GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - The Green Bay Packers re-signed run-stuffing defensive tackle B.J. Raji on Friday.
General manager Ted Thompson announced the deal Friday. Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports said it was a one-year deal worth $4 million.
The 27-year-old Raji was the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft. He has played in 76 games with 63 starts and has 227 tackles, 10 ½ sacks and seven passes defensed during his five seasons with Green Bay.
After a Pro Bowl-worthy season in 2010, when he had 6.5 regular-season sacks, another sack in the playoffs and an interception return for a touchdown in the NFC Championship game victory at Chicago that sent the Packers to the Super Bowl Raji hasn’t had a sack in 35 regular-season games. Last season, he was credited with 36 tackles, but no sacks, forced fumbles or deflected passes.
Last fall, Raji reportedly had a long-term contract offer from the Packers that would have paid him roughly $8 million per year. Now he has reportedly settled for a one-year deal for half that.
Raji essentially played on first and second downs last season and had the fewest snaps per game since his rookie year, missing two games with a sprained ankle.
“It comes with the territory, man,” Raji said late in the year when asked if he was disappointed with his play. “You put up good numbers early in your career, and then when those things dwindle down it’s like, ’What happened?’ It’s more to the game than sacks. Since I’ve been here, we’ve been top of the league in sacks and that’s what’s more important to me. Individual stuff will come. … I’m older now and I understand that part of being a good teammate is understanding what is required of you.”
Other unrestricted free agents to re-sign with the Packers include cornerback Sam Shields, outside linebacker/defensive end Mike Neal and tight end Andrew Quarless.
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