Green Bay Packers break pattern, sign free agent Julius Peppers

Eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers signed a three-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, bringing one of the NFL’s best pass rushers to a team that has historically avoided major free-agent splashes.

The 34-year-old Peppers was released Tuesday by the Chicago Bears in a cost-cutting move. Peppers would have counted $18.183 million against Chicago’s salary cap this season and had a base salary of $13 million

“I haven’t won a championship,” Peppers told the Packers’ website. “That’s where my focus is. I feel like the team is set up to make a run and I feel I can help get it there.”

Peppers went to the Super Bowl in 2003 with the Panthers, losing to the New England Patriots.

Peppers played in all 64 of the Bears’ games the past four seasons, posting 37.5 sacks. His 7.5 sacks last season were his fewest since a career-low 2.5 sacks in 2007, but he still would have led the Packers in that category in 2012.

In other moves, Saturday:

—Ben Tate, 25, who played for Houston last season, signed a two-year, $7-million free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns, who have been seeking a quality every-down running back since trading Trent Richardson to Indianapolis early last season.

—The Raiders agreed to a two-year deal to keep 29-year-old free-agent safety Usama Young after his injury-shortened first year in Oakland.

—A person familiar with the situation says the Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with 31-year-old free-agent safety Roman Harper. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press because the deal has not been announced.

—Zach Miller will stay with the Seattle Seahawks after the tight end agreed to restructure his contract in an effort to free up salary-cap room for the Super Bowl champions. Terms of Miller’s new deal were not immediately available.

—The Washington Redskins signed cornerback Tracy Porter. Porter has 10 career interceptions in six NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. He started all 16 games for the Raiders last year and had two interceptions.

—Two people with direct knowledge of the deal tell The Associated Press that the Minnesota Vikings and left guard Charlie Johnson have agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth as much as $5 million. Johnson has played the last three seasons with the Vikings.

—The Buffalo Bills signed linebacker Brandon Spikes and running back Anthony Dixon.