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[link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] also disputed Panthers general manager Marty Hurney’s earlier claims that they twice tried to make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] said that happened only once, after the 2007 season, a deal he rejected.
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] described his offseason departure from Carolina as “a little sour” on Wednesday, claiming the Panthers tried to paint him in a bad light after deciding to let him leave in free agency.
“Julius gave us eight great years and we appreciate everything he did for us,” Hurney said.
But [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] was clearly frustrated at the perception he doesn’t play hard on every down. The reputation has stuck with him since college and was fueled by games in Carolina in which the freakishly athletic [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] had little impact.
The former No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft signed a six-year, $91.5 million deal with the Bears in March. While he said he’s happy in Chicago — he has two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal for the Bears (3-1) — he is puzzled with how things ended in Charlotte.
In a conference call with reporters ahead of [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u]’ return to Charlotte on Sunday with the Chicago Bears, the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end said he was under the impression the Panthers decided to “do away with anybody who is making a significant amount of money” as part of a roster overhaul that’s produced the NFL’s youngest team.
“I just see that as people not being able to form an opinion for themselves,” [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] said. “People will hear one thing and just run with it. … A couple people started saying it for whatever reason, and then it followed me. And then people just kept repeating it, even though it wasn’t true.”
“That’s a business decision. I can understand and respect that,” the 30-year-old [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] said. “The problem that I had was they tried to turn the tables and make it look like I wanted out no matter what. Really, I didn’t have the option to stay. It was never offered to stay.”
Now [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u],[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a Bailey, N.C., native who starred in college in North Carolina, will return home to play the struggling Panthers (0-4) for the first time on Sunday. After the two years of rocky contract negotiations, [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] said he has “no idea” how he’ll be received by fans.
Defensive star wonders how he’ll be greeted
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] tells of ‘sour’ end
Hurney did not return a message seeking comment, releasing a short statement that didn’t address [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u]’ criticism.

“I was kind of surprised because I was expecting to hear something from them,” [link widoczny dla zalogowanych][/u] said. “I didn’t understand what was going on. But as the weeks and the months went by, I started getting the picture of the direction they were going in and I knew I wasn’t a part of it.”
CHARLOTTE —
“So when I say it ended a little sour, I felt like it could have been a little more respectful. At least a phone call to say, ‘It’s been good. We’re going in a different direction. We’re going to let you go.’ They couldn’t even give me that.”

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