[ad_1]
Jabrill Peppers said he was happy with the way his NFL career has unfolded after a slow start with the Browns.
But with his former team coming to town on Sunday, the safety of the Giants can’t escape a stroll down memory lane to the successful trade in 2019 that brought him to New York in exchange for Odell Beckham Jr.
“I was actually excited about the business, thinking, ‘We just got Odell!’ Recalled Peppers, who said on a call to Zoom on Friday that he first learned his trade on Twitter. “And I keep looking and then I’m like, ‘Oh s – t. I’m not even here anymore!
“So what [former Browns general manager John] Dorsey called me 15 minutes later and I had already seen the news. I actually spoke to [Giants GM Dave] Gettleman before I speak to Dorsey. That’s what it is, that’s the nature of this league. I can’t take it personal. But I’m happy, I’m happy with the result, it works for me.
Cleveland also shipped guard Kevin Zeitler and their first and third round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft to the Giants, which included defensive end Olivier Vernon in the deal in addition to Beckham.
Peppers, who the Browns drafted 25th overall in 2017, was considered the most intriguing part of the package, given he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in Michigan.
The 25-year-old is now blossoming in his second season with the Giants. Hailing from New Jersey, Peppers has said how much more comfortable he is being closer to home – and it shows on the court.
“Absolutely,” Peppers said when asked if he feels like a different player now. “I’m playing on my strength here. I thank the Giants for believing in me and seeing my potential, so I’m just doing my due diligence to make them look good.
In April, the Giants chose the fifth-year option of the rookie contract Peppers signed with the Browns. He is guaranteed $ 6.8 million in 2021 before he can become a free agent.
In his two seasons at Cleveland, Peppers combined 97 solo tackles, six loss tackles and four quarterback hits. Since then, he has become one of the driving forces behind the Giants’ success on the defensive end of the ball.
With at least three games to go in 2020, Peppers already has 49 solo tackles, eight loss tackles and three quarterback hits, although he missed Week 4 with an ankle injury.
Peppers said he expected a tough challenge from the Browns at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, but he had no plans to treat the game any differently from others. The Giants are probably hoping he doesn’t do anything different either.
“It’s a big game, it’s not a big game because it’s my old team, it’s a big game because of what’s at stake,” said Peppers. “It’s the next game. I’m not going to do anything abnormal or anything that I haven’t done during the season. I’m just going to come in, prepare like I’ve been preparing all year and try to do my job to the best of my ability.
[ad_2]
Source link