What can $20 million buy you now a days?

A large executive jet, 70 new Bentley Mulsannes, approximately 285,755 Ditka sweater vests.

For the Chicago Bears, $20 million for this season bought them 54 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Though very solid, the numbers aren’t spectacular.

However, the player that produced those numbers, is.

Julius Peppers.

Due to make $20 million just this season alone, Peppers has earned his lofty pay check.

Besides maybe Bears All-Timer Brian Urlacher, Peppers has been the driving force behind the number four scoring, and NFC North winning defense.

For a defense that works off of a four man rush, #90 was exactly what the Bears needed.

After the week eight bye, Peppers tallied six sacks through week 14. During that time span, the Bears won five of six games.

They would go on close out the regular season 2-1. Peppers did not record a single sack the last three weeks of the regular season.

We all know that Peppers does not need to record a sack to have an impact on the game. But this was the chance for some cynics to bring up the ‘Peppers takes plays off’ non-sense.

Well, now is the time for Peppers to finally silence those cynics.

If Peppers did take the last three games off, which I highly doubt, he now has had four weeks to rest up. I almost feel sorry for the team from the great North West. Almost.

After this year’s solid season and deep playoff run, Peppers is still due to make $60-$70 million over the next five years. I can’t wait to see our return on those paychecks.