Julius Peppers is playing as the pass rushing bookend to Clay Matthews on the Green Bay Packers this year, one season after trying to beat the Packers with the Chicago Bears. On Thursday, Peppers told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that one play is likely the reason for his change in venue.
Julius Peppers says John Kuhn block got him cut
Peppers had a chance to win the division last year for Chicago, but he didn’t. Now, Peppers can win the division for Green Bay.
Jonathan Daniel
In Week 17 of last year, as Chicago and Green Bay battled for the NFC North title, Peppers narrowly missed a sack of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on fourth-and-8 before Rodgers uncorked a 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb, eliminating the Bears. Peppers remembers fullback John Kuhn getting just enough of him to halt his pass rush.
“I was pretty close. I was pretty close,” Peppers said. “We joked about it. He actually cost me my job. He got me released. I guess it turned out pretty good.”
When asked by Dunne if Peppers believes a sack would have saved his career in Chicago, the future Hall-of-Fame defender has no doubt.
“For sure. For sure,” Peppers repeated. “If I would’ve made the play, I probably wouldn’t be here now. It’s kind of like one of those things, at the time it was the worst thing that could’ve happened. But now it’s like the best thing that could’ve happened.”
Through three games this season, Peppers has one sack and a forced fumble for the Packers. In four years with the Bears, Peppers amassed 37.5 sacks, including seven in 2013.
The two teams will play at Soldier Field this Sunday before meeting in Week 10 at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football.
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