Julius Peppers in No Need of “Summer School”

Remember summer school? When most of the class was out goofing off, swimming, or raiding their parents’ liquor cabinets? Well, a few sad students were stuck writing book reports on The Mists of Avalon or conquering right triangles.

But who were those students for the most part? The ones that needed that credit.

Julius Peppers, the unhappy star defensive end of the Carolina Panthers, has made no bones about his disgruntled status, and he is nowhere to be found at the Panthers’ OTAs, appropriately dubbed “Summer School” by the organization.

But, much like the straight-A students from high school, Peppers is in no need of a refresher course.

Though he is no more important to the Panthers’ success than Steve Smith, the running back duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, or Jake Delhomme—all of whom are present and accounted for in Charlotte—and even with an almost entirely new defensive coaching staff, Peppers’ absence is far from a season-dooming incident.

Training camp will be more than enough time for Peppers to get back into the flow of things and settle into Ron Meeks’ defensive scheme.

And all signs point to the Panthers’ franchise player being in Spartanburg, S.C., come time for preseason practices.

Maybe if the former Tar Heel football and basketball star had gotten his way and a 3-4 scheme were being implemented in Charlotte, a tutorial this summer would be advisable in place of a summer of relaxation. But if that were the case, there is little doubt Peppers would have taken part in the activities.

Even in Peppers’ absence, neither his coaches nor his teammates seem too worried about his development.

New Panther defensive end and second-round draft pick, Everette Brown, seems to have very little apprehension about Peppers’ conspicuous absence. In fact, he hardly addressed it Monday, speaking mostly about the opportunity to play with the four-time Pro Bowler.

“I think that it will pick up the intensity knowing that you have that caliber of a player on the opposite side,” Brown said to NFL.com. “It’s definitely going to be one of those meet and greets at the quarterback.”

Even coach John Fox brushed aside Peppers’ no-show, simply calling him a “steady performer.”

Suffice it to say that Fox, Meeks & Co. are not playing the role of Ben Stein stubbornly repeating the name of an obviously absent student (Bueller…Bueller…Bueller), waiting for Matthew Broderick to bolster, “HERE!” but rather are running full steam ahead and preparing for the start of a likely full-rostered training camp come July, when the honor roll kids all but assuredly show up.

Panthers: Dwayne Jarrett to Fight TEs, RBs, Marcus Monk for Catches

Who is the Carolina Panthers’ No. 1 wide receiver? Duh! There’s no question there—It’s Steve Smith, for any of you non-Panthers people out there.

What about No. 2? That answer is just as easy to come up with. It’s Muhsin Muhammad, who returned to Charlotte last season after a three-year hiatus in Chicago.

No. 3? With the Feb. 25 release of D.J. Hackett, it’s third-year man Dwayne Jarrett out of Southern Cal.

Jarrett has hardly had time to build an NFL resume, fighting Hackett for every opportunity he got last season, when he managed just 10 receptions for 118 yards and no touchdowns. Still, it was better than his six-reception, 73-yard rookie campaign.

The prototypical NFL wideout, Jarrett stands at 6’4″ and weighs 218 pounds. But in an offense that must seem like one that hardly utilizes the pass—Delhomme threw 414 balls last season in 16 games, while Trojan QB John David Booty threw 436 in 13 games Jarrett’s junior season (his last)—Jarrett has yet to put up the kind of numbers many thought he would in the league.

Perhaps with Hackett’s release—and the loss of his 13 catches and 181 yards in 2008—Jarrett will put up quasi-respectable numbers in 2009. At least he might get a reception in more than half of the Panthers’ games, a feat he couldn’t accomplish last season.

The only thing standing in the way? Well, in addition to the offense being run first, it’s also a look-to-Smith-second, third, and fourth system. When Delhomme fixes his down-field glare on someone not wearing No. 89, it’s usually Muhammad.

So having the quarterback out of the bayou even look his way is an accomplishment in and of itself, not to mention being open.

Did I mention there is another road block for Jarrett in Charlotte?

Second-year offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson isn’t shy about using his backs and tight ends as receivers, leading a running back (DeAngelo Williams) and two tight ends (Jeff King and Dante Rosario) to better receiving years than Jarrett in 2008.

Williams hauled in 22 balls for 121 yards and two touchdowns, with King and Rosario each tallying around 20 receptions and 200 yards. Tailback Jonathan Stewart also nabbed eight receptions for 47 yards.

Billed a possession receiver in the mold of fellow former-Trojan (and former-Panther) Keyshawn Johnson, Jarrett can’t be happy seeing non-wideouts filling that role for Delhomme.

If he is going to impress his ability upon Davidson and Delhomme at any point, it’s not going to be able to wait until the regular season. He’s going to have to show his ability in training camp and the preseason.

But he won’t be alone. Newly acquired Marcus Monk, an NFL novice without a pro stat to his name since being selected in the seventh round by Chicago in 2008, was signed shortly after an impressive pro day at his alma mater, Arkansas. And he isn’t about to let this newest NFL opportunity slip through his fingers that easily.

Still, with Monk never setting foot on an NFL field for a regular-season game, it mostly will be King, Rosario, and Williams that Jarrett will be competing with for the looks of Delhomme.

But regardless of whether he convinces Delhomme he is a star ready to shine—he might be, but not in this system and not with the receivers ahead of him—he should have his best year to date. Look for 20-30 receptions and around 300 yards from Williams in 2009, if not more.

Newest Carolina Panther: A Sit-Down with Everette Brown

The Carolina Panthers had no first-round picks in April’s NFL Draft, but they weren’t going to let that stop them from getting a first-round talent. Everette Brown, a pass-rushing defensive end out of Florida State, was regarded by many teams as just that.

After picking up 13.5 sacks in his junior season as a Seminole, Brown decided to realize his dreams and declared for the draft.

Joining Julius Peppers as a constant threat on opposing quarterbacks, Brown could see lots of the field in his rookie campaign, ranging from spot pass-rushing situations (at worst) to splitting time with second-year Panther Tyler Brayton.

If given the chance to sit down one-on-one with Brown, I would have lots of questions I would want answered:

 

1. You grew up in North Carolina, just about an hour from Chapel Hill and three or so hours from Charlotte. How closely did you watch your new teammate, Julius Peppers’ rise to stardom?

2. At Florida State you wore No. 99. Maake Kemoeatu already had that number in Charlotte, so you went with 91—the number after Peppers’ 90. Is there any significance to that?

3. Your new club has a two-headed monster at tailback—kind of a thunder and lightening thing going on with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. With Peppers at 6’7″, 283 and yourself at 6’1″, 256—a bit undersized for an NFL defensive end—do you foresee a similar type of dual threat as pass-rushing ends, with him taking advantage of his size and strength more, while you rely mostly your quick first step?

4. Your alma matre has a number of big-name defensive stars in the league, but none really at defensive end—Chauncey Davis perhaps has had the best active career, getting 30 tackles and four sacks last season for the Atlanta Falcons. Is that lack of a star defensive end a product of the defensive system at FSU or just an anomaly?

5. Do you see yourself bucking that trend?

6. What attracted you to Florida State with so many FBS—then Div. 1-A—schools in your area, including UNC, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Duke? Was it about getting away from home? Playing for Bobby Bowden? Something else?

7. What led to your decision to leave FSU with a year of eligibility remaining? Had you essentially done all you could in Tallahassee?

8. You were regarded as a possible first-rounder. What was your thought process like when the 32nd pick went by the wayside and your name hadn’t been called?

9. How soon were you hearing from Carolina on draft day that—if available—they might be taking you with their first selection?

10. Do you feel the need to play like a first-rounder since you had been labeled as such and the Panthers spent their first pick on you?

11. You, along with the rest of the defensive line, will be taking commands from new coaches Ron Meeks (defensive coordinator) and Brian Baker (defensive line coach). With coach Fox having a history as a secondary coach before his days as defensive coordinator, how much of an advantage is it for you that your entire unit will be starting at square one with the part of the coaching staff you will be interacting with the most?

Carolina Panthers: John Fox’s New Coaching Mates

Coaching staffs often spend years—sometimes decades—coaching together, learning the inner workings of each other’s thought processes so well they seem to know what the other is going to say before they open their mouths.

That, however, is not the case for John Fox’s staff of the 2009 Carolina Panthers, who among their 16 coaches will have six new faces roaming the sidelines or coaches’ boxes this season, four on the defensive side of the ball. And these aren’t face-spillers by any means.

We’re talking a new quarterbacks coach (Rip Scherer), a new linebackers’ coach (Richard Smith), and—among others—a new defensive coordinator (Ron Meeks).

So without further adieu, here are your NEW Carolina Panthers (coaches)!

Mr. Goodell, Tear Down These Rookie Contracts

TO: Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner

FROM: Daniel Price, NFL fan

Dear Sir,

After three years at the University of Georgia, Matthew Stafford will be the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft today, April 25, 2009.

If he turns into Ben Roethlisberger and (somehow) leads the Detroit Lions to a Super Bowl or two while making every Pro Bowl, he could earn as much as $78 million over the next six years.

If he turns into Ryan Leaf, verbally abuses the media, and throws more interceptions than completions, he still will rack up $41.7 million.

Do you see a problem with this? In today’s economy, any team spending that much money on a yet-to-be proven quarterback is ludicrous—especially when that team plays at FORD Field in DETROIT.

Remember the recession? The fizzling American auto industry? Apparently your League doesn’t.

Now, you have done a lot of things right, including cleaning up the NFL’s faltering image with your iron-fist style of discipline.

But before you perform any other duties, including this whole Super Bowl-to-London idea or meeting with a soon-to-be-free Michael Vick, do something about the ridiculous amounts of money being thrown at 20-, 21-, and 22-year-old kids.

This is one of (many) areas where the NBA has the NFL’s number.

There is no negotiation for drafted rookies. The pay scale is set well in advance, and if the kids want to play in the NBA, they (and their agents) have to take what David Stern says they will take.

I’m not completely stupid, though. I do realize top NBA rookies are still making mad bank.

Rookie contracts, which can’t exceed four years—something else you should look into—still pay the top picks very well.

But the $4 million the Bulls’ 2008 No. 1 pick Derrick Rose earned in his rookie season still puts him more than $10 million per year outside of the NBA’s top 30 salaries.

The same cannot be said about JaMarcus Russell or Jake Long, nor will it be said about Stafford.

So, Roger—you, like Junior Bevill in Cool Runnings—have pride! You have power! You are a bad*** mother who don’t take no crap off of nobody!

So do what your League needs you to do, what your country needs you to do. Get these rookie contracts under control.

Then you can worry about moving America’s game to London.

But when you start doing that, I’ll be back.

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