NFL Green Bay Packers

Julius Peppers: The Green Bay Packers’ Perfect Pickup

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By @camwallace42

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Julius Peppers, one of the newest members of the Green Bay Packers, is one of the most talked about players of the week. In one move, he turned a simple interception into a new record.

Having already recorded 100 sacks, all Peppers needed was one more interception. The moment came when Christian Ponder, the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, threw the ball a little too late and was tackled by Luther Robinson. Peppers, reading the movement of the ball, cut in and stole it away, running 49 yards for his first touchdown as a Packer.

The moment that ball touched his hands and became his, Peppers achieved a record no one has ever gotten before. Having scored a touchdown, Peppers was now eligible for a time-honored tradition – The Lambeau Leap. As reported by Peppers, Nick Barnett took him by the shoulder and pointed to the wall and told Peppers to ‘go, go, go, go.’  Tired out from his run, Peppers gave it his best, jumping halfway into the stands to be enveloped by fans.  Having scored his last touchdown playing for the Carolina Panthers in 2009, the love and adoration must have felt good.

For a simple man like Peppers, the record and the respect of his peers and fans would be enough. The NFL, however, disagreed. Peppers, it seems, hasn’t been showered with enough honors. For the sixth time in Peppers’ career, he has been awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

As luck would have it, the Packers have John Kuhn to thank for Peppers’ availability. As Peppers tells it, if it were not for Kuhn, he would still be playing for the Bears. Last December’s Packers at Bears game, during the famous fourth-and-eight play, Aaron Rodgers took a huge risk that ultimately propelled the team into the playoffs. With less than a minute to go, Rodgers threw to Randall Cobb, narrowly avoiding being sacked by Peppers. Peppers came within a breath of Rodgers, but was stopped by Kuhn, who cut in front of him.

What was a failure for Peppers became a shining opportunity to the Packers.  With Peppers’ tenure finished with the Bears, and a resounding rejection for a renewal of his contract, the Packers picked up a new linebacker. However, Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers has a different idea for Peppers. Instead of limiting him to one position, Capers thinks it’s time for Peppers to shine, using skills once employed against the Packers.

Only time will tell if Peppers remains the highlight player for the Packers.

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