116 replies to this topic

[Dpantherman]

By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Saturday, Mar. 06, 2010
Bears Free Agency Football

As excited as Julius Peppers is to be a new member of the Chicago Bears - and a very wealthy one - he says things didn't have to turn out this way.

In an exclusive interview with the Observer Saturday, one day after signing a six-year contract that can earn him up to $91.5 million with the Bears, Peppers insisted he was willing to stay with the Carolina Panthers.

Providing specifics for the first time regarding his contract negotiations with Carolina last summer, he said the two sides were split by a $6 million difference for a four-year deal - or $1.5 million per year.

"My feeling is they could have done that," Peppers said. "If they wanted me to stay, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal."...

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[AceMan]

So the big reason why Peppers couldn't stay was money?!....sigh....didn't we offer him 14 mil a year?

[Dpantherman]

I guess hes trying to say that we really didn't want him. But if that were the case we wouldn't have offered him anything. I guess it could be argued that the Bears wanted him more than we did...ah well.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

He said he enjoyed playing for the Panthers' new defensive coaches and that he ended the season prepared to stay, only to be surprised that team officials didn't try to keep him.

"Things could've ended on a better note than they did if everybody would've just been straight up and kept it professional," he said.

However, Peppers said he isn't angry and that his respect for Richardson hasn't wavered.

I told you so...

Can we please end the "Julius Peppers is a douche" sentiment now?

Maybe if he would have had a press conference and cried like a baby because we just gave him almost $13 Million to walk, folks would be talking about making statues and putting him in the Ring of Honor...

[R0CKnR0LLA]

With what the Bears paid, they can have him.

[Dpantherman]

With what the Bears paid, they can have him.

yes. I can't wait for Jordan Gross to pwn him later this year

[AceMan]

He also said it wasn't until about the time he played in the Pro Bowl on Feb. 1 that he decided he definitely wanted out since the Panthers hadn't made any overtures to resume contract talks.

He emphatically denied that the team made a late effort to keep him and said the only person in the front office or coaching staff who has contacted him since the season ended is defensive line coach Brian Baker, with whom he's developed a close personal relationship.

Hmmmmmm.......

Well, I'm a Peppers fan...but I don't think he is worth 15 mil a year. I do believe him in that no contact made the situation worse. I really wished we could have found a way to keep him...but I think we sorta planned to move on anyway honestly.

[Humble Dew]

[Hairless Cat]

peppers is dead to me

[Darth Hater]

yes. I can't wait for Jordan Gross to pwn him later this year

:hand: I think your crystal ball needs a rebuild kit. Multiple sacks that game for Peppers....multiple.

[John Fox]

what a joke

[John Fox]

I told you so...

Can we please end the "Julius Peppers is a douche" sentiment now?

Maybe if he would have had a press conference and cried like a baby because we just gave him almost $13 Million to walk, folks would be talking about making statues and putting him in the Ring of Honor...

the douchebag is just doing damage control

[Dpantherman]

:hand: I think your crystal ball needs a rebuild kit. Multiple sacks that game for Peppers....multiple.

yea, the only thing coming in multiples will be interceptions thrown by Jay Cutler.

[Swarly]

yeah, right. if he wanted to be a panther he would have accepted the contract we offered 2 years ago.

I would have loved to keep him because he's still a beast, but let's be real for a second. you can't seriously believe this article, ESPECIALLY after those comments he made yesterday about not wanting to be the face of the Panthers franchise, and how he loved Chicagos winning tradition..

this interview was just damage control because he know he sounded like an asshole.

[CRA]

yes. I can't wait for Jordan Gross to pwn him later this year

will that be after Gross gets called for the false start or before......Pep is gonna show up when he plays Carolina. He won't sleep walk that one game at least. If Gross and Pep both are going 100%....Pep wins that battle.