Julius Peppers yearns to follow success of older stars

Packers linebacker Julius Peppers will turn 35 before the Super Bowl, but has taken comfort in recent football history. Several premier players continued to rack up sacks at an advanced age.

Among them were Reggie White, who totaled 16 sacks at age 37 and Michael Strahan, who piled up 11 1/2 at 34. Bruce Smith, the all-time leading sacker in the NFL, continued to thrive into his late 30s.

"By no means am I comparing myself to those guys, but you do take a look at those lists," Peppers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's not impossible. It's not impossible to have great seasons at a more mature age. People have done it."

Peppers managed seven sacks last year, which matched a career-low. He has totaled double figures in eight of his 12 seasons.