An interesting quote (Re: the effort question)

[manwithcake]

Let me phrase this as a simple yes-no question, to those who love him, those who hate him, those who are just being practical, regardless...

Do you believe that Peppers gave full effort when he was on the field; never half-assed, never took plays off?

I don't think his effort on the field is the problem. I think the problem is his effort in the film room. I think he's mentally lazy and doesn't want to make the effort to do the studying that someone like Strahan did. He relies purely on his athleticism, which is more than most can do, but he'll never achieve what he wants (maximized potential) until he becomes a student of the game. There isn't some magic scheme out there that will do it for him.

[stankowalski]

Let me phrase this as a simple yes-no question, to those who love him, those who hate him, those who are just being practical, regardless...

Do you believe that Peppers gave full effort when he was on the field; never half-assed, never took plays off?

I believe Peppers gave just as much effort as everyone else on the field. There is plenty of tape out there of Peppers, I'd like someone to find one play where he took off and show it to me. In this age of DVR that shouldn't be so hard to do...especially for those that are so adamant that he did take plays off or didn't give full effort. And how do you qualify it? Is getting blocked by a 300 lb lineman proof? Pffft.

[Hairless Cat]

Last Season

[Pimpdaddy]

I never thought I'd see the day people on this board would try to paint J Pep as a "cancer" and play it like he's hurt this team. The humility so many of you seek from these players you need to exhibit yourselves.

'cancer' is prolly a little strong but Garcia and Buckner, regardless of how you feel about them, both said that if Pep stays its going to be a problem. They have experience in the locker room. Players are going to question his motivation and work ethic. Oh, and to pay someone 17 mil who doesnt want to be there! You bet there is going to be some descension on the team. Not the ideal situation to build a superbowl team. So lets not call him a 'cancer' but a virus or a fkin germ, take some antibiotics and get rid of him...

[stankowalski]

Oh, and to pay someone 17 mil who doesnt want to be there! You bet there is going to be some descension on the team. Not the ideal situation to build a superbowl team.

Dissension? You mean like when Gross says Peppers will be welcomed back with open arms? That kind of dissension? And what does it say about those dissenting players when a guy who takes plays off, is lazy, and bad mouths an organizaion is paid double, triple, or even more than they are being paid? There is a disconnect between the Peppers haters crew view of Peppers and the organizaions view of Peppers. Maybe you should be mad at the front office for not letting this guy walk?

[mantal]

I don't think his effort on the field is the problem. I think the problem is his effort in the film room. I think he's mentally lazy and doesn't want to make the effort to do the studying that someone like Strahan did. He relies purely on his athleticism, which is more than most can do, but he'll never achieve what he wants (maximized potential) until he becomes a student of the game. There isn't some magic scheme out there that will do it for him.

Interesting take that probably holds some merit...

[PanthersAlv]

Dissension? You mean like when Gross says Peppers will be welcomed back with open arms? That kind of dissension? And what does it say about those dissenting players when a guy who takes plays off, is lazy, and bad mouths an organizaion is paid double, triple, or even more than they are being paid? There is a disconnect between the Peppers haters crew view of Peppers and the organizaions view of Peppers. Maybe you should be mad at the front office for not letting this guy walk?

Hmm... yeah, cuz you know, What the players say isn't moderated by the FOX man at all.

Yeah, sure... let's blow Pep up like that.

A lot of people loved Jenkins too, and until he was gone nothing came out about him... from Players... but, as we have read, now that he's gone, things were said without naming him and stating "things are better in the locker room". Some people still wanted him here. Yes, he was a "cancer" being he opened his mouth while playing during the Season.

Give Peppers credit to a point for waiting for the Season to be over before lamb-baste'n the team with his info.

But, I'm sure now that the "lockeroom" is none exsistant at this point until the team gets back to training adn practice'n... there's no "talk" about it amoungst players to the point that they are interviewed and they blow Peppers up.

We've heard from Hurney, Gross and Peppers.

Jake is a 'team player' and wouldn't bad mouth anyone.

Smitty on the other hand has said outright "it's a business, and I'd probably do the same thing" (before all the limitations, and back peddling by Pep) Who knows what he'd say now.

We can't say who might or might not 'really' want Peppers to stay or leave... but, to be sure... Peppers attitude at the moment is "I don't want to be here" and when Jenkins had that attitude... he wasn't a good thing to have in teh lockeroom.

And he also is a 4 time probowler, and was hurt a lot. So... yeah, I'd say dessention is a very good possiblity.

[Pimpdaddy]

Dissension? You mean like when Gross says Peppers will be welcomed back with open arms? That kind of dissension? And what does it say about those dissenting players when a guy who takes plays off, is lazy, and bad mouths an organizaion is paid double, triple, or even more than they are being paid? There is a disconnect between the Peppers haters crew view of Peppers and the organizaions view of Peppers. Maybe you should be mad at the front office for not letting this guy walk?

I mean really, what is Gross going to say? Nothing derogatory cause hes being politically correct. The players have been coached to say the right things. There will definetly be some bitching going on. The front office is trying to protect an investment that has gone bad they should try and get something for him.

Stan, lets say you are making widgets for company A. You make 100,000 perfect widgets at $5.00 an hour. Company A has an employee besides you who makes 100,000 also but gets paid $25.00 an hour and only 90,000 good widgets and you have to fix the broken widgets. But that scenario is ok with you. Right?

[Fireball77]

Good take, MWC, about the film. Certainly plausible.

I think that sometimes players actually do want guys back who are proven problems (like Plaxico) because if they feel that the guy gives them a better chance to win, they can put up with his BS. Obviously Pep isn't in that category, but I do think that regardless of any personal feelings the guys may have about how he is handling things, they likely believe he gives them a better chance to win so they wouldn't be apt to shittalk him anyway.

[Mr. Scot]

I have to admit, right now this is my biggest concern.

The Panthers kept Tshimanga Biakabutuka for years longer than they should have all because they believed in what he "could" be. They finally let him go because in the end they realized, to paraphrase John Fox, he was what he was.

I'm wondering more and more if Peppers isn't Ricky Williams playing DE, i.e. awesome talent, backward personality, nigh impossible to motivate.

If he got his head on straight, I believe Julius could be an even more disruptive force than Charles Haley in his prime (minus the locker room ******* tugging). For him to be worth what they're offering, they'll need to find someone who can get inside his head, see what makes him tick, and get it wound a little tighter.

(save the Sylar jokes guys)

Is that Ron Meeks? Is it Brian Baker? Will it take someone like a Jacob Burney type (who motivated Chuck Wiley by telling him, in front of everyone, that he was soft)? Don't know.

But the way things are playing out right now, I won't be surprised if we get a chance to find out.

[User Name]

I have to admit, right now this is my biggest concern.

The Panthers kept Tshimanga Biakabutuka for years longer than they should have all because they believed in what he "could" be. They finally let him go because in the end they realized, to paraphrase John Fox, he was what he was.

I'm wondering more and more if Peppers isn't Ricky Williams playing DE, i.e. awesome talent, backward personality, nigh impossible to motivate.

If he got his head on straight, I believe Julius could be an even more disruptive force than Charles Haley in his prime (minus the locker room ******* tugging). For him to be worth what they're offering, they'll need to find someone who can get inside his head, see what makes him tick, and get it wound a little tighter.

(save the Sylar jokes guys)

Is that Ron Meeks? Is it Brian Baker? Will it take someone like a Jacob Burney type (who motivated Chuck Wiley by telling him, in front of everyone, that he was soft)? Don't know.

But the way things are playing out right now, I won't be surprised if we get a chance to find out.

The problem is how the do you motivate him? Money... That won't work he's already been paid. Challenge his pride/manhood... That didn't work when Richardson tried it before the 07 season in fact it appeared to have the opposite affect. I don't care what his camp says he isn't motivated by greatness, so what motivates him?

Short of threatening his mamma I don't believe he can be motivated.

[manwithcake]

I'm wondering more and more if Peppers isn't Ricky Williams playing DE, i.e. awesome talent, backward personality, nigh impossible to motivate.

I said this exact same thing on another board. He is the DE version of Ricky Williams, minus the ganja appetite (as far as we know).

[Mr. Scot]

I said this exact same thing on another board. He is the DE version of Ricky Williams, minus the ganja appetite (as far as we know).

At least he didn't interview with his helmet on

The problem is how the do you motivate him? Money... That won't work he's already been paid. Challenge his pride/manhood... That didn't work when Richardson tried it before the 07 season in fact it appeared to have the opposite affect. I don't care what his camp says he isn't motivated by greatness, so what motivates him?

Short of threatening his mamma I don't believe he can be motivated.

My first thought would be to get him angry (a la what Burney did) but I don't honestly have confidence that will work. The "Ricky Williams" personality type is more likely to draw into a shell and back away when confronted in that manner.

A big part of me wonders if that whole "can't reach my potential here" spiel was scripted by Carl Carey.

[Miaoww]

Exactly the point.

"The Tortoise and the Hare" is a great story, but it's a story.

In reality, you actually have to wrestle with whether 75% of Julius Peppers is better than 100% of Aaron Kampman.

(they didn't cover this type of equation when I took Algebra I)

I'd take Kampman every day.