Chansky’s Notebook: A Happy Homecoming?

Is Julius Peppers returning to the Panthers about just going home again?

At 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds, Peppers is still one of the most imposing football players you will ever see – walking down the street, in practice and hopefully in games. But at age 37, and wealthier than he could have ever imagined as a kid back in Bailey, North Carolina, has Peppers come home to end his career comfortably or to help the Panthers get back to the Super Bowl?

That is the mystery for this immensely talented athlete, who has made miraculous plays like batting down passes, catching them and running to the end zone for a spectacular pick 6. Remember his first, against Clemson when he was a Tar Heel?  But he has also always been good enough to take a play off here and there, all the way back to college.

So with Peppers passing up joining his teammates for voluntary OTAs, that question must be asked. No, Peppers probably doesn’t need the work after he goes through his personal training at the Panthers’ complex, but it’s more about optics. Tom Brady, who turns 40 in August, doesn’t need to be there, either, but Brady WANTS to be there to preserve his ongoing impression and reputation as a Patriot and his relationship with new teammates.

Panther fans will cheer for Peppers, but his leash will be short after bolting the team for the Chicago Bears in his prime in 2009. He then went to the Packers for three seasons before getting a free-agent deal with Carolina that most other players would not have gotten. He returns to Charlotte as the team’s career leader in sacks, with his 81 leading sentimental favorite Charles Johnson’s 63 and a half. But as a Panther, Johnson has more sacks.

Pep has a great opportunity as veteran with a team that has plenty of young talent on the edges. He doesn’t have to play as many snaps as he has in the past, which would keep him fresh to go in and make the spectacular play that his athleticism allows. But it’s all up to him, how he wants to play out his final years and then be remembered as a Panther; if he makes the Hall of Fame, choose to go in wearing a teal cap because he’s gone full circle and come home.

(Photo by Carolina Panthers)

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