Patriots ready to get Peppers, skull-**** league

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...s&confirm=true

Jesus, Peppers AND Adalius Thomas rushing from the outside.



Patriots appear primed to make a deal with Panthers for Peppers

By Vic Carucci | NFL.com Senior Columnist

The trade that sent Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs appears to be only the first phase of some major wheeling and dealing by the New England Patriots this offseason.
The second phase, NFL sources say, is likely to involve a trade that would send Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers to the Patriots in exchange for the second-round pick (34th overall) they received from the Chiefs on Feb. 28.




According to league sources, the Patriots and Panthers are hoping to complete the deal at some point between the March 22-25 NFL owners meetings and the start of the draft on April 25.

Peppers, on whom the Panthers have placed a franchise tag that assures him of a one-year contract worth $16.68 million, would be converted to outside linebacker in New England's 3-4 defense.

The Patriots already were looking ahead to the possibility of acquiring Peppers when they shipped Cassel and Vrabel to Kansas City, NFL sources say, because they wanted to clear the salary-cap space necessary to sign Peppers to a new contract that would put him among the higher-paid defensive players in the league. After signing Cassel to a one-year, franchise-tag tender contract worth $14.65 million, New England had nearly $30 million in cap money devoted to two quarterbacks (including $14.62 million for Tom Brady).

Once the Patriots were convinced that Brady would be fully recovered from the season-ending knee injury he suffered last year, they were comfortable with trading his replacement to the Chiefs and putting the wheels in motion to bolster a defense that has gotten particularly old at linebacker. Vrabel and fellow linebacker Tedy Bruschi are well into the twilight of their respective careers.

NFL sources say the Panthers would welcome the chance to unload Peppers for a second-round draft pick, even though it would be well below his market value, because it would be less costly than signing a first-rounder. The Panthers already have made some belt-tightening financial moves within their front office.

This, in part, could help answer the lingering question of why the Patriots were willing to take only a second-round pick for Cassel and Vrabel rather than possibly go for a higher choice as part of a three-way deal involving the Denver Broncos, who were ready to give up Jay Cutler for Cassel. Without an additional second-round pick, the Patriots might not be able to pursue Peppers.

League sources also point out that the Panthers don't have a first-round choice after trading it to the Philadelphia Eagles and aren't scheduled to draft until 59th overall (near the bottom of the second round). The 34th spot would give Carolina the second pick of the second round and a chance to land a player with a first-round rating who was pushed down to that spot for whatever reason.

Also, according to NFL sources, there is a third phase to the Patriots' offseason strategy. They would like to further beef up their linebacking corps by adding an inside linebacker in the draft. They are known to believe that USC's Rey Maualuga would be a great fit for their scheme, especially when paired with Jerod Mayo, their 2008 first-round pick who was the NFL's top defensive rookie. However, some early projections suggest it might be a long shot for Maualuga to be available for the Patriots with the 23rd overall pick.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known for making excellent decisions when it comes to acquiring players, but at least one NFL player-personnel evaluator questions whether Peppers would be a good fit in New England.
"This is a guy who totally went on strike two years ago because he wasn't happy with his contract," said the player personnel source, who requested anonymity. "He's also very long (in the torso), which is not ideal for a 3-4 outside linebacker. And he can't drop into coverage. He's very stiff.
"But one of the things (the Patriots) are looking at is the fact that, in passing situations, they can have Peppers up front with (Richard) Seymour and (Jarvis) Green. That makes it easier for them to take (nose tackle Vince) Wilfork out of the game in (passing situations) and just play him on running downs."

[DaKCMan AP]

Begs the question:

Who would you rather the Chiefs have?

Cassell, Curry and Vrabel

or

Stafford and Peppers

[talastan]

Great trade for both the Chiefs and Pats. Everyone had to know Belichek wouldn't allow himself to get screwed over. His good buddy gets his QB and Belichek gets to upgrade his pass rush.

[Tuckdaddy]

We need to get him. Offer up the first and TG.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Begs the question:

Who would you rather the Chiefs have?

Cassell, Curry and Vrabel

or

Stafford and Peppers

Boy that one is real hard.

[vailpass]

I have to admit the thread title made me laugh.

How much gas does Peppers have left in the tank and is he the type to shift into coast-mode once he gets his last big contract?

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

Are they really gonna trade Peppers for only a 2nd-rounder?

Seems low.

[Rooster]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Begs the question:

Who would you rather the Chiefs have?

Cassell, Curry and Vrabel

or

Stafford and Peppers

Peppers wouldn't come to KC.

[Pestilence]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Begs the question:

Who would you rather the Chiefs have?

Cassell, Curry and Vrabel

or

Stafford and Peppers

Stafford and Sintim

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Begs the question:

Who would you rather the Chiefs have?

Cassell, Curry and Vrabel

or

Stafford and Peppers

Cassel, Brown, and Vrabel

[Amnorix]

Patriots fans are trying to figure out how we fit him under the cap. This might be the Panthers trying to stir the trade value pot -- get teams scared that Peppers is going to the Pats for a high 2 to get a 1 out of somebody.

We have trouble seeing how it fits under the cap. Also, he's not an ideal size for 3-4 OLB. Not that I wouldn't love to see them try it, but it's another factor.

Whatever, it's all good.

[OnTheWarpath58]

Originally Posted by Rooster

Peppers wouldn't come to KC.

He wouldn't have a choice.

This is a trade, not a signing.

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

Originally Posted by Rooster

Peppers wouldn't come to KC.

Pretty good answer.

[Mecca]

You can fit anything under the cap if you want. The Redskins had 5 million before they signed Haynesworth and Hall...

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

He wouldn't have a choice.

This is a trade, not a signing.

So you think it's a good idea for a team to trade for a player under the franchise tag who won't resign for a long term deal?

You'd pay him over $16MM this year, and then next year be stuck franchising him again at 110%...

It's not viable.