I believe that if I committed to basketball, I could make an impact in the NBA. I now see football as my job and my greatest challenge.

Once I really maximize my potential-I don't know when that'll be, a year from now, three or four years from now-I think I can be one of the great ones.

It's not important for me to be a star, but it is important for me to be one of the better players. I won't feel comfortable with not living up to my potential. I don't want to be spoken of as the player who had potential who never reached it, so I am going to work extra hard to try to be the best I can be.

I believe that if I committed to basketball, I could make an impact in the NBA. I now see football as my job and my greatest challenge.

How can you say you want to be somewhere when you're not really sure if they want you there because they're not even talking to you?

Right now I feel like playing as long as I can, As long as my body will allow me to play I'm going to continue to play.

I want to be my own player. I want to be Julius Peppers. I don't want to be the next Lawrence Taylor. I don't want to have to live with his legacy.