In their first major move of the offseason, the Packers re-signed linebacker Nick Perry, general manager Ted Thompson announced Thursday, retaining the oft-injured but effective pass-rusher that led the team in sacks in 2016.
Perry's career has been plagued by injuries, but when healthy, he's an impactful defender who may still be able to improve. Selected by Green Bay with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of USC, Perry has played in 60 regular-season games with 28 starts during his five years with the Packers, being sidelined for 20. He has recorded 190 tackles, 23.5 sacks, one interception, eight passes defensed, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
According to multiple reports, the contract is for five years and $60 million, with only the $18.5 million signing bonus guaranteed. Perry played last season on a one-year, $5.5 million prove-it deal, which he clearly outperformed by staying healthy for the most part and getting after quarterbacks.
"We are pleased to be able to come to an agreement with Nick," Thompson said in a statement. "He has been a great teammate and a productive player since he joined us in 2012 and we look forward to the rest of his Packers career."
Perry played in 14 games, including 12 starts, last year, and led the team with a career-high 11 sacks, which tied for eighth-most in the NFL. He posted 60 tackles, four passes defensed and the first interception of his career. Perry had seven tackles, one sack and one pass defensed in the playoffs.
"We are very excited to have Nick remain a Packer," said head coach Mike McCarthy. "I’ve enjoyed watching his development as a player and leader over the last five seasons. Nick is a core member of our team and he will be an important part of our success moving forward."
Perry ranks No. 3 in team postseason history (since 1982) with seven sacks, trailing only linebacker Clay Matthews (11) and defensive end Reggie White (eight). Since entering the league in 2012, Perry’s seven postseason sacks are the most in the NFL over that span and his 48 sack-yards trail only Matthews’ 54.5. Perry registered 3.5 sacks in the 2015 playoffs, tying the franchise record for a single postseason (with Matthews in 2010).
Born in Milwaukee but a product of Shorewood High School (go ‘Hounds!) and Northwestern University (go ‘Cats!), Jimmy never knew the schoolboy bliss of cheering for a winning football, basketball or baseball team. So he ditched being a fan in order to cover sports professionally - occasionally objectively, always passionately. He's lived in Chicago, New York and Dallas, but now resides again in his beloved Brew City and is an ardent attacker of the notorious Milwaukee Inferiority Complex.
After interning at print publications like Birds and Blooms (official motto: "America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine!"), Sports Illustrated (unofficial motto: "Subscribe and save up to 90% off the cover price!") and The Dallas Morning News (a newspaper!), Jimmy worked for web outlets like CBSSports.com, where he was a Packers beat reporter, and FOX Sports Wisconsin, where he managed digital content. He's a proponent and frequent user of em dashes, parenthetical asides, descriptive appositives and, really, anything that makes his sentences longer and more needlessly complex.
Jimmy appreciates references to late '90s Brewers and Bucks players and is the curator of the unofficial John Jaha Hall of Fame. He also enjoys running, biking and soccer, but isn't too annoying about them. He writes about sports - both mainstream and unconventional - and non-sports, including history, music, food, art and even golf (just kidding!), and welcomes reader suggestions for off-the-beaten-path story ideas.
