12th, 2010
2:03 pm
Ken Strickland ,
You know the deal. People hear what they want to. Peppers may rise again and have a good year. Who knows. But I find it odd that people aren’t taking more notice of the 1.5 sack year, but point to the 10.5 sack year. Ever hear of a contract year?
Tyler
February 12th, 2010
4:19 pm
Currect, they shouldn’t get Peppers, because they should spend their money on Joey Porter, who was recently released by the Dolphins. Wherever he has played, he has been the locker room leader for the defense. The falcons need someone like that and with his skills
Kane337
February 12th, 2010
5:02 pm
Uhh, Joey Porter is a 3-4 linebacker not a 4-3 defensive end. Big difference. In case you didn’t know…the Falcons run a 4-3 defense therefore Joey Porter will not be coming to the Falcons. Have a nice day.
Ken Strickland
February 12th, 2010
7:14 pm
JON JON-I can’t believe you had the nerve to say what you said about JAbraham. You said, “JOHN ABRAHAM IS HORRIBLE HE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING TO TAMPA BAY; WHILE PEPPERS COULD AT LEAST GET 2 SACS. I wouldn’t call 5 solo tackles, 2 for losses, and 2 QB hits exactly nothing. If JAbraham is so HORRIBLE because he got 0 sacks against Tampa Bay, how HORRIBLE would you say JPeppers was for getting only 2.5 sacks and 38 tackles for an entire(CONTRACT)season?
Let’s put your attempt to justify us signing JPeppers into perspective. First, you want us to spend over $15M to sign him because he had 9 tackles(7 in 1st gm), 3 sacks(2 in 1st gm), 1QB hit and 4 TFL(Tackles for losses)(3 in 1st gm), against a Tampa Bay team that ranked 24th(passing), 23rd(rushing), 28th(overall), while giving up 33sacks.
Yet, you want us to ignore the 6 total tackles, 0 sacks, 1 QB hit and 0 TFL)he had against the Falcons, who finished 2nd in the division, and SAINTS, who won the division, the SB, and ranked 1st(total OFF), 4th(passing) and 6th(rushing).
Let’s sum up your logic behind wanting us to sign JPeppers. You think Tampa Bay, a 3-13 team that finished last in our division and we defeated twice, is far more of a threat to us than the division and SB champion Saints, who finished 13-3 and defeated us twice. WOW!!!
TD is STILL CLUELESS
February 13th, 2010
6:00 am
To “Falcons Real Fan” Your attitude “we neede players to fit our team and character”…is the reason the Falcons’ organization will NEVER win a SUPERBOWL. Until Arthur go out and get an accomplished GM, who can scout talent, he will never win the big one. The organization is too concern with Image and not winning. Blank hired Mora, M Smith, TD and M Ryan (yes-Maatt Ryan) but look where it has got him. NO WHERE:
GM- Can’t scout talent and continue to sign injury prone players. He put that 2009 Defense on the field.
MS- Fighting w/players on the sideline. Thug
Mora- Clueless “players” Coach
M.Ryan- Weak Arm and Interception Machine
Ken Strickland
February 13th, 2010
1:01 pm
TD IS CLUELESS-Your post sounds like a self analysis to me, because you’re the one that seems clueless if you say TD can’t recognize talent. Fellow NFL executives recognized him as one of the NFL’s top GM’s in the league, and that’s after only 2yrs as a GM. He’s also been recognized as the key person behind judging the abundance of talent the Patriots accumulated, and that allowed them to become a mini dynasty.
And here we are listening to an egotistical, finger pointing football illiterate who’s challenging the opinion of the entire NFL hierarchy. I’m going to ask you to do something you’re obviously not accustomed to doing, and that’s THINK!
When TD and Smitty 1st came on board, they made a decision to completely start over. THAT MEANS THE DECIDED TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE OFF, DEF AND SPECIAL TEAMS, CLUELESS. Over the last 2yrs they’ve traded or released the following players:
OFFENSE
QB-BLeftwich, JHarrington
RB-CMcIntyre, WDunn
WR-JHorn, AJennings, LRobinson, JElliot
TE-CAnderson DBlakely, ACrumpler, MMilner
OL-DBaptiste, KForney, PMcCoy, BWilkerson, DDatish, RFoster, WGandy, TPatterson, TWeiner.
DEFENSE
DL-TAnderson, DJones, MStanley, RColeman, DPatterson.
LB-TTaylor, MWillims, DWilliams, TTaylor
DB-OLowe, CCrocker, DIrons, DStone, JWilliams, LSanders.
After getting rid of 10 OLinemen, 3 starters, 2RB’s, 1 starter, 4WR’s, 1 starter, and 4 TE’s, 1 starter, we managed to go from 23rd in total OFF, 26th in rushing OFF, 18th in passing OFF, while giving up 47 sacks in 2007. After the 2008 season we improved to 6th in total OFF, 2nd in rushing OFF and 14th in passing OFF, while giving up only 17 sacks. Even after having an off yr in 09, we still improved on the 07 seasn by managed finishing 16th in total OFF, 15th in rushing OFF, 14th in passing OFF, while giving up 27 sacks.
Dimitroff 20-12 won-loss record and back to back winning seasons make him the most successful GM in Atlanta Falcon history in his 1st 2yrs. He is the only Falcons GM to put a team together that made the playoffs their 1st yr. He completely turned the roster over in his 1st 2yrs, with DE JAbraham, OC TMcClure, WR RWhite and FB OMughelli being the only holdover starters from the 2007 team.
You also made an extremely ignorant comment about the arm strength or QB MRyan, and him being an interception machine. Well, again your perception is a reflection on your level of football ignorance. In the 2yrs he’s been in the NFL, he’s thrown a total of 25 INT’s, 11 in 08 and 14 in 09. Compare that total to other top QB over that same period.
PLAYER 2008 2009 TOTAL
(1)MSCHAUB 10 15 25
(2)PMANNING 12 16 28
(3)EMANNING 21 14 35
(4)TBRADY DNP 13
(5)DBREES 17 11 28
(6)BROETHLISBERGER 15 12 27
(7)KWARNER 14 14 28
(8)DMCNABB 11 10 21
(9)BFARVE 22 7 29
AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CLAIM QB MRYAN IS AN INTERCEPTION MACHINE?
As far as him having a weak arm is concerned, go tell that crap to HOF QB’s like JMontana, FTarkenton, LDawson, KStaber and BStarr. And yes, TD did put last yrs DEF on the field. And over the last 7gm stretch of the season, that same DEF ended up being the NFL’s best rushing DEF, holding opponents entire rushing OFF to a 75YPG average, as well as the becoming the most improved overall DEF down that same stretch.
GIVE ME SOMETHING BESIDES YOUR BS ASSUMPTIONS TO SUPPORT YOU BS OPINIONS.
WW
February 14th, 2010
9:56 am
We might bash each other a lot on this site, but at least the group is smart enough to know to not acquire too many older players. It takes the right mix of youth and experience.
Ken Strickland
February 14th, 2010
12:54 pm
WW-excellent point, which coinsides with the philosophy TD and Smitty have echoed many times, WE WANT TO GET QUICKER, FASTER AND YOUNGER. For the money he’s demanding, JPeppers doesn’t help us achieve that goal. Have you noticed how all these JPEPPER LOVERS avoided addressing my very revealing breakdown of JPeppers’ sacks and tackles and compared it to JBiermann?
Not one on them has responded to the revelation that it took Peppers 307 extra snaps, or the equivalent of 6 complete gms, to register 5.5 more sacks and 7 fewer tackles than our current starting DE KBiermann, who is a #19 5th rd draft pick that just completed his 1st yr as a starter. If you reduce Peppers snaps to Biermann’s level, or increase Biermann’s snaps to Peppers’ level, you’ll almost certainly get better over production from Biermann.
Now, who but a complete moron would suggest spending $15-18+M on a known underachiever and malcontent when you know you can get simular, if not better, overall production from a much younger and improving KBiermann, who’s still under his rookie contract?
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
February 15th, 2010
11:28 am
Ken Strickland,calvin johnson(G.T) have not had a above average QB to throw him the ball.
Arthur just increased my season ticket price again
February 15th, 2010
1:21 pm
Ken Strickland – you type too much. It get’s hard to always follow.
If there is one thing I know, it’s that figures lie and liars figure. You can throw out all of the sack number comparisons and such, but the bottom line is that Peppers is a talent. Peppers gets more attention when on the field than Bierman (and I love Bierman) and, truthfully, probably has less talent on the line around him.
My only point is that you have to look at him. Money is a big factor whether we can sign him or not, but if money is not a factor, it sure would be intriguing to have him in the mix. I don’t believe the “attitude/cancer” smack is as real as some say; besides, not being the leader of the defense, the other players would keep him in line.
Tracy Morgan
February 15th, 2010
1:35 pm
Sign Julius Peppers?
No. No. mmm mmmm. No. NO. HELL NO. No.
Brandon Ladson
February 15th, 2010
6:27 pm
Keep kickin that team ishh and see what you get. Going to look like the bengals win a playoff game every 8 years with 2 appearances in during that time. Hate on D Hall all you want still a top flight corner compared to what we have and what we can draft. Don’t believe the hype also don’t forget no cap this year. People get paid and egos go away funny how players play when they get what they want.