Julius Peppers on 2009: 'I Want to Be in the Best Situation Possible for Me'

Julius Peppers is one of the most well-known and popular players on the Carolina Panthers. There are many reasons for this, his 2007 season aside.

First of all, he's a former North Carolina Tar Heel star. Secondly, he's repped the Panthers in the Pro Bowl four times. And finally, because -- and this is true even if you refuse to pull for Tar Heels -- he just feels like a significant part of the Carolina Panthers franchise.

However, it's pretty odd that the Panthers made no effort to re-sign Julius at any point this year, considering his improved play (it's no shock at all that they wanted to make sure he wasn't totally fading before giving him a huge contract). And that makes Peppers' statement to the media after the game about his future in Carolina:

Q: Do you want to be [in Carolina], Julius?
A: Do I want to be here? I want to be in the best situation possible for me.

Peppers also mentioned that he had no interest in discussing the upcoming offseason.
But as someone who not only saw Peppers face when he stated the above answer, but also heard the stone-cold, awkward silence after his answer, I tend to think there's a pretty good chance that this might have been Julius Peppers' final game as a Carolina Panther.

I'm aware that sounds crazy, and maybe the "best situation" means "in Carolina," but the fact of the matter is that it's a significant investment (and risk) for any team to lob a long-term deal Peppers' way given his 2007 season, and the reality is that football's a business. Both the Panthers and Peppers know that.