the legend of peppers was he worth the tag???

[stankowalski]

Peps not a HOFer. Not yet any way he will need to play lights out for a couple seasons in row to be a HOFer.

Why is that? If he playes the same way he's been playing since he's been in the league, he's a HOF first ballot. Look at some of the career stats of the defensive ends already in the HOF, and then come back and tell me Peppers' stats aren't comparable. I mean, Howie Long is in the Hall of Fame and Peppers numbers are better than his in most categories. Peppers sack/game ratio is higher than Long's. He has more interceptions than Long. He has more forced fumbles than Long...etc.

[Crixtala]

No, he's not a HOFer... he'd have to pump out several 15+ sack seasons and set some records to do that... he's capable, we've seen that the last two games.

Properly motivated, yes he's worth it... he's a game changer. What has caused this surge late this year? Delhomme no longer the QB? Weird as it sounds could that be it?

I was thinking the same thing yesterday during the game, especially after seeing him congratulate Moore... As weird as it sounds, there was that poster a couple of months back that said he heard from a cousin of Peppers (or something like that) that the reason he wanted out was because Delhomme was still our starter. Everybody just blasted the guy that posted it... but who knows? Maybe he was right...

[stankowalski]

No, he's not a HOFer... he'd have to pump out several 15+ sack seasons and set some records to do that... he's capable, we've seen that the last two games.

Properly motivated, yes he's worth it... he's a game changer. What has caused this surge late this year? Delhomme no longer the QB? Weird as it sounds could that be it?

Sacks aren't the defining measure for entry into the HOF for defensive ends.

[Cpt slay a ho]

been saying it from day one keep pep almost at all cost........pep fits so well in our system i couldn't see it any other way.

only way i drop pep if we get some good compensation and we go after another de.

with osi thinking he's done with the giants it would be nice to have him and pep but that's a far fetch dream.

[Mekeritrig]

Peps not a HOFer. Not yet any way he will need to play lights out for a couple seasons in row to be a HOFer.

I agree that Peppers would not be a HOFer is he retired today, however he is on track to make a good case for being considered.

Looking at the last 3 defensive ends which have been inducted we can compare how Peppers measures up.

Howie Long (1981-1993): 84 Career sacks

8 years in he had 62.5 sacks

Bruce Smith (1985-1999): 200 Career sacks (NFL record)

8 years in he had 92 sacks

Reggie White (1985-2000): 198 Career sacks

8 years in he had 124 sacks

Average number of sacks for the three most recent inductees 8 years in is 93.

Currently Peppers has 81 sacks. Considering Bruce Smith and Reggie White are the greatest defensive ends in the history of football I think Peppers is doing fine, easily outstripping the annoying Howie Long. He is certainly a force to be reckoned with on the football field and has plenty of games left in him.

[carolinarolls]

I was thinking the same thing yesterday during the game, especially after seeing him congratulate Moore... As weird as it sounds, there was that poster a couple of months back that said he heard from a cousin of Peppers (or something like that) that the reason he wanted out was because Delhomme was still our starter. Everybody just blasted the guy that posted it... but who knows? Maybe he was right...

everybody who said anything derrogatory about Jake has been blasted. Pep wants to win. There isa great defense and some great offensive weapons who want to win as well. The night and day difference of effort seen from Pep and the defense as a whole can stem from a number of things and excused have been made ad nauseum to thos points.

I have never seen Pep so excited on the sidelinesa and I have spent plenty of time on the sidelines observing just that. When I saw that yesterday it was all I needed to see to feel good about my sense that Pep has at times felt somewhat distraught over not only the fact that Jake was the starter but that the FO was not making legit moves to even back Jake up.

Everyone may take it differently and has their right to do so but for me that confirmed Pep's lack of confidence in certain decisions that have been made concerning certain positions. When yoiu couple that with the fact that he is a leader of thie defense and team I can see where there has been a rift that spread.

Does that make him a bad teammate, probably. At least he never publicly called anyone out however and at least he said he wanted out in effort to solve the issue rather than demanding a change that does not directily concern his contract or his livlihood.

In a way I like the guy even better now for handling it as he did. And I stand behind my summer position on letting him walk. If the guy does not want to play on a team due to certain circumstances he should never be held there. Especially at that price. based on the injury and the Matt Moore "successses" and Pep's responses to those successes it looks like the move will work out for us as long as the FO can capitalize. I have considerable doubts that they can however and have no doubt that this worked out as an accident and was not a carefully planned scenario prior to the tag being placed.

[prowler2k8]

No, he's not a HOFer... he'd have to pump out several 15+ sack seasons and set some records to do that... he's capable, we've seen that the last two games.

[B]Properly motivated, yes he's worth it... he's a game changer. What has caused this surge late this year? Delhomme no longer the QB? Weird as it sounds could that be it?

I would absolutely agree with you on this point, and seeing Peppers reaction to Matt Moore on the sidelines toward the end of the game yesterday (as another poster pointed out) would seem to confirm this. In fact, I would say that Peppers AND Smith's play the past few weeks tells us all we need to know about this team's motivation (or lack thereof prior to Week 13). It would be hard for any player to be motivated to give their all if the coaching staff is willing to sacrifice the team's chances for success for a player that has consistently shown that he can't get it done (Delhomme).

[Kakarot]

He was worth every penny, and I've said it all along; I hope Peppers signs a long term contract and ends up playing his whole career here.

[Mesmer]

If Peppers signs here long term, I will be very sad. If he played every game like he played against the Vikings, then I'd say he's worth the farm and then some.

But he's not. Don't let his impressive performances in meaningless times fool you. Our other DE's are just as good as Peppers performance on most occasions (Sometimes better) and cost a lot less.

[OneBadassCat]

If he resigns long term and continues to play well and be a motivating factor for teammates then yes he is most definitely worth it.