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What is clear is that Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers would like to play for the Patriots. What isn't clear is just how interested the Patriots are in landing Peppers to play outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense and how capable they are of doing it from a financial standpoint. A source close to Peppers said yesterday that the Patriots are on a "very short list" of teams he would consent to being traded to. It is believed that all of the teams on that list play a 3-4 defense, since Peppers, who has made it clear he wants out of Carolina and who has been slapped with the franchise tag by the team, told the Charlotte Observer last month that he wanted to play in a 3-4. However, talk of a trade to the Patriots might be more the fantasy of the Peppers camp than the reality of the Patriots' plans. A league source confirmed that the Patriots have discussed Peppers but didn't know of an imminent deal. The Panthers denied knowledge of a deal, citing the fact that Peppers has not signed his franchise tag tender and thus can't be traded (although his agent, Carl Carey, is free to shop him to other teams). There are obvious stumbling blocks to bringing the 29-year-old Peppers to Foxborough, the paramount one being money.