Julius Peppers Announces Retirement

[Kentucky Panther]

Fighting back tears watching that video. I fell in love with the Panthers as a ten year old kid, and the first season I can actually remember was Peps first. That Super Bowl run in 03 is one of the best sports memories I’ll ever have. I don’t know the NFL without Julius Peppers. Thank you, number 90. God bless 

[Proudiddy]

1 hour ago, ncfan said:

 

it's too early for this...  I'm crying like my wife watching The Notebook.

[NJPanthers12]

32 minutes ago, electro's horse said:

remember when peppers made sure we couldn't trade him by listing the only teams he'd sign a contract extension with and stating he wanted to play OLB in a base 3-4?

then he went to none of the teams he listed and played in the same defense?

good times.

Absolutely pathetic on the day that the greatest player in franchise hisory and without a doubt the first ever true Panther to be inducted into the HOF retires, you spend the day ripping him. 

[MechaZain]

Peppers is like top 5 to ever play his position. Greatest Carolina Panther ain't even up for debate. He's the best football player to ever come out of this team and I'm glad he came back for a happy ending. 

[Seltzer]

27 minutes ago, electro's horse said:

remember when peppers made sure we couldn't trade him by listing the only teams he'd sign a contract extension with and stating he wanted to play OLB in a base 3-4?

then he went to none of the teams he listed and played in the same defense?

good times.

Peppers also alluded to regretting that and wanting to make it right by resigning here for the fans.  

And honestly given the state of the team after the 2009 season, who could really blame him for wanting to leave?  And in retrospect, I also think he really just wanted to get out of being under the sports microscope of his home state.

I was as mad as anyone when Peppers left, but ultimately I understand his reasons for wanting to leave.  It also took a lot of courage, conviction, and even humility to return after that.  It's hard not to respect that.

Peppers will be the first Hall of Famer drafted by the Panthers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (unless Smitty somehow gets in during the first couple of tries which I'm hoping but not confident).  

He deserves every accolade and praise from Panthers fans.  His story is the story of most life, messy and all.

[Proudiddy]

6 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

Peppers also alluded to regretting that and wanting to make it right by resigning here for the fans.  

And honestly given the state of the team after the 2009 season, who could really blame him for wanting to leave?  And in retrospect, I also think he really just wanted to get out of being under the sports microscope of his home state.

I was as mad as anyone when Peppers left, but ultimately I understand his reasons for wanting to leave.  It also took a lot of courage, conviction, and even humility to return after that.  It's hard not to respect that.

Peppers will be the first Hall of Famer drafted by the Panthers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (unless Smitty somehow gets in during the first couple of tries which I'm hoping but not confident).  

He deserves every accolade and praise from Panthers fans.  His story is the story of most life, messy and all.

Perfectly said.  I was furious with him at the time, and albeit much more immature, but I was humbled as a fan that he came back and wanted to make it right.  And in hindsight, he never did anything wrong, he just wanted room to grow himself...  But to see the maturation he underwent from his first stint here to his second was absolutely amazing.  He is the perfect ambassador of everything right with football.  It was actually a fairy tale story minus the Super Bowl win at the end, and man do I wish we could've gotten that for him.  He is an all-time legend, and will be greatly missed.  There will never be another Julius Peppers, PERIOD.

[GeorgeHanson]

Good onya Pepp, a career well done.

[Khyber53]

If you just read the headline, go back and read the entire article he wrote. For a man of few words, he chose them so very well.

I'm a bit choked up today, he's one of the greatest to ever put on a pair of cleats. When his name goes before the nominating committee for the HoF it won't even be a ballot issue, just a solemn nod between all of the decisions makers and a line of "Okay, who else will be going in?"

He's very likely an even better person than he ever was a football player. We're lucky to have had him and to still have him in our community.

 

[GeorgeHanson]

1 hour ago, 4Corners said:

What a legend. Played in a final four and super bowl. Aside from Jordan, maybe the best athlete the state of NC has ever produced. Go Heels! 

Pepp was better.  Elite in 2 sports.  Jordan tried but couldn't pull it off.

Good onya Pepp.

[ncfan]

 

[GeorgeHanson]

38 minutes ago, NJPanthers12 said:

No, instead Thomas Davis was a drama queen who got the best GM in panthers history fired. He went back on his word on every single thing he said over a 4 year span. Steve Smith demanded trades and punched teammates. He threw rookies like keary Colbert, jimmy clausen, and cam under the bus. He also went on a rampage of bashing the team for a couple of years. I have nothing bad to say about Sam mills.

spar me on the Julius peppers leaving Charlotte story. It didn’t help when morons with half the talent like Jon beason would go on local radio and throw Julius under the bus. Or when creepy sexual harassing owners blindsides Julius publicly demanding he be more of a vocal leader when that isn’t the type of person he is.

This one touches all the bases and then takes a lap around the outfield!

[Proudiddy]

3 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

If you just read the headline, go back and read the entire article he wrote. For a man of few words, he chose them so very well.

I'm a bit choked up today, he's one of the greatest to ever put on a pair of cleats. When his name goes before the nominating committee for the HoF it won't even be a ballot issue, just a solemn nod between all of the decisions makers and a line of "Okay, who else will be going in?"

He's very likely an even better person than he ever was a football player. We're lucky to have had him and to still have him in our community.

 

damn straight...  I'm in my feels right now as well man.  What a legend!  Like i said, there will never be another Julius Peppers.  As a born and raised North Carolinian, there was always a bigger sense of pride in seeing him succeed more so than any other professional athlete I can remember.  He made us proud to say we shared the same home state.  We were lucky to have him.

[Bronn]

28 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

it's too early for this...  I'm crying like my wife watching The Notebook.

same... lol

[thefuzz]

Sure am glad the Texans went David Carr.....

 

First home grown HOF'er.  Glad I got to watch him his entire career, and glad to see him change during his career.

 

Wish him nothing but the best, and wish we could have gotten him, Smitty and TD a ring before walking away.