GREEN BAY — Mike McCarthy wasn't kidding when he kept saying that he wanted Letroy Guion back — even in the wake of the veteran defensive tackle's Feb. 3 arrest.
The Green Bay Packers coach repeatedly said he wanted Guion to return — even before his case was resolved last week — and on Monday, the Packers reached an agreement on a one-year with Guion, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky . Guion, who has been back in Green Bay according to McCarthy, is expected to sign Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Guion was arrested in his hometown of Starke, Fla., on Feb. 3 with roughly 3 /4 pound of marijuana, an unloaded handgun and over $190,000 in cash, but charged were dismissed last week after he paid a $5,000 fine.
Guion started all 18 games (including playoffs) last year for the Packers after starting nose tackle B.J. Raji suffered a ruptured biceps tendon in preseason. The Packers and Guion were reportedly working on a longer-term deal toward the end of last season after he'd joined the Packers from Minnesota on a one-year, $1 million deal after being cut by the Vikings.
"[He's a] good football player," McCarthy said during last week's NFL Meetings in Arizona. "[We were] really was excited about Letroy when he came available. Competing against him, I thought he played very well against us [in 2013]. We played the Vikings three times that year. He's been an excellent addition to our football team and it would be great to get Letroy back. Just from my conversations with him, I know he we wants to be a Green Bay Packer."
Guion did reportedly visit the Seattle Seahawks late last week, which may have sped up talks with the Packers.
Guion is still subject to potential discipline from the NFL for his arrest, although McCarthy did not seem overly concerned about that possibility.
The Packers have now brought back four of their 11 unrestricted free agents, reaching deals with Guion, wide receiver Randall Cobb, tackle Bryan Bulaga and backup quarterback Scott Tolzien. They lost cornerbacks, Tramon Williams (Cleveland) and Davon House (Jacksonville) and have yet to sign an outside free agent — the only team in the NFL not to have added at least one.
Raji, fullback John Kuhn, quarterback Matt Flynn, special teams ace Jarrett Bush and linebacker Jamari Lattimore remain unsigned.
Jason Wilde wrote: