GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Julius Peppers believes he can play another year; his 8.5 sacks this season tell him that.
But as his 15th NFL season came to a close Sunday night in Atlanta, the Green Bay Packers outside linebacker wasn’t sure whether there would be a 16th.
When asked whether he wants to play another season, Peppers said: “I don’t know.”
Peppers, who turned 37 last week, doesn’t have a contract for next year, as he often reminded people this past season when they inquired about his future. He has come to the end of the three-year, $26 million contract he signed with the Packers in March 2014.
The Packers probably got more out of Peppers than they even expected. Of his 143.5 career regular-season sacks, which place him fifth on the all-time list, 25 of them came with the Packers. What many thought would be just a one-year run in Green Bay based on the way his contract was structured turned into a long-term partnership.
A second contract in Green Bay would seem unlikely, but it’s not out of the question. The Packers have several key free agents they must consider re-signing -- fellow pass-rushers Nick Perry and Datone Jones among them.
Peppers reached the NFC title game in two of his three years with the Packers but if this is the end, he will leave without a Super Bowl ring.
Like the rest of the Packers’ defense, Peppers went quietly against the Falcons in the 44-21 loss at the Georgia Dome. He didn’t sack Matt Ryan. Then again, no one did. The Packers couldn’t force a turnover; Marwin Evans and LaDarius Gunter both dropped interceptions on the same drive, and linebacker Jake Ryan had a chance to recover a fumble but didn’t secure the ball.
“This is my 15th time going through this,” Peppers said. “It’s one of those things that you know may come -- is probably going to come for everybody but one team. You deal with it. It’s disappointing, but you deal with it and you keep rolling.”
But will Peppers keep rolling?
“I’m not really worried about that right now,” Peppers said.
When will he worry about it?
“I’ll let you know when I find out,” he said.