If you ask me, I say no. Let me explain why I feel this way.

Peppers is one of those players that for six games a year is the best defensive player in the NFL, the remaining ten he loafs, takes plays off and doesn’t make a difference in the game.

Strike one, Peppers says he wants to play in a three four defense.

I do not see the Falcons switching their defensive scheme to appease any one single player. The team played very well towards the end of the season despite mounting injuries. They began to gel as a unit. They did not sacrifice the rest of the team to get John Abraham sacks.  Abe wouldn’t have wanted it that way. They did end the season as the #10 ranked rush defense in the NFL and tackle Jonathan Babineaux ended the season as the #1 run stopping tackle in the NFL.

Strike two, Peppers contract will command Albert Haynesworth type of money.

The uncapped year will allow teams with deep pockets to go into a bidding war for his services. I do not see Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff emptying the coffer for a player that doesn’t give 100% every play. A good example is current defensive end Jamaal Anderson. He loafed around and ended the season backing up Chauncey Davis and Kroy Biermann. That’s when he wasn’t spelling tackle Jonathan Babineaux as a back up.

Strike three, Peppers hasn’t been impressive against the new regime Falcons.

Lets be honest, GMs and coaches watch more game tape than any fans on the planet. You can bet they have an extensive collection of video on Peppers. In four games against the TD/Smith Falcons he’s amassed seven tackles and one sack. Not very impressive to say the least. In contrast, in those same four games back-up end Chauncey Davis has eight tackles and two sacks.

Sure, he ended the season with ten and a half sacks and two interceptions but for arguably the best defensive end in the 21st century that’s rather tame. Sacks are a great stat, but the real question is, “Do you impact the game?” The past couple of years Peppers just hasn’t been that same player as he was in days of past.

With up and coming players like Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury waiting in the background I see no way Falcons management can justify spending 70 million or more on another defensive end.

Peppers is like the Randy Moss of defensive linemen. When he’s trying, he’s the best in the game. The problem is, he seldom puts his best foot forward. I’ve watched Peppers since he was a rookie and as the years have gone by, I’ve become less impressed.

As Nancy Regan stated back in the early eighties with her anti-drug campaign, “Just say NO!”

There is no reason for the Falcons management to go off course and break the bank on a has-been player. Granted, his production is still better than average but his paycheck will not reflect that. I feel the NFL draft will yield atleast one more defensive end to go with all the young talent already on the roster. If the Falcons plan to break the bank on a player, my choice would be a stud defensive back. The secondary is more of a question mark than the defensive line at this point in the Mike Smith Falcons.

They go into the draft with no 2nd round pick at present (Tony Gonzalez trade) so that first selection over all is very important. Just because they lack that selection doesn’t mean over spend on free agents. But the most important thing to watch for is whether or not Carolina franchises Peppers once again. With no CBA to hamper them, the Panthers reserve the right to do it which indicates they will either pay twenty million to keep his rights or they will trade him for draft picks. The Falcons are in no position to trade picks.

I guess if the Saints win the Super Bowl, anything is possible. But Peppers in black and red is highly unlikely and I feel it would be a huge mistake. Anyone remember Peerless Price? I’ll bet his bank sure remembers the Falcons.