Reno Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Patriots appear primed to make a deal with Panthers for Peppers 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. 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." http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...s&confirm=true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sez.EJ Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 OUr #2 is higher than the Pats. We could certainly use him on the end. He is worth that pick. I would make that trade in a minute. Then can get Raji in the 1st to start on the other side... and another LB in the second.. That's how I'd roll..especially with the FA LB's we have brought in with who we already have... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JewDago Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 peppers has given carolina a list of teams that he'd accept a trade to, and he has to sign his franchise tender before he's allowed to be traded, which means that carolina actually has to arrange a trade to one of the four teams he's deemed acceptable. we're in no way on that list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcrow1945 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 OUr #2 is higher than the Pats. We could certainly use him on the end. He is worth that pick. I would make that trade in a minute. Then can get Raji in the 1st to start on the other side... and another LB in the second.. That's how I'd roll..especially with the FA LB's we have brought in with who we already have... Man, I don't know....The #36 pick in the draft would be a lot for a guy heading into his 8th year. He's a beast and all....But you are giving up a very good players at 36. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckofajobbrownie Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 This would be a coup if they can make it work, but they don't have the cap room to pull it off right now. There's more to this deal than they're suggesting now. Someone is going to have to be cut to afford Peppers' deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sez.EJ Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I stand corrected.. the deal is done and they sent KC's #2 to carolina which is higher than our #2.. Pats win again..He has now been traded from what i saw on the ESPN tagline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcrow1945 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 I stand corrected.. the deal is done and they sent KC's #2 to carolina which is higher than our #2.. Pats win again..He has now been traded from what i saw on the ESPN tagline In the end you can almost look at as though they traded Vrabel and Cassel for Peppers....is that such a great deal? A guy heading into his 8th year for an old LB and a Qb that could end up being a great one? I guess time will tell. But this is one that historians could look back on and say the Patriots really screwed themselves. Try and think about it for a second. Say Matt Cassel is and has been a Brown. He had quarterbacked the Browns last year with really good results....Just as he did in New England.... Would you then send him and Vrabel to Carolina for Peppers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NebBrownsFan Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 In the end you can almost look at as though they traded Vrabel and Cassel for Peppers....is that such a great deal? A guy heading into his 8th year for an old LB and a Qb that could end up being a great one? I guess time will tell. But this is one that historians could look back on and say the Patriots really screwed themselves. Except that if they kept Cassel they would have over 14 mill PER QB going into their season. They dumped Cassel's salary and an old QB and upgraded at defense and still have all of their picks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcrow1945 Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Except that if they kept Cassel they would have over 14 mill PER QB going into their season. They dumped Cassel's salary and an old QB and upgraded at defense and still have all of their picks. But they have to pay Peppers too. It's not like they are getting him at no cost. With his incentive Bonuses, his last contract could have been a cost up to 50 million for the Panthers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombo Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Pats will be Super Bowl favorites. Zombo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NebBrownsFan Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 But they have to pay Peppers too. It's not like they are getting him at no cost. With his incentive Bonuses, his last contract could have been a cost up to 50 million for the Panthers. But that will be renegotiated and will not impact the Pats for 14 mill this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JewDago Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 In the end you can almost look at as though they traded Vrabel and Cassel for Peppers....is that such a great deal? A guy heading into his 8th year for an old LB and a Qb that could end up being a great one? I guess time will tell. But this is one that historians could look back on and say the Patriots really screwed themselves. Try and think about it for a second. Say Matt Cassel is and has been a Brown. He had quarterbacked the Browns last year with really good results....Just as he did in New England.... Would you then send him and Vrabel to Carolina for Peppers? first, this deal isn't done. it's not on ESPN, not on rotoworld, not on PFT. it might happen, but it's not yet a done deal. if it does happen, vrabel and cassel for peppers is a great deal. while cassel might turn out to be good, he's only had success while in a QB-oriented offense with two great receivers to throw to plus a supporting cast that's easily better than average. he had the prime, ideal situation for success, and he performed adequately. however, while cassel played well, they pats still have tom brady, one of the top 3 QBs in the game today, which makes cassel completely expendable regardless of his age. the pats effectively used a bargaining chip at a position of depth to massively upgrade a position of need with a great player. the wild card will be peppers learning an entirely new position and scheme, but he's got the athletic ability to do it. the mental side (trusting the scheme and his instincts) will be what really determines whether he has success. this is what we should have done with derek anderson had the FO had any real confidence in quinn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.