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JULIUS PEPPERSPass-rushing force |
Patriots notebook
A sprinkling of Peppers talk
Deal for Panther may be in works
FOXBOROUGH - Bill Belichick built his reputation as a defensive guru in part by maximizing the potential of an incredibly gifted pass rusher from the University of North Carolina, Lawrence Taylor. Now, he might be looking to repeat that with another UNC pass-rushing prodigy, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers.
According to a report yesterday on NFL.com, the Patriots are primed to trade for Peppers, who was slapped with the franchise tag by the Panthers, using the second-round pick (No. 34 overall) they picked up by trading quarterback Matt Cassel to Kansas City along with linebacker Mike Vrabel. The report said the deal could get done sometime between the NFL owners' meetings next week in Dana Point, Calif., and April 25, the first day of the draft.
A league source confirmed the Patriots' interest in Peppers but could not confirm details of a possible deal. Efforts to reach Peppers's agent, Carl Carey, were unsuccessful.
Any deal with Peppers, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, likely would have to include a contract extension. Under the franchise tag, Peppers is set to count $16.68 million against the cap for 2009. If the Patriots pulled the trigger on a deal without negotiating an extension, they would be right back where they were when they dealt Cassel and his $14.65 million franchise-tag salary.
Peppers and quarterback Tom Brady alone would take up $31.33 million of the $127 million salary cap.
Still, the thought of adding Peppers and his 70.5 career sacks to the Patriots' sagging pass rush is a tantalizing one. The 29-year-old had a career-high 14.5 sacks last season and has recorded double digits in five of his seven seasons.
The 6-foot-7-inch, 283-pound Peppers played college basketball at North Carolina and has unusual athleticism for his size, which could allow him to transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker. In fact, that's where he would prefer to play. Peppers has let Carolina know he wants to be traded and told the Charlotte Observer last month that he wanted to go to a team that plays the 3-4.
"I'm the only one who truly knows the ability I have," Peppers told the paper. "I feel it could be maximized, and I feel like I could be even more productive than I've been in the past."
One caveat on Peppers would be that he sulked his way through the 2007 season and had a career-low 2.5 sacks.
The Panthers yesterday released a statement denying a trade was in the works.
"By the rules of the [collective bargaining agreement] we cannot and have not had any conversations with other teams about Julius," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "Under the non-exclusive franchise tag, Julius and his agent, Carl Carey, are within their rights to talk to other teams about a potential contract. However, at this point, we are not aware of any such conversations."
Brady is here
The Patriots opened their offseason conditioning program yesterday, and Brady was present, according to new Patriots wide receiver Greg Lewis. During an introductory conference call with the New England media, Lewis let slip that No. 12 was indeed at Gillette Stadium. "I met Tom today at a workout and in the locker room," Lewis said. "He came up to me and welcomed me to the team. He seemed like a great guy. I've seen him on film do great things. I am just looking forward to [getting to work]."He catches on fast
Lewis, who was acquired in a trade that had the Patriots swap a 2009 fifth-round pick to the Eagles for the wide receiver and a 2010 seventh-rounder, already seems to have a useful, if prosaic, understanding of how the Patriots' passing game works."Well, it seems like the offense is based on being where you are supposed to be and be there on time," said Lewis, who will compete to replace Jabar Gaffney as the No. 3 receiver. "And when you're there, Tom does a great job of getting the ball to you, and [you] make plays after that.
"I think I will fit in well here. I am just looking forward to the opportunity of getting on the field with these guys here, learning the offense and using my skills to best help this organization."
In six seasons with Philly, Lewis had only 127 receptions, including just 19 last year, but he has saved some of his best work for the Patriots. His first career touchdown came against New England in Super Bowl XXXIX, and in 2007, he had four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots.
The receiving yards were a career high until he opened the 2008 season with five catches for 104 yards against St. Louis.
"When I did get an opportunity against the Patriots, I played pretty well, but I don't think that had anything to do with [Belichick] trying to trade for me," Lewis said. "I think he liked what he saw on tape and he liked what he saw when we played against him."
Lineman signs on
The Patriots picked up another free agent, signing offensive lineman Al Johnson. The 30-year-old Johnson is a veteran of six NFL seasons with the Cowboys, Cardinals, and Dolphins. He suffered a knee injury with the Cardinals last year during training camp and was placed on injured reserve. He was released Oct. 21 and signed by the Dolphins Nov. 29. He played in four games for Miami, seeing action at center and guard. A former second-round pick, Johnson has 45 career starts at center in 66 career games . . . The Patriots also announced that they re-signed offensive lineman Wesley Britt and safeties Tank Williams and Ray Ventrone. Williams missed all of last season after he suffered a knee injury in the first exhibition game . . . The Patriots made official the re-signing of defensive lineman Mike Wright.Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com. 
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