GREEN BAY — Julius Peppers is a member of the Green Bay Packers.
That is not a misprint.
The ex-Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears defensive end signed a three-year deal with the Packers on Saturday morning, a stunning bolt of free-agency lightning that delivers one of the NFL's best pass-rushers to a team that has historically avoided major free-agent splashes.
ESPN's Josina Anderson broke the story and reported that agent Carl Carey told Anderson that the deal is for three years and a maximum of $30 million, including $7.5 million in guaranteed money and $8.5 million in 2014 pay.
The eight-time Pro Bowl selection was released Tuesday by the Bears in a cost-cutting move. Peppers would have counted a whopping $18.183 million against Chicago's salary cap this season and had a base salary of $13 million.
Peppers, 34, spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers after being picked in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. He has 118.5 career sacks, the second-most in the NFL during his time in the league.
Peppers, who went to Chicago on a six-year, $84 million deal that including $42 million in guaranteed money in 2009, spent the past four seasons with the Bears and had 37.5 sacks while starting all 64 of the team's games over that span.
In Green Bay, Peppers is reunited with Mike Trgovac, who was his defensive coordinator with the Panthers. Trgovac is the Packers' defensive line coach.
Jason Wilde wrote: