Julius Peppers Acting in His Own Best Interest? That's Just Fine

Seasoned green peppers are the perfect accompaniment to a grilled sausage in the summer. A seasoned, green Peppers spoils the summer for football fans.

Three months ago, Julius Peppers publicly said that he would request a trade if the Panthers place the franchise tag on him. Two weeks ago, the Pro Bowl defensive end of the Carolina Panthers skipped a mini-camp.

"I strongly feel that making a move at this time is in my best interest,” said Peppers in a statement, according to ESPN. “I appreciate the entire Panthers organization and am thankful for the seven seasons I've spent with the team."

In his best interest? Of course it is. When was the last time an athlete made a decision that was in the organization’s or fans’ best interest?

Peppers wants to move to one of five teams that uses a 3-4 defense, a list that includes the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, so that he can become an outside linebacker.

"He feels that he can thrive in another system,” said his agent Carl Carey, according to ESPN. “While he has been selected to four Pro Bowls and designated as an All-Pro during his career, he feels that he has yet to develop to his full potential. This is the case of a great player who seeks to become an elite one."

Wait what? He wants to see if he can be better? Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with that.

Since the Panthers made him a franchise player on February 19, Peppers will make nearly $17 million in 2009 if he signs and stays in Carolina. Should he decide to play as an outside linebacker in another organization, he would probably sign for less money, according to Yahoo! Sports.

If people were to be completely truthful, most would find that they have a lot in common with Peppers. In his seven seasons in the NFL, Peppers has made four Pro Bowls as a defensive end. After 14.5 sacks in 2008, he knows how good he can be.

"At this point in my NFL career, I am seeking new challenges that will allow me to grow, develop and reach my personal potential on the football field,” said Peppers in a statement according to ESPN.

This is exactly the reason why people despise their dead-end jobs. Of course their earning potential is limited, but their desire to see just how good they can be is squelched.

Beyond the millions of dollars he makes, what separates Peppers from most of the world is the fact that he has enormous job security. There are only a handful of people in the world who can do his job nearly as well as he can. This provides him the ability to sit out and demand more.

Imagine a worker at McDonald’s having that kind of job security. Why shouldn’t he explore how good he could be at the Five Guys or In-N-Out Burger down the street?

The truth is Peppers’ decision probably didn’t come easily. He is a god in North Carolina. Born in Wilson, N.C., not only is he one of the best players on the state’s most recognizable professional team, but, perhaps more importantly, he was a solid role player for UNC’s basketball team when they went to the Final Four in 2000.

Peppers may end up leaving the only professional team that he has known, but it’s to quench a desire that lies in all of us. It’s the desire to see how good we can really be. As a 29-year-old athlete, the summer of his career is coming to an end. He wants a chance to see what he can do before it’s spoiled by age.