FOXBOROUGH - Jabril Peppers returned to practice Tuesday as the Patriots prepared for this weekend's game against the Indianapolis Colts. The veteran safety was removed from the NFL's commissioner's exempt list yesterday and was given clearance to not only practice but, at the discretion of the team, play this Sunday.
"Extremely thankful," said Peppers during his brief media appearance in Foxborough today. "This is Thanksgiving. There's a lot to be thankful for right now. I'm just happy to be around the guys. Happy to be back in the building. Happy to get back to doing what I love to do."
Peppers spent eight weeks out of action following his arrest in October, seven as mandated by the league. He still faces a trial date on January 22 dealing with charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of cocaine.
"I understand you guys have questions about what transpired earlier in the season. Under the advice of my attorneys, I'm not at liberty to discuss any details," he said. "I look forward to doing so as part as the legal proceedings. Hope you guys understand and respect that."
Peppers said his legal team has been in communication with the league and has cooperated. When asked why he was given clearance, he again cited a version of his initial statement.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss any details. I'm thankful that the league let me get back to doing what I love to do. I'm going to let the legal proceedings play out."
Last month, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the "Breakfast Club" radio program, “If what was reported is true, he’s gone. There have been some suggestions that this was a set-up, and a lot of what was reported isn’t accurate.”
Peppers' defense team has insisted that the crimes allegedly committed against his on-again, off-again girlfriend "didn't happen" and that the plaintiff demanded $10.5 million from Peppers to settle. Her lawyers have stated that the player's side reached out about a possible settlement, but that number was never discussed or suggested.
Pats head coach Jerod Mayo faced many questions about Peppers' return Tuesday morning..
"The process is going to take time," he said. "The legal process outside the building and what we think happened inside the building, but at the same time, the NFL has taken him off of that commissioner's exempt list, and that's what we have to roll with."
Essentially, the league said the ball is now in your court, and the Pats - after multiple high-level discussions with Kraft, Mayo, and GM Eliot Wolf (and I'm sure legal counsel as well) appear willing to let the player return to play unless given a reason otherwise.
“To me, it’s out of respect to the legal process to let that stuff play out,” Mayo said. “For us inside these four walls, as long as he’s doing the right thing, I expect him to be able to play when he’s ready to go."
Peppers was paid during his absence (per league rules). He inked a $24 million extension this summer and was voted team captain.
MUSINGS
An abbreviated version of Mike's Musings because of Thanksgiving and the Pats' altered schedule (Thursday is a day off, and I plan to eat my face off and enjoy my family. I hope you do the same).
Mayo confirmed personnel changes were coming during his media briefing Monday morning. So where might they come?
The obvious answer(s) lie along the offensive line. Demontrey Jacobs will draw all the attention after getting benched during the second half of Sunday's loss in Miami. The right tackle couldn't handle Dolphins rookie Chop Robinson, even when he got help. Jacobs surrendered a half-dozen pressures (4)/sacks (2) in his 50 snaps. That performance comes a week after struggling against the Rams (five combined sacks/pressures). Before that, Jacobs had a solid three-game stretch, but it would be hard to imagine Mayo and line coach Scott Peters trotting him out there again this weekend. At the very least, a reset is necessary for a developmental prospect thrown into the fire. I haven't given up the ghost on Jacobs yet, but sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em.
The ideal replacement would be rookie Caedan Wallace, but he's still on injured reserve and has yet to practice. I'm not sure I'd call it fair or wise to put him in against Indianapolis, even if he does get cleared this week. Of course, they've surprised me before, so...
Second-year pro Sidy Sow replaced Jacobs on Sunday. He got beat quickly on a couple of occasions, and if we're being honest (and why wouldn't we be?), he hasn't looked like the same player since getting hurt in late August. His pad level has been poor; I'm unsure if he trusts his ankle. But he was a 4th round pick who had moments at right guard as a rookie. My feeling is that is where Sow fits best, but at this point, they're running out of options. 6'9" Caleb Jones is on the practice squad. I asked Mayo about Sow Tuesday.
"For me, with Sidy, and he'll sit here and tell you the same thing, it's just about being more consistent, he said. "When you put guys out there on the field, regardless of position, you need to be consistent, and he understands that."
Left guard Michael Jordan has been below average since the first meeting against the Dolphins. Let that settle in for a moment. The team has played seven games since then, and yet, because of Sow's lack of progress and Cole Strange's injury, the Pats couldn't find a better option. Strange's clock is ticking; he started practicing Wednesday (21 days from first practice to be put on the active roster or finish the year on injured reserve). Of course, the Pats have had him focus more on center during his rehab - it has to be more for long-term planning than for the here and now - but if they deem the former first-rounder ready, Strange should be playing left guard against the Colts. If he's not, rookie Layden Robinson is the other answer. That said, he's not been called upon to play anything but right guard (at least in games), and considering Jordan's play, they seem hell-bent on keeping the rookie there. I've asked why. The best answer is that's where Robinson played in college. Okay. Fair. But explain to me cross-training Wallace, then? Also a rookie and a one-position guy in college.
(**update: Jordan has been released Tuesday evening. He started all 11 games at left guard and played over 87% of the offensive snaps**)
Left tackle Vederian Lowe would be the other option for taking a seat. He had four penalties and, at first blush, appeared responsible for a pair of sacks, including the strip sack of Drake Maye. But Jordan once again had assignment issues, failing to pass off a twist on the first sack and, it appeared, blocking Rhamondre Stevenson's responsibility on the next (thus giving no help to Lowe). However, as far as I can tell, there is no other option there, and Mayo seemed to confirm that on WEEI's" 'The Greg Hill Show' Monday.
“These are the things that we’re not going to do,” he said. “It depends on the position group that you even look at and whether we have depth at that spot or not, or we don’t have depth at that spot. That definitely goes into it. But it’s unacceptable by all the players.”
Kyle Dugger also had a miserable afternoon. While some of the errors were of the mental and/or communication variety — my goodness, was he lost in coverage — the veteran safety is still hampered by the ankle injury (he even came out of the game at one point because of it). Because I've never doubted his competitiveness, I'm giving the veteran safety the benefit of the doubt. If he sits this weekend, it should be for physical reasons. In fact, Dr. Giardi is advising that and doing it for free. Mayo, however, wasn't cutting his high-priced safety much slack.
"To me, any time we put a player out there, he's healthy enough to play," he said. "If you're healthy enough to play, then the expectation is that you're going to perform at a high level."
Other candidates: Stevenson, who, as my dad would say, was 'out to lunch,' with the exception of that one run, and isn't breaking tackles anymore. Kayshon Boutte should also be on notice. He committed a pair of penalties and was rendered ineffective in the passing game. Antonio Gibson would be the obvious choice to get more snaps at running back, but behind Boutte is Javon Baker. I'm not feeling that. In general, the inability for this team's wideouts to separate is as pronounced as it has ever been. DeMario Douglas is the rare player in the group that does have the quickness to open up room, however it is becoming more and more evident that he doesn't have a great feel for the game, and for spacing.