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Fox sly on Peppers

Email|Link|Comments (16) Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff March 25, 2009 04:23 PM

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox didn't give much credence to the idea that the Carolina Panthers would be open to trading franchised defensive end Julius Peppers to the Patriots for the No. 34 overall pick in next month's NFL draft.

At the NFC coaches' breakfast today at the NFL owners' meetings, Fox was asked what his reaction to the trade proposal, which was first reported by NFL.com on March 16, was.

"I can't really comment on exactly how I felt," said Fox. "It was almost laughable. That can't happen. Our system, I think most people are educated enough to understand our system. I didn't give it much thought at all actually."

Peppers has not yet signed his $16.68 million franchise tag tender and would have to be under contract before he could be traded.

Fox said he hasn't talked to Peppers since the premium pass rusher made it known that he'd like to be traded, telling the Charlotte Observer in February that he felt his potential could be truly maximized in a 3-4 defense. Fox runs a 4-3 defense in Carolina.

Fox was asked if hearing Peppers, who has made four Pro Bowls with Fox as his coach, say he'd maxed out in Carolina was stinging.

"No, because maybe I've felt that I've maxed out," said Fox. "The difference is there are contracts. That's professional sport. You just can't do whatever you want when you want. It doesn't surprise me. It doesn't sting me. It's just that's this league."

Fox disputed the perception that having to clear that much cap space for Peppers is a burden on the Panthers' other plans, saying Carolina had planned for it when they decided to use the franchise tag on Peppers.

"I don't know is Tom Brady's cap number a burden? Is Eli Manning's? I don't know. It's just part of what we do," Fox said.

When it was pointed out that the Panthers would have to pay Peppers more than a million a game, Fox delivered a bon mot.

"I don't get into salaries," said Fox. "I don't know what Elton John makes. I don't know what Bono makes. I'm sure they make pretty good numbers too."

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16 comments so far...

Lets just move on because Peppers is not coming to the Pats. It would be nice but not possible with the cap

Posted by ryan March 25, 09 04:42 PM

That's almost being being more of a character Belichickian than simply not answering the question. He sort of dances around it but the Panthers are definitely handicapped by that cap number. Can they even sign draft picks?

Posted by Sonny_Corlione March 25, 09 04:47 PM

Does anyone know what he's talking about? Give an answer in a language we could all understand!

Posted by Dave (Montreal) March 25, 09 05:05 PM

Does anyone know what he's talking about? Give an answer in a language we could all understand!

Posted by Dave (Montreal) March 25, 09 05:05 PM

Does anyone know what he's talking about? Give an answer in a language we could all understand!

Posted by Dave (Montreal) March 25, 09 05:05 PM

Fox sounds annoyed and defensive. I guess he should be as the Panthers have only resigned one or two players and signed no new players, while watching many leave (via release or free agency).

It doesn't look like they handled the Peppers situation well at all; at a minimum, they should've worked with Peppers to get him to sign the tender offer quickly.

Posted by mark March 25, 09 05:31 PM

fox is still bitter..

Posted by Alex March 25, 09 05:53 PM

Sonny, really good point. I do know they dont have a 1st round selection. I dont see how we could pull it off. He's probably going to want BIG money. Wouldnt mind having him but PLEASE take care of VINCE 1st. He is to one besides Brady we cant lose. And you know the longer you prolong it, the more $$$ you gotta give up, if parties try and reengage in talks after the season heading into free agency. Then he'll test the market and then he will be gone. Not good

Posted by patsFAN401 March 25, 09 06:23 PM

whats laughable is that he doesnt know what anybody makes but he knows the value of the player and says he worth more than the 34th pick.

you cant equate one without the other.

typical BS from Fox.

Posted by Zak March 25, 09 06:55 PM

Boy we are so lucky to have BB. What a dope Fox is, did he just compare Peppers to Tom Brady', Manning, Elton John, and Bono. What the heck is he talking about. The only thing that is laughable is him. He is right about one thing, I think he has "maxed out" but as a head coach!

Posted by ricomandog March 26, 09 06:13 AM

Fox is gone after this year anyway....

Posted by fooze March 26, 09 06:58 AM

All this Peppers talk is driving me nuts. I don't even want him, no matter what the cost! A guy who goes on strike because he doesn't like his contract is significantly different than guys who are perceived as malcontents when in reality they are p.o'd about losing (Moss, Dillon, obviously).

Posted by jf4242 March 26, 09 10:17 AM

$16.6M GUARANTEED -- Fox is an idiot. Those are QB numbers but there aren't any other positions worth that kind of money or risk.

I believe the reason Peppers won't sign is that he wants his agent to talk to potential teams to acquire. He loses that ability once he signs his tender offer.

But in all seriousness, if I were Peppers, even though there will be no signing bonus, $16.6M guaranteed is tough to beat. He'll be a free agent again next year which has the potential to be uncapped

Posted by Justin-R March 26, 09 11:06 AM

John Fox has actually done a decent job. He's put together a decent team that really overperformed last year. 12-4? Not bad for a team with Jake Delhomme as a QB. The guy threw 15 TDs ALL SEASON and then threw 5 picks in their playoff game to hand it over to Arizona. That's Fox's fault in that he didn't have a better QB...but come on. The guy was under contract for big money, so he couldn't just drop a 1st round pick on a QB when there were other needs.

I'm no Panthers fan by any stretch of the imagination (I went to school down there and those are some of the worst, most indifferent fans in the country, second only to Chargers fans), but to say that Fox hasn't done a good job is a stretch.

Posted by Rob in Central MA March 26, 09 11:46 AM

Just sign Jason Taylor and forget about Peppers. Taylor would be a better fit next year anyway since he knows our system, can play D-Line and LB and can drop back into coverage as well. Plus He wouldn't cost us anything but cap space.
People forget that Peppers is 29 and Taylor is 35. We are not talking about a rookie stud over an 18 year veteran.

Get Taylor, draft Defense and win the Super Bowl.

Posted by MB613 March 27, 09 02:34 PM

Well Rob...you were close...Jake threw 6 ints in the Az playoff game....not 5...But don't kick him too bad...he did manage a few huge comeback wins last season (8 months off of Tommy John Surgery)...Remember game 1...Panthers vs. Chargers...Jake hurled a dart to win it with no time on the clock!

Now Fredo, (I am Sonny...I have the trash can to prove it)...Now the only way Fox could be called "Belichickian" IS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T TIP HIS HAND...Otherwise that is one hell of an insult!

Fox is a genuinely good guy, he is easy to get to know. He will stand around and talk ball or whatever when he is not on the run. He WOULD NEVER SNUB A FAN OR ANOTHER COACH FROM NE (ESPECIALLY IN A POST GAME HAND SHAKE).... Face it...Until he the Pats played the weakest schedule in all of football (2 years ago)...Remember, Bill filmed walk thru's, he stole signals and cheated. every time he played! chanchhh

Posted by Dan Henning April 1, 09 02:55 AM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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