Julius Peppers: How Not to Hold Out for a New Contract

[QuasiYoda]

Julius Peppers: How Not to Hold Out for a New Contract

by Brad Mills http://bleacherreport.com/articles/206623-how-not-to-hold-out-for-a-new-contract

The smoke has cleared on the Julius Peppers saga.

What started as an impassioned plea for a new team, contract, and position has ended with the disgruntled defensive end folding like a lawn chair and signing his franchise tender.

Further cementing Peppers' Maginot Line is the news from the Charlotte Observer that Peppers is now open to signing an extension with the same team he so publicly condemned only months ago.

Just to recap the soap opera, Peppers first refused a contract extension after the 2007 season that would have reportedly made him the highest paid player in the NFL.

Following an embarrassing loss at home in the playoffs to the upstart Arizona Cardinals, a game where Peppers was completely ineffective, he came out through his agent and stated strongly his desire to play elsewhere.

It is now clear the Panthers never had any intention of letting him walk, and slapped the franchise tender on him soon after inking left tackle Jordan Gross to a long-term contract.

Instead of signing his tender and working the problem out behind the scenes, Peppers instead decided on taking the most rash courses of action possible.

If you're trying to maximize your chances of being traded out of a city, first you make it legally possible for your team to do so. By not signing his tender until yesterday, Peppers made it impossible for general manger Marty Hurney to field offers from other teams. Anything else would be tampering.

If you're trying to maximize your chances of being traded out of a city, you don't limit your choices to four teams, all of which your current team plays in 2009. While it was most likely an attempt to have the tag moved off of him, all it did was harden Hurney's resolve and alienate fans.

If you're trying to maximize your chances of being traded out of a city, you don't declare your preference to play a position in the 3-4 you've never played before, especially when everyone in the NFL knows you're not built for it.

All of these perplexing decisions have led Peppers, with his head bowed, back to the team he tried to hard to scorn.

Perhaps the players on the team understand this better than the fans, but he'll have to work hard to regain the trust and confidence of those that will make his $17 million salary possible.

Looking back on other holdouts makes this even more embarrassing.

Sean Gilbert was traded from the Redskins after sitting out a year and claiming God wanted him to sign a bigger contract. Corey Dillon stated he'd rather work at McDonald's than suit up with the Bengals again.

Outside the NFL, NBA guard Latrell Sprewell famously claimed he "had a family to feed."

Hopefully, Peppers will be able to console himself knowing he could feed quite a few players families with the contract he had to settle on.

[QuasiYoda]

A Julius Peppers tutorial on how to work out a contract dispute with your team! So many players paint themselves into a corner in these contract issues. They create a bad situation where they HAVE to leave their former team as they have alienated their Teammates, their Coaches and the Front Office.

Peppers was clear about his concerns, Peppers was patient with the team. Peppers held out in a fashion most respectful to his team and his teammates. He didn't burn any bridges. He didn't whine and complain to the media or point finger at teammates or coaches. He was not a high maintenance Diva as a recent top ten Divas article painted him to be. He stated his case and allowed things to work themselves out.

For all we know when he stated his case, the Front Office and Coaches contacted and explained they were planning on changing the organization to utilize his skill set better and asked him to chill and watch it happen. To be fair if the Fans and the Sports writers had listened to what the Front Office has been saying about this they would have relaxed as this outcome was as they predicted. In matters such as these there is much they can not tell the public so they tried to calm the water when they knew there was little to be upset about. Of course this is all supposition on my part but no more than what was said in this article above

To Summarize what Peppers has done has been very effective 1) he is making more money than any other player in the NFL at his position 2) He has not alienated his coaches or fellow players 3) He has changed the style of defense to one better suited to his skill set allowing him to maximize his potential 4) He got a mini vacation by holding off signing the Franchise tender until after the OTA's 5) He has given the team a Spiritual Boost by coming back into the fold at a time when his teammates can use that as inspiration to work harder on their individual conditioning until training camp. 6) He is willing to negotiate a long term contract which could free up cap space and help the team pick up another quality player or two as team cuts push out some quality players

To me this is just another example of why the Panthers are a Class A organization. The way the organization as a whole acted and the way one it's best players has handled his dispute. That respectful, high character, family type culture of the Panthers continues to pay off.

[Fireball77]

I disagree that he's not built for 3-4 OLB or that definitively he couldn't play it. Especially teams like the Pats and Cowboys, like the bigger OLBs. I think he has the physical skill to play it. What I question is does he have the drive/mentality to play it.

[Fiz]

[Jangler]

He is getting want he wants. The Panthers are getting what they want. The only people who are pissed are about 40%<---(no link just a guess) of the fanbase, and I'm sure they will not be pissed come September.

[Fiz]

and I'm sure they will not be pissed come September.

of course not. that's his best month!

[top dawg]

He is getting want he wants. The Panthers are getting what they want. The only people who are pissed are about 40%<---(no link just a guess) of the fanbase, and I'm sure they will not be pissed come September.

It's probably more like a very obnoxious, loud 10%.

Like you, I believe everyone is getting what they want. I know that the FO and team wanted him back. People can say what they want, but I believe that Pep never really wanted to leave. I just believe he needed to clear his head after being disappointed at the end of last season. Don't get me wrong, had the right offer came along, he probably would have been history, but I still don't believe that he really wanted to leave.

Hopefully, the execution of Meeks' defense will quell all such talk for the remainder of Pep's NFL career (as a Panther).

[MadHatter]

These stances are not uncommon in professional sports.

Remember when Lance Briggs came out and said he would NEVER play for the Bears again......and where is he now.

People, this is a business. Both sides will make decisions and posturing that they feel are in their best interests. The fact that us as fans get emotional and in the middle of it is irrelevant.

[top dawg]

Pep was probably destined to be tagged, regardless of how he handled it.

[ncbobcat]

Yup, and he handled it horribly. The only thing I can say he did well was he didn't go crying to the media like other potential holdouts do. I can't say that was by choice as it is personality. Peps is not fond of the media.

He should have known a month...weeks into this thing that no team that he wanted to go to needed him or wanted his huge salary. Really, how hard is it for his agent to approach three teams? Remember, there were only three teams he would be willing to go to.

Here's what happened, the gig was up...nobody wanted his salary and an experimentation. The options ran out and he came back save holding out for a year.

He should have tested the water, found out that water was very cold and ended the stalemate sooner. He should have made ONE media statement about overstating his desire to play elswhere (true or not) and came in at least for some of the OTAs.

This would have accomplished several things:

1) See what the market was like for him (only thing he did)

2) Recanted his statement about wanting out of Carolina

3) Showed solidarity with his team by coming to OTAs

4) Many fans wouldn't be as upset if Peps would have made OTAs

[carolinarolls]

Peppers took the least risk, got seriously paid, and arguably strong-armed some serious changes amongst the key staff and their mentality when it comes to utilizing him on Sundays. He worked out to his liking and personal schedule, forced the front office to make a huge move and get him some help, and only tarnished his name amongst a very small and very wacko contingent of pseudo-fanz on the Carolina Huddle.

/thread

[ncbobcat]

Peppers took the least risk, got seriously paid, and arguably strong-armed some serious changes amongst the key staff and their mentality when it comes to utilizing him on Sundays. He worked out to his liking and personal schedule, forced the front office to make a huge move and get him some help, and only tarnished his name amongst a very small and very wacko contingent of pseudo-fanz on the Carolina Huddle.

/thread

What did Peps force the front office to do? Draft a DE? That was in the works anyway as it's no guarantee that Peps will be here beyond this year. Not finding DE help would have been irresponsible, if not, ignorant on the part of the FO.

As far as working out on their own schedule, many players do that, but manage to make OTAs as well.

[carolinarolls]

What did Peps force the front office to do? Draft a DE? That was in the works anyway as it's no guarantee that Peps will be here beyond this year. Not finding DE help would have been irresponsible, if not, ignorant on the part of the FO.

As far as working out on their own schedule, many players do that, but manage to make OTAs as well.

opinion, not fact. maybe irresponsible sure but the fear of looking irresponsible does not usually make franchise trade future first rounders for 2nd rounders..sorry.

so what..what is your point. did i not say his schedule.

this thread is over.. game set match Peppers and Carey. Hurney is a pawn.

[sml1950]

These stances are not uncommon in professional sports.

Remember just this past year that Kobe could never play for Phil Jackson again after he was "dissed" in Jackson's book. After several trades fell through, he made up with the organization/coach and they went on to win what????? The NBA Championship!!!!!!! I wonder..............