CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Julius Peppers flashed a sheepish smile when reminded that former Carolina Panthers coach John Fox was "murdered by the national media" for selecting him instead of a quarterback with the second overall pick of the 2002 draft.
The 38-year-old defensive end smiled again when recalling the quarterback the Panthers would have taken since David Carr went No. 1 to Houston.
"It turned out pretty good," said Peppers, still smiling.
The Panthers would have taken Oregon's Joey Harrington, who went No. 3 to the Detroit Lions, who play host to Carolina at 1 p.