Perry returns to Packers on 5-year, $60 million contract

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Nick Perry signed a one-year "show me" contract with the Green Bay Packers before the 2016 season. The outside linebacker not only showed what he can do, but he also earned a big contract from the Packers as the NFL's free-agent period opened Thursday.

Spurning sweet nothings from other teams, Perry reportedly signed a five-year deal with the Packers worth $60 million with an $18.5 million signing bonus. The $18.5 million is the only guaranteed money in the deal.

"We are pleased to be able to come to an agreement with Nick. 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," general manager Ted Thompson said in a release.

Despite suffering a hand injury against Houston in Week 13, which caused him to wear a club the final couple games of the season, Perry finished with career highs of 52 tackles, 11 sacks (which also led the team) and four passes defensed. The Packers' first-round pick in 2012, Perry had 12.5 career sacks combined in his first four seasons.

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"We very excited to have Nick remain a Packer. I’ve enjoyed watching his development as a player and leader over the last five seasons,” head coach Mike McCarthy said in the statement announcing Perry's signing. "Nick is a core member of our team and he will be an important part of our success moving forward."

It's certainly an unexpected flip of the script for Perry, who wasn't given a fifth-year option by the Packers on his rookie deal and instead signed a lower one-year contract for 2016.

Green Bay needed to address the outside linebacker position as three of the Packers' top-four players there were free agents -- Perry, Datone Jones and Julius Peppers -- not to mention Clay Matthews will be 31 next season and is coming off a subpar (for him) season.

Among the teams which reportedly had shown interest in Perry were Atlanta, Indianapolis and the New York Jets.