Opponents Say Julius Peppers Still Has Gas Left in the Tank

While at the Super Bow, a Seahawks player and coach weigh in on Peppers' longetivity in professional football.

Packers linebacker Julius Peppers puts a pass rush on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson—USA TODAY Sports.

Packers linebacker Julius Peppers puts a pass rush on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson—USA TODAY Sports.

PHOENIX—When Justin Britt of the Seattle Seahawks was injured in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, that meant Alvin Bailey would get the start at right tackle in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers.

For Bailey, that meant frequently lining up across the line of scrimmage from Julius Peppers, the 35-year-old Packers defensive lineman that coincidentally celebrated his birthday that same day.

"That was a great opportunity to go against somebody who's been playing for such a long time like that," said Bailey this week in Arizona while preparing for the Super Bowl.

Facing off against Peppers would be a challenge. Not typically a starter for the Seahawks, Bailey played in 14 games and made five starts in 2014, but the majority of his playing time was on the left side of the offensive line.

The match-up also presented a contrast in experience, an up-and-coming second-year player versus an aging veteran that's closer to the end of his career than the beginning.

There were ups and downs for both players as they battled in the trenches. The upper hand might be given to the Peppers as he rushed the passer, but Bailey arguably performed better in the run game, blocking for Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks ground game.

For the first time in four games, Peppers played more than 37 snaps as the Packers made a concerted effort to keep their star player fresh. In 62 snaps of a contest that went into overtime, Peppers came up with five tackles, made 1.5 sacks and pressured quarterback Russell Wilson a few more times, causing hurried throws.

According to Bailey, Peppers remains an excellent player. The young Seahawks offensive lineman can't get inside Peppers' mind and doesn't know the status of his health but says he can still be effective.

"He's a great player," said Bailey. "He made some great plays two weeks ago. ... He still seems like he's making some plays out there."

From most appearances, Peppers had a very good 2014 campaign in Green Bay after signing with the Packers as a free agent in the offseason. Maybe he wasn't as dominant as he had been earlier in his career, but Peppers was worth every penny of his $3.5 million salary-cap figure this season.

Starting all 16 regular-season games, Peppers made 44 tackles, totaled seven sacks, forced four fumbles, had a career-high 11 passes broken up and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. From the Packers' perspective, they're looking to find out how much longer Peppers can keep up the same kind of production.

The matter becomes rather pressing because Peppers' cap figure jumps up to $12 million in 2015 because of the way the deal was structured. With impending free agents like wide receiver Randall Cobb and offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga among others to think about, the Packers could free up some extra bucks they'd like to put to good use if they could re-structure Peppers' deal.

It's also possible the Packers don't want to pay that amount of money if Peppers becomes only a part-time player or pass-rush specialist. When his playing time decreased late in the season, that didn't exactly become an outlandish theory.

Seahawks offensive line coach Pat Ruel, a former Packers assistant under Mike Sherman in 2001 and 2002, thinks Peppers would be best used on a rotational basis.

"Julius obviously has had a great career," said Ruel. "When we evaluated him on film, we thought he was a special player, still rushing the passer. He caused us some problems in the game.

"But the one thing he doesn't have that he used to have is that down-after-down-after-down stuff. He's not as effective when he's in there, 10, 15 plays in a row. He's more effective for three plays and put him in for three more. His legs are probably getting old, but he knocked our guys around when he's in there."

Following his 13th season in professional football, it's possible Peppers considers retirement, but if he is, there's been no indication.

One thing the Packers would also have to consider is if Peppers refused to re-structure his deal. The potential exists that he could be a cap casualty, no unlike last season with the Bears.

The Packers probably don't want it to come to that, seeing as Peppers was still an impact player. It's a good thing he has a reputation as far as his strength and conditioning regimen, not missing a single game in the past seven years.

"He's a competitor and as long as he takes care of his body, he's got another year left in him," said Ruel. "If you look and watch our game, saw what he did a couple times, he looks All-Pro on those plays."

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (9)

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 30, 2015 at 05:18 pm

i would hope that Peppers and GB can agree that instead of Peppers taking home $9.5 million as he is currently scheduled to do while having a $12 million cap number, he might agree to a pay cut to say $7.5 million and thus reduce his cap number to $10 million. Problem is that if Peppers doesn't want to retire, some other team might pay him $7 million or so, leaving TT with $5 million in dead money and a pressing need for an OLB. How pressing? Depends on what one thinks of Elliott and whatever might be available via the draft or in FA.

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Imma Fubared's picture

January 30, 2015 at 06:33 pm

I like the guy and his career but honestly, do people think he will want to go through this misery again. I think he just takes the check next season. The glory days are over

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TKWorldWide's picture

January 30, 2015 at 07:10 pm

La vaca nueva.

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NewNikeShoes's picture

January 30, 2015 at 07:51 pm

what misery? we did pretty damn well
whose glory days? we still have a pretty damn wide window for another sb
you are a pathetic troll.

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Bearmeat's picture

January 30, 2015 at 09:45 pm

WHY CAN WE NOT GET IMMA FUBARED BANNED?? He's a troll..

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4thand1's picture

January 30, 2015 at 09:51 pm

Because CHTV likes occasional assholes.

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Allan Murphy's picture

January 30, 2015 at 11:47 pm

Peppers will be back .......

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@ballark's picture

January 31, 2015 at 12:31 am

I would love to get Peppers back. But in terms of priority, I think 18 and 75 have to come first.

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HankScorpio's picture

January 31, 2015 at 05:40 am

Why, exactly, is it a must that they get Peppers to take a pay cut? The Packers have $7 mil in cap space there for the taking by dumping worthless players in Hawk and Jones. The cap is expected to jump by $10 mil again.

Based on what i saw Peppers do in 2014, a $12 mil cap hit in not out of line, especially with the cap inflation the last 2 years. Sure, it would be nice if he took a straight pay cut but why would he want to do that? And if the choice is between 1) Pushing money on to future cap years 2) No Peppers and 3) Peppers at $12 mil, I'm going with door #3.

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