Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Julius Peppers

Packers GM excited about Peppers signing

By

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson met with the media on Thursday at his annual say nothing pre-draft press

Ted Thompson

Ted Thompson

conference.  Thompson didn’t divulge anything with regards to next weeks draft, he did talk about the acquisition of pass rushing defensive end Julius Peppers.

Thompson was asked about Peppers age (34) and whether or not he is slowing down.

“Well, 34 is not so old,” said Thompson.  “There’s no evidence of any decline in his play, in our opinion.  He still has the same athletic traits that he had coming out.  He’s had a remarkable history in the NFL in terms of durability.  We’re looking forward to it.  I think he is too.”

In 12 NFL seasons, Peppers has recorded 119 quarterback sacks, 40 forced fumbles and nine interceptions.  Last year in Chicago, Peppers had 7.5 sacks, his lowest total since 2007.  Chicago’s run defense allowed a NFL-high 5.3 yards per carry.

As for those that say Thompson doesn’t do anything in free agency, Thompson said….”We’ve always dabbled in free agency.  Sometimes you can spend a lot of time and effort recruiting a guy, which we’ve done in the past, and nothing comes of it, and nothing comes out publicly and people assume we didn’t try to do something.  We almost always, almost every offseason, try to do something in free agency, certainly with our own guys but also with guys around the league.”

AUDIO: At 34, Thompson thinks Peppers has plenty left in the tank :20

AUDIO: Thompson to those that think he doesn’t like free agency :17

DE Wilson signs with Raiders

By

After playing in just eight games with the Green Bay Packers last season, free agent DE C.J. Wilson has signed with the Oakland

C.J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson

Raiders.

Wilson gets a fresh start in Oakland after once playing as a starter in Green Bay.   Wilson’s most productive season came in 2012 when he had 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11 games with the Packers.

The addition of Julius Peppers and the resigning of DL/LB Mike Neal helped make Wilson’s value to the Packers diminish even further.  The Packers also will count on Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Jerel Worthy and Josh Boyd.

The Raiders also added another free agent on Friday, signing former Jacksonville Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew to a three-year deal.

Report: Allen signs 4-year deal with Bears

By

The Chicago Bears released defensive end Julius Peppers in a salary dump and he was quickly signed by the Green Bay Packers.

The National Football Post first reported this morning, that the Bears have turned around and signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen to a 4-year, $32-million deal with $15.5-million guaranteed.

In effect, the deal is a 2-year deal worth $15.5 million and extends to $24-million over three years.

Allen picked the Bears over Seattle, where he visited twice during free agency.

Allen has 128.5 career sacks and has played in five Pro Bowls.

Peppers gets 3-year deal with the Packers

By

The Green Bay Packers made their first outside move in free agency and it could be a big one.

Julius Peppers at Lambeau Field

Julius Peppers at Lambeau Field

ESPN first reported this morning that 8-time Pro Bowler Julius Peppers has signed a three-year contract that could be worth as much as $30-million.  $7.5-million is guaranteed.

The Packers in effect will pay Peppers $8.5-million in the first year of the deal and if he plays to their level of satisfaction, the two sides would move into a second season at a slightly higher price.

While it’s Ted Thompson’s first signing outside of one of their own free agents, there’s no guarantee Peppers will produce like a big time player.  At 34-years of age, Peppers big days are behind him.  He was held to seven sacks last season.  But there’s also just as good a chance that Dom Capers will move Peppers around and create opportunities for him to be a productive player.

Moving to Green Bay and rushing the quarterback with the likes of Clay Matthews, could re-energize Peppers, who has lacked the energy and motivation to be an every down difference maker.

In 12 seasons, Peppers has 118.5 sacks.  Over the last three seasons, he has 29.5.  He played for a defense last season in Chicago that gave up 5.3-yards per rush, which was dead last in the NFL.

In four seasons in Chicago, Peppers started all 64 games and totaled 37.5 sacks.  He made the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons before missing out last year.

The move comes a day after the Packers re-signed B.J. Raji to a 1-year, $4-million contract.

[Photo courtesy of Agent Carl Carey’s Twitter post]