ESPN NFC South reporter Pat Yasinskas speculates that Julius Peppers wants out of Carolina. A Peppers relocation to Tampa could change the balance of power in the division.

First, it’s good to see that Pat “Vacation Man” Yasinskas is working during the playoffs.

On Friday, in his NFC South blog chat with readers, “Vacation Man” wrote that Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers would return to Carolina because the team wouldn’t let him get away. Now Yasinskas has changed his tune, after observing Peppers in the Panthers’ locker room following Saturday’s stunning loss to Arizona.

Immediately after a 33-13 home loss to Arizona, Peppers said he wants what’s best for him and the Panthers when asked about his contract situation. Peppers said pretty much the same thing Sunday morning after the team held its final meeting. Peppers said he didn’t want to “cripple” himself or the Panthers.

Keep a close eye on this one. There’s an assumption out there that Peppers, who has spent his career with the Panthers and went to college at North Carolina, automatically will return to the Panthers, one way or another.

Maybe — and I’m just think out loud here — that’s not the case. The Panthers have been trying to re-sign Peppers for about two years now and it still hasn’t happened. At this point, you have to at least wonder if he wants to be somewhere else. Peppers has been given numerous chances by the media (for several months now) to say he wants to stay in Carolina. He never has definitively done that.

To keep Peppers, it’s widely believed the Panthers will have to make him the league’s highest-paid defensive player (probably around $13 million a season). The Panthers also could place the franchise tag on Peppers (probably about $17 million for 2009).

As Joe wrote months ago, bringing Peppers to Tampa is not only a major upgrade from now free agent DE Kevin Carter, it changes the balance of power slightly in the NFC South.

The Bucs have the cash to pursue him. Do they have the desire?