Chicago Bears
Julius Peppers - #90 - DE
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 7"/ 287 lbs. |
| Birthday | 01/18/1980 |
| Birthplace | Wilson, NC |
| College | North Carolina |
| Years played | 12 |
| Drafted | 2002, 1st round, 2nd pick by Panthers |
2012 STATS
| Tack | FF | Int |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | 1 | 0 |
Bears defense gets wake-up call from Patriots
Chicago's defense, which was ranked third in the league heading into the game, was gashed for 33 points before halftime by New England.
Did Julius Peppers earn his paycheck in Week 14?
Julius Peppers may have earned his money, but it didn't make much of a difference in the loss to New England.
Lovie Smith hot-seat meter: Chilly
Sunday was an embarrassment for a team that considers itself to be among the league's elite, but, as Lovie Smith was quick to point out, the Bears are still in first place in the NFC North.
Bears MVP Meter: Week 14
After going back-to-back games without an interception, Bears QB Jay Cutler was picked off twice against the Patriots and is well behind Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher in the race to become the team's MVP.
Patriots players of the week
Tom Brady continues to rewrite Patriots record books and make his case as the clear-cut MVP in another stellar outing in the Patriots' win over the Bears.
Bears players of the week
Devin Hester's 61-yard kickoff return was one of the few bright spots for the Bears in Week 14.
Brady, Pats clinch another playoff berth
The quarterback threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns, and the New England Patriots locked up their eighth playoff berth in 10 years with a 36-7 pounding of Chicago on a snowy, blustery, bone-chilling Sunday.
Patriots-Bears inactives
The Patriots and Bears have announced their inactives for Sunday's game at the cold, snowy and windy Soldier Field.
Patriots-Bears prediction
The Bears' defense has carried the team for much of the season, and it will again in a win on Sunday, according to PFW's Dan Parr.
Patriots-Bears prediction
PFW associate editor Kevin Fishbain predicted 30 points for the Patriots earlier in the week, but with the weather conditions hitting Soldier Field Sunday morning, it could be a wild, low-scoring game in Chicago.
Patriots-Bears matchup of the day: Saturday
Here's a matchup to watch in the Week 14 game between the Patriots and Bears: Patriots OLB Tully Banta-Cain vs. Bears ORT J'Marcus Webb.
Flashback: Recent Week 14 Bears' performances
Take a quick stroll down memory lane with PFW for a recap of the Bears' Week 14 contests each of the last five seasons.
Bears CB Moore emerging after tough rookie season
He doesn't have ideal size and didn't make an impact for the Bears as a rookie, but D.J. Moore is emerging as a playmaker for Chicago's defense in his second season.
Patriots-Bears matchup of the day: Friday
Here's a matchup to watch in the Week 14 game between the Patriots and Bears: Patriots RBs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead vs. Bears run defense
Bears fantasy focus
Bears QB Jay Cutler has cut down on mistakes, throwing 10 touchdown passes and just three interceptions in the past five games, and he'll be facing New England's 31st-ranked pass defense in Week 14.
PLAYER NEWS
Peppers is going to the Pro Bowl. The Bears said Monday that Peppers had been added to the roster for Sunday's game in Hawaii, replacing Jason Pierre-Paul of the Super Bowl-bound New York Giants. It will be Peppers' seventh appearance in the all-star game.|||||||
Peppers had 27 tackles, 11 sacks, five tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries this season. The 10-year NFL veteran has reached double-digit sacks in seven seasons. Five other Bears were named to the Pro Bowl: linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, running back Matt Forte and defensive backs Corey Graham and Charles Tillman.
Peppers is starting for the Chicago Bears against the Minnesota Vikings after being listed as doubtful because of a sprained left knee.|||||||
Peppers was injured in Monday's loss at Detroit and did not practice all week.
The Chicago Bears hope to have Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers available this week against Minnesota after he mildly sprained his left knee. Peppers was injured in the first half of Monday's loss at Detroit and briefly left the game.|||||||
Coach Lovie Smith says the knee was "still sore" Wednesday, but he will "hopefully" be able to practice Friday and play this week.
The Chicago Bears have restructured Peppers' contract to create more salary-cap room for next season.|||||||
Peppers signed a six-year deal worth potentially $91.5 million a year ago, was due a $10.5 million roster bonus for next season. Instead, the team exercised its right to convert that money into a signing bonus and prorate it over the remaining years of his contract, which runs through the 2015 season. That saves roughly $8 million in cap space for next season, giving the Bears more room to bring in free agents and retain their own.
Peppers has some steep competition Sunday in his return to Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Jordan Gross is a 2008 Pro Bowl pick, anchoring an offensive line that last season allowed DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to become the first teammates to each rush for over 1,100 yards.|||||||
There will be few surprises when they meet on Sunday. Gross has seen all of Peppers' moves and Peppers knows Gross' strengths and weaknesses. "Me and Jordan, we helped each other grow as players a lot," Peppers said, "practicing against each other and having those training camp battles."
