Don't touch Peppers?

Multiple league sources tell the Boston Globe that they wouldn’t go near free-agent DE Julius Peppers on the open market this offseason. According the sources, for the amount of money he’s going to command, he is much too risky considering his inconsistency and questionable desire to play football.

“I wouldn’t touch him, for that money and what he gives you,’’ said an ex-Panthers personnel man. “On the field, he’s a freak athletically, but it’s whether he shows up or not. He’ll go two and three games and do nothing but take up space. Then he’ll have two sacks, a forced fumble, a pick, and change the game. And that’s the danger. He can mesmerize you, but it’s not consistent.’’

“He could end up costing some personnel guy his job,’’ said an AFC scout with extensive experience evaluating Peppers. “I’m terrified of him. In my heart of hearts, I believe that if you pay this guy, I don’t think you’ll see a double-digit sack [season] again the rest of his career.’’

Even his former teammate, Brenton Buckner, talked to the Globe about Peppers’ passion for the game.

“Football’s come so easy to him,’’ said Buckner. “Does he love it the way Steve Smith or Bryant Young or Jerry Rice love it? I don’t think so. But he’s got so much God-given ability that, even without loving it, he’s a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro with 81 sacks in eight years.

“You do think, ‘Man, a guy with that much ability, imagine if he did love it.’ ’’

Peppers has freakish talents, but we wouldn’t want to be the GM giving this guy $30 million guaranteed.