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http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80f48fa8&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80f48fa8&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true)

Patriots appear primed to make move for Peppers
Vic Carucci       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 were already 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, the Pats had nearly $30 million in cap money devoted to two quarterbacks (including $14.62 million for Tom Brady).

Once they were convinced 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-rounder, even though it would be well below his market value because it would be less costly to sign a second-round pick than 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 get a higher choice as part of three-way a 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 them 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 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."

This is scary for Dolphins fans.

Ya, I know.  They would have a very scary front 7, but their secondary is still weak. 

The Pats are in salary cap hell, I don't see them being able to make this move.  I really don't.

Plus this smacks in the face of everything that they generally aren't - which is the "flashy FA" player in the market.

The moment they traded for Randy Moss, the humble, no name, non-flashy attitude went out the window.

Maybe we can get a Dolfan to take one for the Team and rear end him after a game........

They gave up next to nothing for Moss and paid him squat his first year.  Randy earned his contract after that.  It's a little different.  Remember this as well - coming out of Oakland most of the league thought Randy was done / washed up. 

Oh I know, but you must also remember this was the same offseason they brought in thug extraordinaire Adelius Thomas and head-stomper Brandon Merriweather.  Not exactly a shining beacon of role models on that team anymore, is it?

And have any of those guys been a problem? distraction? gotten into trouble?

no they haven't.  let the haters hate.  New England could really benefit from having Peppers IF the guy is going to play on the d-line and not shift to linebacker like he's talking about.  His contract is built as a d-lineman, there isn't a player in this league worth the hit you take on the cap for a linebacker.  He won't have the same impact.  I want Peppers the speed rusher not Peppers the okay at best covering a tight end.  and Mayo is out of this world good.  the only question mark with the Pats this season is the secondary and they will address that in the draft.  it's going to be another long season in the AFC East for non Pats fans.

That's what I was thinking.  New England might not be a good fit for Peppers if they're going to put him at LB.  Even though he says he wants to play in a 3-4, he should stick with teams that run the 4-3.

Welcome to the boards Bradys.  When you get a moment, tell us more about yourself in the Off Topic forum. 

That's what Patsie fans thought last year.

did you notice that new england went 11-5 last year?  with a backup QB that hadn't taken a snap since hs and defensive backs that couldn't cover me from getting to the coffee machine? 

11-5 as a patched together team with half of it's stars on IR.  that is reality.  we won't lose more than 3 games this season.  write it down.

I'd have to agree there.  Plus you were on your 4th string RB.  Despite all that, they went 11-5 and missed the playoffs by some mathematical formula. 

If that isn't heart then tell me what is.

Why should we trust you since you can't even get your facts straight. Cassell has indeed played since high school, he just didn't start.

Tommy is the TDMMC historian. When you guys lose #4, this thread will be bumped. And, the Patsies got rid of Cassel. You have no idea how Brady will come back from his injury.

new england secured a high second round pick for a QB that 99% of the people in the NE didn't want ON the team when the season started last year.  your right i don't know how brady will respond.  but i know that brady at 80% is better than pennington at 100%, better than trent edwards at 100% and better than whatever re-tred the jets are going to run out there.

brady is a young man.  it's not like the guy is 35.  he has healed well from all reports.  and again without brady we went 11-5.  i'm wondering how many dolphin "fans" are going to stick around when miami starts next season 1-5?  no more cream puff schedule this coming season, you are playing with the big boys now.

here is the thing though.  miami SHOULD start 1-5.  it's part of their growth.  i have zero doubts that miami will be right back into the div title mix in a couple years but it won't be last year.  you've got a couple more years of looking up at the real champ.  no disrespect to the dolphins they just aren't in the Patriots league yet.  i think you all know it.  just keeping it real.

The same number of fans that stuck by the team going 1-15 the season before

What raptorsfan29 said.  We stuck by them through 1-15.  We are real fans, not fair weather ones.  How long have you been a Patriots fan?

No kidding. This joke comes onto our board and calls us band wagoners? That's hilarious.  ;D

I bet this kid doesn't even know (without looking it up) who the Patsies QB was before Drew Bledsoe.

EDIT: You know, with the exception of 2 games, NE had the same schedule as us. You guys split with us, lost to the Chargers (who we beat) The Colts, the Jets (who we split with) and lost to the Steelers.

We lost to the Pats, Jets, Cardinals, Ravens, and the Texans.

You guys lost to a Super Bowl team, so did we. You guys lost to a playoff team, and so did we.

We were both 11-5, but we weren't in the Super Bowl the year before. We were 1-15, and we won the division a year later.

So, spare us your hate.  ;D

a looooooo...ooooooooooog time.

long 'nuff for ya?   :-*


the pats had a qb before brady!?!?!?!?  nah can't be!!!  i thought he was just a science special.  man.  are you sure??

to my hairlines dislike i can say that i have frozen my ass off at harvard stadium and fenway.  never did see them at nickerson.  as much as i loved being called a kid i think i outdate you.  i bet you have no idea who predate marino without "looking it up."  haha.  works both ways.  long before bledsoe or grogan or the old foxboro or the rings they were the boston pats.  i was there.

i'm not sure why i would be a hater for stating a fact.  when a team struggles people stop going and they win people go back i didn't say you people are not real fans.

Millan.

A more challenging question, name all the QB that have started a game for the Dolphins since Bledsoe became the starting QB for the Patriots.  For the Pats it is easy:  Bledsoe, Brady, Cassel.     

Hint it starts with Marino and ends with Pennington and there is about dozen names in between. 

I'm down for the challenge...

In no particular order....

Dan Marino
Damon Huard
Jay Fiedler
AJ Feeley
Brian "I suck balls" Griese
Sage Rosenfels
John Beck
Trent Green
Joey Harrington
Daunte Culpepper
Cleo Lemon
Gus Frerotte
Chad Pennington

I'm sure I missed someone...

edit - I just "looked it up" and there are 5 more.  I'm disappointed in myself.

If you are not a kid and are sure you outdate us, perhaps you should stop acting like one.

I'll help ya out there:

Dan Marino
Scott Mitchell
Steve Deberg
Bernie Kosar
Craig Erickson
Damon Huard
Jay Fiedler
Ray Lucas
Brian Griese
AJ Feely
Sage Rosenfels
Gus Frerotte
Daunte Culpepper
Joey Harrington
Cleo Lemon
Trent Green
John Beck
Chad Pennington



I'm younger than you but can answer your question as well. 

Dolphins starting QB's before Marino:

Rick Norton
Dick Wood
John Stofa
Bob Greise
Earl Morrall
David Woodley
Don Strock

I don't see how the guy is acting "like a kid?"  He's actually been pretty respectful.  I see where other people have been a tad immature but he seems to stick to facts and his opinion.  Way to welcome new people!

Eh, fuck 'em...he's a Pat's fan.

He said that if Miami started 1-5, we would lose alot of fans. I (and several others) took that as him calling us fake fans. He later said that he wasn't talking about us personally. If he was talking about Phins fans in general, he is right and I'll take him at his word.

Frimp, to be fair, last year's season brought a lot of the bandwagoners out.... they're the ones who jump at 1-5, not you guys that are here all the time, different types of fans

Actually, there were more starters than these three.  Scot Zolak started a few games in the mid 90s and Scott Secules did as well, I think around 96 or so when Bledsoe had a torn vagina.

That's pretty easy since we only had one starter between our HOF QBs.  Naming the starters since Marino ... now that's a bit of a challenge. 

You left out a few names.   ;)

Perhaps I'm not being as literal, but Cassel was never "the starter".  He never won the job at New England.  He only played because Brady got hurt.

Strock was never the starter in Miami.  The most games he ever started was 7 in 1978.  Would you consider him the starter over Griese, or did he start only because Griese was hurt?  It's different than 1983, for example, when Woodley was the starter for the first 5 games and then Marino took the job.  Strock started two games late that season as well - but due to injury, not because he outperformed and took the job from Marino.