Peppers Stalemate Continues

We didn’t wholeheartedly expect Julius Peppers to show up at the Carolina Panthers’ minicamp this weekend, but our speculations have been confirmed, as Peppers was a no-show today at day one of the team’s three-day minicamp. Peppers has made it perfectly clear he wants nothing to do with Carolina, but if things pan out to be what they appear, the Pro Bowl defensive end will have no other option than to return to the Panthers for another season.

For the record, Julius Peppers still hasn’t signed his franchise tender, leaving all discussions of trade up to his manager, Carl Carey. It’s clear that he’s not ready to sign the contract yet until he’s sure he won’t be traded to another team, but now the Panthers aren’t so intent on trading him, either, as the team will get draft picks for the 2010 draft - and that won’t help fill the holes that Peppers will leave in 2009 should he leave. In the meantime, GM Marty Hurney has still expressed his faith that Peppers will return to the Panthers for this season.

In other news, Julius Peppers isn’t the only big gun to sit Carolina’s minicamp out; both defensive tackle Damione Lewis and linebacker Jon Beason will not be in attendance this weekend, as the two are coming off offseason surgeries.

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