Julius Peppers

The NFL has set dates to meet with players accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in an Al Jazeera America documentary.

Albert Breer of the Monday Morning Quarterback reported the news Monday:

On Tuesday, the league informed Harrison that his meeting with investigators will be pushed up to Thursday at 11 a.m. ET at the Pittsburgh Steelers' facility, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday the NFL doesn't have any new evidence, but is merely going through a Q&A session regarding ties to Charlie Sly.

Peyton Manning was one of several high-profile players originally named in an Al Jazeera America documentary as a user of performance-enhancing drugs. While the retired Manning has been cleared of wrongdoing, the remaining players on the list are still under scrutiny.

Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal and Harrison were required to meet with the NFL, with threat of indefinite suspension if they refused. While they all eventually agreed, Harrison has been outspoken in his opposition to the meeting, per Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today:

Whatever evidence they might have or reasoning for questioning for me is out of my control, I don't know. I wouldn't have a problem with it being filmed live. I've been prosecuted and persecuted publicly in the media by them for something I didn't do, so I don't see why we couldn't have the media there and do a live interview. They can ask the questions and I can answer them, and y'all can see whatever evidence it is they say they got.

It is beyond unlikely that Commissioner Roger Goodell would agree to televise the meetings.

Amy Trask of CBS Sports noted the NFL might be making the wrong decision in pursuing the investigation:

Goodell has come under plenty of scrutiny for the use of his disciplinary power, from suspensions regarding the substance-abuse policy to the Deflategate fiasco with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Pittsburgh Steelers player representative Ramon Foster is already recommending that players save up to prepare for an extended lockout in 2021 after the collective bargaining agreement expires, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.

Although there will be plenty of issues at stake, discipline policies will be a major part of the negotiations.

Until then, however, NFL players will be forced to follow Goodell's instructions, including meeting with him when requested.

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Four players named in an Al Jazeera documentary on sports doping could potentially face a suspension if they fail to set up an interview with the NFL regarding the allegations by Aug. 25, per USA Today's Tom Pelissero.

Pelissero obtained a copy of a letter that league executive Adolpho Birch sent to the NFL Players Association on Monday. The letter named free-agent linebacker Mike Neal and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison as well as Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers as the players the NFL wants to question.

The NFL asserted it could suspend the players for conduct detrimental to the league if they decline to be interviewed:

We cannot accept your unilateral assertion that the cursory, untested statements you have submitted satisfy the players' obligation. Accordingly, the Commissioner has directed that Messrs. Harrison, Matthews, Neal and Peppers be given until Thursday, August 25 to provide interviews. For those players whose interviews do not take place on or before that date, or who fail meaningfully to participate in or otherwise obstruct the interview, their actions will constitute conduct detrimental and they will be suspended, separate and apart from any possible future determination that they violated the steroid policy. The suspension for each such player will begin on Friday, August 26 and will continue until he has fully participated in an interview with league investigators, after which the Commissioner will determine whether and when the suspension should be lifted.

In the letter, the league said it has tried to arrange interviews with the four on seven occasions but has been unable to do so. In response, the NFLPA has given the league prepared statements for the players, which the NFL is using as sworn statements.

The NFL argued Neal's statement, in particular, was troublesome:

The statements, however, are wholly devoid of any detail, and we were quickly able to determine that Mr. Neal's statement includes an assertion that is demonstrably false. Rather than eliminate the need for interviews, the players' plainly deficient statements simply underscore the importance of obtaining their full cooperation.

On Tuesday, the NFLPA was "figuring out how accused players want to move forward", according to Pelissero, who added that while the players have always controlled the final decision, the suspension threat "raises the stakes." 

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora spoke to Harrison's agent, Bill Parise, who said his client has "never denied an attempt for an interview." Parise added the NFLPA told the four players not to agree to any interviews at this stage and that the union would be taking care of things on their behalf, per La Canfora.

Harrison spoke about a potential meeting following Tuesday's practice, courtesy of ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler:

"I don't have a problem doing the interview. Come to my house. Bring Roger (Goodell) with you," Harrison said.

[...]

When asked why not get the interview over with, Harrison was blunt in his response.

"If that's the case, then somebody could come out and say James Harrison is a pedophile," Harrison said. "They are going to suspend me, put me under investigation for being a pedophile just because somebody said it? I'm not going to answer questions for every little thing some Tom, Dick and Harry comes up with."

“That has nothing to do with us,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said, per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “That is between him, the PA and the league. I assume that he is going to do what he has to do.”

Peyton Manning was the biggest name connected to Al Jazeera's report in December, which relied on statements from Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at the Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine in Indianapolis. Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard were also implicated, along with Matthews, Neal, Peppers and Harrison.

Matthews, Peppers and Harrison were all vehement regarding their innocence.

"He has never supplied me with anything," Harrison said of Sly, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec. 27. "I never took steroids—point, blank, period, end of discussion."

Peppers called the claims "erroneous," per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on June 24, adding: "It's not true. It's completely erroneous, and I think it's irresponsible journalism, in my opinion. I'm subject to the same steroid and drug-testing policy as everybody else. So I don't understand how I could be linked to something like this."

Matthews was similarly dismissive, per Wood:

I think it's (expletive) to be completely honest with you. It's 100 percent falsified, fabricated information. I don't who this guy is. I couldn't tell you what he looks like. I've never talked with him. I've never communicated with him. So for him to bring my name up like that, which appears to be out of thin air, it's (expletive) for a lack of a better term.

Sly later recanted the accusations he made in Al Jazeera's documentary.

Pelissero first reported in June the NFL planned to interview Matthews, Neal, Peppers and Harrison based on the report and Sly's allegations. The league informed the quartet it had begun an investigation in January to examine the claims.

Pelissero noted Monday that if the league pursues punishment for the players for detrimental conduct, the repercussions would be separate from any retroactive action the NFL could take with regard to potential violations of the performance-enhancing-drug policy.

Green Bay Packers veteran linebacker Julius Peppers decided Wednesday he'll return for the 2016 season after taking some time to think about his future.

"Oh, yeah," Peppers said when asked if he will play next season, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "Yes."

Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com reported Peppers wasn't prepared to make his decision immediately after Green Bay's loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Divisional Round. Instead, he simply said he would "talk about that when it's time."

The 36-year-old North Carolina product proved he could still play at a high level this past season. He racked up 37 combined tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for a Packers defense that ranked 12th in points allowed.

Football Perspective provided an interesting tidbit about his continued success:

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com passed along comments from Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who praised the longtime star's commitment to the game:

Julius brings so much to the team, I think. As a coach, and if you've got a lot of young guys, it's far more effective to point to Julius Peppers and say, 'There's a reason why that guy has played for 13 years or whatever -- because he's a true pro.' You go into any meeting and he's sitting up front taking notes, never misses a practice.

Between those examples of leading by example and his continued on-field success, it made sense for the Packers to want him back. He's set to count $10.5 million against the cap in 2016, according to Spotrac. He'll then be in line to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he once again decides to keep playing.

The Packers previously discussed moving Clay Matthews back to outside linebacker next season. Pairing him with Peppers would make for a potentially dynamic one-two punch in terms of rushing the passer.

Green Bay will need to monitor Peppers' reps in order to keep him fresh. But he's still an impact performer, and his decision to return leaves one less void for the front office to fill in the months ahead.

Green Bay Packers veteran outside linebacker Julius Peppers said he is “not sure” if he will return for the 2016 season, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today.

Continue for updates.

Peppers Still Mum on His Future

Monday, Jan. 18

After his team's 26-20 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Peppers wasn't in the mood to discuss his plans.

“We'll talk about that when it's time,” he said.

Next year would be Peppers' 15th in the NFL. The eight-time Pro Bowler has 136 sacks (10.5 in 2015), 11 interceptions and six defensive touchdowns in his career.

Per Wood, the 36-year-old Peppers has plenty of good football left in him, but a return next year wouldn't come cheap for the Packers:

Peppers appeared to have plenty of high-quality football left this season. His pass-rush explosion off the edge was especially important for the Packers defense. With Peppers pressuring the quarterback, the Packers were able to keep Clay Matthews at inside linebacker exclusively without a diminished pass rush.

Still, Peppers has long said he’ll decide on his future during the offseason. He will command a costly cap hit next season, though it’ll be less than this past year. He’s scheduled to count $10.5 million against the cap in 2016. He counted $12 million against the cap in 2015.

The Carolina Panthers drafted Peppers at No. 2 overall in 2002. He spent eight seasons with the team as a defensive end, playing in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 to 2013 before joining Green Bay in 2014 and making the switch to linebacker.

What is Julius Peppers' ceiling with the Green Bay Packers in 2015? What is his floor?

A rare splashy free-agent signing for Packers general manager Ted Thompson in 2014, Peppers reinvigorated the Packers' pass rush last season. His play was so strong that it allowed defensive coordinator Dom Capers to move edge-rusher Clay Matthews inside on running downs, with Peppers and Mike Neal holding down the edge.

After a brief review of Peppers' 2014 season, we'll look forward to his 2015 campaign and measure the impact he could have on the Packers defense this season.

2014 Season in Review

Even Thompson couldn't have imagined how impressive a year Peppers would put together in Green Bay in 2014.

Check out this analysis from CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco after Peppers signed a three-year deal with the Packers in March 2014: "After a deep dive into Peppers' 2013 tapes, I came away thinking he is far from done, but if anybody in Green Bay thinks the Packers are getting the guy who put up big numbers in his 20s, they are woefully wrong."

As it turns out, Prisco was a little off.

In his 13th season, Peppers set new career benchmarks in assists on tackles (15), passes defensed (11), touchdowns (two) and tied a career high for interceptions (two). In the postseason, Peppers added another six combined tackles, six assists, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

In 2014, Peppers was both a star in his own right and a true team player, helping his teammates reach higher levels of success. His 15 assisted tackles demonstrate that.

The way Capers used Peppers last season—as a 3-4 elephant rusher—likely reinvigorated Peppers' play, giving him something he was clearly missing in Chicago.

The hybrid role gave him a chance to utilize his pass-rushing skills and innate athleticism without requiring him to line up with his hand in the dirt as he did as a defensive end in Chicago. He is able to drop into coverage. He is able to make plays on the ball.

"It's a little different than what I've been used to in the past," Peppers said of his new role during 2014 training camp in Green Bay, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy. "I actually think it fits my skill set better than just being down every play. I'm having fun doing it. I'm just enjoying it."

In Week 5 of the 2014 season against the Minnesota Vikings, Peppers intercepted quarterback Christian Ponder and scored after a 49-yard run back to the end zone. It made him the NFL's first player with 100-plus sacks and 10 interceptions, per Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin.

His ability to drop into coverage as a 3-4 outside linebacker made that possible. In his four seasons with the Bears, he only totaled three interceptions.

Peppers excelling on the outside allowed the Packers to move Matthews inside in the middle of the season, which improved Green Bay's run defense dramatically.

And if Peppers had not made a play and forced running back DeMarco Murray (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) to fumble in the third quarter of the Divisional Round against the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers may never have advanced to the NFC Championship Game. 

Capers also unveiled the high-octane NASCAR package in 2014, which allows Peppers, Matthews, Neal and Nick Perry to be on the field to rush the passer all at once.

2014 has set some high expectations for Peppers' 2015 campaign. Can he deliver?

2015 Preview 

Some weren't even sure Peppers would see a second season in Green Bay. Along with a hefty $7.5 million signing bonus prorated over his three-year deal, Peppers' base salary in 2015 will be $8.5 million, giving him a cap hit for the season of $12 million, per Spotrac.

However, Peppers did not get released or restructure his contract this offseason. The Packers are rewarding him for his exceptional performance—at 34 years old, no less—last season and investing in future returns.

Through offseason practices, it appears that Matthews will continue to spend time inside in 2015. According to Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News, he and Sam Barrington have been the No. 1 inside linebackers in drills.

That means Peppers and Neal should open the season as the starting outside linebackers in the base defense.

Could Peppers be even better this season than he was last year?

"He’s had a chance to settle in at his new position; maybe he’s got another gear left in him," wrote Vic Ketchman of Packers.com in March.

Barring injury—which has been an infrequent factor in Peppers' career—expect Peppers to get even more opportunities to rush the passer with Matthews projected to start the season inside, which could mean even more sacks.

As for being a locker room leader, Peppers established that role in 2014 when he was elected a team captain over Matthews. Perhaps this is the year when he endears himself enough to go to the Pro Bowl as a Packer.

As for Peppers' floor, given that he'll get more snaps outside because Matthews will start the year inside, it's hard to imagine Peppers putting up poorer numbers than in 2014.

Expected 2015 Impact Meter: High