Carolina Panthers NFL Trade Rumors: Julius Peppers Returns to Carolina
The prodigal son has returned. Seven years after he left the Carolina Panthers, Julius Peppers is returning to the place where he started his National Football League (NFL) career.
Peppers' agent Carl Carey made the announcement on Friday. Carey did not reveal the terms of the deal, but according to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Peppers will get a one-year contract worth $3.5 million and it may reach $4.25 million with incentives.
Earlier this week, newly re-signed defensive end Charles Johnson told the Charlotte Observer he would love to see Peppers return and play one more season with the Panthers. Well, he's going to get his wish.
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"It's just a personal opinion as a friend of his — I just want to see him retire as a Panther. I just think him coming back for a year and retiring as a Panther, what better career for him to have than to retire at his home?" Johnson said during the interview.
Johnson played with Peppers for first three seasons (2007–2009). Linebacker Thomas Davis was just as excited to play with the veteran defensive end and he even went all the way to Miami to welcome Peppers back to the team.
The Panthers selected Peppers with the second overall pick in the 2002 draft and he played for the team for eight seasons. He is the Panthers' all-time sacks leader (81 sacks) and he's also fifth on the NFL's all-time sack list with (143.5 sacks), just seven shy of Chris Doleman at fourth place.
At 37-years-old, Peppers still has a lot left in the tank and he has remained productive. Last season, he had 7.5 sacks and he was one of the best pass rushers for the Green Bay Packers.
Peppers is not the same player who left the Panthers all those years ago, but he still has a lot left in the tank and can now end his career in the place where it began.
