"I'm thankful for everything they've done for me and I don't want to leave them crippled or in a bad situation, and I don't want to do that to myself, either" is just how Julius Peppers left it with the media in Charlotte, just one day after the Panthers were taken to the woodshed by the Arizona Cardinals.
The translation—"thanks for the ride, thanks for the good times, and I hope you can get a fair trade for me, but I now want to become the highest paid defender alive...for another team if needed and in a new city. I need one that is possibly just a little bigger and can maybe even show a player a little more love."
It sounds selfish—I know...but why? Why would Peppers really want out of Carolina?
If Peppers just wanted to leave to go play for a team that would be a better contender for a Super bowl title than Carolina is (that is what I think a small part of this is), then Peppers needs to remember he was just two wins away from the 43rd Super bowl just one week ago.
Had the Panthers possibly been the Wild Card team and continued playing good football, on a streak, instead of getting the time-off that comes with a bye week, they may have been able to pull out the win against Arizona.
I just cannot accept that the only reasons that Peppers wants out of Charlotte is for more money and the chance to play for a better team. How much more money does a fellow need? Is playing for a team that employs a 3-4 defense all that critical for Peppers to be a part of? Will that help him get to the Hall of Fame any quicker? Most ex-players will tell you that next to the Hall of Fame that a Superbowl ring was the most coveted thing that was in their sport.
Personally, I really thought the Panthers were over achievers this season. They had some very young players and a few rookies in some key positions and for the most part, they did not disappoint. I felt as if this coming offseason would be the time for Carolina to try and re-tool their defense as they had done for their offense last season.
With the defensive changes probably coming in just a few months and if Delhomme's arm gets even better this offseason, I feel the Panthers may well be a contender again next season. Maybe Peppers and his agent saw things differently. Peppers was very possibly tired of Charlotte, NC.
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