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Don't call it a farewell tour for Pep

Cookie Lyon

By Cookie Lyon,
in Carolina Panthers

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Cookie Lyon Mentor

Cookie Lyon

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Iconic defensive end Julius Peppers returned to the Carolina Panthers at age 37 over the weekend, signing a one-year, $3.5-million contract. He has yet to have a formal “Welcome Home” press conference in Charlotte after making his return official.

Peppers has spoken with both the team website, though -- where he said he wanted to “build the bridge back” between himself and the Panthers -- and also did a nine-minute interview Wednesday morning to Charlotte sports radio station WFNZ. Here are some excerpts from Peppers’ comments on that radio interview Wednesday:

1.) On his role with the team: “We haven't really talked about that.... I can say this: It's not one of those situations where I'm coming back for a farewell tour. I'm coming back to play, and I'm coming back to try to make some things happen. So my expectation is to be out there and be productive.”

 

2.) On whether he was hurt by what fans said about him in 2010 when he left Carolina: “To say I was hurt was a little bit of an overstatement. I was a little bit confused.”

 

3.) On tossing a touchdown ball away from Cam Newton in Charlotte while he was a member of the Green Bay Packers: “When I did those things... even (in 2015) with Cam, throwing the ball, all of that stuff is done in fun, showmanship, the competitive spirit.... It's never personal with me.”

 

4.) On leaving North Carolina in 2010 for Chicago in part to get more under-the-radar and out of his homestate: “That was part of it. I needed to step away for my personal growth and development.... When I went to Chicago, there was Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman -- those guys were fixtures... I went out, I saw those things, I grew... I've become a whole different person.”

 

5.) On Cam Newton: “I think he's a phenomenal talent and a great athlete.... I'm happy that he's going to be on my side now. But it's a great thing to be able to come back and be able to mesh the ‘old school’ with the ‘new school’ and have everybody together at least for one season. I think it's going to be a cool thing for everybody to see.”

 

6.) On whether he might play beyond the 2017 season: “Well, right now, I'm taking it one year at a time. At the end of the year if I still feel good, than why not?”

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article138610368.html

Great interview by Pep. He's extra early too. Check out this tidbit below:

I guess you could say he had some "pep in his step" this morning.

 

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Kakarot Newbie

Kakarot

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Thanks for posting this. Pep has definitely grown up, and it's a great thing to see. He needed to get away and learn how to be a leader...how to lead. I hope we pick up a young DE in the draft. I think he would learn a ton from Peppers. Excited to see what he's able to do this year. This has been my favorite signing so far!

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Proudiddy Grand Master

Proudiddy

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Love it.  Man, this is awesome... Really happy for us as an organization and a fanbase, as well as for Pep as an individual.  He belongs here, his home.  And it's funny, I replied to a question KB_Fan asked when we signed him about what he was like here before and what to expect from him as far as being a mentor/leader.  I explained how he was very laid back, didn't do a lot of media, was fairly reserved, and that part of the rumored reasons for his departure in 2010 was he didn't like the expectations of being a leader by default.  I concluded to expect him to be more of a lead by example guy the second time around...

Let me say, I was absolutely blown away by his interview with the team website and now this radio interview.  These two interviews may be the most I have ever heard Pep talk with the media.  He rarely ever did media here the first time around, and when he did it was usually awkward and/or lacking substance, with the most usual scenario being those quick end-of-game interviews on his way off the field.

His willingness to engage the media, open up, and be so candid and thoughtful in these first two interviews show so much growth and maturity.  It is amazing.  Again, proud of and happy for Pep.  Welcome back home, big guy!

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JawnyBlaze Grand Master

JawnyBlaze

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25 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Love it.  Man, this is awesome... Really happy for us as an organization and a fanbase, as well as for Pep as an individual.  He belongs here, his home.  And it's funny, I replied to a question KB_Fan asked when we signed him about what he was like here before and what to expect from him as far as being a mentor/leader.  I explained how he was very laid back, didn't do a lot of media, was fairly reserved, and that part of the rumored reasons for his departure in 2010 was he didn't like the expectations of being a leader by default.  I concluded to expect him to be more of a lead by example guy the second time around...

Let me say, I was absolutely blown away by his interview with the team website and now this radio interview.  These two interviews may be the most I have ever heard Pep talk with the media.  He rarely ever did media here the first time around, and when he did it was usually awkward and/or lacking substance, with the most usual scenario being those quick end-of-game interviews on his way off the field.

His willingness to engage the media, open up, and be so candid and thoughtful in these first two interviews show so much growth and maturity.  It is amazing.  Again, proud of and happy for Pep.  Welcome back home, big guy!

Agree with everything.  When I watched that interview of him the day he signed the contract, I remember thinking those 3 or 4 minutes were more than Peppers spoke publicly the entire time he was a panther before. 

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