Julius Peppers: Headed to Another Pro Bowl
Julius Peppers was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl to fill space vacated by two Carolina Panthers.
Former North Carolina Tar Heel two sport athlete Julius Peppers made it into the Pro Bowl this year. This was his second season with the Green Bay Packers, his second year as a three-four outside linebacker, and his first appearance in the Pro Bowl since being a member of the Chicago Bears in 2012.
Peppers got this Pro Bowl appearance by getting through the back door. Initially his former team, the Carolina Panthers, was sitting on ten spots on the Pro Bowl rosters. Two of those spots were at linebacker where Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis were voted in. Then the Panthers made the Super Bowl which took their players out of the game itself. That opened up spots at linebacker and Peppers became one of the alternate selections.
When the teams were drafted by Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin, Peppers ended up on Team Rice next to his teammate Clay Matthews.
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Peppers had a big year for the Packers. He got over the ten sack barrier again with ten and half sacks. He is doing this as a 3-4 linebacker but also a rush end in certain passing situations. It was Dom Capers and the 3-4 scheme that attracted Peppers to Green Bay in the first place, or else he might have ended up back with the Panthers. It would have been like getting Jared Allen a year earlier.
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Of course Peppers offers all kinds of fond memories for area fans. He won the major college defensive awards while at North Carolina. He was the Panthers pick in the 2002 draft and he became a key part of the defensive line that took the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003. Peppers made the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2012 with the exception of 2007.
Peppers left the Panthers for the Chicago Bears and big money, but I think he has found his voice in his latest stint with the Packers. There he is demonstrating leadership collected from experience.
The Pro Bowl will be played this Sunday. Russell Wilson of N.C. State will be there (1st overall pick) and so will former Panther tight end Gary Barnidge.