Gantt: Peppers.

[Kurb]

I wonder like others if the fact that we have a crappy scheme and rely too much on Peppers to get pressure (meaning he is doubled all the time) wears on him. If he played in an aggressive scheme and we had another bookend rusher like him, he wouldn't have to carry the load and we would be vastly improved. I could see him wanting to go to Houston or Phoeniz who both would be instantly better and would utilize him much better than we have. And he spends lots of time there already.

I would rather Houston, they have a lower pick, and it would keep him out of our face for the most part.

[carpanfan96]

I would rather Houston, they have a lower pick, and it would keep him out of our face for the most part.

I agree, plus if he went to Phoenix I think some of the "fans" might consider it a slap in the face.

If he has to go, I just want to get the best deal possible. 3 picks hopefully = 3 quality players and we save money so we can get a couple more players in fa.

5 players > one player...

[kickazzz2000]

Pep and Mario Williams on the same line....sick

[natty]

I wonder like others if the fact that we have a crappy scheme and rely too much on Peppers to get pressure (meaning he is doubled all the time) wears on him. If he played in an aggressive scheme and we had another bookend rusher like him, he wouldn't have to carry the load and we would be vastly improved. I could see him wanting to go to Houston or Phoeniz who both would be instantly better and would utilize him much better than we have. And he spends lots of time there already.

I think it's maybe not a crappy scheme, but that he's asked to do to much in it. He gets a lot of flak from fans because he didn't get a sack in game x or didn't make much of a difference in game y because of the way he's used. Maybe he wants to go somewhere where all he has to do is pin back and rush the passer instead of playing containment or covering the flat. Pep is an every down DE right now - maybe he just wants to be a pass rusher so his deeds on the field are plainly noticed.

[unicar15]

In my mind Peppers is already gone and we are planning for life without him...question is what can we get for him??

[Gokz1000]

"It's not about money. It's not about any of that kind of stuff. It's just about being happy."

"My future in the NFL, I want to win," he replied. "I want to win a Super Bowl. That's the ultimate goal, that's why we play. I want to be on a great team, I want to be around great guys, I want to be with a great organization.

The Panthers offered Peppers a contract that would make him the highest-paid defensive player in the league, but no contract has been signed

Take from that what you may.

[Zcustom]

IMO he's tired of being "the guy"

We've always built our defense around him and, quite honestly, allowed lesser players to start around him cuz he would "pick up the slack". Every year some part of the D is below average and we expect our D to be sick anyway because Pep is our DE. Last year it was the safeties, this year it was the DT's and the CB's.

IDK if that is a scheme thing or not, but they need to get the guy some help.

If he does leave I wish him well, I think we as Panther fans have been spoiled by players being drafted here and retiring here.

[Delhommey]

Gantt mentioned something I've been thinking: He's been in NC his whole life. Like any human being, I'm sure he's curious what else is out there.

[Zaximus]

Gantt mentioned something I've been thinking: He's been in NC his whole life. Like any human being, I'm sure he's curious what else is out there.

He's rich and has a off-season, he has plenty of time!

[Urrymonster]

Gantt mentioned something I've been thinking: He's been in NC his whole life. Like any human being, I'm sure he's curious what else is out there.

"I go other places; I travel, you know," he said. "I'm not always here. I work here and I live here but I'm not always here. That's not really an issue as much as people might make it out to be."

Right at the end of the article.

I am pretty certain it is how he is used or even the entire defensive scheme. He simply does not buy in to it. His wording on crippling the team just means he does not want to sign a contract and see no change in the scheme and then ask for a trade. That would put us in all sorts of problems with the cap.

Plus chances are that he loves this team considering he is from Carolina. He could just be a realist and actually wants the best for us and if that happens to be him trading away so we can rebuild the DL then he might prefer to help us out that way.

[Pimpdaddy]

the idea that Pep is so selfless that he doesnt want to "cripple" us is very odd to me. i dont know if i buy it.

i think he wants to play somewhere else and he isnt the type of guy to come out and say it to the media

i wonder where he wants to play? big market maybe? or better weather possibly? who knows. IMO Pep has proven to be a weird dude

Ever since The Big Cat called out Peppers he hasnt been quite right....it just freaked him out....

[Fiz]

im not basing this off of anything, but I really think some time after he retires, it's going to come out that he has depression or severe anxiety.

I've had a history of depression in my family so I've seen it first hand. It's difficult to understand, especially for us who look up to these guys, but a lot of them have problems. A lot of them can't handle it, and a lot of them don't want it. You look at Vince Young or Ricky Williams. We like to laugh at them, but there are problems there that money and fame can't solve.

Peppers has just never seemed right since about mid way through 2004. i'm not saying he has to be ray lewis, but he's completely undemonstrative. he loses his focus during games. He's like a more talented andruw jones.

[L.A. Fanatic]

i would bet he has some social anxiety too

[goodlay]

Peppers can be that All-Pro caliber guy that you want him to be 60% of the time and the other 40% he's struggling against one on one blocking schemes and he is invisible in the game. Is he worth paying top DE money in the league? Im not exactly sure.