Snubbed by the Carolina Panthers since the end of the season, the agent for Julius Peppers is convinced that his client will play elsewhere in 2010.
Carl Carey said last night the Panthers have "not made a single inquiry this offseason" regarding Peppers, an impending unrestricted free agent who is a five-time Pro Bowl defensive end.
"And we don't expect to hear from them," Carey told The Associated Press in a phone interview, setting the stage for Peppers to become one of the top defensive players in years to hit the market ahead of a potential season without a salary cap.
"Julius wants to thank the Carolina fans and know their support has meant a lot to him over the years," Carey said.
Panthers general manager Marty Hurney didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
Hurney and Coach John Fox went to great lengths to keep Peppers in 2009, going against his public wishes to be allowed to leave as a free agent. The Panthers used the restrictive franchise tag and paid him an NFL-high $18.2 million. That counts a $1.5 million bonus for making the Pro Bowl after he recorded 101/2 sacks.
Using the tag again next season would cost about $20.1 million, plus another $1.5 million for the Pro Bowl and $250,000 for each playoff win. Signing Peppers to a long-term contract could likely cost in upward of $15 million a year.
Carey said he talked with team officials on the day of the regular-season finale against New Orleans on Jan. 3 and then initiated contact with the team shortly thereafter.
"They informed me they would make contact the following week," Carey said. "They never did. To date, we have still not heard from them."
The 6-7, 283-pound Peppers, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft, has spent his entire eight-year career with Carolina. His 81 sacks are the third-most in the NFL during that span behind Miami's Jason Taylor and Dwight Freeney of Indianapolis.
Peppers, who grew up in Bailey and played in college at North Carolina, said last offseason that he wanted to leave his home state and play as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Carey said that Peppers is willing to play in any type of defense next season. "He has indicated to me that he is open to hearing from the remaining 31 teams in the league," Carey said.
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