Beason: Comments out of bounds

Published Oct. 16, 2009 at 6:18 a.m.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason said Thursday he shouldn't have told a radio audience last week that he planned to talk to defensive end Julius Peppers about playing harder.

"After what happened, I realized I was wrong," Beason said during his weekly appearance on WFNZ (610 AM). "There are certain things you shouldn't say in public and certain things that should remain in-house. That's where I made my mistake."

Beason added that he decided not to talk to Peppers after receiving some negative reaction to his comments.

Earlier Thursday, as was the case Wednesday, Beason declined to meet with reporters during the Panthers' 45-minute open locker room period for the media. Normally, he makes himself available at least once a week.

Two of Beason's older teammates said Thursday that he erred by making the radio comments last week, learning a difficult lesson in the process.

Outside linebacker Na'il Diggs, a 10-year veteran, and defensive tackle Damione Lewis, who's in his ninth season, said they didn't question Beason's motives, but that he should have been more discreet in handling a "sensitive" situation.

"I don't see Jon as a person who's going to be trying to call people out," said Lewis. "I think what he said, he said from the heart. It just could have been said better."

Said Diggs of Beason: "He's a very emotional player. He takes this game, this sport very personally. I know for a fact that he showed a little emotion at the wrong time, in front of the wrong people. That's something you learn from."

Beason said on his Oct.8 appearance on WFNZ that he planned to meet with Peppers the next night at dinner about playing with more intensity, an idea prompted after watching Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen record 4 1/2 sacks in a Oct.5 Monday night game against Green Bay.

Peppers had one sack in the Panthers' 0-3 start.

Beason said on the Oct.8 show that he wouldn't criticize Peppers but rather would say "I need everything you've got."

Peppers and Beason both are defensive team captains.

Peppers had arguably his best game of the season in this past Sunday's 20-17 win over Washington. He had two sacks, six tackles and two quarterback pressures as Carolina won its first game.

Diggs said players like to keep their internal issues private.

"That's kind of anybody's rule," said Diggs. "In here, if I've got a problem with somebody else and the way they're playing - if I had that problem - I would say it to them.

"I'm not saying Jon has a problem with Julius. But if there's any situation going on between any two guys or few guys in here, we always keep it in here."

Diggs said he was confident Beason wasn't trying to "stir up a controversy" but that the comments "shouldn't have been talked about at all."

"Julius is not a hermit crab," said Diggs. "He reads the papers. I'm sure there are all kind of pressures on the outside with the media talking about it. He's been getting it all offseason, so I'm sure it's nothing new to him. He knows exactly what's out there. It doesn't need to be brought to light. It doesn't need to be underlined or highlighted.

"I think Jon, in all fairness, really didn't try to offend anybody or call anybody out in any way."

Peppers wasn't available for comment, but Diggs and Lewis said they believe Peppers understood Beason's perspective.

"Pep knows Jon," said Lewis. "He knows he's not going to say anything to intentionally try to bad-mouth him or bash him...He knows he didn't mean to go out and attack his character or attack what type of player he is."

Lewis said Beason not only was addressing Peppers, but also the rest of the players..

"Sometimes he says things that come across a little strong," said Lewis. "He doesn't mean it to be so strong, but sometimes it does.

"It's not a big deal. (But) it's like, `Wow, dude, watch it.'"

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