I think the switch from Lovie and Marinelli to Trestman and Tucker (and the Canadian/inexperienced staff) definitely played a major part. Peppers, who by all accounts needs to be motivated to perform, did not perform as well as he could last year. Briggs barely bought in to the new regime and seemed to hold a grudge all year long. Has Briggs ever not held a grudge? I just think when an older player falls off like that it has more to do with him simply getting older as opposed to not being motivated; Smith's main point centered around the Bears' terrible run defense, so Peppers basically didn't get a lot of the opportunities he had before, but it was pointed out right away that when Peppers was good he was effective against both the run and the pass.