Jabrill Peppers almost forced star receiver to request a trade

The Patriots' 2023 season will be remembered for many things, most of which are not good, but their dominant defensive performance will be fondly looked upon despite their offensive troubles. One of the faces of that effort was safety Jabrill Peppers, whose hard hits and clutch timing led to some game-changing moments during the year.

He was consistently productive, and through his determination to make the defensive a fearful unit, he earned a leadership role in the locker room, which his teammates not only appreciated but also praised him for all season long.

By the end of the year, Peppers had recorded one of the best seasons of his career, which couldn't have come at a more perfect time. It was a year made up of several memorable moments, one of which came back into the spotlight this past week during the premiere of "Receiver" on Netflix.

The play in question is Peppers' brutal hit on Davante Adams in the Patriots Week 6 matchup with the Raiders last year. The tackle forced the receiver to fumble the football, going straight up into the air for Jahlani Tavai to catch.

Patriots fans certainly remember this play, even if it didn't help bring the team a win. But why was it mentioned in the documentary?

Jabrill Peppers' big hit on Davante Adams was a final straw for the receiver in the Raiders' offense

Adams is one of the receivers being showcased in the Netflix show. In one of the early episodes, he discusses how hard he's been hit this season, which just so happens to be during the Raiders' matchup against the Patriots.

It was just the tip of the iceberg for Adams, who had already been increasingly frustrated with Jimmy Garoppolo and the team's lack of winning in the first two months of the season. It ultimately led to Adams signing off on the decision to bench the quarterback, but not before Adams seriously contemplated his future in Las Vegas.

Plenty of rumors have swirled regarding the Raiders and Adams' feelings about moving forward together, with some reports suggesting both the team and receiver have seen a trade as a desirable option.

Peppers looks like he might have been the catalyst last year for Adams wanting out, on top of his dissatisfaction with head coach Josh McDaniels, until the decision was made to replace Garoppolo with Aidan O'Connell.

Now that Antonio Pierce has replaced McDaniels, O'Connell has been joined by Gardner Minshew in the quarterback room, and Adams now denies wanting a trade, things appear to be smoothed over in the AFC West. But it is funny to see Peppers' impact on a dramatic situation for a team he's not a part of.

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