Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers isn't sure whether he'll retire this offseason or return for his 17th NFL campaign.
"It was a great decision to come back home and play this year," Peppers said Sunday upon being eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Saints, via Max Henson of Panthers.com, before offering a word on his future. "I'll see where my heart takes me."
Peppers posted 11 sacks in his first year back in Carolina, sharing the team high in that category with Mario Addison. He signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last offseason, bringing him back to the organization that drafted him second overall in 2002.
The 37-year-old owns the Panthers' all-time sack record and has 154.5 over his career with Carolina, the Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.
He tallied two tackles in the Panthers' season-ending 31-26 loss to the Saints.
