By Mike Cranston
Associated Press
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ó After his worst season as a pro, Julius Peppers enters the final year of his contract with the Carolina Panthers feeling stronger, fitter and more comfortable after his move to right defensive end.
But as negotiations continue on a new contract, Peppers is making no promises heíll be a Panther long-term.
Sporting a longer, thicker beard, Peppers spoke after practice Thursday in his first interview in more than seven months. After failing to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in four years following a miserable 21/2-sack season in 2007, Peppers said he spent the offseason reflecting and working.
iItís not a secret that it was disappointing, not only stats-wise, but even to my personal standards,î Peppers said. iI did some evaluating, and I think I made the necessary adjustments as far as conditioning and getting myself ready to come back this year and make improvements.î
While Peppers said heís been ipleasedî with contract negotiations between the team and his agent, Carl Carey, no agreement has been reached.
Peppers will count more than $12 million against the salary cap this season, and the second overall pick in the 2002 draft refused to say if he wants to end his career with Carolina.
iWhat I learned over these last six years that Iíve been here is that, year to year, itís unpredictable what happens with players and contracts and those type of things,î Peppers said. iIím worried about playing football right now. Iím not even really looking forward to next season or whatís going to happen after that.î
The Panthers hope Peppers will thrive thanks to the position change. Following the retirement of Mike Rucker, Peppers moved from left defensive end to the right side.
The left-handed Peppers, a freakish athlete, believes thatís his more natural position.
iIím comfortable on the right side,î Peppers said. iI played it in college. I played it in high school, the times I did play defense in high school. The left-handed stance is my natural stance. The left hand is my strong hand. There are a lot more moves and power available on that side.î
Peppers has drawn raves for his play early in training camp.
Heís shown his trademark quickness, consistently beating offensive tackles in one-on-one drills. He batted down Jake Delhommeís screen pass at the line of scrimmage during Thursdayís workout.
iHeís better than Iíve ever seen him,î tackle Jordan Gross said. iBarring anything unknown, thereís no reason he wonít go out and set records, I think.î
Peppers set nothing but dubious marks last year.
After missing a part of training camp with an undisclosed illness, Peppers appeared sluggish most of last season. He went without a sack in 12 of 14 games before he sat out the last two weeks with a sore knee.
Peppers finished with the fewest sacks and quarterback hurries (19) of his career and second-fewest tackles (55).
iI was only sick for two weeks,î Peppers said. iI will say during that time I lost weight, a little bit of strength and probably some explosiveness and things like that. But during the season I wasnít sick at all.î
Peppersí poor 2007 fueled his offseason workouts in Arizona.
iI feel a little stronger,î Peppers said. iI feel more powerful, faster, a little bigger. Iíve got a little more weight. Iím pleased with what I did this offseason.î
Peppers hopes that leads to a season like 2006, when he had a career-high 13 sacks, or 2004, when he had 85 tackles and 11 sacks.
What happens after 2008 is uncertain. Peppers declined to say if contract negotiations would continue into the regular season ó and where he thinks heíll be next year.
iI have a contract to play football right now,î Peppers said. iAfter this season, itís a different story.î