| 25 February 2010
In 2009 there was air of excitement surrounding the free agency market, the big man on the market was literally that one of the largest men in the NFL. Albert Haynesworth had just come off one of his most dominating seasons of his career. Career highs in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles, Haynesworth was dominating. At 6-foot-5 350-pounds Haynesworth was the main cog in the Tennessee Titans' defense during the 2008 season. He was the engine that drove their defense and in turn drove the team to an NFL best 13-3 record. Haynesworth was purely dominating, a word unblockable, teams did everything they could to try and slow him down but to no avail. He was all the rage of the 2009 free agent signing period, who would go after this dominating force? How much money would he command on the open market and would the Titans make any real effort to retain him before he hit the open market?
The answer from there was answered, no the Titans didn't make much of an effort to meet Haynesworth's demands and so off he went to the highest bidder. Chicago Bears fans themselves were wondering if the Bears would get into the bidding war to help out a stagnant defensive line from the 2008 season, the answer thankfully was no.
Even with all the hype surrounding Haynesworth's availability there were whispers about him as a player and how he would respond once he cashed in on a major free agency contract. One of the key points brought up time and again with him was only once in his career had he played a full 16 game seasons. His effort, his heart and his desire were constantly questioned, would he play through pain, would he give an all out effort and could you count on him for a full 16 game season.
Forty-million-dollars in guaranteed money later and the answer after the 2009 season would be an emphatic no, Haynesworth could not be counted on. Haynesworth played in only 12 games and finished with near career lows in tackles and sacks with 32 tackles and four sacks. He was supposed to be the guy that put the Redskins over the top, that put them in playoff contention that solidified their defense. Instead the Redskins fell apart and finished 4-12 and now hope that a new coach in Mike Shanahan can help turn around their fortunes. But this article isn't about Haynesworth, it's about Julius Peppers and the team that is going to have to have some major guts to fork out stupid money for one of the league's most dominating defensive players. The situation as a eerily mirrors the excitement surrounding Haynesworth.
Every expert or analyst or league insider all questioned Haynesworth and his heart, work ethic and just plain desire, and those same people are outwardly asking the same questions about Peppers.
Let me clear Peppers' athletic ability and his stats speak volumes and speak highly of the type of money he deserves as a free agent signee. Only twice in his career has he finished with less than double digit sacks and for the most part he's been very durable as a player playing in all 16 games in all but two of his eight seasons in the NFL.
But why should the Bears take such a monumental risk on a player that likely is going to command the same amount of money as Haynesworth, in the neighborhood for 40-million-dollars in guaranteed money? To put that in perspective that's a contract number that most QBs in the NFL do not earn but is the number that Peppers is essentially looking for.
But what if Peppers quits on the Bears much like he quit on the Panthers in 2007 when his 14 game sack total was a mere TWO sacks on the season? What if that's the effort he gives after getting his big time pay check?
Haven't Bears fans already grown weary of forking out big time money contracts to free agents only to see those players absolutely burn the Bears on the field with their lack of production? To say nothing of the Orland Pace, Frank Omiyale problems from 2009, take a look at our own Nathan Vasher, Tommmie Harris and his constant knee problems, Mushin Muhammad, Kordell Stewart...money the Bears played to help solidify this team and turn it into a playoff contender.
There's little doubt the Bears need a pass rushing defensive end in the form of Julius Peppers with Adewale Ogunleye set to hit the open market and the Bears not likely to bring him back and the recent death of Gaines Adams the idea at least makes sense. However forking over more money than you just paid for Jay Cutler in his brand new contract extension does not.
Paying a defensive end more money than you would your starting quarterback that you just mortgaged the future of the franchise on? Frankly I'd have to pass on that idea especially knowing that there are so many other holes to fill in 2010.
Now beyond the simple risk of not getting production for the money there is the obvious simple fact that this rumor regarding the Bears getting involved in the Peppers sweepstakes ignores the cheapskate owners known as the McCaskey family. Team President Ted Phillips just came out and said don't expect the Bears to be active players in the free agency market or to try and make a big splash.
All things considered while Peppers seems to make sense given the need of an elite pass rusher, the risks and whispers regarding him shutting down upon receiving his big money contract outweigh the justification for giving Peppers one of the highest contract salaries in the history of the NFL in terms of guaranteed money.
There is no reason to stake the future of the franchise on a guy that has all the potential to be the most dominant defensive pass rusher in the history of the game, but who chooses to loaf through his career doing just enough to earn big money.
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