It’s been suggested in the Perry thread that Peppers should have been cut so Hayward could have been signed.

First, a Peppers cut would have saved only $8M; Hayward signed for almost double: $15.3m [3yr/6.8M Guaranteed]. Only Trump’s accountant calls that a wash.

Second, what on earth makes anyone think that Peppers is done? If he ends the season playing like he has, he will get a contract next year. His worst play, the 14 yard Rainey run where he failed to keep contain. Okay, but what makes one look at that play and say he’s done? WATCH IT. Peppers lined up right and was explosive off the line, taking an angle to get Rainey running GB left. The entire OL went left. I’m guessing Peppers saw something on the scouting tape and was going to make a play. Or he may have thought Hyde from slot had contain [Capers did this all night-though on this play Hyde didn’t have contain because Dix did not move up to cover slot WR]. So he missed an assignment, doesn’t mean he’s done, did ya'll see him recover and chase Rainey?

Watch him in coverage on a zone blitz at 6:10 3Q 3rd and 12 from GB 13, watch him react to Cruz crossing in the middle; then react to Eli’s attempt to run.

All year Peppers has been pushing OTs back on his bull rushes.

Giants love those 3-4 yard crossing routes like Cruz ran on 3rd down above. To help out the young CBs, Capers had his interior pass rushers be vigilant to try to get in throwing lanes. Did ya see Peppers push the RG back 3 yards and still have the leverage and presence to knock down a sure completion to OBJ? The guy is like an albatross in the middle!

A few weeks ago, Peppers also got Perry one of his sacks pulling a “justin Smith.” From inside he took his guard and crashed into the tackle, Perry looped in for easy sack. This is how SF’s Aldon Smith got half of his sacks.

Third, Hayward was good, but injury prone. With Shields and Randall out, there is no guarantee Hayward would have been playing anyway. Cant sign a single injury prone guy for injury protection at a position. And looking at the way Rollins, Gunter and Hyde shut-down Giant receivers; Hayward was a luxury, not a need signing.

Fourth, we get 2 comp picks [one in 2017 for Hayward and one in 2018 for Peppers]. Keeping Peppers underscores that Sitton’s cut could not have been $$$ related. Ted didn’t sign Ahman Green and got Sitton as comp; Sitton and Lang allowed College not to be signed and Ted got comped half of a Mike Daniels [Not signing Kampman gave us another 4th-the second forth was used on Maine S McMillen]. The Peppers and Hayward comp picks will be parleyed into at least one good player.

Hindsight ignored. Julius Peppers over Casey Hayward. Not even a debate on my end. We needed more Linebackers and leadership than a CB that wouldn't have seen much of the field if not for the plethora of injuries.

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Hayward was overrated after his lucky rookie season. Peppers was the better choice without a doubt.

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I'm not going to argue your other points because for the most part you are right and I'm not really arguing this one either but we would have had Hayward under contract for two more years. I don't know if that would end up being good or bad just that you can't compare 8 million for one year to 15 million over three. Signing Hayward would not have cost 8 million this year and we would have had a promising young D-back for two more years. Even if he was cut after this year he would he would have cost 6.8 million so really you are comparing 8 million to 6.8. Its kinda like saying "you can have Hayward for free this year or pay 1.2 million for Peppers. I'd take Peppers.


I'm not saying its what we should have done just putting a different spin on your first argument. I have not seen much of any of the games this year so I don't really know what Peppers is or isn't doing but I have always had a hunch that he was doing more than just what shows up in the box score.

Took promise of Gunter over payment to Hayward. I'm down with it.

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I would much rather Hayward than Peppers, in hindsight. Hayward is having a pretty good year. He's young, reasonably affordable for a good slot CB, and will be contributing to his team for a long time after Julius Peppers is gone. Peppers offers little more or less than Nick Perry, Clay Mathews, and possibly Datone Jones. He's a good #3/4 player. That's not to say he has nothing to offer, it's just he's overpaid for his production. He'll get a few sacks but then disappear for long stretches and is one of the worst run defenders on the team.

I'm not saying Hayward for Peppers is a wash financially. The point is that any savings that cutting Peppers may have brought could have been used elsewhere for a player that would contribute to the Packers beyond this season. I mean let's face it, the Packers are highly unlikely to win the Super Bowl this year unless things change fast.

One thing that has to be said about Peppers is the damn guy is available. What more could you really ask for in that regard? He just rarely misses time due to injury. Very few players can say that. I just wish the Packers would have signed him before he went to the Bears.

Peppers is a walking advertisement for HGH.

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Leadership.

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He made his token one splash play every once and a while, and was basically completely irrelevant for the rest of the game. Although to be fair, his one play was nice, and all the other Packers defenders were lousy, too. Either way, the Packers are paying a lot of money for every one of Peppers limited splash plays. Also, his lecture didn't seem to make any difference, so who cares?

You are saying that now with the benefit of knowing our wonder twins from last year may not be all that they were cracked up to be not to mention they have been injured. Would you have said the same thing in March (or whenever Hayward was signed away?) I'm just curious because sometimes current situations have a tendency to sway our opinions when the situation may have been completely different before.