By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Julius Peppers and Jake Delhomme, two of the most decorated players in the 14-year history of the Carolina Panthers, defined an era of football in Charlotte.
at this moment, however they’re simply defined as ex-Panthers.
Peppers was as good as gone when the Panthers opted not to slap the franchise tag on him for a second straight year, with the team correctly rationalizing that another $20 million, or a long-term deal, for a guy that graduated cum laude from the Randy Moss “I play when I want to play” school wasn’t going to offer a reasonable return on their investment.
Thus, Peppers became the crown jewel of the 2010 free agent class, though by all appearances the class will end for the Pro Bowl defensive end soon after the morning school bell has rung. Peppers has been linked for days with the Chicago Bears, a bizarre match on a few different fronts. First, the Bears are notoriously tight-fisted with their dough, and it’s not as if the aggressive approach that landed them Jay Cutler last season has paid any dividends yet. second, Peppers was on the record as wanting to be a stand-up outside linebacker (for some reason) in a 3-4 set, which made a place like New England seem like a more plausible destination.
but, unless someone swoops in and reminds Peppers he’ll be on the field 40 out of 60 minutes every week as a Bear, with Mike Martz and the quick-three-and-out offense on the other side of the ball, it looks like the former UNC two-sport star is headed to the Windy City.
Where Delhomme is headed is anyone’s guess, given that until reports surfaced that he would be released on Thursday night, he was widely expected to return to Carolina and compete with Matt Moore for the starting job. Expect a player with a Pro Bowl citation, two NFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl starting assignment to garner plenty of interest from quarterback-hungry teams like the Bills, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, and Rams. Though he hasn’t been the same player since that six-turnover meltdown against the Cardinals in the 2008 playoffs, the 35-year-old Delhomme would have a good chance to start for all of the above-mentioned clubs.
meanwhile, Carolina’s direction at the QB position merits watching. Moore is too inexperienced to be handed the starting job on a permanent basis. Michael Vick – still under contract to the Eagles, mind you – has publicly stated a desire to be a Panther. in light of Delhomme’s release, there might be more to Vick’s recent comments than originally thought.
some more observations from the first few hours of the “league year”:
JERSEY SURE?: – Safety Antrel Rolle, recently released by the Arizona Cardinals, has already garnered a great deal of interest on the open market. Rolle was already being linked to the defensive back-needy Giants as soon as the free agent period began at 12:01am on Friday, though anyone who has watched Rolle in action will tell you that he would be no sure thing to cure Big Blue’s problems in coverage. Rolle played beside two of the top d-back talents in the league – Adrian Wilson and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – and still looked awful at times. if he signs, betcha Rolle gives up the first touchdown pass in the new Giants Stadium.
elsewhere in the swamps of Jersey, the Jets have reportedly pulled off a trade for troubled Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie, the former Pro Bowler who wore out his welcome in San Diego when he started complaining about being forced to play hurt, then developed an allergy to tackling.
Cromartie reportedly went for a 2011 third-round pick. Look, Cromartie may be something of an upgrade over Lito Sheppard and/or Dwight Lowery, but he’s not on the same planet as the other cornerback linked to the Jets in recent weeks – the Raiders’ Nnamdi Asomugha – and neither Rex Ryan nor Gang Green Nation is going to take too well to his obvious lack of toughness. File both of these would-be moves under “style over substance.”
PASS RUSHERS GALORE: With Peppers, viewed as the big prize of the free agency period, apparently off the table, teams in need of pass rushing help will have to set their sights lower in order to find a new menace off the edge. but not that much lower.
Aaron Kampman, whose days were numbered with the Packers as soon as they installed a 3-4 defense prior to last season, is the consistent high-effort player that Peppers is not, and although he’s coming off a somewhat concerning knee injury, is already in the crosshairs of several teams. two of those are the Eagles and Seahawks, both of whom lack a premier pass rusher and need to help compensate for somewhat shaky secondary units.
A somewhat lesser prize is Kyle Vanden Bosch, a late addition to the watered- down 2010 AFC Pro Bowl team, who appears signed, sealed and delivered to the Detroit Lions and his old Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Vanden Bosch has no chance of becoming the Lions’ version of Jared Allen, but he’s a solid pro who helps beef up a Detroit front seven that was among the least active, and least talented, in the league last season.
There’s also Leonard little, who is getting up there in years but has some value as a situational pass rusher, at the very least. little is an unrestricted free agent, but the Rams have not ruled out bringing him back.
IN THE RUNNING: It is unquestionably a buyer’s market at running back, as big names like LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Thomas Jones and Chester Taylor are all looking for jobs. Don’t be surprised if all of the above are looking for a while. Taylor is the least heralded member of the foursome but could have the most value, because it’s clear to everyone including Taylor that he’s a role player, and several teams are in the market for a skilled third- down back.
The bigger names all carry considerable risk. Tomlinson and Jones are a couple of proud guys who are going to expect to get paid like no. 1 running backs. With both over the age of 30, no team except a crazy, desperate one is going to pay them major money and ordain either as the lead back. there have been suggestions that Jones will return to the Jets, but there is not a lot of logic in that notion. Shonn Greene is 24 and proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he’s an NFL starter by his performance in the 2009 playoffs. Leon Washington is going to be the change-of-pace back barring anything unforeseen, and Jones is not going to be pleased at the prospect of being a third choice.
as for Westbrook, it’s a major risk-reward situation. The longtime Eagle has been so elusive that he hasn’t taken nearly the pounding that guys like Tomlinson and Jones have, and should have plenty left in the tank from a legs standpoint. but it’s no secret that Westbrook’s next concussion could mean he’s played his last down as an NFL player, so a long-term deal would not seem to be in the cards for the former Villanova star. Look for a team to sign him to a one-year deal, or a two-year contract that functions as one.
Ex-Steeler Willie Parker has reportedly garnered interest from the Buccaneers, but it would be surprising if he comes off the free agent board before most or all of the (superior) backs mentioned above.
CATCHING HELL: The NFL world is already abuzz over the five-year, $25 million deal (with $11 million guaranteed) that the Lions have reportedly given ex- Seahawk Nate Burleson. That’s a lot of dough for a receiver who was largely seen as a bust after signing an outsized deal with Seattle in 2006. but remember that the offensive coordinator in Detroit is Scott Linehan, who was Burleson’s coordinator in Minnesota, where he posted a 1,000-yard season in 2004. With Calvin Johnson as Burleson’s mirror in Detroit, don’t be surprised if this works out OK for the Lions.
It would also be a surprise, at this point, if wide receiver-hungry Baltimore doesn’t land Terrell Owens. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has admitted interest in Owens, his fellow co-worker with the Eagles, and the Ravens can probably get Owens relatively cheap given that he’s burned so many bridges elsewhere in the league.