"When free agency opened March 5, defensive end Julius Peppers was the most coveted player.

A player in his prime, with his credentials, rarely becomes available.

In 2008, the Minnesota Vikings traded one first- and two third-round picks to the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire defensive end Jared Allen, then rewarded him with a record contract.

The Vikings jumped from eighth in sacks to fourth in Allen's first season. But the better indicator of his impact might be what happened to the Chiefs. They went from being tied for ninth in the NFL in sacks with Allen (37 in 2007) to last without him (10 in 2008).

Since the Bears signed him to a contract that included $42 million in guarantees, Peppers has notched two sacks and forced two fumbles to give some teeth to a defensive line desperate for help.

The Bears and Carolina Panthers have four sacks apiece, but the latter team sorely misses Peppers' presence. Last season, the Panthers had 31 sacks. This season, they are on pace for just more than half that figure."