Most of us think of Julius Peppers as a Carolina Panther for life, perhaps because he has lived in North Carolina all his life.
He was a high school legend at Southern Nash in Bailey. He was a college legend at North Carolina. He also played basketball for the Tar Heels, and he was rougher than Duke's big men at a time when Duke's big men were rough. This was a long time ago.
But Peppers' contract expires at the end of this season, and he has yet to sign a new one. If he doesn't, all the Panthers can do is spend a lot of money to hang onto him for one more year.
Carolina, however, does not want Peppers as a temp.
“We want him to stay here and he knows that,” general manager Marty Hurney says Wednesday. “And we think he wants to be here.”
A source says the Panthers have offered Peppers, 28, a contract that would make him among the league's highest-paid defensive players.
As is the team's custom, Hurney would not comment about offers or alleged offers.
Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, says via e-mail there is “no new news to report.”
Adds Peppers: “There's really nothing to talk about.”
I ask Peppers after practice how often he thinks about his contract status.
“Not at all, not right now,” he says. “I've got to focus on playing San Diego right now. I can't really be focusing on contracts and what's going to happen after the season or during the season.”
Peppers, whom teammates voted a captain, has had an excellent camp and preseason. At 6-foot-7 and 283 pounds, his athleticism is without parallel, and he looks larger in the upper body than he has in seasons past.
He appears especially comfortable at his new position, right defensive end. That's the position Mike Rucker played before he retired five months ago. When Peppers, once a running back, switched to defensive end, he initially played on the right side.
Rucker says Peppers will thrive there.
“With his stance – left hand down and right leg up – he's a natural,” Rucker says.
Rucker and Peppers respect each other enormously. I ask Rucker if Peppers wants to remain a Panther. Rucker says the question should be addressed to Peppers.
He adds: “It's no secret that everything has to work, everything has to be successful. It has to be a winning program. I don't think that's a secret. And so far the Panthers have put everything in place for us to do that.
“The perfect scenario,” adds Rucker, “is they go into playoffs and everybody is happy. I can tell you that he likes perfection. He likes to play his best.”
What if Peppers does not play his best? What if the Panthers are not perfect? What if they again go 7-9?
If they're mediocre, is he gone?
Many stars demand a new contract because without one they become distracted and fragile and ever so put-upon.
But Wednesday, Peppers is at peace. There is no urgency, at least not from his end.
Tom Sorensen: 704-358-5119
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