So you are mad at Peppers....Gantt

[Pimpdaddy]

I'm not mad at Pep. I'm just disappointed that he isn't happy here, on our team, anymore. I can understand if he doesn't like the system, a lot of us have problems with it too. Can you blame a guy for wanting to make the most out of his one time career in the NFL? I'm sure he'd like to stay here if the pieces were place that he's looking for, but they're not. Just think of how brilliant Smitty could be on an dominate pass team, and count our stars on how lucky we are to still have him.

As much as I hate the Turgo scheme and want his ass gone, it didnt cause Pep to get blown out of plays or prevent him from getting to the QB. Thats Peppers not getting off the line and not taking the responsibility to improve his game or hes just slack.... Jenks wanted out (and he is still a fat ass) and now Pep..... something aint right...

[MadHatter]

I am not made at Peppers. However, I just am not that disappointed to see him go. What I will be made about is if we do not get several good picks for him.

The effort and production that Peppers has shown (or not shown) on the field does not warrant a HUGE contract. He disappears for games at a time, and was handled time and time again this year by rookie and journeymen LT's.

Peppers is an athletic freak, but is not an exceptional player. He has all of the tools to be one of the best...he just does not have the drive and the heart.

Keep telling yourself tha tthe only reason he did not dominate was that he was always double teamed....if you do, you are kidding yourself. He was not double teamed that often this year and still disappeared for games at a time.

Take the picks and move on.

[Kyle82]

Good article.

And the only reason I will be mad is if we don't get at least a 1st rounder for him.

My thoughts exactly!

[Pimpdaddy]

in this D scheme, we'r not loosing that much...they'r all character players under Fox's direction...

[d-dave]

Grantt does make a good point. The defense wasn't that bad in 2007. Our offense didn't play well. That put the D out in a lot of bad situations. Looking at the stats, our offense didn't sustain drives, nor score enough points to put any pressure on our opponents.

I am disappointed that Peppers will be leaving, but not hugely. I am more concerned with locating a good pass rusher to replace him. Peppers had some good times, and some good times. If he wants to pass on $13 million a year for the rest of his career just to try out another team, go for it. He did take a lot of plays off. He was never as dominate as his salary commanded. I mean, as much as he made he should have really rattled QBs and offenses a lot more often. Instead of being eaten up by some questionable LTs.

He and his agent know that he will be franchised, I just hope that we are able to get a 1st round pick out of him. Good luck to him, but we are going to have to move on. If he pulls a Lance Briggs or Chad Johnson, he should realize that he's forfeited a lot of good will over this nonsense.

[CLTPanther]

I'm not mad at him for wanting to leave, but I am mad at the way he did it.

[stankowalski]

For those that think that our defense in 2007 "wasn't that bad". Here is a chart that compares our defense rankings in 3 categories every year since 2002 (Del Rio's year). 2003 and 2006 are the only years I would say that we had a pretty good defense. The other years, including this year, we weren't very good. 2005 would've been great had we not allowed so many third down conversions.

[carolinanimal]

i see alot of people say he takes plays off. do you guys absolutely know this or are you jsut parroting what everyone else is saying? is their video evidence of this or are you just assuming this because he doesnt have 25 sacks, he must be taking plays off. do you guys know exactly what the play call was, what his responsibility was, was he looking for the screen or mush rushing? you guys act like he stole your girlfreinds or something! all this anger when he decides to leave WHEN HIS CONTRACT IS UP, doesnt even matter for the reasons. we dont own him, he is player hired by the organization. the nfl is a business. nobody cries if a player gets cut, but let him leave of his own will and he is a traitor.

[Fox007]

Since he takes so many plays off, the Panthers should have no issue with trading him ANYWHERE, including the NFCS.

I mean right? I'm sure you guys wouldn't mind facing him, he's nothing. I mean really Jake would juke him so bad with his pocket presence and avoid all his poo.

I mean really, what is he going to do, tell them our schemes?

The same schemes they already know, and can predict themselves?

Peps contract is over, he owes us nothing, he honored his contract, and made it known to every other team he is available. Business is business.

:nopity:

Whine all you want, but it sure as fug isn't Peppers fault he is un-happy here.

[Fireball77]

For those that think that our defense in 2007 "wasn't that bad". Here is a chart that compares our defense rankings in 3 categories every year since 2002 (Del Rio's year). 2003 and 2006 are the only years I would say that we had a pretty good defense. The other years, including this year, we weren't very good. 2005 would've been great had we not allowed so many third down conversions.

I understand that according to the three categories you have listed that it looks like the 2006 defense was good, but it wasn't. That defense did something that doesn't show in your stats...blew a shitload of 4th Q leads handed to them by the offense.

2005, the D made up a bit for all the 3rd down conversions (which were annoying as hell) allowed because they also generated a good amount of turnovers IIRC. Without even looking up the stat, I would be pretty sure they were maybe average there this year. That is a trend I find very disturbing because I believe the Panthers are pretty high up overall in the NFL for turnovers generated by the defense since 2002.

As to the article:

Am I mad at Pep for wanting to explore FA? Nope, I will never be mad at a guy who is entering FA for wanting to move on. It is their absolute 100% right. I am a bit sad that his camp chose to make it more difficult to work out a sign and trade of something like that by going so public with the fact that there's no way he will think about staying, etc. And it is a concern what the underlying reason for his discontent may be.

[carpanfan96]

we lead all teams in takeaways since 2002.

[stankowalski]

I understand that according to the three categories you have listed that it looks like the 2006 defense was good, but it wasn't. That defense did something that doesn't show in your stats...blew a sh*tload of 4th Q leads handed to them by the offense.

You are nuts. I went back and looked up all the games from 2006, and the only games we lost a lead in the 4th quarter were these:

Minnesota---score was 13-6 in our favor going into the fourth. We gave up one TD in the 4th, and a FG in OT, while our offense scored 3 whole points in the second half. And how did Minnesota score that TD? Chris Gamble fumbled on a punt return giving Minnesota the ball on our 21.

Cincinnati-We led 14-10 going into the 4th quarter. We gave up a TD. Delhomme throws another interception in the 4th and our offense scores 0 pts. in the second half.

Dallas-This is the one where it would seem you have a case, because we gave up 25 pts. in the fourth quarter. But how did that happen? Hoover fumbles a kickoff giving Dallas the ball on our 14. Dallas goes 14 yards for a TD. Delhomme throws an interception giving Dallas the ball on our 32. Dallas goes 32 yards for a TD. Delhomme fumbles at our 19 and Dallas goes 19 yards for a TD. By the way our offense scores 0 points in the last 3 quarters.

Philadelphia-We led them 21-14 going into the fourth. Delhomme throws 2 interceptions in the fourth. Philly scores 13 points, we score 3.

So as you can see our defense was fine, it was the turnovers that killed us.

[Go To Girl]

I was more hurt and had a feeling of betrayal than any anger, but that's dissipating. I'm just ready for whatever outcome might come about. There's a lot of hindsight is 20/20 happening with me as well, so that's making it easier to move on.

[Pantherxtreme]

With the the exception of the last 6 regular season games this year. Since 2002 I'll say 75% of this team's failure over the years lies at the foot of the offense.